Video hit Chinawoman

Chinawoman - Woman is Still a Woman

Michelle Gurevich, known by her stage name Chinawoman, is a Canadian singer-songwriter.

Her music is influenced by her Russian heritage, and has been described as slowcore rock and "lo-fi pop". Her largest fanbase is in Eastern Europe.

Life

Michelle Gurevich was born in Toronto, Ontario, to Russian immigrants and was raised with Russian as her first language. Her father was an engineer in Soviet Leningrad and her mother a Kirov ballerina (the subject of Chinawoman's "Russian Ballerina").

Gurevich originally wanted to become a filmmaker and worked ten years in the industry before turning to music. "I eventually tried to write a song and found it was not only cheaper, but much easier to get a good result."

Gurevich began her career recording in her bedroom.

The stage name "Chinawoman" was chosen as a spur-of-the-moment joke when Garageband prompted her for a band name.

Chinawoman has cited Alla Pugacheva, Adriano Celentano, Charles Aznavour, Yoko Ono, Francis Lai, Nino Rota, Xavier Dolan, Todor Kobakov, Jennifer Castle, and filmmaker Federico Fellini as influences on her music.

In 2013, "Russian Ballerina" was featured on the commercial for the Nokia Lumia 1020.

The lyrics:

I just want to be a lady

On tuesday afternoons

I just want to be a lady

On tuesday afternoons

Oh how many woods would a wood chuck chuck

If a wood chuck could chuck wood

There are some things in your nature

That can forge your signature

I've met the girls in boots

By the dead end of the road

There comes a point where every king

Dreams of being exposed

You can take my word on this

Cause you know I am a pro

When all is said and done

A woman is still a woman

La-la-la-la, La-la-la-la…….

I know you're from the village

And I want you to be proud

But with your new found freedom

There are some things not allowed

Liberation was the first step

But you're old enough to know

Once you've made it to the field

The only way's back in the hole

I've tallied the confessions

And I've seen what's at the end

All long to shiver at the mercy

Of the mighty hand

It takes a PhD to know

What apes all understand

When all is said and done

A woman is still a woman

La-la-la-la, La-la-la-la…….

The one who writes the book

Is the likeliest to fall

Part of being an adult

Is the feeling you're a fraud

Liberation was the first step

But that too becomes a brand

No matter where you pledge allegiance

You'll always be damned

Now you've shown that you can kill

Be the peach upon the stem

Now we've seen you chop the wood

Leave that shit to someone else

I just want to be a lady

On tuesday afternoons

But I'm back in office Wednesdays

Call my secretary to book

I've met the girls in boots

By the dead end of the road

There comes a point where every king

Dreams of being exposed

It may take a year or two

But once you've gotten them unclothed

When all is said and done

A woman is still a woman

La-la-la-la, La-la-la-la…….