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Why do we love Ani?
Growing up in Buffalo, New York, Ani DiFranco always showed an independent streak. The future fearless punk folkster got her start at the age of nine, playing guitar and singing Beatles songs in bars all over Buffalo. She moved out on her own when she was 15 and graduated from the School of Visual and Performing Arts a year later. Intent on pursuing her musical career, Ani moved to New York City and began playing in bars, coffeehouses, and folk clubs, quickly gaining a devoted following. Knowing that she didn't fit into any conventional notion of a commercially successful recording artist, at the age of 19, Ani borrowed money and put up all she had to start her own record label, Righteous Babe Records. Since founding the label in 1990, Ani has released over 20 albums and has grown to great success on her own terms. She is a talented artist, a dedicated independent, and an inspiration to millions.
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Biography:
Born - September 23, 1970
Buffalo, New York
Achievements:
- Number 90 on the VH1: 100 Greatest Women of Rock & Roll list
- 2000 - Nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance "Jukebox" and Best Contemporary Folk Album Fellow Workers
- 2000 - Nominated for a Gibson Guitar Award for Best Acoustic Guitarist (Female)
- 1999 - Nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance "Glass House"
- 1999 - Won the OutMusic Award at the Gay/Lesbian American Music Awards (GLAMA)
- 1999 - Nominated for Best Rock/Alternative Song "Little Plastic Castle" and Female Artist of the Year at GLAMA
- 1998 - Nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance "Shy"
Discography:
- Evolve (2002)
- So Much Shouting, So Much Laughter (2002)
- Revelling/Reckoning (2001)
- Swing Set (2000)
- To the Teeth (1999)
- Fellow Workers (1999)
- Little Plastic Remixes (1999)
- Up Up Up Up Up Up (1999)
- Little Plastic Castle (1998)
- Living In Clip (1997)
- The Past Didn't Go Anywhere (1996)
- Dilate (1996)
- More Joy, Less Shame (1996)
- Not A Pretty Girl (1995)
- Out Of Range (1994)
- Puddle Dive (1993)
- Like I Said (Songs 1990-91) (1993)
- Imperfectly (1992)
- Not So Soft (1991)
- Ani DiFranco (1990)
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In her own words -- On avoiding major labels and the importance of stories:
"I could be selling a lot more albums. Life could be a lot more cushy. But it's much more interesting to try and hammer out an alternative route without the music industry and maybe be an example for other musicians. You don't have to play ball."
"You know, I think that we can't expect to be understood, and we can't expect to understand each other if we don't tell each other our stories."
Joyful Girl:
i do it for the joy it brings
because i'm a joyful girl
because the world owes me nothing
and we owe each other the world
i do it because it's the least i can do
i do it because i learned it from you
and i do it just because i want to
because i want to
everything i do is judged
and they mostly get it wrong
but oh well
'cuz the bathroom mirror has not budged
and the woman who lives there can tell
the truth from the stuff that they say
and she looks me in the eye
and says would you prefer the easy way
no, well o.k. then
don't cry
i wonder if everything i do
i do instead
of something i want to do more
the question fills my head
i know there's no grand plan here
this is just the way it goes
when everything else seems unclear
i guess at least i know
i do it for the joy it brings
because i'm a joyful girl
because the world owes me nothing
and we owe each other the world
i do it because it's the least i can do
i do it because i learned it from you
and i do it just because i want to
because i want to
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