Why can't women be geniuses too? by Jane Czyzselska - The Times Newspaper

 

Many male musicians have been described as geniuses. But why don't female stars merit the same labels of glory?

 

Hands up those who can name five female musical geniuses? How about two? No? Popular culture's rich pantheon is heaving with lady geniuses, but reading the music and mainstream press you wouldn't know it. NME may have voted Beth Ditto the coolest woman in rock last year, yet the influential weekly has never nominated a female musician for its annual Godlike Genius award and shows little interest in female rock and pop stars.

 

So when I read about the “genius” Rufus Wainwright, who plays London in July, my interest was piqued. One (male) critic notes of his track Agnus Dei that Wainwright manages to refashion the medieval Catholic liturgy into a “brilliantly irrational sprawl of skewed genius taking in Latin-American grooves and a doomy operatic Radioheadesque requiem via traditional Hungarian instruments. Between these polar extremes,” he says, “lies Wainwright's eye for improbable observational finesse.”

 

Exceptional individuality, imagination and influence; the ability to hold a truckload of different melodies in one's head at once and being able to understand how they interact with one another - these are just some of the qualities associated with genius. Perhaps Rufus is a worthy candidate, but I can think of tons of women, past and present, who tick these boxes. And then some.

 

Take Kate Bush. Ever since the electrifying Wuthering Heights in 1978, Bush has not only pushed the boundaries with her consistently exceptional and original compositions, but she has paved the way for successive lady geniuses, including Björk and Alison Goldfrapp.

 

The Icelandic singer-songwriter has created an extraordinarily diverse cultural legacy (pop, jazz, experimental, choral and chamber music via the work of the poet ee cummings, playwright Sarah Kane and film-maker Harmony Korine) and influenced the likes of the young prodigy Bishi, the glam-folk electronica artist who at the age of 25 is already gracing the Tate and mixing it up with the London Symphony Orchestra. Goldfrapp is a singer-songwriter of beguiling complexity. She cites Bush and Dolly Parton as influences.

 

When Parton came 94th in a poll of the top 100 living geniuses, she rejected the accolade, stating that she would rather be a cartoon than a genius. “A cartoon character is how I see myself and it's worked for me for 40 years.” Was this simply genial modesty or a sad reminder that she, like many women, finds praise hard to accept?

 

Let's not limit our sample base to the West. The late Egyptian musician Umm Kulthum has attained near mythical status in the Arab world. More than 30 years since her death her recordings sell in their millions, with many joking that the one thing Jews and Arabs can agree on is that Kulthum is the greatest musician ever.

 

But it's not just men who appear reluctant to celebrate female talent. Women also often avoid using the G-word in reference to other women. The truth is we're simply not encouraged to think about females, musicians or otherwise, in this way.

 

There is hope, however. When the Foo Fighters' guitar hero Dave Grohl toured with the singer-songwriter and virtuoso guitarist Kaki King, he introduced her thus: “There are some guitar players who are good, some who are really f***ing good and then there's Kaki King.” Perhaps the music revolution will be feminised after all.

 

So is Rock Journalism to blame? Is the mindset really less about promoting good music and rather more like a conservative ideology of macho proporations thats there just to reinforce the brilliance of maleness via the continuing phallic worship of the guitar....

 

 

Exceptional individuality, imagination and influence; the ability to hold a truckload of different melodies in one's head at once and being able to understand how they interact with one another - these are just some of the qualities associated with genius. Perhaps Rufus is a worthy candidate, but I can think of tons of women, past and present, who tick these boxes. And then some.

 

I can count numerous female artists with that same quality, however no one entitles them as " musical genius' ". I think the main reason for this must be the fact that people tend to pay too much attention to how female artists look and criticize their every step, pay too much attention to their personal life than they do to male artists - I think this is the exact reason and it is called lack of respect. I hate to sound like a feminist here but this is the truth. And this is not only in entertainment sphere.

There are plenty of Female Artists out there that I personally would regard as being exceptionally individualistic and possess an extraordinary talent, and yeah, I'd say they would border on the "musical genius" category for the most part...

 

Siouxsie Sioux (who surely deserves to be in the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame and receive a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Brits)

Kate Bush (ditto)

Emilie Autumn

Amanda Palmer (Dresden Dolls, now a solo artist)

Tori Amos

Liv Kristine Espaenes (the first lady of Gothic Metal)

Tarja Turunen (ex-Nightwish singer, released a gorgeously Operatic/Metal opus as a solo artist last year...)

Diamanda Galas

Beth Gibbons (Portishead and she's done solo projects as well)

Bjork

PJ Harvey

 

Well, there's 11 just to be going on with...... I'm sure I'll think of more.....

I hate to sound like a feminist here but this is the truth.

 

The fact that you say this says a lot about our male-dominated culture..... You shouldn't "hate" to sound like a Feminist at all Eliza, be proud... That's surely the whole problem, the fact that the male Patriarchy seems to have done its job and make Feminism sound un-attractive even to women themselves.....

 

Make that 12 - Alison Goldfrapp should've been in my list as well......

 

See, told you I could think of more..... :lol:

Kate Bush. Nuff said.

There are many, it just isn't 'cool' to like credible female music. That's the end of it, sadly. :(

There are many, it just isn't 'cool' to like credible female music. That's the end of it, sadly. :(

 

That's probably an accurate assessment...

 

I mean, let's face facts, if Siouxsie had been a bloke, she'd've gotten every bit as much credit as Lydon or Strummer for Punk and Indie culture as we know it... Of course the Punks and Goths themselves give MUCHO deserved respect to Siouxsie, but the mainstream press..? The Industry itself...? Not nearly as much as they meted out to the other two.....

 

And let's take the more recent example of how Shirley Manson was treated by her record company..... Cant help thinking that a MALE artist would never have been treated like that or have their music effectively censored in that manner....... So, it seems there is room for us to be bored sh!tless by the bloated likes of Bono, Chris Martin and James Blunt, but god forbid that an artist like Shirley Manson seek a bit of respect in a male-dominated industry.....

 

 

 

Maybe it's because some of the most famous/well known female artists lack any real talent. [*cough* Madonna].

Maybe it's because some of the most famous/well known female artists lack any real talent. [*cough* Madonna].

 

Oh how boring. You don't stay on top form for 25 years with 'lack of real talent'. Anyway...

 

I would honestly say that some or if not, most of the most cookiest and unique talents of music in the past 20 years have been women. Bjork is an obvious choice, and on the other side of the spectrum, Amy Winehouse is a rare one-off talent.

 

I think being a female automatically gives you that right to be as expressive as humanly possible, whereas I don't think it's as excepting for a male. Or maybe I'm wrong? I think women are - more than ever - liberating themselves and I think we will be looking back at this topic and thinking 'eh?'. Maybe it's just personal preference as I much prefer female artists as a rule and enjoy the way singers like Alison Goldfrapp and Bjork can be as creative and explorative as possible. I just don't think we ever get that from male singers...

 

 

Edited June 19, 200817 yr by ScottyEm

My list of geniuses female artists:

 

Beth Orton

Alison Goldfrapp

Elizabeth Fraser

Kate Bush

Siouxsie Sioux

Lisa Gerrard

Bjork

Toni Halliday

Tori Amos

Joni Mitchell

PJ Harvey

...and Shirley Manson

Edited June 19, 200817 yr by Alin

Alison Goldfrapp and Jenny Lewis are in my top 5 artists ever. Both have been producing wonderful and varied music all decade. Maybe not to genious levels but I don't really use the word genius to describe artists...

Oh how boring. You don't stay on top form for 25 years with 'lack of real talent'. Anyway...

Good marketing and a 'strong' image is what has kept Madonna on form for at least the last 10/15 years. ;) ...

Alison Goldfrapp and Jenny Lewis are in my top 5 artists ever. Both have been producing wonderful and varied music all decade. Maybe not to genious levels but I don't really use the word genius to describe artists...

Alison is possibly the best female artist of the last decade...

Amazing to see the mention of Oum Kalthoum in the article - she is probably the most famous and beloved musician/vocalist in the entire Middle East (and just happened to be a woman).

Edited June 20, 200817 yr by Consie

The fact that you say this says a lot about our male-dominated culture..... You shouldn't "hate" to sound like a Feminist at all Eliza, be proud... That's surely the whole problem, the fact that the male Patriarchy seems to have done its job and make Feminism sound un-attractive even to women themselves.....

 

You are right. They do make it sound unattractive even to women... However, some feminist points are a little bit too much that's why I didn't want to sound like one. Women are great but Men are human too, even though they were the reason to seclude women and block their ways to improve themselves ( talking about early ages - when Mozart, Beethoven were improving)

 

 

However, some feminist points are a little bit too much that's why I didn't want to sound like one.

 

These points you speak of were never meant to be seen in terms other than polemical, to spark debate, and to wake people up to the facts that some seriously fukked-up sh!t had been going on..... I can totally understand why Feminists made those points even if they did seem a little on the strong side....

 

Oh how boring. You don't stay on top form for 25 years with 'lack of real talent'. Anyway...

 

I can see Josh's point in a way, especially when you talk about Madge in the past decade or so... It's been more about the producer's talent than hers, and the fact that she just comes along and pinches other people's ideas as well - notably Goldfrapp and Ladytron in recent years....

 

She's a shrewd operator though.....

 

Well there are many talents in the music industry; besides singing ability, song-writing, and all of the more commonly commented-on ones, there's the ability to pick producers and judge what's fresh, and judge demand - Madonna has such a good sense of that. With every album she has re-invented herself at least a tad (often a whole lot more). She's not stupid, and she does actually have a pretty fabulous voice too (listen to Take A Bow or Nothing Fails!), but she just doesn't always employ it.

Well there are many talents in the music industry; besides singing ability, song-writing, and all of the more commonly commented-on ones, there's the ability to pick producers and judge what's fresh, and judge demand - Madonna has such a good sense of that. With every album she has re-invented herself at least a tad (often a whole lot more). She's not stupid, and she does actually have a pretty fabulous voice too (listen to Take A Bow or Nothing Fails!), but she just doesn't always employ it.

 

I think we are talking about musical geniuses , not talents. Madonna is definitely not a musical genius. She did not bring a whole different meaning to - Music-.