FOREVER ETHERIDGE
By Maureen Littlejohn
From Modern Woman 04/96
Reprinted without permition
I
first saw Melissa Etheridge perform in 1989, at a small resort
in Muskoka, Ontario. It was a year after the release of her high-octane,
self-titled debut album, and she was playing at the annual convention of
her record company's Canadian branch. I was one of about 100 people
who sat transfixed as she launched into the song that set her career on
fire, Bring Me Some Water. The air was electric, her performance
charged with crackling energy and raw emotion. When I left the room,
I
felt as if I'd been hit by lightning.
Now,
five albums (the latest is her multi-million-selling Your
Little Secret) and thousands of sold-out concerts later, the 34-year-old
Kansas-born rocker is a female role model in a musical genre dominated
by men, and she's blazing a trail around the rest of the world. In
fact,
her emerging status as a international star is behind the subtle
image change you'll see on her new album - a glam look that includes shiny
satin and more makeup. But not to worry: the music is just as
down-and-dirty - and as 100 percent Melissa - as ever.
MW: What is about your music that appeals to your male fans?
Melissa:Men enjoy the music; they enjoy the intensity and passion
and
desires and rock'n'roll spirit. I see them at the shows moving and
singing
the words.
MW: And your women fans?
Melissa:I think they enjoy the power. They enjoy the music
too, but they
look at me and think, "I want to do that," or, "I could do that."
They take
it one step beyond and make the songs their own. From what I see
in the
audiences, it's more likely that four girlfriends who work together will
come, and leave their husbands and boyfriends at home, It's a ritual
for
them - very powerful and strengthening. They go home feeling like
they
did something empowering.
MW: Are you a feminist?
Melissa:Absolutely. When my first album came out in 1988
people
would ask me, "Are you a feminist?" and I wouldn't know what it was.
Feminism had gotten such a bad reputation. I'd say "Oh no, I'm just
making music." I didn't understand what feminism was until 1992 when
I
read Susan Faludi's book, Backlash. I realized that what we
were
being fed about feminism, not feminism itself, was scaring away young
women like myself who were just coming into their own. I believe
in
equality - professionally, politically, personally. That's feminism.
MW: If you could be any famous woman from history, who would
it be?
Melissa:Eleanor Roosevelt. I think she really ran the country
for a while. She's the closest thing to a female president
we've ever had.
I'd like to be the president.
MW: Are you a confident person?
Melissa:Yes in certain areas. The success of my career has
given me a lot of self-confidence. Maybe it was the upbringing I
had. I
grew up [in Leavenworth, Kansas] with a working mother and father.
They didn't know much about child-rearing, but their main objective was
to get me self-sustained.
MW: Was your family supportive of your musical aspirations?
Melissa: As much as they could be. They didn't discourage
me. My dad was a teacher and my mother was a civil servant in the
army, working with computers. My father helped me when I was singing
in bands. He took me around to the bars and sat there all night because
I was underage. I didn't really get to know my mother until I was
25.
After my father died and she retired, we got really close. She went
through a big change. She discovered herself, and it made a big
difference to her own personal journey. Right now she's one of my
best
friends.
MW: How does your mom feel about your being gay?
Melissa: That was one of the first real discussions we ever had.
She
knew I was gay, but we hadn't really talked about it. I said, "Hey,
I think
we should talk about this a little bit," and that was when we had out first
real conversation. She has been very supportive.
MW: What are your ambitions musically?
Melissa: I want a nice long career where I can express myself in
my
music, put out recordings and perform for people. If you address
the ego
side of me, the side that looks at the world and wants to conquer it, I
would love to be the first woman playing rock in arenas and stadiums
worldwide.
MW: What do you do to get inspired?
Melissa: I stay aware. I commit myself to studying myself,
to
remembering and taking notes as I go through life. That's what
I write
from.
MW: What are your deepest values?
Melissa: Where my values come from is in recognizing intolerance,
in myself and in others. The philosophy I follow is that I am one
with
everyone else. It's a philosophy that religions such as Buddhism
and
Taoism are based on. I'm not a follower of these religions, but I
understand that this exists, I can't look at anyone with intolerance
or
disdain and say, "They aren't part of me." They are.
MW: What do you want in terms of your relationships, with your
partner Julie Cypher, and with family and friends?
Melissa: In the career that I have, stability is so very important.
I need
to be grounded. When I come home from the road it is so great to
feel
routine. Julie and I each take care of certain things around the
house. I
feed the dog in the morning. I need that. Communication and
honesty
are the two most important things in our lives, and that reaches over into
relationships with family and friends.
MW: What would be a perfect Saturday night for you?
Melissa: Dinner with Julie and two other couples, straight or gay.
Going to clubs is not at the top of my list, although sometimes that's
the
perfect thing to do. Maybe we'd go back to one of our houses for
games
and silliness. I still love to jump in my pool in the middle of the
night
and play water basketball.
MW: Are you fashion impaired?
Melissa:Mr. Blackwell seems to think so [Richard Blackwell named
her in his famed Worst Dressed Women list]. I look good on the album
sleeve because someone else dressed me. I've never been one to get
into
costumes and be expressive in my clothes. I just never put the time
and
energy into that.
MW: Where do you see yourself when your 70?
Melissa: I see myself taking it easy. I'd love for some young
musician
to find me and say, "Weren't you the first one to do that? Tell me
stories.
Why are you a fan?
Shellie, 23:"She has a bluesy, ballsy quality that few women
performers seem to have."
Margo, 45:"I love her sound. I think she's one of the most
powerful
singers of our time."
Clarence, 28:"The music comes first. She's not superstar type,
like
Madonna."
Larry, 46:"It's good raunchy rock'n'roll."
What is the one quality about Melissa Etheridge or her music that
sets
her apart from all other performers
Megan, 22:"Honesty. She writes what she knows and has experienced."
Darrell, 25:"She's who she is and doesn't care what people think."
Suzanne, 29:"She's cool and staightforward."
Kosmas, 30:"There's an edge to her music. It crosses a lot of
boundaries."
Margo:"Her presence on stage and the power behind her voice."
What word best describes her?
Micheael, 31:"Resolute."
Suzanne, 28:"Natural."
Megan:"Strong."
Margo:"Gutsy."
Larry:"Androgynous."
