Denver singer songwriter Esmé Patterson has unveiled a new single – What Do You Call A Woman? – to be released on 2nd February through Xtra Mile Recordings.

It is taken from her forthcoming album Woman to Woman – a brilliantly unique concept where she writes from the point of view of women immortalised in popular songs over the years. The single is a response to the classic Michael Jackson hit Billie Jean.

She explains, “Michael Jackson’s song ‘Billie Jean’ had always really bothered me. It’s this slick pop hit by an artist that people worship, in which he literally says “the kid is not my son,” even though he admits “his eyes were like mine,” and he admits he followed her to her room, tacitly confirming they had slept together. And I was wondering how this woman would feel, how angry and abandoned.”

Woman to Woman sees Esmé tackle the perceptions of Dolly Parton’s Jolene, The Beach Boys’ Caroline, No, The Beatles’ Eleanor Rigby and more, in what is a beautifully constructed, thought provoking album.

Listen to the official audio video below as well as streaming another single from the record, The Glow (and see our earlier post in March on Tumbleweed here). You can also check the full track listing, including which popular song she is responding to…

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1. Valentine (Elvis Costello – ‘Alison’)
2. Never Chase A Man (Dolly Parton – ‘Jolene’)
3. Oh Let’s Dance (The Kinks – ‘Lola’)
4. Tumbleweed (Townes Van Zandt – ‘Loretta’)
5. What Do You Call A Woman (Michael Jackson – ‘Billie Jean’)
6. The Glow (The Beach Boys – ‘Caroline, No’)
7. Louder Than the Sound (The Band – ‘Evangeline’)
8. Bluebird (The Beatles – ‘Eleanor Rigby’)
9. A Dream (Leadbelly – ‘Goodnight Irene’)
10. Wildflower (Bob Dylan – ‘To Ramona’)

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