Politically Legendary with

Indigo Girls

Indigo Girls, Amy and Emily with Jodi Leib

Photo by John Anthony!!!  Thank you, John!

Talk It Out with Jodi Leib
April 25, 2004

  At the March for Women's Lives, I had the great pleasure of interviewing two legendary women in rock-n-roll.  Amy and Emily of Indigo Girls soundtracked my days at University of Michigan.  I remember peacing out with my sorority sisters on the 2nd floor of SDT, relaxing and singing together Closer To Fine.  Hill Street vibed with the sounds of Amy and Emily, their voices speaking for we sisters, their courage guiding us as we formed our identities as women.

  To meet these ladies as a peer is an honor I cherish, and an inspiration I share with all Talk It Out readers.  Amy and Emily have used their voices to share empowerment for humanity, never shying away from a political message.  These chicks take a stand for what they feel in their hearts is right!  If you ask me what I look for when my spirit finds my guests, it's passion and courage.  These women have it, and so do you all!

Jodi:  Can I have a few minutes?  I'm Jodi Leib.  I host the show Talk It Out.  I interview musicians, mostly, and politicians and some actors.   What Talk It Out is all about is bringing musicians to the forefront of leadership.  I think a lot of people who love music don't necessarily trust politicians.  They sometimes don't have anyone to turn to.  So, I've been interviewing bands and musicians and artists so that people like me have someone to listen to. That's one reason I'm among all of us here today. Can you talk about the musician's role in our society?  Is being a voice of your generation something that you've decided to take on as a responsibility?  What guides you to be so vocal about your views?

Amy:  We're just activists really.  We became musicians at a young age and we've been singing together for a couple of decades.  Activism is part of what we are.  It's not necessarily that every musician has to be an activist, I think every citizen needs to be engaged in their community.  I think that means being active and standing up for what you believe.  As a musician, it's more about being a human.  There are some great leaders out there, there are some great politicians, there are some great activists.  There are some great leaders right now and we just need to amplify what they're saying.  

Jodi:  Who are they?

Amy:  Gloria Steinem.  We heard her today.  She's been around so long, and she's still so relevant, and vibrant for young people, and for old people, and everybody in between.

Jodi:  She's so enlightened, isn't she?  Do you see the light around her? 

Amy:  Yes!  Yeah.  She listens to what young people have to say.  

Emily:  And you know, Kerry is a Pro-Choice candidate.  We have differences on other things, but he is a Pro-Choice candidate, you know?  There's a lot to be said for that.  

Amy:  Yes!

Emily:  And being a Catholic, you know, and coming out with the Church's stance on that.  In all that craziness, to have him stay true to his vision is admirable.

Amy:  It's true.

Jodi:  Thanks for being here.  Is there anything you want to say about any rights or gay marriages, or anything that is important to you?  

Amy:  It's all important.

Emily:  Yeah.  The Anti-Gay Marriage Amendment is sweeping the nation state by state.  There is a really terrible backlash against gay people right now, and it's really something we're fighting for, to certainly not let these things go to the public to vote on.  We would never have had the Civil Rights Movement achieve what it did if it was for people to vote on.  

Jodi:  It makes me so angry, because this gay-bashing amendment is against freedom.  Being against freedom is Anti-American.  I cannot believe this amendment is seriously considered..

Emily:  People need to get out there and vote! 

Jodi:  It's shocking that America has resulted in this. 

Amy:  Yeah.  We need to vote.

Jodi:  We need to wake up, and get out of the shock and the darkness and wake up and vote, and stand up for humanity. 

Emily:  People need to make a connection between a vote and how peoples' lives are changed, and they really are. 

Jodi:  Thank you so much.

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Talk It Out with Jodi Leib's Indigo Girls Interview was taped on April 25, 2004.  Talk It Out (c) Jodi Leib, 2004. Reprint by Permission at talkitout@jodileib.com.