The Observer
has an article on the NME’s annual Cool List which this year has placed
a woman in premier position. Beth Ditto from the Gossip is apparently
THE coolest person in music, and of the top 10, five are female.
However, the cover of the magazine has not gone to any of these, but to
all-male Muse instead- something which Lily Allen (one of these top
five, and supposed cover star) has been lambasting on her blog –
"you
thought that your readers might not buy a magazine with an overweight
lesbian and a not particularly attractive looking me , on the front .
Wankers .’
Lily makes some important points on women
being accepted as true musical artists however they look- particularly
infuriated by NME’s editor Conor McNicholas’ comment that these women
are "living proof that you can still rock a crowd when you’re wearing
stilettos". So far the post has received 629 comments, and support from
The Observer’s reporter.
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I completely agree with Lily Allen’s comments. A percentage of the NME’s readers will be female and I’m sure many like me would be insulted bu Conor McNicholas’ comments “living proof that you can still rock a crowd when you’re wearing stilettos.” I think he was meaning to say “yes you can still rock a crowd if your female.”
There is still quite a male dominance in rock music, as a female drummer, I have experienced looks and comments ‘is she the guitarists girlfiend’ etc. I have managed to laugh off such things most of the time, as after I have played a gig people are quick to congratulate. I still feel its a shame however, that publications such as the N.M.E imply women have to try just that bit harder, to prove themselves worthy.
November 28th, 2006 at 6:35 am