“When I started singing...I had my heart set on being a background singer. I wanted to be like Mary Clayton—she was a wonderful background singer for the Rolling Stones. You know, I figured if I can't be Mick Jagger, I want to be her...but that didn't work out for me. I couldn't dance and sing well...
“So I fought. And so the manager said, 'Get the one in the back who sings good but can't dance up front and then I'll manage you,' so then I did Joplin covers forever...that was my first gig, doing a Joplin tribute band.”*
And then she was Cyndi Lauper.
We all recognize Lauper; we all know she sang Time after Time and Girls Just Wanna Have Fun. We might call her an icon.
She decided she'd never be Jagger, so she set out to be a background singer whom I had to google, and then she got her start basically doing an impression of a late performer...
“So I fought. And so the manager said, 'Get the one in the back who sings good but can't dance up front and then I'll manage you,' so then I did Joplin covers forever...that was my first gig, doing a Joplin tribute band.”*
And then she was Cyndi Lauper.
She decided she'd never be Jagger, so she set out to be a background singer whom I had to google, and then she got her start basically doing an impression of a late performer...
So many artists—writers, singers, painters—struggle with finding an original voice that belongs to only them. As a writer writer, I struggle with it: I was hit with the hard reality a couple years ago when I reread a few blog posts after completing a popular young-adult-fiction novel; I was inadvertently but blatantly imitating the author's voice. And it wasn't even a style I particularly aspired to. And my teenage-hood poetry? A thinly veiled caricature of cummings/Angelou's lovechild to say the least...
When it comes to singing or writing songs, I have almost the opposite problem: I listen to a Neko Case album and I think, “I'm supposed to sound like that,” and then I listen to a Tom Waits album and I think, “I'm supposed to sound like that,” and I repeat that while listening to Kurt Vile and Cat Power and Nick Cave and so on and so on.
In case you're wondering, no, I don't sound like any of those artists...I will never be Jagger.
So what am I supposed to do? How am I supposed to find my voice? I guess the answer is pretty clear. I just have to find some esoteric sidekick and try to be them until someone notices it and then I'll imitate the art of a deceased person and then I'll...I guess I'll go back to publishing stories about sponge bathing in Walmart bathrooms. I guess what I'm trying to say is I'm afraid I may have already found my voice. It is the voice of the narrator of the weirdo who takes her dog to the liquor store so she can play on the carpet.
*transcribed from Chelsea Lately
I know exactly what you mean. Except for the dog and the liquor store part.That part I am not entirely clear on. But the rest? Solid.
ReplyDeletecheap soccer jerseys
ReplyDeleteburberry outlet
michael kors outlet
insanity
timberland outlet
herve leger sale
ray ban aviator sunglasses
kate spade uk
air max 90
mac cosmetics
louis vuitton outlet online
kate spade handbags
new balance
hollister clothing
michael kors outlet store
christian louboutin outlet
puma sneakers
puma shoes
longchamp handbags
lebron james shoes
instyler
insanity workout
hollister clothing store
michael kors canada
ed hardy jeans
prada handbags
abercrombie
tod's sale
lacoste outlet
mcm backpack
karen millen sale
true religion outlet
toms shoes
toms
salomon running shoes
thomas sabo
adidas wings
babyliss pro
lacoste polo shirts
tory burch outlet online
louboutin shoes
yao20150401
zd0729
ReplyDeletecheap oakley sunglasses
chanel sunglasses
nike free
prom dresses
michael kors outlet
cardinals jersey
vikings jerseys
mbt sneakers
hermes sale
chanel outlet,chanel handbags,chanel bags,chanel outlet,chanel 2.55
oakley sunglasses canada
nike roshe run
pittsburgh steelers jersey
chicago bears jerseys
baltimore ravens jerseys
coach outlet online
blake griffin jersey
spurs jersey
nike air max
soccer jerseys,cheap soccer jerseys,cheap soccer jerseys for sale,soccer jersey,usa soccer jersey,football jerseys
russell westbrook jersey
michael kors uk
air jordan shoes
rolex watches,swiss watch,replica watches,rolex watches for sale,replica watches uk,rolex watches replica,rolex watches for sales
hermes outlet
nba jerseys
hermes outlet store
louboutin uk
warriors jerseys
ray ban sunglasses
nike outlet
ReplyDeleteray ban eyeglasses
christian louboutin uk
asics shoes
nike soccer shoes
celine handbags
true religion
jordan 13
nike roshe run
michael kors outlet
20175.26chenjinyan