A *Letter* to _my_ editor
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I *NEED* to listen to more women ...Why do I listen to far more male artists/bands/lead vocals than women ??? I could say, & do think part of it is the fact that it seems there are more men in the spotlight than women. We had Lita Ford as one of the token _female_ hair bands, Pat Benatar (GODDESS), Blondie, Madonna, Cindi Lauper (way underappreciated), Tori Amos, Babes in Toyland ... But for each Lita Ford – there were 20 male hair bands, Pat & Blondie/ 50 versions of David Bowie & Adam Ant, Madonna, Cindi Lauper, Tori, the Babes & tampon-throwing L7/Perry Ferrell & his motley crew (hee hee) of Jane’s Addiction, Faith No More, Lenny Kravitz ... the list seems endless & that list is overrun with men.Now in a “different world”, (what up Lisa Bonet) ... I would have _NO_ problem with all these men – to be honest in this world I _don’t_ have that much of a problem with it being overrun with men – I like men, _*a lot*_ !!! When it comes to the majority of my collection – I gravitate towards strength. I like intense vocals/thrashing/ripping/dirty guitars, often it’s men behind that sound ... but(there’s always a but isn’t there) ;) , there are _*also*_ the times when I’d prefer finding the strength in a voice just as strong, a message even *MORE* powerful & a heart that is _rarely_ seen in the male dominated section of your local record shop. I’m not speaking of the lovely ladies mentioned above – though they certainly fit the bill (well, Madonna does _now_ – her early albums were shite due to awful vocals – in my opinion). There’s a woman, a powerhouse, an idol of mine – someone who got me through some really rough times – cared & carried me as only a true girlfriend would, _in a totally hetero way ;)_. She bandaged my wounds & ultimately put me back into the game with more strength & confidence than when I first put my hat in that ring.She’s a founding member of a band I worshipped in high school – Throwing Muses. But it’s her first solo album that stands out in my mind as a near perfect *record*, Hips & Makers.College was a really tumultuous time for me, extreme highs & lows ... she was always there ... I’ve always been of the mind that when troubled & miserable, I want to listen to people who feel that pain - _Shiny Happy People_ just never cut it for me ... The Cure, Depeche Mode, dear lord, who’s more miserable than The Smiths ??? ;) They would empathize, not shove positivity in my face. As a woman though, Kristin Hersh got it & knew better than any man could, what it took to commiserate with me & how that would get me out of the muck & gunk that sometimes enter my stratosphere. (If you’ve been reading my posts & comments these last few months ... you know there are others who could fit this bill *Tori* etc., but I wanted to spotlight Kristin).One song in particular, stands as delicate as a dragonfly, strong as 200 year old tree: *The Letter*. It spins out of control – just as my life sometimes did(does), but in such a soft & acoustic brilliance, that it sneaks up on you without you knowing, pulls you in then sets you free – all in the span of 2 minutes and 47 seconds ...I give you a legend in my own mind – Kristin Hersh.& here's a horrible copy of her song Sundrops - I used this in a play my friend wrote & I directed. Bare with the terrible quality ... it's all I could find :)(thank you Kristin, when I’m lost & you’re with me, I’m not to far from found)!
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