In the Gut

By
Heidi
 – May 3, 2011Posted in: Columns, Stacks

First, a small rant. The inspiration for this post came from a list of great female voices that Carrie Brownstein (the great former singer-guitarist of Sleater-Kinney) made for Esquire magazine’s May music issue. As Brownstein says:

 “It’s not about masculine or feminine. It’s about power, and passion, and weirdness. These days, American Idol‘s gotten us so focused on “pitch,” but with some of the singers I’ve picked, it’s the delivery that’s most important. Being able to reach the back of the room or peel the paint off the walls or make somebody cry. To just hit somebody in the gut. That’s important.”

I couldn’t agree with Brownstein more, which is why I’m always annoyed with these lists and the underlying subtext that men aren’t already listening to female artists and have to be convinced that women are important enough for their (non-sexual) attention. (End rant.) So, assuming that Doves and Serpents readers, men and women, are interested in listening to voices with “power, passion and weirdness,” I’ve come up with a list of my own. I decided to focus on established artists with the thought of doing a follow-up of voices to watch. I wrote my list intuitively, focusing on the singers that have “hit” me “in the gut” most often. The result contained some interesting omissions. Very few of the ethereal witchy ladies that I love — Stevie Nicks, Tori Amos, Kate Bush — soulful powerhouses — Aretha Franklin or Whitney Huston (say what you will, but her cover of “I Will Always Love You,” in all its overblown melodramatic glory, still raises the hair on the back of my neck) — or electroclash smarty pants — like CSS or Kathleen Hanna. There is a certain vibe that streams through all of my choices and I can see where one artist has influenced and shaped the women who came after her. All of my choices, in no particular order, share a primal power, something slightly androgynous, off-kilter and a palpable, frank sexuality. What hits you in the gut?

  1. Kim Gordon — This is what I wanted to look and sound like as a teenager (actually, still do). So cool and tough that she’s not even bothering to try to be one of the guys.

  2. Patti Smith — I tried not to duplicate anything on Brownstein’s list, but I had to include Patti Smith. This song still sounds so dangerous. Is there anything cooler than Smith snarling, “I-i walk in a room, you know I look so proud. I’m movin’ in this here atmosphere, well, anything’s allowed?” (Warning: the beginning of this song might be offensive).

  3. Karen O — The Yeah Yeah Yeahs frontwoman is clearly one of Smith’s heirs. O is famously shy offstage and mesmerizingly reckless on stage, the story of her voice is in the tension of this soft-spoken woman going for broke every time she picks up a mic.

  4. PJ Harvey — Polly Jean Harvey is heartbreaking, scary and soulful. Most of her songs are about pain, but I love the sound of her in love.

  5. Bjork — Haunting, powerful, Bjork sounds and looks like no one else. I never get comfortable when I’m listening to her, but I can’t ever stop.

  6. Joni Mitchell —  Don’t let those delicate looks or soaring notes fool you, Mitchell is tough, complex and sexy.

  7. Nina Simone    — Sensuous, sophisticated and knowing. Simone’s smoky deep voice both eases my soul and tears me to pieces.

  8. Fiona Apple    — Apple’s big soulful voice is the perfect vehicle for her fierce intelligence, sharp lyrics and palpable vulnerability.

  9. Debbie Harry — Harry’s icy beauty has often overshadowed her voice and her absolute weirdness. I love it all — the beauty, the voice and, most of all, the weirdness.

  10.  Neko Case — Earthy, a little worn around the edges , I get sucked in by the deep bottom of her voice and my heart flips when she hits the highs with her bell-like clarity.

Tags: , ,