Music World is one of premium video and audio retailers where in addition to a huge number of music albums we also find accessories and gadgets for our complete entertainment experience. The following observations have been made at one of the stores of Music World.
Types of music women are most likely to perform
Over the year, women have created variety of music that has mainly been stylish and diverse and has incorporated various elements of rock, jazz, blues, acoustic pop and folk. Women artists have performed almost all forms of music right from jazz and blues of the 80s to the country and pop of the 90s and alternative and punk in the present age. Their genre of music has broadened over time as female performers and modern feminists have expanded their artistic freedom. (Eitzen, 1988)
Female musicians like Tracy Chapman, Melissa Etheridge and Indigo Girls erupted in the pop world through radio in the early 1980’s and paved the way for the modern independent female artists. The Riot Grrl ruled the early 1990s. They started a feminist culture that was youth based and played independent music with an anti-corporate ethical code. Girl bands sing songs with lyrics that are, just like the women who wrote them, mostly feminist and remarkable. Music groups, like the Spice Girls, were able to capture the true spirit of girl power in their performances and convey it to their audiences.
Women mostly performed soft songs until about the 80s with very few exceptions, but the 90s saw them firmly establish themselves in the world of traditional punk rock. Hardcore bands like the Team Dresch, The Need and Tribe 8 sang songs about unconcealed yearnings which helped them attract the fans of traditional punk music who were never completely satisfied being in a mosh pit that was dominated by male. Women artists also performed folk based songs with a hint of punk in them, like Ani DiFranco. A number of them played music that had very confessional form of lyrics in them, like Melissa Ferrick, and were very comfortable with acoustic guitars. Avril Lavgine was responsible for defining hard rocking artists and brought punk rock to the mainstream pop culture in this millennium.
Sarah Brightman was among the greatest women musician of all times and had purity, joy and beauty in her voice. But no other female musician has till date been capable of topping the wonderful and powerful voice of Whitney Houston. Ann Wilson had great vocals and was able to hit the high notes wonderfully. Mariah Carey also has a beautiful voice and along with Beyonce rules the world of pop music. Shania Twain can be considered to be the goddess of country music. Her control over her voice and also her range is absolutely exquisite. She has also sung a number of soulful numbers that are very touching. Anything written about Celine Dion will never be enough to properly pen down her talents. Her songs make us stand up all amazed, as the lyrics are full of feelings and emotions. (Heslin, 2005)
For decades, women have not only been performing but also writing lyrics of rock music. Raw sexuality and gender fluidity is expressed more in the music performed by women today. They have firmly constructed their identities in the hearts of their fans as artists who are comfortable performing any and all kinds of music, conveniently. Their music is full of passion, motivation and determination proving that they will survive even in a male dominated world of music. They can perform with any instrument and have even performed at stadiums and concerts inspiring their audiences, fans and even musicians throughout the world. Women rock musician and artists have broadly influenced rock ‘n’ roll trends. The revolutionary act of Wanda Jackson where she picked up her guitar for the present success of numerous independent musician and artists like Jonatha Brooke and Ani DiFranco proves that at present women have revolutionized rock ‘n’ roll.
How men and women are portrayed on album covers
About 50 years age, music record album covers were plain and simple cardboard covers that traditionally displayed simply the name of the music artist and the working title. But in 1939 Alex Steinweiss completely revolutionized the manner in which music records were packed and marketed. The plain cardboard album covers were totally unattractive and drab. So, he for the first time designed the covers with original art work that projected the magnificence of the songs the record contained. Since then album art became a trend in the music industry and modern music album covers came into being.
In recent times the manner in which men and women are portrayed on the covers of music albums, represent a kind of cultural barometer. They have completely developed in to massive amount of styles and we can associate each of them with a different kind of music. The men and women give us a glimpse of the social climate of the present era. The styles in which the artists are represented on the album covers now give us a visual account of how they view their music. Most of the artists have enough power to influence the content of the covers of their music albums and apply their creativity to the fullest. Most of the times an artist’s image is also created by the album cover art of his or her record through the way by which they have been portrayed. The men and women artists use their image as a brand and thus, identify themselves with a specifically chosen look, as they know that their fans will also be following the same look. Now an album cover has totally become a visual and substantial equivalence of both men and women performers, their performances and music itself. (Bloustien, 2007)
Although after the conversion of vinyl record albums to the compact disc took place album cover art saw a significant diminish but was eliminated. The new way of music was increasingly being defined by modern abstract album cover styles. The men and women of alternative, punk and rock music rule the present world of music. Their music was never meant to sound like everyday things of the real world. Thus, accordingly the art of their album covers also did not look like anything of the real world. Now was the time of abstract music and album cover art. Sometimes along with the artist who sang the songs in an album, the lyrics are also provided for the fans to sing along and also some biographical information is given so that the listeners get to know the singers. If a group of musicians have made the album, then the picture of the group is also sometimes given on the album cover. However, most of the album cover arts are bizarre but at the same time equally beautiful and a favorite among all. (Stoecker, 2005)
The Beatles were probably the most known for their album cover arts. In 1967 the Beatle’s album Sergeant Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band completely changed the world of music album cover designing. The album cover with all the countless faces and the bright jackets, it has been one of the most appreciated album cover arts of all times. Among the other album art favorites is Whipped Cream and Other Delights by Herb Alpert that has a girl covered in whipped cream. Other music groups whose album cover arts were also highly recognized are The Rolling Stones, Queen, Rush, Iron Maiden, Frank Zappa, Santana, Jimi Hendrix and Led Zeppelin. Noted jazz artist Miles Davis used a strange mix of bright colors that turn into proper faces in his Bitches Brew.
The album covers are of great fascination for most people as they are a shining example of modern visual art. We sometimes also relate our personal experiences with it and the unique art form representing the men and women of music outstandingly portray who we want to be. It presents the musicians in such a manner, which no other form of medium could ever attempt to reach. It has limitless creative restrictions and the album cover art, which has become a genre in itself, magnificently depict the countless years of fashion, social values and life styles of the men and women of music. (Keith, 2004)
References
Bloustien, Gerry; 2007; lsquoWigging people outrsquo: youth music practice and mediated communities; Journal of Community & Applied Social Psychology; 17, 6, 446-462; Hawke Research Institute for Sustainable Societies, University of South Australia, St Bernard’s Road, MAGILL SA 5072, Australia.
Eitzen, D. Stanley & Maxine Baca Zinn; 1988; In Conflict and Order: Understanding Society; Edition: 4, Allyn and Bacon.
Heslin, Peter A; 2005; Conceptualizing and evaluating career success; Journal of Organizational Behavior; 26; 2, 113-136; Cox School of Business, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas, U.S.A.
Keith, Margaret M. Beverley Cann, James T. Brophy, Deborah Hellyer, Margaret Day, Shirley Egan, Kathy Mayville, Andrew Watterson; 2004; Identifying and prioritizing gaming workers’ health and safety concerns using mapping for data collection; American Journal of Industrial Medicine; 39, 1, 42-51; Faculty of Health and Community Studies, DeMontfort University, Leicester, UK.
Stoecker, Randy; 2005; Research Methods for Community Change: A Project-based Approach; SAGE.