Why Annie Lennox Did More For Feminism Than That Bloody Germaine Greer Woman
Then buzz it up
December 8th, 2005 at 15:30 by 586 MEDIA
So, dear ‘spray aficionado, how much do you know about feminism? Yup, that’s right, some posh bint threw herself under the King’s horse in, like, 1872 or something.
But do you know who the real hero(ine) of feminism is? No, it’s not Germaine Greer, that craggy old cow from Celebrity Big Brother. It’s actually Annie Lennox of Eurythmics and Live 8 fame!
Who cares that Germaine Greer wrote some book called The Female
Eunuch that a load of women who forgot to shave their armpits got all
excited about in the seventies? Did she ever don a suit and make, well,
a really quite fanciable bloke? And did Miss Ms Greer ever trade
warbles with Aretha Franklin on the greatest feminist anthem of all
time? No. So, prepare yourselves for a history lesson, you lovely little
‘spraylets, you. Here are ten reasons why Annie Lennox (CDs) did more for
feminism than That Bloody Germaine Greer Woman.
1 - Back in the day (i.e. the early 80s) Annie often donned a suit and
looked a bit/a lot like a man. This subverted traditional notions of
femininity blah blah blah.
2 - On the cover of her 2003 album Bare (i.e. the one with no hits on it)
Annie chose not to wear any slap because she didn’t want to “represent
herself visually in some kind of clichéd, airbrushed, saccharine kind
of way”. Twenty years later she was still subverting traditional
notions of femininity blah blah blah.
3 - When the Eurythmics appeared on Parkie a few weeks ago Annie once again
donned a suit and looked a bit/a lot like a man. In fact, she looked
rather like Paul O’Grady. Twenty-two years later she was still
subverting traditional notions of femininity blah blah blah.
4 - Annie always looked cooler than Dave in Eurythmics videos. In your face, menfolk!
5 - In You Have Placed A Chill In My Heart Annie sings “a woman’s just too
tired to think about the dirty old dishes in the kitchen sink”.
Translation: women have more important things to worry about than mere
domestic drudgery. And, as it’s Annie, she’s probably not talking about
getting your hair done or having a manicure or, ooh, the latest Heat’s
out today! She probably means poverty in Africa or something.
6 - Annie did the whole ‘laydee dresses up as Elvis’ thing ten years before
Cher and fifteen years before Sharleen Off Of Texas. Now that’s
pioneering.
7 - Annie’s early nineties hit Walking On Broken Glass sounds as though it
might have something to do with smashing the glass ceiling. In fact, it
doesn’t. But that’s irrelevant for the purposes of this list as there’s
space to fill.
8 - In Sisters Are Doin’ It For Themselves Annie boasts that “the
‘inferior’ sex has got a new exterior. [They] got doctors, lawyers,
politicians too.” Translation: women can compete for top jobs with the
big boys. And female lyricists are allowed to ‘do’ wordplay too!
9 - In Sisters Are Doin’ It For Themselves Annie explains that women “ain’t
making stories; and [they] ain’t laying plans. ‘Cause a man still loves
a woman, and a woman still loves a man”. Translation: don’t worry,
lads. This song doesn’t mean women are all a bunch of sneaky, scheming
lezzas. They still fancy you when they kick you in the balls.
10 - In, well, you know, Annie hollers “we’re coming out of the kitchen,
’cause there’s something we forgot to say to you”. It’s that sisters
are “doin’” it for themselves. Hurrah!
So, ladies, next time Annie dusts down her suit to plug the latest
Eurythmics compilation on Parkie*, remember to say cheers for all her
pioneering work in the name of feminism. You know the truth: without
Annie you wouldn’t have been given the vote in 1989.
*Expect this some time around 2010.
[story by Nick Levine]
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December 8th, 2005 at 6:30 pm
Eurythmics - what a band. Feminisim? Who can say? And more importantly, who cares. I think Annie does what she wants to do - from the heart. Check out the new boxed set BOXED. It’s amazing. Annie sings a great rendition of Lou Reed’s Satellite of Love. Did you see them perform Missionary Man on the UK Music Hall of Fame Awards? They made Black Sabbath sound like the bastard children of Kelly Osbourne.
December 9th, 2005 at 10:53 am
Nick Levine clearly knows nil about feminism and understands even less. I think Annie Lennox is great too but this article is a complete waste of space.
December 12th, 2005 at 10:29 am
Interesting article, props to Annie, but looking like a man has nothing to do with feminism. Courtney Love of Hole was ten times the warrior that Annie Lennox ever was, and she did it in high heels and sparkly, spangly, fairy wings. And more, CL identifies as feminist, always fought for girls in other positions in her band, fought for girls in music. Not in a prissy “I support all sisters just because they’re women way” but in an honest, wanting women to succeed in music way.
I also read Backlash after reading her “book reccomendations” thing on the old Hole website. CL strikes me as a more hardcore, unpredictable feminist and more dangerous - somehow Annie isn’t scaring anyone as much. I feel rockers should scare the bejesus out of people.
I think a good indication if a female is really feminist and really kicking ass at the edge of things - she will be despised and people will claim she doesn’t write her own music or is somehow unworthy or something. The public will always be “deconstructing” thier talent, trying to make it seem false or manageable or weaker than it really is.
I know weird, maybe out-of-place enthusiasm for a totally off topic musician, but this article just made me think of it and I had to say it.
“I want every girl in the world to pick up a guitar and start screaming”
–Courtney Love
December 12th, 2005 at 3:29 pm
So, in shagging anyone she can in showbiz, getting a drug habit, having her kids taken from her, flashing her tits at evey opportunity she has advanced the cause of womankind?
My arse..
December 15th, 2005 at 10:36 am
Yeah actually - look at history - most genius creative types are fuck-ups. Women being messy IS an advance. Part of the complete human experience. Musicians like sex and drugs! Oh my god!! I mean, jesus, it’s not like any other rocker has ever had a drug habit right? Makes a person wonder why any of them are allowed to keep their kids. Maybe has something to do with the fact that they’re uh - guys.
I don’t think people have a problem with Courtney because of drug problems. That’s just a cover to make their hatred sound legitimate. It’s because she’s not pretty in that bland pop princess way, always vulnerable, or polite. She’s aggressive and unpredictable in a really punk way, even when she’s doing sparkly pop like on Celebrity Skin. She’s talented, her shit rocks, and she’ll kick your ass while wearing pink fairy wings. A lot of girl bands started up because of her. She’s a walking, talking revolution, and if there was any justice in the world, she’d have more respect.
But as you pointed out, people aren’t likely to do that with a woman who, you know… has sex freely with anyone she wants, or is flawed in any way that makes her less than a dumb, pop princess, or a nun. Dressing in man’s clothes is the most challenging we’re allowed to be. Lesson: we can play dressup, but not fuck or fight - or rock.
Still, love to Annie though.
Didn’t mean to turn her thread into a Love thread. She does some fighting as has been pointed out. She just couldn’t survive a round with Courtney is my only point.
December 15th, 2005 at 1:59 pm
My objection to Courtney is not a question of sleeping around and taking drugs - hell, most of my own heroes have done plenty of that. It’s the fact that she’s shit..
December 28th, 2005 at 12:13 am
Funny it sounded like in your last post your objections to her were drugs and “shagging.” But thinking someone is just shit is reason enough to some people. I just happen to disagree.
January 5th, 2006 at 2:06 am
who the fuck are all you bitches? heidi needs to get fucked or something, all this feminist shit is crap, Annie lennox is probly a guy anyways, so you little fuckers can all die slowly and painfully
January 6th, 2006 at 9:01 am
You seem like the type of guy to think feminism is crap Tony. Heidi doesn’t need to get fucked, Tony needs to learn some honor and respect. You can tell a lot about people by what they want. I bet you want women who don’t mind being treated like how you talk. Pathetic people are drawn to other pathetic people.
Hate to feed a troll, but have too much time on my hands lately… think feminism and rock is an great subject, but since this has descended into boring trolldom already - adios.