[Johnny Stew]

I don't think there was anything inherently wrong with the statement Janet made, in exactly the form she made it.

Stevie *has* been thru some difficult things. Everyone in this world has.
It's pretty much assumed that some of the difficulties we face are of our own doing, and some of them are just the cards we are dealt... so that much can be left unsaid.

I really don't think Stevie wants anyone's pity. I also don't think that she feels, or would want anyone else to feel, that she is a victim. It seems to me that she takes full responsibility for the "mistakes" she has made in her life.
For example, when she speaks of the doctor prescribing the Klonopin, she has never once said that it was force-fed to her. She's explained *why* she consented to take it, and she's talked about the state of mind she was in when it was prescribed for her, but she's never said that she wasn't fully responsible for her own decision there... or in regards to any of the other things she's gone thru in her life.

As far as the self-pity thing... well, I haven't met a person yet who hasn't felt sorry for themselves at least once in their life, however briefly.
Beyond that, none of Stevie's lyrics have ever hit me as excessively self-pitying. And trust me, if they were, then I would have bored of them a long time ago.

The basic theme that I've always found within her lyrics is one of empathy.
She's saying, "hey, I've been thru it too, and yeah, it hurts, but I got thru it and so will you."

At the very least that's what *I* get from her songs... and I think a lot of others do, as well.


Now, I almost let this point drop, but I might as well touch upon it too...
Calling Christine a "brilliant songwriter," is just as subjective as calling Stevie one. And it's a statement which can be argued with just as much ferocity.

For all intents and purposes, there is nothing deep about Christine's lyrics. She writes upbeat pop ditties about love lost and love found.
She also writes beautiful ballads... about love lost and love found.
That's the extent of it.

There are no great political or social statements being made within Christine's, Stevie's, or even Lindsey's lyrics.

What IS brilliant about Christine's music is the same thing that is brilliant about Stevie's (as well as Lindsey's)... their words reach people. They entertain, and at their best, they have the power to inspire.

We each have our favorites within this band, and whether we admit it or not, we each defend our appreciation of our particular favorite(s)... I just can't see why so few people are able to accept and respect that fact.

There's no need for someone to tear down one member, just because they like another.
"I'm right, and your wrong" arguments are pointless, because there IS no right or wrong.
Debates are terrific, and can be very interesting and engaging... but at some point all parties simply have to agree to disagree. Or... in the best of all possible worlds... open their eyes to *both* points of view



Johnny Stew