I am a chick with a guitar. (There, I said it) So for some reason, whenever I play shows or open mics, someone always instantly draws the "Jewel" parallel. Which I think is funny, because I sound nothing like Jewel. I used to be blonde like Jewel, but the similarities ended there, and now we don't even have that to connect us.
So I started thinking about who my actual influences are, people who've left indelible marks on my songwriting. I've got a few: James Taylor, Paul Simon, Loudon Wainwright III, Ani Difranco, my dad...
I was wondering, though: has anyone else been instantly compared to a famous person for some inane reason (like being female and playing guitar)? And who are your real influences?
I am mosty a gospel singer, but i do other stuff to when I do all acoustic gigs at coffie houses and things like that. But any way I have been compared to every one from Percy Sledge to Elvis. Witch is strange cause I sound nothing like eather one. I am inflounced by BB. King, Buddy Guy. as for as blues when it comes to gospel by far my bigest inflounce is the Crabb Family or I should say Gearld Crabb who is a alsom song writer. I have a lot more for defrunt kinds of music to but it whould takr me all night to tell you.
No doubt about it, women in music are expected to prove themselves. Then, if you're any good, some dope will compare you to the one or two well known female artists he's familiar with. It's not fair. I'm just glad there there are chicks like you that just go out there and do your thing. I hope that women like you make it easier for my little daughter if she decides to be a musician.
As for your original question, folks are always comparing me to Tom Cruise. Not because of my looks. I'm just a really bad actor, and I'm insane.
BC wrote: As for your original question, folks are always comparing me to Tom Cruise. Not because of my looks. I'm just a really bad actor, and I'm insane.
Man, that was fuuuuunny!!! I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks Tom is a ...well, I can't get myself to say it. Because I saw him on the Actor's Studio and man, his intentions are really good...but yeah, his acting is a bit forced. Seems to be in angry roles a lot (which helped in the movie with Jamie Foxx).
As far as what the original poster asked, I've been compared to Pete Sampras. I live in Taiwan. I get people looking at me in the post office saying to me 'Sampraaas?' And as a guitarist/song writer, you can imagine how flattered I feel to be called a tennis star.
Women proving themselves....well, I agree. But probably no less than men. Just watch Sex and the City (though fiction) I'm sure it rings true to some degree. We dudes ain't completely off the hook with having to spin some tricks to get attention.
Yeah, we make our dough doing children's music here for kids learning English as a Foreign Language (EFL).
But ironic that you mention Nashville, because that's where the drummer and sax player I hire for my tunes live. I've hired them on many kids' songs I've written and thank god for the internet!! 'Cause that's theeee ONLY way I can get that kind of musical talent here in Taiwan.
i seem to put people in mind of patti smith or chrissie hynde (is it the anger thing?) and back when hair was big and my ratted out do was huge and dyed jet black it was cher. now i'm old and i just look like me and my songwriting and guitar playing are much better and you have no idea how much easier it is to be a female musician now compared with 1986. or 1968 for that matter. duh. you play pretty good..... for a girl. thanks, dickweed. more women should play electric guitar and play real loud and learn how to get cool tone and fool around with flangersand delays and stuff like that. there's a lot of power in amplification, women have no idea how much fun it can be. you can buy a hello kitty strat copy in pink or black. i guess they can keep the guitar but i've been thinking about the hello kitty gig bag. being old (52) is pretty cool too, it's not about looks or image anymore, it's about having a lot of fun and being real. rock on.
When I was younger I heard that maybe I looked like the 'Nuge or Robert Plant maybe and even Howard Stern when I was on a beer and bad hair day. When I played/sang it was comparisons to Niel Young.
My influences are the Amboy Dukes, Led Zeppelin and Niel Young....and a lot of Dan Folgolberg. Howard Stern is cool too:)
Man, that was fuuuuunny!!! I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks Tom is a ...well, I can't get myself to say it. Because I saw him on the Actor's Studio and man, his intentions are really good...but yeah, his acting is a bit forced. Seems to be in angry roles a lot (which helped in the movie with Jamie Foxx).
