Does a woman lead sell music?
Coming home from work tonight, I was listening to the radio because I left my CD's at home. Because a local radio station is promoting its fall concert (X Fest), they decided to play a song from one of the acts that will be performing (albeit on the second stage). The song was from Megan McCauley. I thought she and her band sounded way too much like Evanescence. I don't even like Evanescence but they should be kind of pissed. Which brings up a point: Evanescence and that guy from Seether had a duet. Are Megan McCauley and the guy from Weezer going to make one also?
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Sorry. I just feel that female lead singers are often just put there to fill a role. All-woman bands are never really interesting. I don't know why that is. Besides the fact they sing about love too much, they don't really seem to make their own style. The only thing that sets them apart is the vocalist. As a musician, I don't think the vocalist should be the only thing that makes a band. Out of all the great bands and musicians, how many have had a woman lead? I'm not saying that girls are terrible. Many women are great at singing. They have such rich and beautiful voices. Their place shouldn't just be in pop or country or christian. But I think they need to try stylistic differences. Courtney Love is the prime example of a terrible lead woman. A lot of song ideas she stole from Kobain (who I don't like at all by the way).
If a band with a woman (that plays her own instrument) emerges that has a distinct and very musical style, I would gladly take a listen and have absolute respect for them (and her as well). But because they so often use status quo musical styles, I try to stay away as often as I can.
Read on-->
Sorry. I just feel that female lead singers are often just put there to fill a role. All-woman bands are never really interesting. I don't know why that is. Besides the fact they sing about love too much, they don't really seem to make their own style. The only thing that sets them apart is the vocalist. As a musician, I don't think the vocalist should be the only thing that makes a band. Out of all the great bands and musicians, how many have had a woman lead? I'm not saying that girls are terrible. Many women are great at singing. They have such rich and beautiful voices. Their place shouldn't just be in pop or country or christian. But I think they need to try stylistic differences. Courtney Love is the prime example of a terrible lead woman. A lot of song ideas she stole from Kobain (who I don't like at all by the way).
If a band with a woman (that plays her own instrument) emerges that has a distinct and very musical style, I would gladly take a listen and have absolute respect for them (and her as well). But because they so often use status quo musical styles, I try to stay away as often as I can.
posted by LeifEriksson at 10:59 PM
11 Comments:
evanescence aint great.
about the female lead thing, just look at no doubt. gwen was always the center of that band and now shes done a solo pop thing that sucks. older no doubt songs were good and catchy.
Early No Doubt is probably one of the best known bands with a woman lead that is somewhat respectable. Unfortunately, I don't like their style. Oh well. I don't like the Beatles either but I can still respect them as artists.
i liked No Doubt, but they really sold out big.
as for the Beatles, i don't like them either, but they are better than many bands out there.
One definitely comes to mind, Janis Joplin as the front to Big Brother and the Holding Company. But, since then, none quite meet the criteria you've layed out.
quohogian makes a good point about Joplin. It's too bad more women like her were never found. She actually stayed true to a musical root that formed in her when she was young. She didn't try to sing with no background in it like so many today, just because they want to.
wow i think for some reason this topic has kind of hit something in me, not angrily, just that it is quite interesting. i think because im a female, i have a slightly different perspective.
i do think there arent many real rockin females doing their gender justice in mainstream music. many that go down that path, succumb to the whole sexifying of image syndrome, they arent taken seriously, their label wont let them be taken seriously or are being released because they are superficially appealing while the music is crap. this really shits me, but thats why you stay away from that side of music.
i dont know if you mean specifically women fronting all male bands but... back in the day, janis joplin definitly, my personal favourite is patti smith, check out "horses." shes an inspiration to me. perhaps also nico with the velvet underground? even joni mitchell, have you seen "the last waltz?" she does a beautiful song with 'the band.'
theres the band 'garbage' with shirley manson, i think thats her name. have you heard le tigre? stylistic difference is very much there. karen o from the yeah yeah yeahs. andrea zolo of pretty girls make graves. pj harvey, tori amos, scout niblett, meg white, amanda in the dresden dolls, eleanor from fiery furnaces, paz who was in a perfect cirlce... they are just the females ive acknowledged in the past and have in my cd collection.
sorry if this went off topic and turned into something of a feminist rant :)
No, it's very good. Many times it is the fact that a woman will become a sex symbol. Instead of finding someone talented, a band has someone pretty so they can make it further. It's frustrating because I want so much to like women in music, but can't because so often talent is less of a standard than looks.
yeah i do agree, appearance does over shaddow real talent... but thats life and thats the music/television/movie industry.
my personal pet hate at the moment is the slew of that modern popular 'punk' that is out now. i dont know who they are but i turn on a music channel and you see pretty boy punks with mediocre voices and skill playing songs about how the world is against them. to me, it only seems to be about the image. what happend to the real punk spirit? sex pistols? the clash? patti smith? im so turned off by this mtv punk generation and i dont want to be because surely there is some decent stuff out there. any suggestions?
by the way who is megan mccauley? i had a quick look at her website, she seems interesting.
noweigan wood:
i am glad you brought up Garbage, they are a good band. as for the yeah yeah yeahs, they are not so good.
the white stripes are a good band, i especially like 'Dead Leaves on The Dirty Ground'. however, meg white plays nearly identical beats on many tracks and the beats she plays, i knew how to do when i first played the drums.
a tip- instead of watching MTV, check out Fuse, they have more rock and metal. as for overall music, purevolume has a ton of lesser known bands and signed artists. great website. our friend here has a link on the side.
Check out the Ana Popovich Band. Born in Belgrade, former Yugoslavia, she is lead guitarist and vocals. Obviously, influenced by Page, Vaughn, and Hendrix. In fact, she played with a recent Hendrix tour. Vocals are reminiscent of an Annie Lennox or Chrissie Hynde. By the way, two very competent and talented female leads.
...meaning to say: a recent Hendrix TRIBUTE tour.
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