For some reason I always pictured singer-songwriter Neko Case a young Asian woman. I have no idea why. I guess just because the word “neko” is the Japanese word for “cat”. Boy was I completely wrong. I was completely taken aback the first time I saw a picture of her.
Whoa! Same here!
I have to ask. What is the opposite of how Boy George looks?
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Thought the same thing. The lines that started “I’m a man…” made me wonder what this woman was talking about. I remember my mother came in the room while I was watching the video and commented that she liked “her” voice. I informed her that it was a guy and Mom quietly walked out of the room.
The video of Billy Stewart’s “Summertime” caught me off guard. It’s taken from a TV broadcast in the mid-60’s. Was not expecting a very short and round black man with pants up to his chest and a massive cowboy hat. Highly recommended viewing and the best version I’ve ever heard.
For decades I assumed the singer of Jackie Blue by the Ozark Mountain Daredevils was a woman. It wasn’t until sometime in the last decade I saw a video and yeah, I was surprised by her appearance.
I used to think Billie Holiday was a man, if only because “Billy” is a man’s name. The thing is, I’d actually heard some of her music, but I just imagined she was a man with a high pitched voice. I mean, David Sedaris can do a decent Billie Holiday impression, after all.
I expected him to look like his bassist, Mikey Craig.
That reminded me of another one:
When I first heard the Electric Light Orchestra, I was convinced that they had a female backup singer, as there a lot of high notes on songs like “Do Ya.”
I later learned that those high notes were hit by bassist Kelly Groucutt, who was, in fact, a guy.
I came in to post this. I see I’ve already posted it, 5 years ago.
I few months ago I watched the video for “Afternoon Delight” by the Starland Vocal Band. I’m not sure what I thought Bill Danoff would look like, but I didn’t expect a high school math teacher with a perm.