Corvallis group sings satirical songs to spread message about peace, environmental sustainability and social justice

Don’t let the lace aprons and floppy straw hats fool you. They may look like a pack of placid grandmothers, but there’s nothing saccharine about these grannies.

“We believe in humor and presentation,” said Corvallis Raging Grannies member Jeanne Raymond. “We lampoon for our cause.”

The Raging Grannies were first created in Canada, as a way to use satirical versions of traditional songs to spread message about peace, environmental sustainability and social justice. The Corvallis group was started in September 2006, after activist Leah Bolger saw a Raging Grannies performance at a Veterans for Peace national convention.

“I thought they were so funny,” she said, and she had a feeling that Corvallis would have plenty of women interested in joining a similar group.

“I thought ‘We need to have our own gaggle,’” she said, as the groups are called.

Rachel Ozretich took up the call, and organized the first meeting, which included women from a variety of local groups, from Alternatives to War to the Benton County Democrats. Their first public performance took place on International Day of Peace in September, on the Benton County Courthouse lawn.

“I’m not a joiner,” said member Karen Winget. “This appealed to me because it was fun. It’s a humorous way to get at social causes.”

Not all the members are grandmothers, and in fact, men are even welcome. Kathy Conner’s 9-year-old granddaughter attends some of the singing events, and sometimes even holds up the Raging Grannies banner. The group has about 30 people on its mailing list now, and typically eight to 10 will show up for a rehearsal.

Almost all the songs in the Grannies’ repertoire are set to traditional tunes like “On Top of Old Smokey” and “99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall” but with completely retooled lyrics. Some are gleaned from other Grannie groups or the Raging Grannies songbook. Others are written by Corvallis Grannies.

During one of the group’s weekly Tuesday afternoon rehearsals recently, it became clear that the songs are always a work in progress.

“Sometimes we don’t like the words,” Ozretich explained.

Debate broke out over word changes, solo parts and song selection, but even the most heated disagreement usually ended in laughter, and changes were sung through until the group was satisfied.

“Yeah!” said Judith Fisher after a rousing version of “Bush’s America.” “I like that one.”

Sometimes, the issue was as simple as a subtle word change, like turning “weep,” into “cry.”

“It’s the diction,” Loerna Simpson said, altering a song lyric. “Thank you for that upscale word,” she joked.

Finding places to perform is an ongoing battle for the Grannies, who have found themselves showing up at events where they might not have been explicitly invited, but where they knew their message might be heard.

Gail Wolcott came to last Tuesday’s rehearsal with a copy of the Gazette-Times, where she’d read that a pro-environmental music concert was scheduled at Oregon State University that night. She suggested that the Grannies show up and sing songs about sustainability.

“What we’re about is awareness,” she said. “Showing up and giving a little support. That’s what it’s all about.”

Five of the Grannies agreed to show up shortly before the concert and sing on the steps of the Memorial Union before the event started. If they’re lucky, the concert on the steps might help them net another gig n or maybe even add a granny to the group.

The Corvallis Grannies rehearse from noon to 1 p.m. every Tuesday in the Martha Room of the United Methodist Church, 11th and Madison. For more information, email emuselady2@peak.org or show up to a rehearsal. Singing ability, gender and age are not considerations to joining.