I was sixteen years old... visiting my friend's sister at college.
I loved her voice, and at the time had know idea how her music would later mean everything to me. Now at twenty five I understand her lyrics in a way that a sixteen year old dosn't... Its funny, I went to a show in like, 96-97 and cried and didn't even know why I was crying. As I have come into my own politics her songs you can say, are like new, I love them for so much more now. She still can bring me to tears at any given moment!
I am much more apt to buy a used Woody Guthrie album because of her that's for sure...I am still a jamband lover at heart, ani is my mistress...
thanks for that question...I needed a positive vibe today :>}

I was introduced to her music when a girl I knew gave me 'Dilate' and told me to give it a listen. I did and was completely blown away. I had to find out more. Not only about Ani but about the girl who had recommended her. Well I did and we ended up dating for 5 years (obviously I'm talking about my ex not Ani :) ). I grew to love them both. When she went through some life changes and decided we would be better off as friends, at first it became difficult to still listen to Ani. In fact, 'You had time' will always make me think of that period in my life. Fortunately, I got past that and now I truly enjoy listening to her again. Sure if I'm in the right (or should I say wrong) frame of mind I still can get a little down if I hear that particular song but strangely I think it just might be one of my favorite songs because of that. As far as musical tendencies, I'm not sure that I listen to anyone else because I listen to her. I will say that whether or not someone is familiar with her work has become a litmus test for me in deciding their musical appreciation. Thanks for the great question.

Oddly enough, I was introduced to the woman before I discovered her music. I was going to college in Albany, NY, and taking heady English courses like Feminism and Post-Modernity. I was meeting with a professor, and apparently Ani was stopping by to say hello to said prof. We were introduced briefly.

It wasn't until about a year later when I was in London that I finally started listening to her. I picked up a copy of 'Dilate' and was hooked. I listened to it for hours at a time, book in hand. When I came back to the states a few months later, I started acquiring the full collection. And now I think I've seen her in concert about 7 or 8 times.

I was introduced to her albums in 1993?4? when Deepa, a friend of mine from Mt. Holyoke said, "I just went to this concert last night and it was so amazing, let me put the CD on for you." That was the first time I heard Ani and I hated it. I remember thinking it was random noise and an angry sounding woman. A few months later someone handed me the first album, "ani di franco" and I was hooked on "Both Hands"- that was more accessible to me. Pretty soon I was "collecting them all", scouring the local college music stores in hopes of getting an album that I hadn't already listened to. I fell in love with the lyrics first, the music grew on me like a fungus since I was listening to a lot of electronica at the time.

a friend gave me the double sided live "so much shouting, so much laughter" album to listen to on the train. it was 3 years ago now.
the first song i heard was "swan dive" which i believe now to be the feminist anthem of the century.
Have you seen the dvd Trust?? check out swan dive especially the final few shots of Ani and tell me you havent seen a goddess in action!!
she changed the way i look at the world has influenced my politics and my musical aspirations. her powerful raw honest lyrics has given me solace and courage to do the same in my music.
she is a medusa!!

I was majoring in dance at the University of New Mexico, and a fellow dancer said she had gone to see Ani play the night before and it was awesome... when I asked who Ani was, she could hardly believe I didn't know. Then, that same week, another dancer did a piece of in-class choreography to one of Ani's poems, and I was all, "oh my fucking god! THIS is Ani Difranco?! Well for fuck's sake, hook me up!"
And the rest is history. So began my love affair with the greatest female musician of our generation. (ok, well, Immogene Heap has become a new fav as well, but they are both in the category!)