Nobody Ever Asked Me About the Girls

Women, Music, and Fame

By: Lisa Robinson

Narrated by: Lisa Robinson

This program is read by the author.

An intimate look at the lives of our most celebrated female musicians - and their challenges with fame - from a legendary music journalist

Over four decades, Lisa Robinson has made a name for herself as a celebrated journalist in a business long known for its boys’ club mentality. But to Robinson, the female performers who sat down with her, most often at the peak of their careers, were the true revelations.

Based on conversations with more than forty female artists, Nobody Ever Asked Me about the Girls is a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the effects of success on some of music’s most famous women. From Tina Turner, Joni Mitchell, Stevie Nicks, Donna Summer, Bette Midler, Alanis Morissette and Linda Ronstadt to Mary J. Blige, Lady Gaga, Jennifer Lopez, Adele, Beyoncé, Rihanna, and numerous others, Robinson reveals the private obsessions and public distractions that musicians contend with in their pursuit of stardom. From these interviews emerge candid portraits of how these women - regardless of genre or decade - deal with image, abuse, love, motherhood, family, sex, drugs, business, and age.

Complete with reflections from Robinson’s own career as a pioneering female music writer, Nobody Ever Asked Me about the Girls offers an overdue consideration of how hopes, dreams, and the drive for recognition have propelled our most beloved female musicians to take the stage and leave an undeniable, lasting musical mark on the world.

A Macmillan Audio production from Henry Holt and Company

©2020 Lisa Robinson (P)2020 Macmillan Audio

Interesting but, at times, too judgmental

As a lover of rock music, and especially many of the artist mentioned in the book, I wanted more in-depth stories about specific ladies instead of trying to name drop everyone she ever interviewed, Spanning her whole career in a one volume left me wanting more details. I liked the way the snippets were organized. The author who read the book, at times sounded bored and offer too judgmental. Some of her personal views were misguided especially about sex in longer marriages or after having children. Blanket statements like 'men cheat' is a gross assumption as well.

Love this book!

A humanizing view of what it’s like to be a woman in the music industry. Spanning the last 40 something years of Lisa’s life as a journalist on the road with musicians. Her writing is honest, down to earth, candid and insightful. I enjoyed every minute of this book.

Only regret

My only regret in listening to this book is that I wish I had an index of the artists she refers to. So many I want to listen to but can’t remember them all.

Good, but...

I just wanted it to be better. It’s infuriating women are still so marginalized and pushed into a corner by men who are threatened.

Bitter Boomer Author

The author is clearly bitter about any performers born after 1955. The disdain and disgust she feels towards Madonna, Britney Spears, Jennifer Lopez, etc, is palpable in her voice. Maybe you wouldn't clock it if you were reading it, but listening to her, you can literally feel how much she doesn't respect these women. I can't get past the 3rd chapter. It's making me uncomfortable.