I’ve been trying to muster up a response to this bit of Tony Sclafani-penned nonsense written under the delusion that, since this year’s Best New Artist category in the Grammys is made up of female-fronted bands from tip to toe, it’s time to trot out the old “Women In Rock Rock!” trope that has brought so much lazy “trend” journalism to the world in recent years. My objections have, of course, been laid out in this space: the whole idea of creating women as Others in music only serves to further cement the old patriarchal ways, if someone like Feist whose persona possesses a lot of traditionally feminine traits succeeds is it really “progress,” etc., etc. But every time I try to read the damn thing, I can’t get past its first line, which should probably be in some Hall Of Fame for bad lede-writing because of its blend of bubbleheadeness, press-release-ready bland hyperbole, and, uh, schoolyard taunts:
When it comes to this year’s crop of Grammy Awards newbies, it looks like there may just be some truth to the playground taunt “Girls Rule, Boys Drool.”
I can’t even get through the rest of the piece because I’m terrified that Sclafani will whip out a “milk milk lemonade” joke. Anyone want to let me know if it’s safe for reading?
Invasion of the Grammy girls [MSNBC]
“Few people blink an eye when a girl plays sports or chooses a career in law.”
Man, I blink myself silly. My eyes also pop out of my head like a starving cartoon man who hallucinates a giant cartoon pork loin. Yowza!
I couldn’t agree more, this is a great example of lazy journalism at its finest.
With the lone exceptions of John Legend in ‘06 and Maroon 5 in ‘05, the Best New Artist category has traditionally gone to solo females or female-fronted bands (i.e. Shelby Lynne, Xtina, Evanescence, Lauryn Hill, Alicia Keys, Paula Cole, Carrie Underwood)
What this could signify is simply that the female demographic makes up a larger percentage of the top-40’s/Pop Music audience than males, so naturally labels will push new artists aimed at capturing their attention.
Like, duh!!
@TheContrarian: Aren’t girls just supposed to sew or something?
I think it gets worse:
“Where videos were once mostly focused on the female form, they’ve now become a female forum - at least in the pop world.”
I’m just trying to figure out the creative process that would lead a professional writer to kick off a story with “girls rule, boys drool.”
Anyway, is ruling the Best New Artist category really progress? Ask Christopher Cross how it worked out for him.
no you were right to stay away. it gets worse, with gems like the following:
“No discussion of women in music can be complete without mentioning the influence of music videos. Where videos were once mostly focused on the female form, they’ve now become a female forum - at least in the pop world. In pop, women are no longer relegated to supporting roles in guy’s videos; these days they can use whatever type of femininity suits them to communicate their message.”
Indeed. I can hardly talk to women without thinking about the video for “Cherry Pie.” I couldn’t bring myself to read the section entitled “The Winehouse phenonmenon,” nor to find out what a “phenonmenon” might be. Way to go MSNBC copy department!
@mike a: Arrested Development, anybody?
@jetsetjunta: Actually, I think this new word “phenonmenon” sums up Amy Winehouse fairly accurately.
Has anyone here played Rock Band? Well let me tell you, in my experience all my female friends love it. But they all want to sing. And it doesn’t take long to work through the handful of songs with a female vocalist.
Hearing my friend trudge her way through In Bloom and Black Hole Sun is pretty funny, but it has had this concept of “Chick Rock” on my mind. In fact I was even wishing that they’d release a “women in rock” disc so that I’d have more for my buddies to enjoy when they came over.
Now I fee like a close minded sexist…but it feels so right to want more songs by the Breeders, Siouxsie, Elastica, and No Doubt.
You make me want to go away
You make me want to go away
You make me want to… CROCHET!!
Seriously, wasn’t it because of crap like this that most of the musicians associated w/riot grrrl pretty much stopped doing interviews?
Tony Sclafani is an East Coast-based arts and entertainment writer. And a big fat moron.
© 2008 MSNBC Interactive
I’m still bitter about how fucking underrated Marnie Stern is. Last time I saw her play, it just felt like a sustained, fever-dream epiphany.
Perhaps this article has hit upon something we all need to pay more attention to: the alarming increase in drooling among male musicians.
Or the constant trend of shitty music “journalism.”
“Few people blink an eye when a girl plays sports or chooses a career in law.”
who are these “few people”, and why are they stuck in the 1930s? Shouldn’t he have written “nobody blinks an eye…”? But then, that makes the whole sentence and article redundant. Oops!
“Since 1992, women have either dominated or equaled men in the new artist category. The difference was that back in the day there was always a Hootie and the Blowfish or Kid Rock to represent for the guys.”
I don’t remember ever agreeing to let Hootie and Kid Rock represent me!
“When it comes to this year’s crop of Grammy Awards newbies, it looks like there may just be some truth to the playground taunt “Girls Rule, Boys Drool.”
….aaaaand i want to kill myself.
and i response to righteousmaelstrom, i would like to think that mark e smith, tom waits, and nick cave are representing the malefolk.
@teknohed: But…why can’t we just sing the guys’ songs? Better than they sing them?