The Female Touch
Tamarisk
Thursday, 06 November, 2003
When Madonna made her breakthrough on the music scene no one could
have predicted the degree or rather the very absence of such limiting
extents potentially precluding her from reaching the heights over
which she now resolutely presides. Indeed, Madonna can legitimately
claim to be the first woman who spectacularly ushered in a radical
overhaul erasing the myth, perhaps once and for all that the
entertainment scene is the exclusive domain of male chauvinism.
There might be those who claim that the music scene, irrespective of
whichever genre it is, never manifested a latent and much less a
blatant gender bias. Without deviating into the realm of unnecessary
controversy, it is reasonable to say that notwithstanding the
never-ending rhetoric of equality, female artists were indeed, till
quite recent hindered by comparative disadvantages with their lesser
halves.
Nowadays, all this seems to belong to the archaeological past, as some
sort or other of disdainful heritage. The pecking order has been
reshuffled in a more equitable manner sometimes assigning, according
to some critics, the upper hand to women. Today, female artists top
the charts and what's more manage to do what is unquestionable much
hardier to accomplish, retain their top sales positions for weeks if
not months. Alanis Morissette's sales record-breaking album Jagged
Little Pill was only just recently nothed away by another female
accomplishment - Dido's White Flag, as the fastest selling album ever.
Remarkably, there are no Elvis Presley reincarnates around. Instead,
female pop stars in the like of Britney Spears and Kylie Minogue
impart the standard benchmarks against which modern musical trends are
allotted either thumbs up or dismissive rejections down the drain.
Undoubtedly, female ascendancy swept in just as much a rapid way, as
it nowadays appears far distant from becoming even remotely redundant.
Certain queries beg themselves, like what have female artists got more
than their male counterparts? Or is it merely an assumption that women
manage greater exposure on the media and consequently stand a better
chance for striking gold on the international music market? Given it
isn't merely a blank shot; is this rate of superior performance simply
attributable to better image management spiced with a touch of saucy
glam?
Female artists do not dominate exclusively due to their distinct
attributes and skilful exploitation of sex appeal. Wise and
market-conscious enough, they do not shy away from co-opting
successful male artists for duo performances or single releases,
specifically ear marked for particular target audiences. Thus, Beyonce
fresh from her debut as solo artist snatched the opportunity to team
up with the young and promising Jamaican upstart Sean Paul together
releasing Baby Boy, an indubitable chart bolt. Another male rap heavy
weight -- Jay Z, featured in both a Jennifer Lopez single release and
in another title track for Beyonce as both backing vocalist and
producer for the ex-Destiny's Child frontwoman.
The female touch is discernable across all musical genres. Evidence is
provided by numerous success stories, some of which surprisingly
enough hailing even from the conservative bulwarks of rock. German
alternative rock band Guano Apes, publicly attribute their ascension
to Europe-wide renown on their lesbo-looking energetic female
vocalist. The exact triumphal formula used to apply for Skunk Anansie.
Undoubtedly women are nowadays just as able, if not even better than
men to combine lyrics with seductive melodies and make it right to the
top. Though locally, there is as yet no professional recognition for
singers, the unparalled success of Mary Spiteri, Chiara and Ira Losco
(all attaining a top-3 placing) within the much-prized Eurovision song
contests are testimony to the competitive merit of Maltese female
artists.