You've come a long way, baby...
and these jarring juxtapositions
offer indisputable proof!
Welcome to Vol. 3 of my series
Jarring Juxtapositions:
That Was Then - This Is Now!
It is not my intention to pass judgement. (That's your job. :) This series
merely invites you to compare apples and oranges. Hard as it might
be for you to believe, I enjoy all of the female recording artists
you are about to see and hear. Join me on this jarring journey
back and forth through time as we compare the look,
the sound and the attitude of female singers
Jarring Juxtapositions:
That Was Then - This Is Now!
It is not my intention to pass judgement. (That's your job. :) This series
merely invites you to compare apples and oranges. Hard as it might
be for you to believe, I enjoy all of the female recording artists
you are about to see and hear. Join me on this jarring journey
back and forth through time as we compare the look,
the sound and the attitude of female singers
then... and now!
THAT WAS THEN
ANNETTE
She was our favorite
Mousketeer. Her name
was Annette Funicello,
but everyone knew
her as Annette.
After hanging up
her mouse ears...
Annette co-starred
with teen idol
Frankie Avalon
in a series of
in a series of
beach movies.
Remember that
time long, long
ago, when songs encouraged boys
and girls to treat
each other - nicely?
"Treat Him Nicely" - Annette
(from Aug. 1963 film Beach Party)
THIS IS NOW
DRAGONETTE
In stark contrast to America's sweetheart - sweet, shy girl next door
Annette, listen now to brash and sassy Martina Sorbara, lead zinger
of the Canadian electropop, new wave synthpop band Dragonette.
The song starts out innocently enough - "Merry Xmas (Says Your
Text Message)" - but OMG! - it soon takes a very nasty turn!
"Merry Xmas (Says Your Text Message)" - Dragonette
(2012 promotional single)
THAT WAS THEN
GALE GARNETT
In 1964, New Zealand born Canadian singer Gale Garnett gained fame
with a recording of a pop/folk song she wrote entitled "We'll Sing
in the Sunshine." Gale's single reached the top 5 on the Hot 100,
went all the way to #1 on Cash Box, crossed over to the
easy listening and country charts and
won a Grammy award.
"We'll Sing In The Sunshine" - Gale Garnett
(Oct. 1964, highest chart pos. #4 Hot 100, #1 Cash Box,
#1 Easy Listening, from 1964 album My Kind of Folk Songs)
THIS IS NOW
MILEY CYRUS
Miley Ray Cyrus could have stuck with her actual birth name
Destiny Hope Cyrus and still had a cool stage name with which
to ply her trade as a singer, songwriter and actress. (Wonder when
we'll see "Destiny's child.") Over the last few years, Miley Cyrus
has mellowed somewhat but, there for a while, she thrived on
the controversy surrounding her provocative image and wild
behavior. Submitted for your approval (or disapproval) -
Exhibit A: Miley's 2013 hit single/video "We Cant Stop."
"We Can't Stop" - Miley Cyrus
(July/Aug. 2013, highest chart pos. #2,
from Oct. 2013 album Bangerz)
THAT WAS THEN
LINDA RONSTADT
As the story goes, Capitol records was reluctant to allow Linda Ronstadt to
record country songs. Linda persisted and in March 1970, the poignant
ballad "Long, Long Time" found its way onto her second solo studio
album Silk Purse. Linda's instincts were spot-on. "Long, Long Time"
became her first charting single, a top 30 hit, and she earned her
first Grammy nomination. I regard this appearance by Linda
on The Johnny Cash Show as her best live performance of
the song. In fact, I consider it to be one of the greatest
live performances ever. Watch and listen as this
national treasure, Linda Ronstadt, literally
suffers through the song, conveying
raw emotion in a subtle, restrained
manner - sheer brilliance!
record country songs. Linda persisted and in March 1970, the poignant
ballad "Long, Long Time" found its way onto her second solo studio
album Silk Purse. Linda's instincts were spot-on. "Long, Long Time"
became her first charting single, a top 30 hit, and she earned her
first Grammy nomination. I regard this appearance by Linda
on The Johnny Cash Show as her best live performance of
the song. In fact, I consider it to be one of the greatest
live performances ever. Watch and listen as this
national treasure, Linda Ronstadt, literally
suffers through the song, conveying
raw emotion in a subtle, restrained
manner - sheer brilliance!
"Long, Long Time" - Linda Ronstadt
(Sept. 1970, highest chart pos. #25, from Mar. 1970
album Silk Purse, live perf. on The Johnny Cash Show)
THIS IS NOW
IN THIS MOMENT
Last but not least, here is a first for my #1 ranked music act of the millennium.
It's my singing sweetie, Maria Brink, and her LA based metal band In This Moment
with their first song w/o any "clean" vocals. In other words, folks, it's all screaming.
(There's a good chance this fierce band will stamp out clean vocals in our lifetime.)
In their 2013 Blood at the Orpheum show in Madison, Wisconsin, that resulted
in the release of a live album and DVD, the beauty and her beasts stoked the
crowd with an incendiary performance of a song from their acclaimed album
A Star-Crossed Wasteland. Tap your toes as Maria sings-- "The Gun Show!"
"The Gun Show" - In This Moment
(promo single from July 2010 album A Star-Crossed Wasteland,
live perf. May 2013 at Blood at the Orpheum show, Madison, WI)
And life's full of flaws
Who knows the cause?
Living in the memory
of a love that never was
I've done everything I know
to try and change your mind
and I think I'm gonna miss you
for a long, long time
Have a Shady day!
