Eventual Ukulele Superstar
Thank you to host Jamie DeWolf and the amazing beautiful humans of Tourettes Without Regrets for singing along so enthusiastically to my new song “If You Want A Revolution” and, as always, for the loudest “Try Not To Be A Dick” of the year!
Video courtesy of Kenny Hoff
(Note: online ticket sales are now closed, but you can still get tickets at the door!)
An evening of satirical shenaniganery featuring a bevy of badass Colorado women musicians performing original snarked-up versions of your favorite Dylan songs to benefit breast cancer patients and their families.
Get your tickets here! https://m.bpt.me/event/4391693
This year’s beneficiary will be announced soon!
Here’s a video of the 2018 finale, “If Not For Boobs”:
2019 Performers:
Shanna In a Dress
– shannainadress.com
Maya Bennett
– mayabennettmusic.com
Emily Clark
– emilyclark.net
Angel Edgemon
– heavybeautyband.com
Kim Franco
Anela Lauren
– anelalauren.weebly.com
Colleen Murphy
– facebook.com/bottlerockethurricane/
Andrea Rossin
Veronique Van Pelt
– veroniquevanpelt.com
Emily Yates
– emilyyatesmusic.com
A holiday centered on love can be laborious to get through when your heart is broken or hurting, so here’s some real-talk to balance out the romance:
I wrote “Happy Ever After” as a reminder that life is full of surprises, and that people are complex, ever-changing creatures – sometimes the ones we think we know best reveal themselves to be strangers when we least expect it. Because life is also steeped in irony, a few weeks after recording this song, I realized I had written myself less of a gentle reminder and more of an agonizing told-you-so. I’m releasing it into the world on Valentine’s Day because for the first time in a decade, this day is a painful one for me, and in my experience there are few better ways to feel pain than through sharing the art that grows from it.
Many thanks to producers Dango Rose and Evan Reeves for inviting me into the Elephant Collective, to musicians Darren Garvey (percussion, guitar) and MeKenzie Solidago (cello, vocals) for lending their talents to the track, to Dan Rodriguez for the lines that helped me tie the room together, and to all of you for your consistent support of my music and heart. Community is everything in this crazy world, and I’m endlessly grateful for you.
Credits:
Words/Music/Video by Emily Yates
Produced by Dango Rose and Evan Reeves (Rose-Reeves Productions) in association with Elephant Collective
Engineered by Evan Reeves
Mixed by Patrick Tracy
Additional mixing by Max Nordby
Recorded at Elephant Collective Studios, Boulder, CO
Musicians:
Emily Yates – Vocals, Ukulele
Darren Garvey – Percussion, Guitar
Mekenzie Solidago – Cello, Vocals
Erik Yates – Flute
with special guest Elliott Garvey as The Witch
A swingy little number in honor of the upcoming apocalypse!
Videography: Eleanor Goldfield
Editing: Emily Yates
Words/music/banjo/bass/vocals: Emily Yates
Shaker: Erik Yates
October 4 at the Mercury Cafe, what a night to remember – we raised funds for our friend with a night of Bob Dylan parodies and boobs flying everywhere!
This show spent four years in the dreaming phase and several months in the planning/doing phase and I still can’t believe it actually happened. My heart is full of love and gratitude for all these wonderful women performers and everyone who filled the seats to make this night so beautiful and unforgettable – to include the wonderful Amanda Mauree who took these gorgeous photos.
Thank you thank you thank you all. I already can’t wait till the next time!
If you couldn’t make it and still want to donate to Kaia’s fund, you can do that right here: www.gofundme.com/help-kaia-heal-metastatic-cancer
Embed for Youíre the Enemy
A few months ago I wrote and recorded “You’re The Enemy,” a song about Military Sexual Trauma (MST), for the non-profit Warrior Songs‘ new compilation album Women At War. The album will be released in a couple months but in light of current events, we have decided to pre-release my song digitally now. You can stream it above and/or download with a pay-what-you-want option:
https://warriorsongs.org/track/1564039/you-re-the-enemy
This song is dedicated to all survivors of MST, especially those whose attackers have not had consequences.
Produced by Enion Pelta-Tiller & Emily Yates
Engineered by Andrew Gragg Lunsford at Mountain Star Studios – Black Hawk, CO on 04/19/2018
Baritone Ukulele & Lead Vocals : Emily Yates
Violin & Backing Vocals: Enion Pelta-Tiller
Upright Bass & Backing Vocals: Julie Gussaroff
Drums: Michelle Pietrafitta
Backing Vocals: Jenny Boykin Roe
I didn’t report being sexually assaulted in the military because I knew the investigation, if one even happened, would be even more demoralizing than being assaulted by people I knew.
I believe Dr. Christine Blasey Ford because there is no way in hell you can convince me a person would subject themselves to death threats AND the demeaning process of being questioned about past trauma by ridiculously-powerful frat boys unless they were either telling the truth or on a masochistic search for truly cruel and unusual punishment.
I believe survivors. I want justice for survivors. I am a survivor.
Lyrics:
They say that you’re my battle buddy
They say that you’re my friend
That I’ll never have to make you answer
To the business end
Of this weapon I was issued
To give terrorists their due
But what if the terrorist is you
I was trained to fight,
To kill and to die
But never thought that I’d be fighting
Someone on my side
If we were taking fire I’d trust you with my life
If we’re alone there’s one hand on my knife
Chorus:
Even if I wore a skirt
And not a uniform
You’d have no, right, to treat me like
You won me in this war
They say we’re on the same team
Wonder when you’ll try to rape me
Maybe you’re the enemy (x2)
Oooooooh fuck nooo
Oooooooh fuck nooo
Oooooooh fuck nooo
Oooooooh fuck nooo
Of course you’re in my unit
Of course I know your name
I see you all the places
I go every day
I can’t get away from you
My contract says I’m stuck
All the walls are closing in, I’m … outta luck
Even if I wore a skirt
And not a uniform
You’d have no right to treat me like
You won me in this war
They say we’re on the same team
Wonder when you’ll try to rape me
Maybe you’re the enemy
Maybe you’re the enemy
That deployment we got drunk
You knew I couldn’t tell a soul
Drinking vodka that we got
From some disgruntled joe
I shoulda known I’d wake up
With you taking off my pants
Shoulda known that all you needed was the chance
Even if I wore a skirt
And not a uniform
You’d have no right to treat me like
You won me in this war
We were on the same team
Then you tried to fucking rape me
Now I see you’re the enemy
Now I see you’re the enemy
Oooooooh fuck nooo
Oooooooh fuck nooo
Oooooooh fuck nooo
Oooooooh fuck nooo
Announcing … an evening of satirical shenaniganery, featuring a bevy of badass Colorado women musicians performing naughty, snarked-up versions of your favorite Dylan songs!
Get your tickets here! https://boobdylanoctober4.brownpapertickets.com
The show will be a benefit for our friend Kaia Cochran’s breast cancer healing fund – full details on her condition and needs can be found here:
https://www.gofundme.com/help-kaia-heal-metastatic-cancer
Update: thank you all! Here’s a video of the finale, “If Not For Boobs”:
Featuring:
Shanna In a Dress
– shannainadress.com
Emily Clark
– emilyclark.net
Grace Clark
– graceclarkmusic.com
Angel Edgemon
– heavybeautyband.com
Laika Fox
– laikafox.com
Anela Lauren
– anelalauren.weebly.com
Megan Letts
– mamamagnolia.com
Daniella Katzir
– daniellakatzirmusic.com
Jaquita Straw
– facebook.com/jackieandtheracket
Andrea Rossin
Patricia Wolter
Emily Yates
– emilyyatesmusic.com