A Moment of Reflection on Pop Tarts and Talent
The nicest thing about having your own blog is the freedom to write about anything you damn well please, and right now I'd like to write (some would probably say "waste") a few lines about the latest female pop singer to hit the radar: Avril Lavigne. In short, I like her. I couldn't name any of her song titles (okay, I can actually name two: "Girlfriend" and "My Happy Ending), but I've seen her perform on television and I salute her for being able to actually sit in front of a band and a microphone and sing, rather than just lip-synch.
It's too early to say whether the 23-year-old Canadian belongs in the truly talented category of young female singers, whose numbers include Shakira and Christina Aguilera. But she's certainly a step above the clearly untalented Pop Tart performers such as Britney Spears, Ashley Simpson, Hilary Duff and, when she's trying to sing instead of act, Lindsay Lohan. I also like the fact that Avril has staked out a slightly rebellious look and image that, at least thus far, seem genuine. At least she hasn't fallen into the trap that Pink gladly climbed into - that of promoting an anti-Britney image as a substitute for perfecting one's own unique abilities. Instead, Avril looks pretty much like many of the working class girls you knew in high school: small, thin with a head of bleached blond hair and enough eye make-up to put Liza Minnelli to shame.
Finally, I'm encouraged that Avril doesn't take herself, or her causes, too seriously. She's participated in at least one Saturday Night Live skit that poked fun at overly young, Hollywood talent. And she's an admittedly failed vegetarian, who sometimes gives in to her weakness for cheeseburgers - something true believing, meat-Nazi vegetarians probably find offensive.
In short, she seems to be someone worth keeping an eye on. If she can avoid the usual pitfalls of anorexia, self-righteousness and cookie cutter promotional images, she may have something genuine to offer the world of music and teenage idols.
(For those who worry I've fallen into the same trap that swallowed the mainsteam media - that of substituting tabloid journalism for real news - I can only say, stay calm. I'll soon be back, comentating on more substantial and important issues).
It's too early to say whether the 23-year-old Canadian belongs in the truly talented category of young female singers, whose numbers include Shakira and Christina Aguilera. But she's certainly a step above the clearly untalented Pop Tart performers such as Britney Spears, Ashley Simpson, Hilary Duff and, when she's trying to sing instead of act, Lindsay Lohan. I also like the fact that Avril has staked out a slightly rebellious look and image that, at least thus far, seem genuine. At least she hasn't fallen into the trap that Pink gladly climbed into - that of promoting an anti-Britney image as a substitute for perfecting one's own unique abilities. Instead, Avril looks pretty much like many of the working class girls you knew in high school: small, thin with a head of bleached blond hair and enough eye make-up to put Liza Minnelli to shame.
Finally, I'm encouraged that Avril doesn't take herself, or her causes, too seriously. She's participated in at least one Saturday Night Live skit that poked fun at overly young, Hollywood talent. And she's an admittedly failed vegetarian, who sometimes gives in to her weakness for cheeseburgers - something true believing, meat-Nazi vegetarians probably find offensive.
In short, she seems to be someone worth keeping an eye on. If she can avoid the usual pitfalls of anorexia, self-righteousness and cookie cutter promotional images, she may have something genuine to offer the world of music and teenage idols.
(For those who worry I've fallen into the same trap that swallowed the mainsteam media - that of substituting tabloid journalism for real news - I can only say, stay calm. I'll soon be back, comentating on more substantial and important issues).
posted by dlh | 7:05 AM
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