katefans@chinet.chi.il.us (Chris Williams) (04/26/91)
Vickie here. I'm taking full advantage of my ability to post because it may be weeks before I have another chance. Maybe not, but you never know. Dan Welch was looking for female singers and lots of people posted interesting answers. I never did get around to posting anything. Silly me, since it's my passion and (unpaid) profession. I HAVE to respond to this though: > - I was surpisingly disappointed in Jane Siberry. The album of > hers that I found was _No_Borders_Here_, and I thought it was > not really that inventive, more weird-for-the-sake-of-weird > like Laurie Anderson (another non-favorite of mine). Did I > choose the wrong album? Do you really get no enjoyment from songs like "Extra Executives", "Symmetry" or "Mimi On the Beach"? Doesn't "Dancing Class" or "You Don't Need" move you in any way? Have you listened to "Map of the World (Part 1)" on headphones? Have you tried to listen to the lyrics to any of the songs? Please, please, please try again. Jane is subversive. Female vocals are my passion, yet we had two of her albums around the house for months before I really paid attention to them. The albums were _The Speckless Sky_ and _No Borders Here_ and I thought they were "pretty normal" (!) and even though a friend tried to get me to pay attention to the song "Vladimir-Vladimir" I wasn't interested. Like you, I thought it was just "weird for weird's sake". Then I saw a video interview with her and realized how interesting & smart she was. I then went back and REALLY listened to TSS and NBH. My GOD! I couldn't imagine what was WRONG with me that I hadn't heard the sheer brilliance of her art. I listened to the albums over and over again and they just kept getting more amazing. The music, the lyrics, her voice...she's a true genius and why I failed to realize that I don't know. The point is, I missed it at first and I thank the Gods of Good Music that I finally did hear what had escaped me before. By the time _The Walking_ came out I was a true Janefan and knew that it would be great, but when I first heard it...I shook my head in awe. It's a timeless masterpiece on (nearly) the same level of The Dreaming. All of Jane's albums are brilliant, you just need to give them a chance. You need to be open to the magic I suppose. If it should hit you, you'll hear all the little nuances & subtle inflections of her voice, the odd and wonderful things the musicians are doing within the odd and wonderful songs, how she packs her all songs with insightful slices of wisdom and humor. Jane writes the best lyrics this side of Kate Bush. Some are halarious, some are excruciatingly sad, some are downright obscure. All are thought- ful and thought-provoking. There's so much to be found in every single one of her songs. Yes, even the early ones. _Jane Siberry_, _No Borders Here_, _The Speckless Sky_, _The Walking_, and _Bound By the Beauty_ are all full of truly great songs that will amaze and delight those who are willing and able to appreciate them. Perhaps, like I was, you're not "ready" yet. Keep trying. Jane is intelligent, wise, funny, emotional, interesting, and very, very talented. Vickie (one of Vickie'n'Chris)