I am sure that some exist, I can probably think of a few.
But I just wanted to point out that much of the time, a musician’s popularity is based on appearance.
Still, there are more unattractive male musicians than females.
That guy from Blues Traveler isn’t so hot.
Neither is Lou Reed or McJagger or Iggy Pop or the Residents (i’m assuming).
Usually, I think that male rock stars who are weathered and ugly are thought or as “veterans” and so they are cool even if they aren’t attractive.
But how many unattractive or average-looking female musicians come to mind?
I think that woman from the Thompson Twins is not that pretty.
And PJ Harvey is cool, but she’s kinda normal-looking.
I am trying not to state opinions, I am trying to be objective when looking at the female rock stars.
For instance- stupid, STUPID Jewel-
I hate her music but I can recognize that people find her attractive.
Dig?
So what females who are normal-looking have made it big?
Well, not to cast stones, there are a few really, really sub-average looking girl groups around. Four non-Blondes, L7, and Cat Food spring immediately to mind. Breeders, while certainly not ugly, haven’t got a lot of “Pretty Factor”.
Fact is, without “pretty Factor” or a clever novelty angle girl groups don’t get alot of press.
Under novelty angle I’d peg The 'Donnas (a Rock 'n Roll-Madonna parody group) and Maggie Estep (yeah, yeah. Some of her stuff’s clever, but it’s never the stuff that gets attention).
Under “Pretty” I’d put Veruca Salt (who are mediocre in person and otherwise wouldn’t get alot of attention).
I’m out of touch with performers, but this occurs to me - it seems to be expected for women to pretty themselves with makeup and hairstyles and clothing - moreso when they’re performers. I expect with the right kind of help, I could be a stunner, whereas IRL, I’m rather nondescript. So that explains why I never made it to stardom!! dang!! I thought it was my mediocre singing voice.
OTOH, women seem to be attracted to ugly men in the same way they’re drawn to ugly puppies.
Well, there was ever a narrower range of acceptable looks for women. Mick Jagger, grotesque were he not a rock star, is considered to be quite as attractive in his line of work as the once-model-handsome Bryan Ferry. This is a Good Thing, actually, but one wishes some of that latitude would extend to the women.
To reply to the question: Maddy Prior of Steeleye Span was and is quite plain, and her fans, I among them, adore her. And, of course, “ugliness” is part of the Janis Joplin legend, though pictures of her make one wonder why she was considered (or considered herself) so unattractive. Bette Midler might fall under the broad banner as well, though she seems to me be more chameleonlike than plain. Yaz had a fattish woman lead singer in the early '80s, I recall as well.
As to the young aspiring rock chick, I think that, in this video-driven age, one had better be thin first, then at least photogenic, if not actually gorgeous. Ability to sing, as Britney Spears can tell you, is not really a consideration.
Uh… anybody see Chrissy Hynde recently? (Pretenders) From a distance, MAMACITA but as the camera closes in… YIPES! Keep away from small children! You don’t want anybody to know what you were thinking before the closeup.
Kinda like when you’re driving and you say to yourself “Wow! Check out that hot blond in the car up ahead.” Then, when you catch up, you realize that it’s a GUY and you get all wierded out. OK, maybe that’s just me, but Chrissy Hynde is still quite, shall I say, breathtaking.
Neil Young - enough said.
Debbie Harry. Hasn’t aged gracefully. Back in Blondie she was quite the hottie. Solo she still looked good (How about the cover of “Rockbird” - lips that scream Blo…I won’t go there. Now, all her videos are done with “soft focus”. Good Reason.
I’ll try. I’ve waited around enough offices watching the world (and young ladies) go by to know that most women clean up real nice. Nice clothes that fit and maybe a touch of makeup and you’d never guess what they look like when they wake up. Probably true for guys, too. Women in music try to look their best while the men often try to look their worst.
Um, I don’t think Wayne County really counts, although he had the operation in '79 and is legally a woman.
None of these would be considered eye candy (in my book):
The lead singer of Romeo Void
Grace Slick
Natalie Merchant
Lisa Loeb
Cindy Lauper
Janis Joplin
3 of the 4 Bangles
4 of the 5 Go-Go’s
Suzanne Vega
Tracy Chapman
Barbara Streisand (OK, not really a rock star)
I can’t believe no one has brought up Tom Petty yet.
This is similar to a conversation I was having a few weeks ago about how you can tell whether a woman is talented or not by whether people bring up her instrument or her appearance first.
When was the last time you heard, “Damn! Aretha Franklin has put on WEIGHT!”
Geez! Iggy Pop was sexy as hell back in the day!
As for the question–Patti Smith and the Gogos (even though I think they were supposed to be attravtice. . . ). I get what you’re suggesting, though, and I agree with you. It’s harder for an ugly woman to be a musician (or an actress for that matter) than an attractive woman. At the same time, it might work in their advantage. Beautiful is sometimes hard to take seriously.
