Support the Support Act!

As a huge fan of music and a regular national and local gig goer, something has been bothering me just recently. It’s all about support acts at any tour or gig in this country, I won’t speak for other countries as I don’t know if it’s the same worldwide, I’ve not been to any gigs anywhere else in the world (yet).

My problem is us British people show no enthusiasm at all for any support acts. Every gig I’ve been to recently, while the support act is on, people just stand there not moving, not even tapping their feet and giving the least exciting applause you can get.

I appreciate that the majority of people are not there to see the support act, of course they are there to see the main headliner. But does this really mean we shouldn’t show them any interest? If the shoe was on the other foot, and you were there to see the support act mainly, you’d be quite upset that no one else was interested in them. I know when I saw Joan Jett and the Blackhearts supporting Motorhead and Alice Cooper, I felt quite sad that I couldn’t get up and dance as I felt uncomfortable as no one else around me was moving at all or even smiling! And this was someone as famous as Joan Jett!

My theory is even if we don’t know the support act or particularly like them, we should either not come until the person we want to see is on, so that the people that have come to see them can enjoy them, or we do our best to show them our support! This band/s has probably either been asked by the band you’ve came to see or is perhaps on their record label or needs exposure. In any which case, if you’re a real fan of the band you’ve came to see, you will be happy that they’ve provided you with some other music to enjoy whilst you wait for them to get ready to perform!

So my thought is to have this manifesto, the Support the Support Act Manifesto! This the manifesto itself:

I will show my support for support bands at every gig/tour I go on. I will dance to them even if no one else is, I will at the very least tap my feet or nod my head, I will clap loudly after every song. I will not say how terrible they are to other members of the audience. If I think they are, I will talk about it to my friends away from the gig itself. I will be thankful that the band I’ve came to see has bothered to put some more entertainment on for me, I will appreciate that the band needs exposure and that there may be some people that have came just to see them. I will support the support act!

If you agree with this manifesto, please copy and paste it and put it into your myspace/face book/blog wherever you can where people will see it!

The Evolution of Girl Power in Music

When the words “Girl Power” are mentioned, it’s most people’s immediate reaction to automatically think of the Spice Girls.

But was it really the Spice Girls who started the “Girl Power” movement and what about Girl Power in the modern day? Does it still exist in music and who are the representatives of it now?

Even though the Spice Girls may have been one of the first bands to actually use the phrase “Girl Power” and also be very successful, I believe the roots of girl power in music started a long time before.

How about back in 1952? She probably never even uttered the phrase, but surely Big Mama Thornton was a damn good start for “Girl Power” in music to begin. For those who don’t know, Big Mama Thornton was actually the first artist to sing the song “Hound Dog”, which has now sadly been overshadowed by the Elvis Presley version. Her version was also very successful, it was number one on the Billboard R and B charts for seven weeks. Big Mama Thornton was a blues legend and is still relevant today. She was performing all her life, right up to her death. If that’s not “Girl Power” I don’t know what is!

The next stage in the evolution of “Girl Power” was in the sixties. Of course, feminism was not at the stage it is now, but women in music was making a big impression. In the sixties, all the girl groups emerged, such as The Supremes and The Ronettes. The girls in these bands may not have been feminists, but there’s no doubt about their success and popularity. Songs like “Baby Love” by The Supremes and “Dancing in the Street” by Martha and The Vandellas have lasted the test of time.

The nineties of course, were a turning point for “Girl Power” in music. Most notably, The Spice Girls.  However there were many more bands and artists that embodied “Girl Power” in this decade. The bands Bikini Kill, L7, Bratmobile and many others helped to create the genre “Riot Grrrl”.

“Riot Grrrl” was a true form of Girl Power. The artists associated with the Riot Grrrl movement were feminists, and not afraid to speak up for issues they believed in. They provided inspiration for women around the world with their political song lyrics and DIY philosophy. Riot Grrrl may not have been mainstream but it created a new stage in the evolution of Girl Power in music. One where women were not only successful, but good role models for girls and women by just being themselves and not just women looking pretty. Riot Grrrl still exists now, although it is still not in the mainstream.

This could change though, as bands like The Gossip now become more successful. Their lead singer Beth Ditto, is not your typical front woman, she is large and proud of it. Yet the media has now embraced to her, she even posed naked on the cover of NME.
So, now we are in the noughties, what is the current state of “Girl Power”? I personally believe Beth Ditto is the front woman currently for this notion. She is happy with the way she looks, and is generally a good role model for girls, she even writes an advice column in The Guardian newspaper.

Other than Beth, there is definitely a new “Girl Power” movement emerging. The artists I think are leading this now are people like Lily Allen and Kate Nash. I know many people may argue it’s bands like Girls Aloud and Beyonce that are “Girl Power”. Yes, they may be successful but are they really good role models for girls? Girls Aloud lost lots of weight after becoming successful and yet only a few months ago they rated their bodies very low and said they would consider plastic surgery in a magazine interview. Beyonce uses her bum as a selling point. Girl Power? I don’t think so!

Lily Allen and other similar singers like Kate Nash and Remi Nicole write witty, intelligent lyrics and in my opinion are far better role models for girls. Lily Allen isn’t afraid to say what she thinks, and even though she at one point wrote on her MySpace blog that she was unhappy and considering plastic surgery, she later retracted this statement and stated there’s more to life than being thin! I love the fact that at the recent V Festival she slated magazines like Heat for making women feel bad.

To conclude, “Girl Power” in music has certainly come a long way. “Girl Power” is not necessarily about literally shouting it from the rooftops, “Girl Power” is about being a woman and successful. “Girl Power” is not being afraid to be who you are and not caring what people think of you, but yet creating a positive image of yourself. Girls need role models to look up to who they can relate to. Music is a great way to influence them, so my message to women in music make yourself heard and believe in yourself!