Why Selena Gomez Joining Lilith Fair Kind Of Makes Total Sense

Frequent flier Kate Nash appearing on the Lilith Fair 2010 linuep? That seems right. Quirky ArchAndroid soulstress Janelle Monae? Check. Sarah McLachlan, Beth Orton, Sheryl Crow and Sia? Yes x 4. So now the news has come that Selena Gomez has been added to the roster. Wait, Selena Gomez—as in Wizards Of Waverly Place Selena Gomez? One and the same. And before you go getting all uppity and dismiss the young Scene frontwoman as a mere Disney wax figure, there are few reasons to consider why Gomez’s addition makes total sense, Lilith fans!

First, Lilith Fair was originally established back in 1997 to be “the only tour of its kind—a celebration of women in music.” (Hey—that’s what it says on the festival’s website, so, really, who are we to argue?) And last time we checked, 17-year-old Selena seemed to be a full-blooded female. Nowhere does it say that music has to be of the granola-crunchy variety.

Which brings us to the next point: Ke$ha is also on the lineup this time around. Ke$ha, as in Justin Bieber’s on-again/off-again, Britney Spears-insulting, cape-wearing, Maxim–covering pop pal. All rules are thrown out the window by default once that walking soundbite machine becomes a factor.

But that’s probably the real reason eyebrows might be arched over Selena Gomez joining the trek with the rest of the ladies of Lilith—that word “pop.” And in particular, teen pop. Gomez lacks the vague air of danger Ke$ha exudes (no matter how smoke-and-mirrors it may turn out to be). And, sure, Kelly Clarkson—the very first product of the machine that is American Idol—will be in tow, as well. But Kelly’s had eight years to grow and delve into various musical genres as a professional, racking up Grammys, American Music Awards and Billboard Music Awards in the process. Hell, she’s practically a wise old rock sage compared to Gomez.

But so what? True, the year Lilith Fair kicked off, Britney Spears and NSync had yet to splash into the public consciousness. But by 1999, the festival was featuring such main stage acts as Mya and Monica, while the “village stage” boasted an appearance by a barely-known up-and-comer named Christina Aguilera.

Lilith Fair organizers are smart enough to know that, in 2010, there’s a place for the Tegans and Saras as well as the Selenas this time around. As with the broader music industry itself, evolution is the key to survival. And besides, who else is going to entertain the kids who get dragged along so mom can embarrass herself by shaking a rhythm-less tail feather to the Bangles and the Go-Go’s?

Oh, right—probably Ke$ha.