10 Dec 2025

Music with Kirsten Zemke: Gender-swap covers

From Nine To Noon, 11:05 am on 10 December 2025
Images of Sinead O'Connor and Prince.

Photo: Wikipedia

Music commentator Kirsten Zemke looks at what's gained - or lost - in a song when the primary artist is switched to a different gender. She plays four well-known tracks which have been subject to a gender swap.

Kirsten Zemke is an ethnomusicologist at the University of Auckland's School of Social Sciences.

Get the RNZ app

for easy access to all your favourite programmes

Subscribe to Nine To Noon

Podcast (MP3) Oggcast (Vorbis)