One thing writing this trilogy is doing for me is that it's getting me back in touch with music I haven't listened to in many years, namely the Blues. And it's bringing up a few questions as well. I have a small assignment for you.Here's a video by Bonnie Raitt.
Give me some feedback here. What's the difference (if there is any) between a woman playing a guitar and a man playing it? Seems to me that on a man a guitar is a phallic symbol. Many male musicians play it and pose with it as if it is, anyway, and many, many guitar icons refer to their instrument as if it's a woman and gives it a woman's name. If that's true, then what is it on a female?
Here's a vid of Stevie Ray Vaughn playing the same song (he started out in Bonnie's band, by the way).
Compare the feeling you get watching him to what you feel watching Raitt. I'm not asking about how well you think they play, or what you think about their style, or even with how much feeling they play. I'm asking about the FEELINGS you get watching them.
I understand that there probably will be as many different answers as there will be people commenting; it's a subjective thing. But I'm curious.
8 comments:
Difficult. I think everybody has their own relationship with music. I remember when I was a little boy any kind of a sad or sentimental song on the radio or whatever would make my eyes water up with tears. I mean when I was 5 or 6 music just went right through me and sort of took over. I still can't explain that. Music was like sacred. Or that just probably means I'm a wuss.
Relative to your question, then, is that I can't start from the same premise. If I can't talk about the different ways they treated the song, I guess I got nuthin. :-\
Well, you can talk about anything you want, silly. I was just interested in the "sexiness" quality that kind of goes with male rock and blues guitarists, and of women have the same thing, or something else that men don't have.
...and IF women have...
Typo.
I think Stevie handles his guitar more roughly than Bonnie.
I've noticed that the men do. Except maybe for Eric Clapton. He didn't get the nickname "Slow Hand" for nothing!
It's a great question and a tough comparison. I think both Bonnie and Stevie played with a lot of sexuality, albeit very differently.
I, for one, have always been drawn to female performers. Siouxsie Sioux, Chrissie Hynde, PJ Harvey, L7, Sleater-Kinney, etc...
I've really never been a part of the macho male rock star fandom. Not that there is anything wrong with it. I just prefer the ladies.
Bonnie appears to treat her guitar like a mother with a baby... more gentle than Stevie who appears to be strutting a trophy.
Earl & Susan: I agree that it's a complicated question, and your answer is closest to what I feel, Earl. I'm not straight, but when I watch Rory Gallagher play his guitar, I find him sexy as hell. I don't get that feeling with Bonnie. I love your response too, Susan, because I think you've touched the difference between men and women in general.
As a musician and a guiarist it's hard for me, because I see musicians who've mastered their instruments. They're not sex symbols to me, they're just guitars.
The reason I asked this question is because I'm currently writing (in Book Two) a conversation between Gordon and Katy (both Blues performers), and I want to know what both musicians and non-musicians think. Wish I could ask Bonnie!
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