Scarlett Johansson & Debbie Harry?
How strange- the pairing up of Hollywood actress Scarlett Johansson & eighties Rock icon, Debbie Harry in a myspace “Artist On Artist” interview. Johansson has recently released her debut album “Anywhere I lay In My Head”, whilst Blondie’s, Debbie Harry is celebrating Blondie’s album “Parallel Lines’” 30th anniversary. I found this clip interesting as it highlights the growth that women, collectively, have experienced within the field of rock music.
-Ellie
why the novelty?
It seems to becoming ever the more prevelant that rock chicks must be labelled so. Just in case no-one in the public has noticed? Or maybe, just maybe, there is still something novel about a girl who attempts to take on the boys.
Every typical “search for a star” show on television (you know what i’m talking about and don’t try to tell me you haven’t sat and watched it) has an identifiable formula- token rock chick seems a never fail. And they must be referred to as the rock chick thus instantly imprinting an image that can be both endearing and alienating to a potential audience.
And i can’t think of any that have won.
This article from the Canadian newspaper The Star shows a former “Idol” contestant cashing in on her novelty.
Peck is petite, really rocking a black pencil skirt and turquoise tank top, but insists she is chunky. “I lost 10 pounds,” she says. “In my industry, I’m still chubby, but I have skinny, chicken legs. I won’t be wearing low rider jeans with my belly hanging out.”
It’s sad that it’s still all about the image. But, I suppose, that is what sells.
-kass.
lift up your skirt and speak
Doing my research, i’ve come across so many theories on women and how they (basically) exist within the structures of rock. Earlier in the blog we discussed the role of women as fans (and though a derogatory term- “groupie” is the inevitable next step), and I think that the ways in which the “girls of rock and roll” can participate in the genre is very limited. In the book “the Sex Revolts” it was really interesting to read about the idea that female performers will fit into one of four categories.
Examples of past performers are easy to see, but I’m having difficulty placing present ones. See if you can identify any (I think that there is still such a lack of true female rock and roll stars that we aren’t too spoilt for choice in the tiny pool of potential candidates.)
1. the straight forward can do approach. stylistically a tomboy, these women reject ‘girly’ notions in an attempt to fit in with the boys of the scene. They personify the stereotypical attitudes of men in rock. Examples include Suzie Quatro and Joan Jett.
2. the second group infuse some feminine qualities into tock rather than imitate the men of the genre. They are girls, they don’t deny it. Janis Joplin is prime example.
3. the use of femininity as creative expression to utilise in performance. examples- kate bush, annie lennox and siouxie sioux.
4. this group is rebellious against the “constraints” of gender. They are internally conflicted between the biology of their sexuality and the construction of the female gender. They are typical of searching for identity. example- patti smith.
i think that an artist like pink ( who admittedly straddles the pop genre, though still has clear rock tendancies) is a good example of group four. she actively challenges stereotypes and seems to have finally come to terms with her gender after struggling with the many aspects over her last few albums.
-kass.
Reynolds and Press (1996) “The Sex Revolts” cambridge press.
who needs boys when you’ve got guitars?
the Slits reminisced about the masculine opposition to women in punk in the book “Punk Rock: So What?”
Drummer Palmolive recalled Malcom McLaren (best known as manager of the Sex Pistols) approaching the band. Alledgedly he said “I want to work with you because youre girls and you play music. I hate music and I hate girls. I thrive on hate. I wanna work with you.”
to which Palmolive replied “No, thank you,” thinking he was trying to break them up.
the slits with “typical girls”
(i find it not dissimilar to a lot of current girl bands including Robots in Disguise)
.
-kass
sex wars
Women and Punk.
Punk became a test case for the abilities of a young generation to assert authority and alter values. Women were able to abandon the underground limits of performance and became increasingly present on the scene. Artists like Siouxsie Sioux and the Banshees, the Slits, the Raincoats, the Mo-Dettes and the Catholic Girls all pushed idealism of women to the limit. Sioux graced the stage in a fetish costume, the Slits stood naked on the cover of their album, all female punk bands openly defied the tradition of conforming to a conservative British society.
Sex Wars ensued. A literal battle for the territory of stage between males and females, as well as in the street, in the workplace. Women were getting noticed as capable and equal.
The “harshness” of female punks seems to be in direct opposition to the “liberation” and sexual freedom of the 60’s and 70’s. New punks decided that sexual freedom of women was in fact just an easier reason for Men to sleep with them, and that nothing was really achieved as inequality was still rife. The ‘hippy’ views of sexual-liberation seems to be at great contrast to the ideals of empowerment.
Marianne Faithful says of the time she met Brian Jones of the Rolling Stones in the 60’s “I was in his flat, I was a pretty girl… it was almost de rigueur tha the make a pass at me, it was the new sexual politesse. For my part, i thought, Oh he’s making a play for me. I really should let him… Hippie ettiquette. You just sort of went along, didn’t you?” So in the time of the sexual revolution, it seems that if you weren’t sleeping around, you were holding up the revolution.
Punk provided an outlet for agression, experimentation and open reaction to the new ideals emerging on female sexuality. The women in the punk movement connected with the feminist literature of the time, and believed not necessarily in forming to simulate other punk bands of the era but instead to be different.Liz Naylor, co-editor of Manchester-punk magazine ‘City Fun’ said it was “More about being a freak than a punk” when referencing the movement of women forming bands.
It was about finding strength and confidence for women. “We’d walk down the street as a bunch and feel very, very powerful,” says a member of the Slits.
by kass.
Sabin, R. (1999) “Punk Rock: So What?” Routledge Press.
Chipmunk Rock and Roll?
I randomly came across a song from the cartoon show “The Chipmunks”, it’s called “The Girls of Rock and Roll”. I looked up the lyrics and right there in the third verse is the ‘chipettes’ singing the line, “ You’re living in a man’s world, They tell us.” Even in a children’s TV show women in rock and roll are undermined! Its basically harmless in a little kiddies show but it really shows that rock and roll is stereotyped as a ‘mans world’.
Sources:
http://www.lyricsdownload.com/alvin-the-chipmunks-girls-of-rock-and-roll-lyrics.html
Lauren Duncan
Women as Fans
A good example of what Diane Railton (2001) describes as ‘the feminine, physical and emotional response of early 1960’s pop fans’ (324). Maybe one of the reasons why women were constructed as fans rather than rock musicians?
http://www.jstor.org/pss/853624?cookieSet=1
By Alex
Where are They?
As I scroll through the rock and roll hall of fame inductees list I notice the small but still reasonable number of female names I see and it reinforces to me how under represented women in rock really are!
What does it take for a female to get noticed in a rock and roll world?
Lauren Duncan
