Quote:
Originally posted by CarneVaca
Jason, are you sure about that? Doesn't she get slammed because the lyrics were subpar in comparison to earlier stuff and because her voice had deteriorated? I'm not trying to slam Stevie here, but I think that saying those of us who slam her for what she created during that time period do so because of any perceived lack of commercialism in the songs is missing the mark.
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Ah, but then we come back around to that little matter of taste.
That the lyrics were "subpar" is a matter of opinion. Certainly they weren't the kinds of songs she had written for previous albums, or the kinds of songs people
expect from her, but that doesn't mean they have less value. She was writing differently, and while some chide her for that, I praise her for that.
Also, I happen to love the Billie Holiday quality of her voice during that time-period. I loved that vulnerable, world-weary rasp, and I actually really miss it.
I was a new fan during that time-period, and her 'Tango' songs further cemented my love of her music... rather than turning me off. So I wasn't listening and just pretending to like it out of some kind of loyalty, I was listening because I was thoroughly captivated and amazed by the depth of this woman's songs.
So whether one loves them or hates them, the fact of the matter is that she didn't just play it safe, and she didn't just contribute the most commercially-viable material possible.
Leaving the question: Why is it that Lindsey can do something offbeat and wholly artistic (and, therefore, potentially unappealing to the masses), but Stevie's not allowed to, lest she be criticized for not living up to what we expect from her?