I was completely overjoyed when I found out online that Beth Ditto vocalist for The Gossip, arguably the best band on the planet, has won the number one position on the NME’s annual Cool List, a list of the 100 coolest people on the planet. It seems that the Arkansas native and her incredible band have at long last made their mark on the consciousness of the British people, or at least the British music press, with their incredible third full length LP Standing in the Way of Control, a breakthrough disc that found the trio, armed with a new drummer, growing as a musical force in somewhat new directions yet never straying from the heart of their original blues/punk rock/gospel soulfulness. It really cracks me up when I hear some indie kids describe the release of this disc as “when the gossip went disco.” I’ve been a fan of the gossip for five years and I can’t tell you one time that I’ve seen them live when it wasn’t clearly undoubtedly about dancing. SITWOC is a natural extension of their already consistent sound and philosophy, snapping right into place with their body of work as their most accomplished, accessible and irresistible recording to date. It’s no wonder and totally about time that the rest of the world take notice outside of the queer/indie/alternative/punk rock ghetto because we’ve got a band here that is phenomenal, and their latest record is on fire. I think it is only fitting that the rest of the world know the joy that we’ve been experiencing for years. It’s high time that everyone witness the immense talent and pure heart of an outspoken and beautiful fat lesbian with one of the most compelling voices in rock and roll and an attitude of acceptance and support and belief in ones self that she has tirelessly preached and encouraged in others at every show. It thrills me endlessly that the world is now this much closer to knowing that the Gossip are just about the best thing ever. It makes me smile to think that all those queens hanging out in the Castro at the Midnight Sun watching videos of Gwen Stefani and Beyonce are now grooving to the Gossips’ “Listen Up” a dance anthem if ever there was one complete with Beth Ditto inciting a dance party in a teen girls bedroom while she sings and dances and coyly nibbles at a slice of pizza. It’s all over MTV as well, which is even more of a surprise. Here in the age of the Olsen twins and Nicole Richie and anorexia rehabs and counting ribs on the red carpet, I cant think of a better kick against the pricks, nor one that sounds as good as this. But the best thing about Beth Ditto being named the coolest person on the planet by NME is the simple fact that I’ve known she was the coolest person on the planet for a few years now. I love it when that happens, and for what its worth, I told ya so. It’s like the song says, “You better listen up!” It also bears mentioning that Beth is the first ever female to top the list and one of an unprecedented five in the top 10 this year.
One of those women, the number three position was the outspoken Lily Allen. This young singer rose to stardom very rapidly with a number one hit album in England over the summer that is still producing hit singles and gaining popularity worldwide. I find her record to be a very pleasant pop music experience, stylistically revisiting the ska revival of the early 80’s and lots of dub influences. She covers an old song by the specials as well as a song by last years golden boys, The Kaiser Chiefs and her own songs are quite clever, talking about pimps and crackwhores and violence in the streets of London. She’s spoken quite frankly and openly about drug use and partying and her videos are quite fun. The one for the song “Smile” tells a fun little story about meeting up with an ex-boyfriend, and while she’s meeting him for tea she is simultaneously having some thugs trash his flat, even scratch up his records. He goes to the bathroom and she slips laxative into his tea and they bid farewell politely. He goes home, finds his place trashed, lunges for the bathroom and finally is last seen at his DJ job trying to play his records, none of which work. Lily just Smiles. She’s not your everyday pop confection, this Lily Allen, she’s bolder and sassier and you can tell she’s not just your fabricated pop star, she speaks her mind and deals with situations in her songs that are definitely gritty or touchy subjects. I like her, and so does Karl Lagerfeld, who met with the star and it looks like she is going to be the new face of Chanel for 2007, a big deal for a little girl barely out of her teens who is known for wearing tennis shoes instead of high heels. But anyways, Lily was apparently approached by NME regarding this cool list story and asked if she would take part in a photo shoot for the cover with the other females in the top 10 and she agreed to do the shoot, excited about the prospect of women being a stronger force in the music world, etc.
Well when she went out to pick up the magazine she was thoroughly dismayed to find that Muse were on the cover instead and the cool list story had been reduced and not the main cover feature. This set her off and she placed a rant about it on her myspace page. She’s yet another artist whose MySpace band page was an instrumental tool in her quick rise to fame, so she felt comfortable enough to really go off there. It read in part: “Conor McNicholas, the editor of NME, said he was pleased that the Cool List was full of women who had brought “new energy” to the music world.
“This year’s Cool List is a testament to the raft of hugely talented women who have taken hold of the music scene in 2006,” he said. “From Beth to Lily to Karen, they’ve brought new energy to a scene dominated by men. They’re also living proof that you can still rock a crowd when you’re wearing stilettos.”
I mean how fucking patronising ” you can still rock a crowd wearing stilletos ”
Is that all we are , stilleto wearing people , is that all he could say ,that we brought a ” new energy” to the music scene . Don’t make me sick , wev’e always been here you arrogant prick , this was your chance to actually show you meant it . And instead you put Muse on the cover . Cause you thought that your readers might not buy a magazine with an overweight lesbian and a not particularly attractive looking me , on the front . Wankers .
You should take your heads out of you New Rave arses , and actually think about your responsibilities to youth culture , and to women in general .”
Like I said, she’s very outspoken. I think she had some valid points regarding this list story and I’m glad she expressed them but at this point she should know the press and their curious way of presenting things. But I must applaud her for speaking her mind. You wouldn’t have heard anything like that coming from any of the spice girls now would ya? I doubt it. And as for the rock a crowd even wearing stilettos comment, I know Beth Ditto more often rocks the crowd barefoot. I thought everyone knew that.