“Old Man” — Stella Donnelly
The opening song, “Old Man” off of Stella Donnelly’s debut album, Beware of the Dogs, addresses sexual assault, women banding together and calls out a specific male subject. The Australian singer-songwriter uses wit and blunt honesty to tell the song’s story, voicing her frustration with the post #MeToo patriarchy and singing about strong women over spirited guitar instrumentals. “Your personality traits don’t count if you put your dick in someone’s face,” she boldly sings in the song’s second verse. She also emphasizes the power of women in numbers, “So have a chat to your friends / ‘Cause it’s our words that’ll keep our daughters safe.” Donnelly recognizes her inner strength within the track’s chorus as she aims jabs at her assailant, “Oh, are you scared of me, old man? / Or are you scared of what I’ll do?” The music video depicts Donnelly and her friends parading around Amsterdam and reading a book on self-defense for women. She ends the track while making it clear to her subject that his actions have lasting effects, “You grabbed me with an open hand / The world is grabbin’ back at you.” In 2019, many victims of sexual assault, both famous and not, have been courageously open about their experiences. This track encourages others to follow in their footsteps.
