You've come a long way, baby...
and these jarring juxtapositions
offer indisputable proof!
Welcome to Vol. 9 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
CONNIE FRANCIS
It's a different world, my friend. When I was a boy, girls looked, sounded
and acted like Connie Francis and the other coeds in the coming-of-age
romantic comedy film Where the Boys Are (Spring Breakers 2012 was
light years away!). Return with me now to the age of innocence as
Connie sings a song from the Brill Building songwriting team of
Neil Sedaka and Howard Greenfield, the theme from the movie
that hit theaters at the end of 1960 and marked her acting
debut-- "Where The Boys Are.""
light years away!). Return with me now to the age of innocence as
Connie sings a song from the Brill Building songwriting team of
Neil Sedaka and Howard Greenfield, the theme from the movie
that hit theaters at the end of 1960 and marked her acting
debut-- "Where The Boys Are.""
"Where the Boys Are" - Connie Francis
(Feb./Mar. 1961, highest chart pos. #4 Hot 100 & Cash Box)
THIS IS NOW
NICKI MINAJ
IMAGE COURTESY OF CDCOVERS @ deviantart.com
Like Connie Francis and her girlfriends, Trinidad-born rap star Nicki Minaj
loves to go where the boys are- the beach. And, wouldn't you know it,
Nicki's wearing an itsy bitsy teenie weenie bikini. Nicki believes in
partying hard, and she does just that on two Hawaiian islands,
the filming locations for the 2012 music video "Starships,"
an international hit single from her second studio
album Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded.
"Starships" - Nicki Minaj
(May,June, July 2012, highest chart pos.
#2 Dance Club/#5 Hot 100/#2 UK/#1 UK R&B)
THAT WAS THEN
THE CHORDETTES
Nearly identical to Nicki Minaj in every single way 😋 are the singing sweethearts
of Sheboygan - The Chordettes. The traditional pop quartet made the hit parade
in the 1950s and early 60s with "Lollipop," "Zorro," "Never On Sunday" and the
song you are about to hear, a #1 charting best seller from Christmas time 1954
through the early weeks of 1955. Here are The Chordettes performing their
first single, the biggest hit of their career-- "Mr. Sandman."
"Mr. Sandman" - The Chordettes
(Dec. 1954, Jan. 1955, highest chart pos. #1 Hot 100 & Cash Box)
THIS IS NOW
ADDIE NICOLE AMICK
& HALOCENE feat.
LAUREN BABIC &
ALANNA STERLING
Lead zinger Addie Nicole's hair ranges from fire engine red to carrot orange,
and the exciting frontwoman is back at Shady's Place along with her fierce
Phoenix-based rock band Halocene. They're here to perform a metal/rock
cover of "Bang Bang," the chart-topping 2014 hit by English singer
Jessie J in collaboration with American singer Ariana Grande and
the spark-plug who just sang "Starships," Trinidadian-American
rapper Nicki Minaj. Joining Addie Nicole on lead vocals is
Alanna Sterling aka "Mermaid Unicorn." YouTube star
Lauren Babic will blow you away when she jumps in
on the rap part. Yessum, it's three rockin' ladies for
the price of one - Addie, Alanna and Lauren -
comin' atcha with guns blazing, doing their
electrifying version of-- "Bang Bang!"
"Bang Bang" - Jessie J/Ariana Grande/Nicki Minaj
metal/rock cover by Halocene ft. Lauren Babic
and Alanna Sterling (Feb. 2022)
THAT WAS THEN
MARIANNE FAITHFULL
Marianne Faithfull turns age 76 this year.
I repeat. Marianne Faithfull turns 76 this year.
The English singer, songwriter and actress was
discovered by Rolling Stones manager and
producer Andrew Loog Oldham. Marianne
I repeat. Marianne Faithfull turns 76 this year.
The English singer, songwriter and actress was
discovered by Rolling Stones manager and
producer Andrew Loog Oldham. Marianne
had a long and turbulent relationship with
Mick Jagger and the two were part of the
hip Swinging London scene of the mid
to late 60s. Here is Marianne singing
her best known hit, a song penned by
Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and
Andrew Loog Oldham entitled--
"As Tears Go By."
Mick Jagger and the two were part of the
hip Swinging London scene of the mid
to late 60s. Here is Marianne singing
her best known hit, a song penned by
Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and
Andrew Loog Oldham entitled--
"As Tears Go By."
"As Tears Go By" - Marianne Faithfull
(Jan. 1965, highest chart pos.
#22 Hot 100/#30 Cash Box)
THIS IS NOW
ANNALISE MAHANES
and imy2
Lastly but not leastly, here's eye and ear candy for your feastly. Her name is
Annalise Mahanes and she fronts the Nashville-based pop trio imy2 which
stands for "I miss you, too." The band writes and records original music
with, in their own words, "a dose of confidence, individuality and self-
love... powerful, nostalgic female vocals supported by the band's
undeniable chemistry." Here's Annalise supporting a woman's
right to chews... performing a song you can really
sink your teeth into-- "Bubblegum!"
"Bubblegum" - imy2 (June 2020)
'Til he holds me
I wait impatiently
Where the boys are,
where the boys are
Where the boys are,
someone waits for me






