by Sarah Penello
Featured image installation view, Yayoi Kusama
Aries arrives with the Equinox and the Spring, making sure each new Astrological year is born of fire. Aries is the first sign of the zodiac- those born under the Aries sun are true innovators. It is the cardinal sign of fire- bold, dynamic, unafraid to express itself, and LOUD. Aries embodies BIRTH, which holds the promise of infinite possibility, but is also gory and traumatic.
Aries is like a Volcanic eruption, all fire and brimstone. Aries explodes into existence, hot enough to melt stone, and lays down a solid foundation for the rest of the signs to build upon.
You may have noticed that the Aries playlist is 15 hours long, which is a full 10 hours longer than any of the other signs’ playlists have been. What I have to say about that is: Aries Sun was born to express itself, to break the mold, and obviously, to be famous.
What else would you expect from a group that includes Diana Ross, Mariah Carey, Aretha Franklin, Billie Holiday, Herbie Hancock, Selena and Lady Gaga? Also Leonardo DaVinci, Vincent Van Gogh and Fernando Botero.
In popular music, Aries Sun is represented by people who literally set the standard in their respective genres, becoming points of reference for those who come afterwards. Afrika Bambaataa inspired Q Tip, Q Tip inspired Pharrell. Bessie Smith and Muddy Waters influenced Eric Clapton. Al Green, Teddy Pendergrass and Marvin Gaye inspired the whole genre of R&B.
In many cases, Aries even writes the “standards.” More than any other sign so far, I found that Aries musicians reference one another heavily and record many of the same songs. There are over 15 songs that were recorded by two or more artists on this list. I didn’t include many repeats unless they’re very different, so see if you can spot them!
I also found a recurring theme of songs about the Devil, so fitting for those born under the sign of the Ram. Lots of songs about sex, lots of aggressively confident lyrics, and of course, fight songs. Loretta Lynn has a pair of songs on here where she tells someone she views as competition that she “ain’t woman enough to steal [Loretta’s] man,” and that if she keeps trying, she’s gonna get taken to “Fist City.” I can’t think of anything more Aries than that! (To clarify, Fist City is one of the fight songs, not one of the sexy songs, otherwise it’d be on the Scorpio list!)
The works of so many long-dead Aries composers on this list are still relevant in modern times, due to their use in film and television scores. I also found it interesting that almost every Indian Classical artist to achieve mainstream fame in the West has an Aries Sun. Actually, there are many international artists on this list who achieved unprecedented fame far from home- Astrud Gilberto, Tito Puente, Cimafunk, Serge Gainsbourg and Mina.
Regardless of medium or genre, Aries artists are here to say “Io Sono Quel Che Sono,” I am what I am, and “Baby, I Was Born This Way.”
So please enjoy this 15+ hour playlist. It travels to the underworld and back and contains the vast multitudes of dynamic Aries.
About the author
Sarah Penello is an artist, author, facilitator, priestess and witch. She is a life-long student of the healing arts and plant medicine, a chef, a forager, and is amazing at spotting well camouflaged animals in the landscape. She is a certified Ayurvedic practitioner and a Reiki Master, with nearly 10 years of experience.
In 2018, she co-founded The Church of the Cosmic Cunt, a mutable art collective that has hosted over 300 events, including parties, art shows, classes, ceremonies and workshops. She is devoted to reclaiming the sacred in the profane, cultivating pleasure and beauty in the places where we have been wounded, and living in a way that honors the sovereignty of all beings.
In her art practice and kitchen witchery, this manifests as working creatively with the materials that present themselves- finding ways to be sustainably lavish and luxurious. You can shop her wildcrafted plant products and botanically dyed garments at https://www.etsy.com/shop/sasquatchbotanica .
