Sally Ride

Album: The Electric Lady (2013)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • The Electric Lady found Monáe standing tall for her race and her sex and envisaging a society where one can exist without needing to stay within preset boundaries. She addresses the first female/LGBT astronaut Sally Ride on this song as well as the fight against oppression and prejudice.

    Dr. Sally Kristen Ride (1951-2012) achieved national ranking as a tennis player, but chose not to follow this as a career. She was chosen as an astronaut candidate by NASA, and in 1983 she was selected to serve on a six-day flight of the orbiter Challenger, becoming the first American woman to reach outer space. The bisexual Ride engaged in a lesbian relationship with the writer Tam O'Shaughnessy from 1985 until her death on July 23, 2012 from pancreatic cancer.

Comments: 1

  • Chris from Germany this song is a homage to SALLY RIDE one of the first female astronauts. i think she wrote the song about her as inspiration. both are/were female, enthusiastic and lesbian
see more comments

Editor's Picks

How The Beatles Crafted Killer Choruses

How The Beatles Crafted Killer ChorusesSong Writing

The author of Help! 100 Songwriting, Recording And Career Tips Used By The Beatles, explains how the group crafted their choruses so effectively.

Queen

QueenFact or Fiction

Scaramouch, a hoople and a superhero soundtrack - see if you can spot the real Queen stories.

Meshell Ndegeocello

Meshell NdegeocelloSongwriter Interviews

Meshell Ndegeocello talks about recording "Wild Night" with John Mellencamp, and explains why she shied away from the spotlight.

Tom Waits Lyrics Quiz

Tom Waits Lyrics QuizMusic Quiz

Pool balls, magpies and thorns without roses - how well do you know your Tom Waits lyrics?

Annie Haslam of Renaissance

Annie Haslam of RenaissanceSongwriter Interviews

The 5-octave voice of the classical rock band Renaissance, Annie is big on creative expression. In this talk, she covers Roy Wood, the history of the band, and where all the money went in the '70s.

British Invasion

British InvasionFact or Fiction

Go beyond The Beatles to see what you know about the British Invasion.