Women artists deserve the spotlight, too
Column designed to reverse trend on male-centered reviews
Posted on April 26, 2007
Modest Mouse, Snoop Dogg, Iggy & The Stooges, Panic! At the Disco, Fall Out Boy, My Chemical Romance, Bob Dylan, Old Crow Medicine Show and Pink Floyd. What do all of these artists and bands have in common?
They’ve all been on recent covers of various music magazines ranging from Alternative Press to Rolling Stone.
John Mayer, Modest Mouse, Incubus, The Shins, Bright Eyes, Damien Rice, Beck and Jerry Lee Lewis. What do these artists have in common?
They’ve all had album reviews printed in The Breeze within the past two semesters.
What do both groups of these artists and bands have in common?
There are many things, but one characteristic in particular stands out: they are all male.
This is not an attack on male artists. Each of these bands and performers are talented and worth reading about (that’s why I chose to review all of them). However, this monopoly of male figures in music is misleading. As these lists make clear, men are simply more recognized. Just take a moment to think of who are considered the greatest bands of all time: The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Grateful Dead, The Doors and Led Zeppelin, are all common answers which come to mind — and they’re all male.
There are many possible reasons for this seemingly male-dominated industry. Perhaps it’s tradition or habit which defaults the public’s mind to accept this skewed view of a much more diverse musical reality.
However, my goal is not to speculate as to why women are so frequently ignored, but rather to draw attention to women who need to be recognized for their talent and artistic ability rather than their bodies and sex appeal.
Women play a major role within the music industry though they generally seem to not receive due credit.
For example, Willie Mae “Big Mama” Thorton enjoyed her greatest success in 1953 when she reached number one on the Rhythm and Blues charts. She sold more than 2 million singles of the hit, but received only one royalty check for $500. Three years later, Elvis reached number one on the Rhythm and Blues and Top 40 charts with the same song, “Hound Dog.”
Motown, the most successful black-owned business in the U.S. during its prime, is known as the creation of Berry Gordy. However, both of his sisters were vice presidents of the business and his wife was executive vice president. She frequently wrote lead sheets, and often performed back up vocals. Yet, what credit have these women received?
Accomplished females like Tina Turner, Joan Baez, Janis Joplin and Yoko Ono all made profound contributions to music, but how are they often remembered?
There can’t be Tina without Ike Turner. Joan Baez will forever be attached to Bob Dylan and the folk revivals of the 1960’s. Janis Joplin was considered the female Jim Morrison. And Yoko Ono will be eternally memorialized for her relationship with John Lennon.
It’s time to reverse the trend.
Women are powerful players in the world of music. While the cover of Rolling Stone may profit more from Beyonce’s body, this column will be a space to focus on her, and other female’s artists’ ability as performers. While music videos become popular because of dance moves, this will be a place to consider the lyrics. While mainstream magazines will discuss the same artist over-played every day on the radio, this will be a place to discover a new name with real talent.
There are brilliant artists out there, male and female, black and white, young and old, new and classic. But this is a space for the ladies. Whether newly discovered, recently released, causing a commotion, breaking barriers, starting trends or just because they are that good, this will be a place of recognition for the women who deserve it most. Not because they work out for four hours every day and have a great make-up artist, but because they have real talent even the Beatles, Stones and Zeppelin could be a little jealous over.