Ok, as talents that reflect image go, there's really not much that's hotter in a woman than one with a great voice... unless she is a dancer with a great voice. (am I right guys? *amen*)
So why is it that I just can't seem to get into female artists? It appears that I love female singers, unless they're leading a band, at which point I'm either bored, or annoyed.
Put in a male as the lead and I'm all over it. Better yet, add a solid female vocalist as support in a song lead by a man, and it's likely it will find its way to one of the most enjoyable in my list. But give that girl a mic and free reign to sing on her own, and I' done.
What's the deal with this? Wendy and I were talking about this the other night, and strangely she also seems to agree with me.
So what is it about female artists? No really - I'm actually asking you... what's the deal?
Notice the playlist to the right? Yeah. Devoid of femininity in its entirety. I'm not wanting to be a chauvinist... it just appears that I am one anyway. At least as music is concerned.
Let me drive home the point (yeah, I know... you've got it already, but this blog is called The Long Winded for a reason, so deal.):
Caedmon's Call. Enough said, yes? Awesome band. Great music. And most of my favorite songs involve female vocals in the background. Yet you give that girl the mic, and I wanna tape her mouth shut. Ok, that was harsh (yet slightly true all-the-same)
On the other side you have Faith Hill. Yes, she's talented, and certainly she's good looking... but she's also boring. Excruciatingly so. I may not want to tape her mouth shut, and I'm not put off by hearing a song or two, but as far as buying one of her CDs? What a waste!
So what's the deal? I'd say, besides the annoying/boring factors, there's also an inherit lack of credibility as a headliner if they're female. I'm not saying it's not possible, I'm just saying that being female immediately puts them at the bottom of a far steeper hill than their male counter-parts.
Which brings me to more specifics:
What the heck is with female Christian artists? I semi-appreciate Rebecca St. James, and Michelle Tumes, but that's it. That's all I got, and if I'm frank; I gotta tell you that these two aren't even that great of choices... they're just the best I have.
Is it the way God intended? Is there a deeper spiritual meaning/reason behind men's voices being (overall) more pleasant to listen to? Do you even agree with me? Do you have any Christian female artists that you actually enjoy?
My New Language
5 years ago
10 comments:
I agree totally, not a clue why though. I just do! I do own Faith Hill Cd's and yet, I pretty much only listen to the duets she does with her hubby. So strange.
I agree about the female singer in Caedmon's Call, I skip most of the songs that she is the lead vocal on. Her voice alone is like nails on a chalkboard to me. As far as the lady singers that I do like...I can't think of too many - especially Christian chickies. I have an easier time lisitng the ones I can't listen too with May Grant topping that list followed by Crystal Lewis. I do like Alli Rogers, who is a Christian artist.
Wow, sorry for the typos. That would be Amy Grant. Apparently I don't like her even enough to spell her name correctly.
I can't think of too many that I have to listen too either. But I do have to say that most churches that I have been to have women leading worship (not all most) and that to me says a lot in regards to your "deeper spiritual meaning." I think that the act of leading people in worship is so important and requires a certain level of spirituality...so much more then just making a cd.
i asked Tim.
"do you think a great voice makes a girl hot." Him: "kinda, it's kinda cheese ball." Me: "what about good a girl that can dance.?" HIm: "yeah that's good!" then I sang him a song and he loved it!
I disagree. I love girl leading ladies. Zoe Deschanel, Tegan and Sarah, Feist, and a few more. Don't you like Zoe Dechanel??
i haven't done any research on this...but i think it may have less to do with the fact that they are women and more to do with the fact that you are a man. i think men typically gravitate more toward men in music and in public forums. i don't think this is chovanistic (how the heck do u spell that?), i sincerely think it's just innately wired in you fellas. there are tons of female vocalists who i love, by the way...though not as many Christian ones...nicole nordeman (seriously, not one person mentioned her??? she's one of the most profound writers i've come across), sarah groves, barlow girls (don't actually own an album, but might consider it after hearing their song on rebecca st. james' album), the new Hillsong leaders--Brooke Fraser, and a couple of others that i don't know their names...the list could go on...but I'm a chick, so chances are, Davey, this list won't inspire you as much as your female audience...:) Love you!
Well now, that's just it... I thought it would just be me, as a guy, but after talking with Wendy, I began to feel more like it was more that just a gender identification thing.
As for Zoe, Mariah, I think she's awesome. My point wasn't that there aren't any female artists that are enjoyable, but rather that as a whole, there are significantly less whom are enjoyable than men.
And Lol, I knew you probably woulds say Nicole (or someone would), but I have to be honest; I don't really care for her. She's not "bad", but I don't think she's all that amazing either.
I do agree however that there are far less Christian female artists that I enjoy than secular... which was really driving this conversation, because I virtually only listen to Christian music.
I'll have to Pandora some of the others you mentioned. Maybe I'll find a string of artists that are good.
I am with you, David, though I think a lot of it is the level of exposure given to women trying to make music that's "off the beaten path" so to speak. I have lots of female artists I enjoy - Fiona Apple, Aimee Mann, Eva Cassidy (and yes, Mariah, Zooey Deschanel/She & Him is good stuff), but there's just not a lot of pop artists out there worth paying attention to. Part of the problem is exposure. Record labels stopped having any idea how to promote musically talented women, and so they look for pretty faces of questionable talent that are much easier to market - and who basically let Timbaland decide how their music is going to sound. Country radio has way too many power ballads for me to get into it anyway, but a lot of the same stuff is going on (though probably with a bit less Timbaland).
Isn't that funny, my IPod is filled with male lead songs only. Even the secular bands I listen to are male...you really got me thinking.
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