TOP Female Rock Singers

I'm not a helpless little female full of romantic nonsense ... but able to speak up of myself. 

I was writing here about the awesome Fleetwood Mac and in particular Stevie Nicks while listening to new female rock singers Haim. I was struck by Haim's strong edgy voices and the defiant words in their songs and I thought about those female rock stars who have paved the way. 

Rock singers sing to a rhythm and rock beat, usually with a band that consists of drums, bass and guitars. They defy convention with their look and songs and they don't feel they need to adhere to expectations and the rules, but write their own agenda. They are not afraid of their independence. They retain their femininity without having to totter in high heels or strip to gain attention or to please our patriarchal society. Rock singers songs often evoke strong emotions and they normally also play instruments. Rock band Haim have an edge and are the new FRS.

I was surprised when I checked Wikipedia's List of Female Rock Singers - that they list several country, soul and singer songwriters who I'd never consider rock! (such as soul singer Donna Summer and songwriter Carole King)

I am not making a huge list here, but rather those FRS who stand out for me - two in particular.

*Stevie Nicks

is one of my all time favourite female rock stars. I love her style and attitude and the way her voice cracks yet remains strong and true.  Nicks joined Fleetwood Mac in 1974 along with her musical collaborator Lindsay Buckingham (also her lover at that time). The 'Buckingham Nicks' album, released 1973, was influenced by Cat Stevens and Jimmy Page's acoustic guitar playing in Led Zepplin.  

In Q this month she says she was inspired by Janis Joplin's presence on stage even though she was tiny and by the flamboyance yet humility of Jimi Hendrix.

Stevie wore those floaty surreal dresses and her top hat, a perfect look for her dancing presence on stage.  Along with Chrissie Hyde, Nicks was one of the first mega female rock stars, who really knew how to rock with the band, write songs and sing with an edge. Both were American. My all time favourite Stevie song is "Angel" from Tusk - just has that great edge and attitude!  And also her song "Rhiannon" (great live version on iTunes)     

*Chrissie Hynde

I admired the sassiness and confidence of her look, her stance and voice and the way she wore her fringe slightly too long!  Chrissie performed mostly with the band The Pretenders.

I also loved her songs - in particular "Angel of the Morning", "Brass in Pocket", "I'll Stand By You".   

Other top American female rock stars include Janis Joplin, Debbie Harry (Blondie), Pattie Smith.

There has also been several world class Scottish female rock stars - Annie Lennox, Sharleen Spitera, Lulu, KT Tunstall.

English female rock stars include Kate Bush, Alison Moyet, PJ Harvey,  

Also English pop singers I enjoyed a great deal - such as Dusty Springfield, Cilla, Marianne Faithful. 

 Strong female actors who are top role models - Sigourney Weaver (who played the first female lead character in Alien who was actually able to fight back and not stand there screaming! ), Angelina Jolie,(who normally plays strong lead roles in movies who are able to stand up for themselves plus she takes control of her own media)   
http://youtu.be/stevienicksangel
Stevie Nicks - Angel -

Music Today 2013

The biggest issue we have today in music is to be able to keep pace with change, as the formats by which music is delivered keeps changing at a rapid pace. Along with this is the hankering for the past with the re-emergence of aisles of vinyls. 

The Album Rebirth. Artists today feel that 'music streaming' (such as on Spotify) is limiting for them artistically - while the album format offers them the more classic format to display their craft and the sales of vinyl have surged in recent years.

                                      

Live Music. People today are also listening to more music than ever and the live gig scene is meeting a growing demand, maybe in part because at a live performance we are able to hear the full rich dynamic range of sound - from the deepest bass to the highest vocal detail.

By comparison the drawback with the compressed MP3 sound that most of us travel with, is that we only get to hear about 5% of the sound. The problem is that producers yank up the sound to full blast, so that when we listen to recorded music on the MP3 format it becomes distorted to our ears.

Often it makes me long for the quality richness and depth of a full orchestra - with the violins at the front and the brass and percussion behind. I had the wonderful pleasure of this in January at the City halls when the Scottish Chamber Orchestra played with Cara Dillon’s beautiful voice. The sound was cinematic and blew your senses away.    

The Big Question. Is the music industry shrinking as a whole while the demand for live gigs are flourishing - and as the demand for music for games, apps, movies and tv productions continues to grow too.

New artists these days have to build a base online – and then decide do they take that on to a label or stay independent?  Good management is essential. When is an artist ready and are they good enough? I have seen several young talent in recent years get picked up and signed by the industry and then sidelined and no one can afford to take chances these days. The BBC Sound of the year makes its predictions.  

My son, who is a musician, remarked at a large stadium gig for one of the old-time rockers holding thousands, how hard it was for young musicians these days to fill those large stadiums with the older demographic top heavy audiences.  
 For the future we need the new life blood of the younger generation. Our older heads offer experience but the young bring their fresh outlook and energy and enthusiasms. I'd like to see more older artists work with and encourage new talents.   

                                                                                                     

 As song copyright gets extended to 75 years, we have to wonder why and no other art form has such an extended copyright. A songwriter and his children can now live for decades off a successful composers work (example Schumann). It means the Labels can live off their Song Back Catalogues - which means they don't need new artists. And while outfits like iTunes gives nothing back to the artists or to music..  

Piper Finlay MacDonald and Shetland fiddler Chris Stout

Shetland Fiddler Chris Stout

Piper Finlay MacDonald

Piper Finlay MacDonald and Shetland fiddler Chris Stout played a blistering fun set at the opening concert for the 20th celebration night at Celtic Connections 2013 concert hall Glasgow. 

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Peter Gabriel, So Tour, Hydro Glasgow 2013

There is an angel Gabriel in the bible - and this night Peter's voice floated above with his collaborative, spiritual and one world voice at the shiny new Glasgow Hydro. He is one of the defining artists of the 80 and was once lead singer with the rock band Genesis. 

Outside the new Hydro was all lit up in impressive blues so you really cant' miss it. The new venue is a wonderful addition for Glasgow and comes second  only to Madison Square Gardens New York and the O2 London as one of the world's largest concert arenas. Very Cool. It is wider than I expected, so I'm assuming it is not round but rather oval in shape. I arrived early and I enjoyed soaking up the atmosphere.

We were treated to a full two hour set. Gabriel said part I would be the acoustic starter. Part II the electronic main course and Part III the So album dessert!  And tonight's concert began with full lights in the arena with Peter on piano and Tony Levin on double bass.  He said the search for songs can often be as interesting (or frustrating) as the final destination.  Songs - Come Talk To Me, Monkey, Into The Light. 

He was generous with those around him (no sign at all of I'm the star here) and mentioned his lighting crew, the roadies, the drivers, his whole team, and introduced the other musicians  right at the very start of the concert.  He celebrated that he still played with the same musicians he has worked with for the past 25 years.  

So that when the full electric sound kicked in it did so with thunderous sound and lighting.  We Went Too Far, Under Pressure, Why Don't You Show Yourself, Games Without Frontiers. For Secret World and for song Shaking The Tree he moved over the wide stage and performed his rhythmic dance with the other band members
He sang his wondrous In Your Eyes the enduring love song. At one point he lay down inside a spiral for Mercy Street - an engrossing moment.  The sound reverberated with none of the details left out, as the new arena is designed for clear solid acoustics. At times though the flashing lights and other lighting effects were a bit distracting.  

He was supported by two beautiful Swedish singers, Jennie Abrahamson and Ane Brun,  who also played the support slot when they were introduced by Gabriel himself. 

He finished fittingly with his haunting Biko. Before the song he spoke of how the Photo never lies and that soon everyone will have a mobile phone that records and transmits photos. 
Peter's voice has a clear and effortless distinctive tone. His songs don't take the obvious route, but rather look sideways at the issues. He uses space and movement in his music and gets underneath the songs.  

Gabriel's So album is one of the most iconic rock albums of the past decades.  Released in 1986 (oddly the same year as his close American contemporary player Paul Simon's Graceland )  I remember well the Sledgehammer video on the new MTV channel in the 80s. It is good to see artists such as Gabriel at the top of their game.

An uplifting and majestic concert. Gabriel is an open hearted and subtle spiritual leader. He believes in trusting the Voices of Truth and is a Human Rights activist.  Music knows no boundaries.... and it is up to us.....

So Songs

1. "Red Rain" – 5:39
2. "Sledgehammer" – 5:12
3. "Don't Give Up" (featuring Kate Bush) – 6:33
4. "That Voice Again" (lyrics: Gabriel, Rhodes; music: Gabriel) – 4:53
5. "Mercy Street" – 6:22
6. "Big Time" – 4:28
7. "We Do What We're Told (Milgram's 37)" – 3:22
8. "This Is the Picture (Excellent Birds)" (featuring Laurie Anderson) (Anderson, Gabriel) – 4:25
9. "In Your Eyes" – 5:27

Peter Gabriel -- Main Vocals, Harmonica, Keyboards, Rainstick Manu Katché -- Drums Tony Levin -- Bass, Chapman Stick, Main Vocals David Rhodes -- Guitar, Main Vocals Jean-Claude Naimro -- Keyboards, Main Vocals Shankar -- Violins, Main Vocals Levon Minassian -- Doudouk Paula Cole -- Main Vocals Leo Nocentelli - Guitar, Main Vocals Daniel Lanois - Dobro,Telecaster Babacar Faye - Djembe Assane Thiam - Talking Drum,Tama Hossam Ramzy - Surdo Tim Green - 

Secret World Live is a film of a Peter Gabriel concert in 1993, as part of his Secret World Live tour to support his sixth solo album, Us. The show is performed across two stages: a square and a circular stage, bridged by a conveyor belt. It was released on VHS, LaserDisc and DVD. An album of the same title with a similar track listing was also released. 
The film received the 1996 Grammy Award for Best Long Form Music Video.
The film starts with Gabriel rising up from the stage in a telephone box singing the opening song. He eventually escapes the box and struggles to reach the circular stage, holding the phone which is on a extending cable, to meet Paula Cole. The two never meet and Gabriel is pulled back to the telephone box.

(Note: I had expected some aspects of the Hydro to have views over the Clyde upstairs. I felt there was missed opportunity for an upstairs cafe/ restaurant with a view. There was only Bar and Snack places with limited places to stand to eat.)