13th Floor New Song Of The Day: Rhiannon Giddens – Don’t Call Me Names

Check out this simmering, snarling solo offering from Rhiannon Giddens.

One gets the idea that Rhiannon Giddens time has come, and this tune song only reinforces that notion. Here’s what she has to say about Don’t Call Me Names:

“The framework in the song is a love affair, but it can happen in any kind of connection,” Giddens says. “The real story was accepting my inner strength and refusing to continue being gas-lit and held back; and refusing to keep sacrificing my mental health for the sake of anything or anyone. I don’t often write personal songs, but this one has stayed with me—it poured out then and has just sat there waiting for the right time.

I got a chance to do it with some incredible musicians and a fabulous producer, and I’m thrilled it’s going to be out in the world; when I listen to it, the anger that I felt then now is the anger I feel at my entire country being gas-lit, held back, and sacrificed. We have to keep saying NO to toxic behavior, no matter how small or large the stage, and keep saying it nice and loud.”