© 1983 Christopher R. Owens (ASCAP)

IF A WOMAN HAD MADE THE WORLD was written for and originally dedicated to Chris Owens' mother, the late Ethel Werfel Owens (www.ethelwerfelowens.net). The song started as a collaboration between Chris and his two brothers, Geoffrey and Millard, who provided him with feedback on the early lyrics, the melody and the song structure. The 1983 Benson-esque guitar solo was played by one Clyde Spillenger, who had just graduated from Princeton University (where he met the up and coming guitar phenom, Stanley Jordan) and was pursuing a career in law.

For the record, Clyde was never fully satisfied with the solo, but Chris absolutely loved it! Clyde has been on the faculty of UCLA's law school since 1993 and considers himself a "jazz guitarist in a law professor's body." This vintage recording, released in 1984 on Chris' album-length cassette ANYONE'S REVOLUTION, was made using an 8-Track board -- bouncing a number of tracks around to accommodate all the inputs. The sound quality, therefore, was not ideal.

In March of 2022, celebrating Women's History Month, Chris prepared an inspiring lyric video to accompany the original version song. You can see it — with the original 1983 recording — on the ARTIVISTUS YOUTUBE CHANNEL (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fev9w6QxopQ&ab_channel=ARTivistUS). The dedication has been updated to include Chris' late wife, Sandra E. Dixon, who died in 2019 after a two-year struggle with cervical cancer. (www.sandradixon.rocks).

This 2025 version of IF A WOMAN HAD MADE THE WORLD was arranged and produced to capture the unique and magical energy of women that can make itself known when women chant and dance together. Chris Oledude was finally able to fulfill his vision of the song as a duet featuring a powerful female voice. The wonderful Kiena Williams does the song justice! And Mr. Spillenger, now a professor preparing for retirement from law but not music, agreed to provide another wonderful guitar solo.

—————

“Take a look at the world today!
We’ve got to find a better way!”
“If a woman had made the world!”

VERSE 1:

If a woman had made the world,
families would live.
If a woman had made the world,
everyone would freely give.
There’d be support for ev’ry soul.    
Man would really know how to love!
What a different today!
Diff’rent thoughts and diff’rent ways!        
If a woman had made the world,
I’d be unafraid!

VERSE 2:
If a woman had made the world,
everyone would care.
Not a starving child around.
We would only know how to share.      
There’d be no word called “poverty”.  
There would be no selfishness
and no greed!    
What a different today!
Diff’rent thoughts and diff’rent ways!        
If a woman had made the world,
I’d be unafraid!

GUITAR SOLO

BREAK:
Brothers, look around you!
What do you see?  
Your efforts at creation: war and misery!
Sisters, it is your turn to take the lead!
History has chained you!
It’s time to break free!

VERSE 3:
If a woman had made the world,
nations would be sane.
Peace and harmony as guides…
sympathy and trust would reign.    
There’d be no nuclear nightmares.            
No competition blinding the way!      
What a beautiful today!              
Diff’rent thoughts and diff’rent ways!
If a woman had made the world,
I’d be unafraid!  (HOLD)

ENDING
If a woman had made the world, …
I’d be unafraid!
Unafraid! Yes, I’d be unafraid!
—————

Hailing from Brooklyn, NY, Kiena Williams is an operatic soprano who also loves other genres of music and performance.  She first met and worked with Chris Oledude in 2024 at a Martin Luther King Birthday Celebration.

Some of Kiena’s recent features include: Il Tabarro (Ensemble, Giorgetta Cover - OnSite Opera), Festival de coros del fin del Mundo "Naturaleza" Argentina (Soloist- Essence of Joy Alumni Singers), Daniel Fish's "Bold New Work" Most Happy in Concert (Williamstown Theater Festival), and the Elizabeth Greenfield Award Competition (James Toland Vocal Arts - Finalist).

Kiena proudly serves as a Conductor at the Grammy Award-winning Brooklyn Youth Chorus, a Vocal Adjunct at the Calhoun School, and a Voice Faculty member at The Trinity School. She received her B.A. from Pennsylvania State University, having graduated from New York's own Fiorella H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts.

https://www.kienawilliams.com

https://youtu.be/cCVGp_rcSSE?feature=shared