The rock and roll genre is full of of big personalities and even bigger hair! Perhaps one of the most groundbreaking women in this opulent industry is the energetic and vivacious Tina Turner. With her era-defining style and constant air of independence and strength, it’s no wonder why Turner fully embodies the persona of a wildly entertaining yet down to earth rockstar.

So many of Turner’s most well-known and popular songs elevate the classic love song by rearranging the narrative and

telling a story from the perspective of an independent woman who knows her worth while also incorporating an unmistakable desire for sensuality, furthering the feminist idea that women can assert their power and independence while simultaneously exploring and exercising their sexuality.

In the song “Typical Male,” Turner harnesses her confidence and finds power in womanhood, declaring, “I’m just using my female attraction on a typical male.” In this way, Turner shifts the traditional power dynamic in a relationship, reminding women of the power that they have in their romantic endeavors and, by extension, their everyday lives. However, Turner also uses this song as a reminder that independence does not exist separately of sensuality, repeatedly expressing her feelings towards a man in this song and explaining that “something about authority seems to bring out the bad in me.”

Despite her confidence, many of Turner’s songs seem to hint at a sense of uncertainty when it comes to matters of the heart. In “Better Be Good to Me,” she begins with a few sappy phrases, letting the contents of her heart show for just a moment by describing herself as “a prisoner of your love, entangled in your web,” before quickly shifting to a more apprehensive and guarded perspective. Turner adamantly declares “I don’t have no use for what you loosely call the truth, and you better be good to me.” Many speculate that the reason for this common sentiment, demanding respect, in Tina Turner’s songs is due to her abusive relationship with ex-husband and musical partner, Ike Turner. After years of physical and emotional abuse from her husband, that mostly seemed to stem from a jealous rage, Tina was finally able to break the toxic cycle and file for divorce. Even after her escape, she was met by acts of intimidation by some of Ike’s friends and was faced with the prospect of starting her solo career from scratch. In this way, Turner was forced to develop a tough personality that shines through in the music she creates.

One song that I have always really enjoyed for its originality and deep reflection on society, class and politics is “Steel Claw” from Turner’s 1984 album, Private Dancer. The first verse describes a “television wonderland,” where the media can easily distort life into a fantasy world where the problems are few and easy to solve. When people begin to compare their own realities to the idealized lifestyles glamorized on the television screen, they can become disillusioned and discontented with their lives. For many of these individuals, the lives of the rich and famous seem to be the golden standard and something they must strive to achieve for themselves, but when they “try to get on board, [they] find the lock is on the door,” since mobility into the upper class is severely restricted. Turner also asserts that “the politicians have forgotten this place, except for flying visits in a black Mercedes at election time,” emphasizing that political figures are a special kind of celebrity in our society that have the power to improve the lives of lower class

individuals, but often disregard them until they need their support in a campaign. Even for the famous, existential despair seems to be an inevitable part of life. The singer admits, “sometimes I do a line, makes me laugh, makes me want to take a joy ride on the high tide, sometimes I’m contemplating suicide.” The song truly communicates the feeling of being trapped in a never-ending cycle of the highs and lows in life, being manipulated and recognizing the flaws in society. As pessimistic as this song may seem, I think it is incredibly freeing to consider that nobody has the “perfect life” and even the people who society deems as successful and flawless are all fighting personal battles.

Tina Turner’s fierce persona and universally relevant messages have cemented her place as one of the most highly regarded rockstars in history. Everything from her style to her high energy performances have been the foundation for the next generation of artists and her legacy will always remind the world of one of the most innovative musicians in rock and roll history.