Top 10 Bikini Kill Songs

Feature Photo: Nfopollenz, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Our top 10 Bikini Kill songs list digs deep into the music of an American punk band distinguished for its significant role in the flourishing of feminism in rock music in the early ‘90s. Often cited as the riot grrl’s chief instigator, singer-songwriter Kathleen Hanna led Bikini Kill into a punk-inspired feminism movement in advocacy for women’s rights and equality. Bikini Kill’s dominance in the rock scene was marked by its fairly provocative yet steadfast stances that threw down the gauntlet at the conventional structure of the underground music community.

Bikini Kill’s Career Beginnings, Breakthrough, and Album Releases

Kathleen Hanna, now wife to Beastie Boys’ guitarist Adam Horovitz, joined hands with Kathi Wilcox, Tobi Vail, and Billy Karren to form Bikini Kill at the end of 1990. The following year, the quartet recorded an independent demo cassette, Revolution Girl Style Now. This eight-song demo cassette saw the band take on aggressively punk rock-inspired tracks that sought to empower the female gender in rock music. Revolution Girl Style Now is home to some of the best Bikini Kill songs by Bikini Kill including “Feels Blind,” “Carnival,” “Double Dare Ya,” and “Suck My Left One.”

In 1992, Bikini Kill released its eponymous debut EP, which featured five of the top musical gems from the demo Revolution Girl Style Now and a new hit “Thurston Hearts the Who.” Bikini Kill was issued through Kill Rock Stars Records, with its production work handled by Ian MacKaye. Ian is best known for his significant role as the vocalist and guitarist of post-hardcore outfit Fugazi.

Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah, issued in March 1993, marked Bikini Kill’s first split album with the other side of the album being Huggy Bear’s Our Troubled Youth. “Don’t Need You,” “Jigsaw Youth,” and “Rebel Girl” are the most popular songs by Bikini Kill from this split album. October 1993, Bikini Kill went on to issue its debut studio album, Pussy Whipped. The album went on to feature Bikini Kill’s signature hit “Rebel Girl” once more adding notable musical gems including “Sugar,” “Alien She,” and “For Tammy Rae.” Pussy Whipped went on to peak at the twentieth spot on the UK Independent Albums Chart.

Bikini Kill went on to release the album Reject All American in 1996. The album saw the band take on a blend of punk rock and indie rock sounds. However, this pounding punk record failed to rise to mainstream success despite featuring some of the best Bikini Kill songs including “Capri Pants,” “False Start,” “R.I.P.,” “Reject All American,” and “Tony Randall.” The Singles marked Bikini Kill’s second compilation album with the production of some of the songs on the album done by Joan Jett, a former member of The Runaways. Some of the new songs by Bikini Kill from The Singles include “Demirep,” “Anti-Pleasure Dissertation,” and “I Hate Danger.”

Bikini Kill’s Legacy

Bikini Kill might not have had an overly decorated career over its few yet significant releases. However, the band remains among the most significant cheerleaders of feminism in rock music in the ‘90s. Its song “Rebel Girl” has been cited as an insignia of the riot grrrl movement. Other legendary feminist anthems in rock and roll from the ‘90s include “50ft Queenie” by PJ Harvey, “Seether” by Veruca Salt, “F.Y.R.” by Le Tigre, and “Asking for It” by Hole. Here we present the ten best Bikini Kill songs of all time.

#10 – I Hate Danger

Ushering us to the top 10 Bikini Kill songs list is the outstanding hit “I Hate Danger.” The song is featured on the band’s compilation album, The Singles. “I Hate Danger” has its lyrics serving as a metaphor for the systemic muzzling of the female gender. Drummer Tobi Vail takes on the lead vocals on this song while bassist Kathi Wilcox takes on the song’s drums. On the other hand, Kathleen Hanna amazes us with some minimalist yet impressive bass skills. “I Hate Danger” is packed with melodic hooks that make it quite a unique gem amongst the new songs by Bikini Kill on the compilation album, The Singles.

#9- False Start

“False Start” is among the few songs that bring the best of pure punk rock influences by Bikini Kill from the album, Reject All American. While Kathi sings the verses alone, she is joined by Tobi in delivering vocals in the song’s chorus. The vocal delivery by the duo on the chorus is quite haunting. “False Start” came when the masses were almost done with the riot grrrl fascination. However, this didn’t stop the masses from falling in love with Kathleen Hanna’s unique lyrical content.

#8- Sugar

Coming in at number eight on our top 10 Bikini Kill songs list is the punchy hit “Sugar.” The song is featured on the band’s studio album, Pussy Whipped. “Sugar” is no ordinary punk rock hit! There is more to the aggressive vocals by Kathleen Hanna that make her a quintessential punk vocalist. “Sugar” is a pro-feminist hit that alludes to the rejection of unfulfilling gendered intimacy roles. Kathleen croons in a sarcastic tone her mockery of the self-centeredness of the male figures in intimacy. Thanks to songs like “Sugar” that Pussy Whipped got crowned the first most complete riot grrrl album.

#7- Carnival

“Carnival” is one of the best Bikini Kill songs from the band’s first outing Revolution Girl Style Now. The song brings out the best of Kathleen Hanna’s vocals. However, before we let Kathleen take us on a one-and-a-half-minute long punk rock trip with her aggressive yet impressive vocals, we ought to give credit to “Carnival” for its impact on the riot grrrl movement. “Carnival” is among the songs that give voice to the subjugated generation of young females allowing them to mold their own reality rising above the biased structures of how women should behave.

#6 – Alien She

Number six on our top 10 Bikini Kill songs list is the aggressive hit “Alien She.” The song is featured on the band’s studio album, Pussy Whipped. The alien in the subject is Kathleen’s part that ratifies feminine beauty archetypes while wishing to be a woman acknowledged by the patriarchy. This part of Kathleen wishes her girly self fits in the media-driven beauty and feminine stereotypes.

However, Kathleen feels separated from herself owing to her rejection of the patriarchal prototypes. With this “Alien She” being an integral part of her, killing it would possibly mean she doesn’t exist. In short, “Alien She” is more of a battle by a pro-feminist and the stereotypical female definition she already learned from her society.

#5- Demirep

The Singles, Bikini Kill’s second compilation album, is home to the fifth pick of our top ten Bikini Kill songs, “Demirep.” As revealed by the band members, “Demirep” alludes to a woman of doubtful reputation or rather an adventuress. The song opens with vocalist Kathleen Hanna playing the hand game ‘Miss Mary Mack’ with Joan Jett. “Demirep” features the vocals of both Kathleen and Joan Jett, who also plays the guitar on the song alongside Kathi Wilcox. The song is featured on the soundtrack of the Fifth Episode of Season Two of the film The Flight Attendant.

#4- Feels Blind

“Feels Blind” is one of the best Bikini Kill songs from the band’s first outing Revolution Girl Style Now. The song has one of the best vocal deliveries by Kathleen Hanna. Her vocal performance on this hit is filled with power and range. Another thing that stands out about this hit is its pounding guitar riffs that make the song a little spirited, especially with the message it carries. “Feels Blind” powers through to the fourth spot on our list thanks to its representation of the female gender’s hunger for respect, equality, and representation. The song seems to be demolishing the stereotypes administered to women citing how little they have to do with them.

#3- Don’t Need You

If there is a song by Bikini Kill that’s so blatant and straight with its message is “Don’t Need You.” The song is an anthem for women who wish to unbridle themselves from patriarchal norms and subjective stereotypes against the female gender. Kathleen leads the riot grrrl movement in putting it loud that women don’t need men to tell them what they want to feel or fix their lives.

In short, the song is an anthem by Bikini Kill that what men can do, women can do it for themselves too! “Don’t Need You” was issued on the band’s split album Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah. The song unveils Juliana Luecking’s influence on Kathleen Hanna’s journey as a feminist.

#2- Double Dare Ya

“Double Dare Ya” is among the top musical gems by Bikini Kill from Revolution Girl Style Now. The song was later featured on Bikini Kill’s first 1994 compilation album, The CD version of the First Two Records. “Double Dare Ya” helped solidify Bikini Kill’s ground as one of the frontrunners of the ’90s feminist punk rock movement. The song finds the band advocating the need to stay free of shame as women to all females by rising above the bondage of sexuality, racism, abuse, and patriarchy. “Double Dare Ya” was sampled in the song “Riot Grrrls” by James Demon.

#1- Rebel Girl

Number one on our top 10 Bikini Kill songs list is the anthemic hit “Rebel Girl.” This gusty celebration of the female identity is the archetypal groove of the riot grrrl movement thanks to its fearless embrace of the feminism theme back in the early ‘90s. “Rebel Girl” rise above most songs by Bikini Kill for its straightforward advocacy of sisterly closeness and staunch rebellion against patriarchy.

The song has been released in three versions, with the first on the split album Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah. Joan Jett was inspired by the unapologetic nature of the song which described her younger self. Eventually, Joan Jett was featured on the single version of “Rebel Girl” on the vocals and guitars. This version went on to become the most popular, rising the ranks to become Bikini Kill’s signature hit.