Pussy Riot are back with a song to celebrate the vagina

Patriarchy is boring — Russian punk activists Pussy Riot release a new song that hails the vagina in all it’s glory at a crucial time in global politics.

If your vagina puts you in prison, then the whole world is going to listen.” So say Russian Punk band Pussy Riot, who since their release from jail after their notorious anti-Putin ‘Punk-Prayer’ protest have not stayed quiet.

Following on from their ‘Refugees in’ video, shot at Banksy’s Dismaland and ‘I can’t breathe’ – a comment on the death of Eric Garner, ‘Straight Out of Vagina’ produced by Dave Sitek, is four and a half glorious minutes of Nadya Tolokonnikova and her team of trailblazers explicitly and unashamedly celebrating the holy grail of female genitalia.

“Don’t play stupid, don’t play dumb, vagina’s where you’re really from”, chants Nadya, clad in what looks like church robes and her signature blue balaclava. In true Pussy Riot style, the video features everything that could cause the fainthearted to collapse, from men donning stilettos in cubicles, women pissing into urinals from their bright blue vaginas, and a girl who, after taking some sort of magical vagina pill, becomes something of a feminist rap god.

The song, recorded in February, was not explicitly created as a retort to the egotistical maniac taking stage in the US election who thinks it’s acceptable to “grab [women] by the pussy”, but acts like one nonetheless. The ‘vagina gonna win the race’ lyric taking on a whole new weighty meaning as the U.S. moves closer to election day.

Whether this overt, crude and vividly brilliant work of art manages to persuade people not to give their political power away to a bright orange buffoon or not, at least it might manage to remind people of the magical power of the vagina that at one point we all spawned from.

Enjoyed this article? Like Huck on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.


You might like

Bus shelter display advertising Father's Day with orange and black text against an image of a man's face.
Activism

Campaigners hack UK bus ads on Father’s Day to demand Alaa Abd El-Fattah’s release

A father behind bars — Placing posters at bus stops around London, Leeds and Manchester, they called for greater action from foreign secretary David Lammy to reunite the British-Egyptian activist with his son and family.

Written by: Isaac Muk

A man with long curly hair and a beard wearing a green jacket against a dark blue background with "Analogue Appreciation" text in yellow.
Music

Analogue Appreciation: Joe Armon-Jones

All The Quiet (Part II) — In an ever more digital, online world, we ask our favourite artists about their most cherished pieces of physical culture. Today, it’s keyboardist, producer and Ezra Collective member Joe Armon-Jones.

Written by: Joe Armon-Jones

Saturated green and white image of a person's face with text overlay stating "CAPITALISM IS EXPLOITATION, PERIOD"
Music

Yaya Bey: “Capitalism is exploitation, period”

do it afraid — Ahead of the release of her second 18-track odyssey in just over a single year, we caught up with the prolific singer, discussing the pitfalls of the music industry, European ‘voyeurism’ framing her previous album and breaking narratives set upon her by others.

Written by: Isaac Muk

A person wearing a red bandana and denim jacket, looking directly at the camera.
Activism

A new book explores Tupac’s revolutionary politics and activism

Words For My Comrades — Penned by Dean Van Nguyen, the cultural history encompasses interviews with those who knew the rapper well, while exploring his parents’ anti-capitalist influence.

Written by: Isaac Muk

A woman with curly blonde hair wearing a black dress and making a peace sign gesture in front of a dark background.
Music

Nina Utashiro builds disquieting, macabre sonic worlds

Huck x Eastern Margins — We caught up with the Japanese-German rap experimentalist ahead of her performance at Huck’s SXSW London joint event with Eastern Margins.

Written by: Isaac Muk

Crowd of protesters holding Palestinian flags and signs calling for "Free Palestine" outside the UK Houses of Parliament.
Activism

A reading of the names of children killed in Gaza lasts over 18 hours

Choose Love — The vigil was held outside of the UK’s Houses of Parliament, with the likes of Steve Coogan, Chris O’Dowd, Nadhia Sawalha and Misan Harriman taking part.

Written by: Isaac Muk

Huck is supported by our readers, subscribers and Club Huck members. It is also made possible by sponsorship from:

Signup to our newsletter

Sign up to our newsletter to informed with the cutting edge of sport, music and counterculture, featuring personal takes on the state of media and pop culture from Emma Garland, former Digital Editor of Huck, exclusive interviews, recommendations and more.

Please wait...

Accessibility Settings

Text

Applies the Open Dyslexic font, designed to improve readability for individuals with dyslexia.

Applies a more readable font throughout the website, improving readability.

Underlines links throughout the website, making them easier to distinguish.

Adjusts the font size for improved readability.

Visuals

Reduces animations and disables autoplaying videos across the website, reducing distractions and improving focus.

Reduces the colour saturation throughout the website to create a more soothing visual experience.

Increases the contrast of elements on the website, making text and interface elements easier to distinguish.