One Utah

A while back there was much hub-bub over the Madonna Britney Spears kiss at some awards show. Some people declared Madonna was passing the torch to Britney, crowning her the inheritor of Madonna’s throne as Pop Music Goddess. 

Madonna, whatever else you say about her, has managed since about 1981 to invent and reinvent herself to successfully retain her pop culture relelvance (there have been some shaky moments but the relase of Ray of Light seems to have moved her past her worst problems).  Madonna smooching Britney had people were agog.

I’m inclined to think Madonna was doing something much more shrewd and calculating.  Britney Spears’ musical career has imploded.  As her underwear free antics have revealed Britney is a banal, pathetic wannabe addicted to the attention; I think we can, barring a major artistic transformation, write Britney off; her artistic skill is limited and she has none of Madonna’s inner strength.  Madonna’s smooch of Britney was a way of drawing attention to someone who lacks the talent to be a true competitor.  Madonna is an American original; a powerful woman in the Joan Crawford, Katherine Hepburn mode; self-determining, intelligent, capable and ruthless if she needs to be.  “Annointing” Britney with a kiss Madonna wasn’t identifying her successor; she was diverting attention from real competitors and depriving them of public attention and acclaim.  It also had the advantage of not creating pointless press about some sort of feud, which would have raised the profile of other artists.

Viewing the pop music landscape, I see a number of profoundly talented performers far more deserving of inheriting Madonna’s title than the gormless Britney Spears; my choice is Pink (Gwen Stefani is a close second).  Her latest release - I’m Not Dead - reminds me of Madonna’s earlier work - confessional, powerful, sexy, commentary on society and very smart.  Pink has a unique and highly personal identity that comes through her music.  Pink has already reinvented herself in her music career - her first release wasn’t terribly unique and was too much like any number of releases at the time (it was corporate clone music).  She has reinvented herself as tough girl, misfit, and (in the U + UR Hand video) sexual chameleon - tough girl, dominatrix, club hopper, debutante and smart woman.  Pink’s Stupid Girls song and video perfectly skewer the Britney Spears of the world as the empty headed posers they are; it’s also a brash strong statement - I have substance.  Madonna’s Like A Prayer is an apt corollary.  Superficially one thing, but on further listening something entirely different.  I would go so far as argue both Madonna and Pink are true feminists - believing in self-determination and their own power as persons.

Am I reading too much into these things?  Pop music seems to speak from the American culture subconscious - reflecting and refracting our society in interesting and unexpected ways.  It speaks most authentically when it is filtered through a strong, unique and uniquely American personality - Madonna and Pink are such personalities.  Britney Spears, on the other hand, is a corporate manufactured artists, carefully packaged and promoted but without any true individual character.  Britney had a time of being inescapable - and we can hope it’s past and truly talented women can take her place.

This entry was posted Monday, December 18th, 2006 at 12:19 pm and is filed under Human Rights, This Blog. Both comments and pings are currently closed.