I guess I wasn't finished.
So, yeah. Moving on. Do you know how hard it is to find generic pictures of women of mixed races (or should that be "different" races?) listening to music together? Try it.
For our next entry, I wanted to do a funny lady singing. No, not that "Funny Lady." Madeline Khan. But let's go with a video of her reacting to someone singing, which is really what makes the undertaking funny to begin with. Which is why Mel keeps cutting to her. The theme from Mel Brooks' High Anxiety feat. Victoria Brisbane.
So, yeah. Moving on. Do you know how hard it is to find generic pictures of women of mixed races (or should that be "different" races?) listening to music together? Try it.
For our next entry, I wanted to do a funny lady singing. No, not that "Funny Lady." Madeline Khan. But let's go with a video of her reacting to someone singing, which is really what makes the undertaking funny to begin with. Which is why Mel keeps cutting to her. The theme from Mel Brooks' High Anxiety feat. Victoria Brisbane.
And this unsung funny lady. Her name is Christine McIntyre. She was The Three Stooges go-to gal for everything from ingenues to femme fatales. And I guess she was an actual opera singer. And she would go toe to toe with the Stooges any day. Now this is my kind of dame! She had really great chemistry with Shemp, who has always secretly been my favorite Stooge. Maybe 'cuz he's the underdog; he has to try harder.
And here she is singing. If you get it, you get it.
I had a close friend as a teenager. She passed away when she still was one, in a car accident. She was always playing music: often latching on to one favorite and playing it over and over. Level 42's "Something About You" was one of them. Whenever I hear it, I like to think she's sending me a message.
Tori Amos is an all time favorite of mine. She is Woman as the enigma, wrapped in a puzzle, inside a...you know the rest. Her songs tap into deep, universal feelings; even when you're not quite sure what she's getting at, exactly. I'd post a video, but in her case, they distract. Just the audio on this one...one of her lighter pieces (which are few and far between and not all that light). "Snow Cherries From France."
I asked Joseph for his input. He mentioned Yvonne Elliman, a performer he's quite fond of. Here she is as Mary Magdalene; a woman for the ages.
Some consider them pure corn from down under. I can't think of a more sublime handful of perfect late 70's pop songs. Little River Band with "Lady." Not to be confused with "Lady" by Styx; but you might!
Back to Japan. I loved this song back in the day. And sorta liked their variety show, Pink Lady and Jeff. Now, you'd think they would've sung their biggest hit song on their own show...but I can't find any record of it. But you can listen to the record, through the magic of the Interweb Machine (TM/Reg. Pat-Pend. All Rights Reserved)!
And I think we really all need to watch some clips from their 1980 TV show, if only to remind ourselves that it actually happened.
Stevie Nicks. Here she is with Fleetwood Mac, doing the lead on "Gypsy," which is really kind of the final word when it comes to all things Stevie. Bonus: my friend Linda appears in this! She's one of the extras.
Okay...this is the last entry. Classic all "girl" group, where the women did all the singing, song-writing and instrument playing. The Go-Go's of course! But lately, I've been reappraising The Bangles, who I liked a lot back in the day, but not enough to go out and buy their albums. I can't pick favorites. They're both amazing bands and gone to soon. Here's one from each of them; perhaps metatextually commenting on the never ending frisson between men and women. The Go-Go's with "Turn to You" and The Bangles with "The Hero Takes a Fall."
Finis.
CFR 3/13/24
CFR 3/13/24