The new wave of young female musicians

I have to say that I'm relieved. There have always been strong women projecting their images in rock, and to some extent pop music, here and there. But despite strides in the 1980's and 1990's, I was feeling that the marketing people were really getting way too twisted for my personal taste. Yes I realize certain "forumulas" sell especially in pop music, but the early part of this decade was really getting me down.

All the young female artists being marketed by the corporations, to the young girls out there in yes, the single age range digits, -- Well I will admit it was getting to me. Britney Spears, Christina Aguillera, Mandy Moore, Jessica Simpson. Each I realize have different levels of talent, or not, etc. Yet each was being put out there, and I saw my young cousins vibrate toward them, faster than moths toward torrid flames. When the dust settled it seemed like it was, and still is Britney vs. Christina. Personally, I don't care that much for either, although I will say some of their songs have good pop hooks, as any good, prefab pop should have and personally I think both have some talent, both Disney trained and all that, although Christina has the most vocally, she's got something that's truly a gift there with her voice.

Yet it all seems to be about the image, the marketing and merchandising, which in the music industry/business, is yes, greatly the way it goes. I found most of it very sexualized, okay over the top in the sexual imagery and aimed not just at the Baby Boomer and Post-Boom guys, but at the little girls (the pre- pre- teens) -- That's what got me upset.

I was just saying to my little cousins, I don't hate Britney, I just want her to get dressed. You know I wasn't trying to alienate her from her idol, just put some perspective on the whole thing. I mean at this point, I felt like "we" (as in the entire free world at least) has seen most of her physical attributes, and enough already. If you want to sing fine, but my we've already seen everything you own (if you know what I mean). Now I think Christina's second album is being eclipsed by all the sexualized marketing now as well...I think the marketing people should really go back to the bar or whatever. They say no publicity is bad publicity, which it isn't, yet I don't think she's gonna be collecting a diamond album sales on that one, although time will truly tell. Seems though the whole "seamless concept" thing has failed. And in the mean time, Britney is cutting her sabbatical short to start her next album, before she loses the rest of her fan base, especially since most young audience attention spans are at a critical low point.

I felt somewhat justified that entire commercial plan for these female artists hasn't turned into brand extensions so easily. Britney's star vehicle movie "Crossroads" wasn't the hugest of hits. I was number one, for a week of two and quickly eclipsed. So was Eminem's (but that's a whole other discussion). But I was glad when I heard the numbers on the box office returns were squashed by rather quickly...And I was glad my aunt didn't let my little cousin see it (just for the principle).

This is what gives me hope though. The new girls. Michelle Branch, Avril Lavigne, Vanessa Carlson. Pretty young things who sing and write their own stuff. Michelle plays guitar and Vanessa plays the piano. The images and the marketing play this up as well. Avril is being marketed as more of the Anit-Britney, skater punk girl. And as contrived as it is into itself, I don't care. In fact I'm almost giddy -- Strong, young, attractive and talented girls -- I hope will inspire the under 12 set, preteens & teens, not only want to shimmy around scantily clad but maybe become musicians themselves, because you never know.

Now I'm not so naive to thing this is all just out of no where, although once in awhile fate takes a hold of the status quo and gives it a good kick. For example grunge just made everyone stand on their head for a little while. Then of course the industry caught on, and turned it out themselves and everyone else moved on. Any art form whether visual, audio, literary, etc. can't stand still, the next thing always develops out of what was and the rest gets a place if not often a footenote in history.

But in this case, I don't care who are pushing these girls on the industry side, or that there's a marketing plan, which of course there is -- Whoever they are (and I hope some of them are chicks) are doing something for the greater good. And until they start stripping on MTV (yeek I hope not), I'm going to smile every time I hear them on the radio.