The lead singer (on this particular song anyway) forcibly reminded me of the ridiculous double standard in entertainment and especially (I think) in music between men and women. Here is a man who had not one, not two, but ALL of the following:
- a blue gingham train conductor/trucker hat
- a mullet
- WITH sideburns
- a pasty pasty pasty white complexion
- what I can only describe as a very healthy pair of breasts or an amazingly ill-fitting leather jacket (or both)
Except if you put a female singer in the public eye who was such a hot mess on the outside, what chance would she really have to succeed as an artist, no matter how well she can sing and entertain? Sure there are some women who have done so, but they are few and far between, especially these days where talent has largely been replaced by T&A when it comes to women entertainers. Conventionally attractive plus sexy is what sells for female artists and I think that's so so sad. Especially considering how our culture can't seem to stomach sexuality anywhere else, but our female entertainers better be sexy above everything.
What kind of message is that for young girls? Eating disorders are already practically pandemic amongst teenage girls, but not only do you have to be thin and pretty as a rule, if you have talent without looks, your talent means just about squat. Sex sells but for GOD'S SAKE DON'T BE THINKING ABOUT SEX. And we wonder why kids seem to be so messed up.
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I blame MTV for that. No longer did an artist just need to sound good, they also had to not have a "face for radio" b/c you needed to make videos, preferably with you prancing around on stage with big hair and leotards.
Hey leave David Lee Roth out of this!
I completely agree with you- every time I turn around it seems like there is another awful girl band or awful female singer (I would say musician, but they usually are singers) whose only talent appears to be her boobs, appearing sexy/skanky, and being thin (or, in the case of Tatu, all of the above and making out with each other in schoolgirl outfits). Now there are plenty of boy bands whose only talent is looking cute, but you still get male musicians who don't look attractive but still get taken seriously. You almost never see unattractive femlae musicians in the mainstream media. It drives me NUTS!
Did you ever SEE janis Joplin? Or for that matter, Cyndi Lauper pre age 30?
This is exactly the thing that an organization called Girls Rock! is attempting to change. They encourage girls to get involved with rock music (and actually pick up instruments!). A friend of mine from school started one in Chicago and they have a week-long rock camp for girls and a concert at the end.
GWB: Cyndi Lauper was a fluke I think - she was more of a punker and thus, a token. Plus she had Captain Lou on her side. Janis was pre-MTV. She had a face for radio...
GWB, great to see you again!
Janis Joplin, Cyndi Lauper...that is exactly my point though. You have to think back 20-40 years to identify women who were taken seriously for their talent whatever their appearance was. These days it's all T&A all the time. And sure, there will be some icons still performing today who will always (hopefully) get the respect they deserve, but you can't be a conventionally "unattractive" woman and be able to break into the business today.
Laura, that Girls Rock thing sounds great, I hope they can make a difference.
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