What Happened? Women in Music

Music News Wed, 08 Jun 2011 Written by Paul Kelly
Adele - The British singer has take the world by storm

In the second of a series of articles looking at Music in 2011, we take a look at what pop music, and those that market it, are using the image women more than ever to sell music. So what’s new about that? Turns out...plenty. Read our opinion piece for more.

As far back as popular music exists, issues of love, lust and all things adult have fuelled the end results of songwriters and the public’s consumption of music. From the overt (think T Rex’s Solid Gold Easy Action) to the implied, we’ve always been presented with fairly strong, but in the scheme of things, not really controversial lyrical and visual imagery.

Even the outcry surrounding Madonna’s many exploits (carrying along with her a carefully manipulated persona so much so that it was a brand more than an artist) in the 1980’s wasn’t actually much. Sure there was the next to nothing clothes, the books etc, but the overall message was one of empowerment for women, or at least a woman in control of what she wanted.

More often than not Madonna was the centre of attention of males (and females) and was generally a symbol of perhaps a quasi-second movement of liberal women. Even that famous Cher video, still had her as the center of attention.

But since the late 90’s, things seem to have changed.

How did we come from that position of quasi-empowerment to the self-deprecating (and borderline degrading) imagery offered up by our contemporary female superstars?

SHIFTING VISION

Sitting in the car, in Dubai of all places, I heard two songs in a row that got me thinking.

There was Rihanna telling me about her fetish for chains and whips (and smells), seemingly forgetting her recent troubles (Note). Then the always middle of the road Katy Perry doing her own Rebecca Black on TGIF (with as much lyrical aplomb):  “There's a stranger in my bed, There's a pounding my head...I smell like a minibar”.

Great work ladies. Talk about progressing your cause. But not all the blame can be squarely laid at the feet of the artist.

Pop music is a business, and one that has increasingly relied on the overtly "adult" view of women. When was the last time you saw a man in short boxer shorts gyrating his behind while staring seductively down the camera? I’m pretty sure it was a Madonna video and I’m fairly certain what happened next I can’t write here.

A NEW BEGINNING?

This all instantly recalled an article in last week’s Guardian with an interview with XL Recordings’ Richard Russell attacking the overt adult-themed objectification of women in music, and particularly videos, as “just so boring, crass and unoriginal.”

This is, of course, for Russell was spurred on by the success of his label star Adele. Her album, 21, has been a phenomenal success and one that has bucked the industry trend. Here, as Russell said, is an artist that we enjoy because all we get is the music packaged as, shock horror, music. She needs no image consultant and certainly lets her ample voice carry a plain-looking aesthetic.

Best of all? She actually looks real. Not an androgynous, dead-animal wearing, child-scarer in sight either.

So what’s lead us here? Clearly it’s been the need to fuel record sales, that’s a given. But we live in such a world of advertising and vertical elements that it’s become necessary to use this imagery to sell product, rather than the art. After all, the target markets for these artists are young female teenagers, tomorrow’s women.

Somewhere along the way, female pop stars have been changed from aspirational figures to commodities. And the pop conveyor belt, of course, is one on infinite loop.

WHAT TO DO?

Adele has been a torch-bearer for the lost art of making music. A woman so inspirational, both in back-story and body image, that it’s easy to forget that the story isn’t that inspirational. A talented woman with an amazing ability.

They’re all around us, but rarely on top of the charts.

We can of course, and moreso the women of this world, put a stop to this. Stopping buying the albums isn’t really the answer. The songs are catchy and I certainly don’t advocate you not enjoying a night out because of Rihanna’s endless desires.

But we, as consumers, can start to reject these artists and the machinery by making more informed choices about other artists. Support your local female artists by seeking them out. Do some digging. Otherwise, go to your record store and pick up artists like Adele.

Send a positive message to the industry and media by making other, non-objectified (but still desirable), artists popular.

For every platinum count on Adele’s 21, you can bet the record labels are seeking out her next clone.

And surely this is better than finding the next Ke$ha, slowly fermenting under a bridge somewhere.

* Note: Domestic violence is a serious issue and should not be taken lightly. We recommend if you, or someone you know, are a victim that they seek confidential help (in Dubai try the Dubai Foundation for Women and Children (http://www.dfwac.ae ).

Adele - Rolling in the Deep