Bands / Artists that Appeal to One Gender Only (or mostly)

I, personally, prefer pretty, melodic fingerpicking such as Eva Cassidy to loud, fast and furious guitar playing such as Rush and Jeff Beck. But, I totally understand the male fascination with it!
I'm not sure that it's such a simple divide between women liking pretty melodic music and guys liking wanking guitar solos. I remember that in the '80's a number of the hair metal bands were big with both sexes - say bands like Def Leppard and Mötley Crüe. On the other side of things some more lyrical "pretty" music was also favoured by both sexes - say artists like Joe Jackson and Kate Bush. More modern pop bands that seem to have lyrical and "pretty" music that is favoured by both sexes are Metric and The New Pornographers. I'm not sure what the difference is exactly but it's there.

As for what I've got in my collection and how much is male band versus female band that's hard to say. Is it only a female band if it's all female? Mostly female? Female band "leader"? Female vocalist? There are a lot more bands out there that have one or two female members but who aren't known by name to the general public. No different than the male members of many bands even those with well known songs - the band is known but not the individual members.

Some possible female bands/artists picked out of many more by running through my iTunes list (all my CDs have been ripped):
Billy Holiday
Ani Defranco (all of her band isn't female though)
Clannad (female singer)
Cowboy Junkies (female singer)
Dionne Warwick
The Donnas
Edie Brickell and New Bohemians (I think only the vocalist/lead is female)
Elastica (some members were female)
Ella Fitzgerald
Grateful Dead (had Donna Godchaux as a vocalist at one time - does that count?)
Kate Bush
Laura Nyro
Patti Smith
The New Pornographers (female vocalist)
The White Stripes (half of the band, the drummer, is female)

How about Blondie? Great pop group, consistently good hit singles, you wanted to sing along and dance to them...well, sing along in my case. Female members? One - Debbie Harry. Male members? the other four....the musicians....but I still think of 'em as a girl band.

:D :D :D

Vic

There was some study done showing women have more of a need to vocalize their emotions and feelings while men tend to internalize theirs. I wonder if this might not have something to do with the general preference for singer songwriters among women, and the preference for non-vocal expression in screaming solo's that in general guys, especially younger ones seem to prefer.

I know just in my own case, my wife really prefers listening to the lyrics, prefers to play music where the performer is more known for their songwriting than playing ability, while I find myself getting irritated with the singers because I can't hear the guitar while they are yowling away.

Ladies, I'm curious, what about a female player like Jennifer Batten? She is fantastic, but if pressed I would say she plays more like a Man than a woman. Does her playing fall under the same category as Jeff Beck or is she acceptable simply because she is female?

((By the By, I'll put $2 on 84 hours in the rahul pool))

((By the By, I'll put $2 on 84 hours in the rahul pool))
https://www.guitarnoise.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=34296

Ladies, I'm curious, what about a female player like Jennifer Batten? She is fantastic, but if pressed I would say she plays more like a Man than a woman. Does her playing fall under the same category as Jeff Beck or is she acceptable simply because she is female?

I have to confess to not being familiar with her work! Sorry! So, I went to Amazon.com to find some sound clips but there wasn't enough there for me to form an opinion! (I only found 2 CD's - 'Momentum' - Jennifer Batten's Tribal Rage and 'Above, Below and Beyond' - Jennifer Batten ... there were no sound clips from 'Above', only from 'Momentum') BUT! I will make it a point to find something by her that I can listen to that will give me more than 5 seconds worth!!!

EDIT: I almost forgot! I think that you saying that "she plays more like a man" is a great compliment to her! I would love for someone to say that something like that about my playing! :D

Ladies, I'm curious, what about a female player like Jennifer Batten? She is fantastic, but if pressed I would say she plays more like a Man than a woman. Does her playing fall under the same category as Jeff Beck or is she acceptable simply because she is female?

I have to confess to not being familiar with her work! Sorry! So, I went to Amazon.com to find some sound clips but there wasn't enough there for me to form an opinion! (I only found 2 CD's - 'Momentum' - Jennifer Batten's Tribal Rage and 'Above, Below and Beyond' - Jennifer Batten ... there were no sound clips from 'Above', only from 'Momentum') BUT! I will make it a point to find something by her that I can listen to that will give me more than 5 seconds worth!!!

EDIT: I almost forgot! I think that you saying that "she plays more like a man" is a great compliment to her! I would love for someone to say that something like that about my playing! :D I said if push comes to shove I'd say that, she toured Japan with Jeff Beck, did some recording with him and also has recorded for Michael Jackson. You can find some stuff on youtube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5vnP1u7yPbk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZBuzbe9xCo&mode=related&search=
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQO2fi-UJxo&mode=related&search=

Lou Reed once remarked that Victoria Williams plays guitar like a girl.
Which I thought was a kinda cool thing to say.
I really like Victoria Williams' guitar playing/singing/songwriting style.

I myself think that girls make GREAT bass players: Sonic Youth, Galaxie 500, and Smashing Pumpkins all had girl bass players.

Galaxie 500 is one of my all time favorite bands. And Naomi Yangs' bass playing was very feminine.
It lent a nice feminine touch to their music.
Although she wasn't the lead singer.... the songs she did sing are among my favorites.

Sonic Youth's Kim Gordon is just too cool.
Great bass player/performer/singer/songwriter. (And there's something appealing about the way she looks too :P )
There's 3 singers in that group.... Hers are the only songs I listen to.

I have plenty of female performers on CD and album.
To me.... girls are just more artistic.
Or at least the feminine 'aspect' is.

That is to say that, to me anyway, something has to incorporate a feminine nature in order for it to be artistic.

Like singer/songwriters....
I like them quite a bit myself.
They're a bit on the sensitive side.
That's why women like them.

Peter Green -
My fav guitarist.
A bit on the sensitive side (He's a water sign).
His guitar playing is mostly melodicly styled.

A better example of the male/female thing as it pertains to art....

I've recently said here that I'm a truck driver.
A few weeks ago, I was in the yard with another driver at dawn and it was a bit overcast.
I started to marvel at the light. (My other HUGE interest besides music is photography)
I remarked that overcast light is really great for taking pictures of flowers.
The diffussion saturates the colors and there are no harsh shadows or contrast.
This other 'manly' truck driver looks at me and says - Flowers....? Ken, you're scarin' me!

And he was SERIOUS.
I have no problem admiting that I am in touch with my feminine side.
I'm also huge into Eastern thought, and back in my 20's... martial arts.
The yin/yang concept is one that appeals to me.
Balance.

I thought it was sad though that this MAN couldn't for one second even think about flowers without feeling un-manly.
Is he artistic....?
NO!!!!
Not in the slightest bit.

Do I know anything about flowers????
Yeah, they take nice pictures and look good on overcast days.
I also like to include hands in my pictures.... I don't have a hand fetish though.

Sorry to get off the subject of music.
I'm just trying to make a point.
Hope you understand.

Ken

Jennifer Batten can definatley tear it up!!!!!!!!!! 8)

Say Elektra, don't you have the La Guitara cd? I seem to remember you mentioning it awhile back. IF you do Jennifer Batten has a track on it called Whammy Damage. By the way, this is a great Compilation Cd of some excellent female players for any of you that don't have it.

I myself think that girls make GREAT bass players: Sonic Youth, Galaxie 500, and Smashing Pumpkins all had girl bass players.

Galaxie 500 is one of my all time favorite bands. And Naomi Yangs' bass playing was very feminine.
It lent a nice feminine touch to their music.
Although she wasn't the lead singer.... the songs she did sing are among my favorites.

Sonic Youth's Kim Gordon is just too cool.
Great bass player/performer/singer/songwriter. (And there's something appealing about the way she looks too :P )
There's 3 singers in that group.... Hers are the only songs I listen to.

We have to add these excellent girl bass players: Kim Deal from Pixies and Tina Weymouth from Talking Heads...and the girl drummer of all: Maureen Tucker from The Velvet Underground.

Lou Reed once remarked that Victoria Williams plays guitar like a girl.
Which I thought was a kinda cool thing to say.
I really like Victoria Williams' guitar playing/singing/songwriting style.

I myself think that girls make GREAT bass players: Sonic Youth, Galaxie 500, and Smashing Pumpkins all had girl bass players.

Galaxie 500 is one of my all time favorite bands. And Naomi Yangs' bass playing was very feminine.
It lent a nice feminine touch to their music.
Although she wasn't the lead singer.... the songs she did sing are among my favorites.

Sonic Youth's Kim Gordon is just too cool.
Great bass player/performer/singer/songwriter. (And there's something appealing about the way she looks too :P )
There's 3 singers in that group.... Hers are the only songs I listen to.

I have plenty of female performers on CD and album.
To me.... girls are just more artistic.
Or at least the feminine 'aspect' is.

That is to say that, to me anyway, something has to incorporate a feminine nature in order for it to be artistic.

Like singer/songwriters....
I like them quite a bit myself.
They're a bit on the sensitive side.
That's why women like them.

Peter Green -
My fav guitarist.
A bit on the sensitive side (He's a water sign).
His guitar playing is mostly melodicly styled.

A better example of the male/female thing as it pertains to art....

I've recently said here that I'm a truck driver.
A few weeks ago, I was in the yard with another driver at dawn and it was a bit overcast.
I started to marvel at the light. (My other HUGE interest besides music is photography)
I remarked that overcast light is really great for taking pictures of flowers.
The diffussion saturates the colors and there are no harsh shadows or contrast.
This other 'manly' truck driver looks at me and says - Flowers....? Ken, you're scarin' me!

And he was SERIOUS.
I have no problem admiting that I am in touch with my feminine side.
I'm also huge into Eastern thought, and back in my 20's... martial arts.
The yin/yang concept is one that appeals to me.
Balance.

I thought it was sad though that this MAN couldn't for one second even think about flowers without feeling un-manly.
Is he artistic....?
NO!!!!
Not in the slightest bit.

Do I know anything about flowers????
Yeah, they take nice pictures and look good on overcast days.
I also like to include hands in my pictures.... I don't have a hand fetish though.

Sorry to get off the subject of music.
I'm just trying to make a point.
Hope you understand.

Ken

Now if we could just get you to stop posting messages in iambic pentameter we'd be all set.... :lol:

Now if we could just get you to stop posting messages in iambic pentameter we'd be all set.... :lol:

O inglorious league!
Shall we, upon the footing of our land,
Send fair-play orders and make compremise,
Insinuation, parley, and base truce
To arms invasive?

LOL -

Consider yourself lucky....

Ripple in still water
When there is no pebble tossed
Nor wind to blow

....I usually prefer to write in Haiku's

Ken

We have to add these excellent girl bass players: Kim Deal from Pixies and Tina Weymouth from Talking Heads...and the girl drummer of all: Maureen Tucker from The Velvet Underground.

You are so right....
How could I forget the Pixies....!?!?!?!

And The Velvet Underground....
YES!
Mo Tucker. Her drumming is also very much like a girl. :wink:
I always liked the simple and primal/primitive way she played the drums.
Kinda like the White Stripes. Even more raw than that though.
(And lets not forget to mention the lovely Nico while we're on the VU.)

Ken

Ken, CitizenNoir
Writes in iambic pentameter?
Haiku's easier.

Nice one Ric :D
I didn't write the ones in my post :(
Sorry everyone

Ken :twisted: