Tex Perkins sings “I am Woman” on No Man’s Woman
No Man’s Woman, which is described as “a tribute to women in voice” on the CD’s liner notes, takes its name from the assertive song of the same name by Sinéad O’Connor (“I haven’t travelled this far to become no man’s woman”).
Even if getting a bunch of blokes to sing tunes made famous by females like Stevie Nicks and Joni Mitchell could be regarded as antipathetic to O’Connor’s message, the end result is an entertaining collection which goes from the sweet to the silly to the serious to the irreverent.
Although Tex Perkins deserves to be spanked by several second-wave feminists for his version of a Helen Reddy classic, his “I am Woman” is so cheeky and sexy in a grungy way that it’d be a tough sister who didn’t fall for the song’s charms.
The artists who don’t change their chosen track’s gender pronouns deliver the most interesting offerings, with Powderfinger’s rendition of “Glory Box” the best number by far.
While Perkins depoliticises “I am Woman”, Bernard Fanning manages to maintain Portishead’s subversive intent as he seductively intones, “…don’t you stop being a man, just take a look from our side when you can”.
Other worthy efforts include Bob Evans’s interpretation of Lucinda Williams’s “Car Wheels on a Gravel Road” and The Vines doing “4Ever” by The Veronicas.
However, if The Vines are being sarcastic when they proclaim on the CD cover; “We think this is a great song and The Veronicas make great albums. We’re lucky to have them”, they’re mocking the reason for No Man’s Woman existence.
Alas, Josh Pyke’s “Wuthering Heights” doesn’t fare well without the singular femininity of Kate Bush, and Grinspoon’s “Boys in Town”, although fun, isn’t man enough to equal Chrissie Amphlett’s outburst.
So Paul Kelly isn’t the only bloke in Australia capable of singing from a woman’s perspective?
Bout bloody time. Singing a song well means getting into the role, and I’m happy if there are a few more blokes who’ve taken the time to try it.
I think the best eg of different gender singing without changing gnder in song: Dar Williams doing Fred Eaglesmith’s Wilder Than Her.
Record sound interesting, thanks D.
I seem to remember a version of Kasey Chambers’ Not Pretty Enough which was a notable addition to this category.
The reverse: I once heard on 2SER (I think) a woman singer doing Bryan Adams’ otherwise execrable Summer of ’69 as the blues, in a minor key and in 3/4 time somehow, accompanied only by electric guitar and one snare drum. As I missed the announcer I’ve not the slightest idea who it was but it made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.
Without the rock and fingers, it’s a song that makes Tom Waits’ lyrics sound like self-help.
Ahh so that’s what I was hearing sitting in Borders today, wondering why all these men were using female pronouns.
Some alright stuff, nothing exceptional, but that cover of Wuthering Heights is god-awful. Did a great job at making an extremely interesting song extremely boring.
*puts up hand*
It’s a dirty job, but someone’s got to do it.
Speaking of Tom Waits – christmas card from a hooker in minneapolis
does anyone actually cover the sinead oconnor song?
“So Paul Kelly isn’t the only bloke in Australia capable of singing from a woman’s perspective?”
Incidentally, Paul Kelly does P J Harvey on the CD, which is also good stuff. I wouldn’t say all the tracks come from a female perspective, but some give it a good shot.
That’s cool, A. Tori Amos has done the gender thing a few times, possibly most successfully on “Angie” and “‘ 97 Bonnie and Clyde”.
“I seem to remember a version of Kasey Chambers’ Not Pretty Enough which was a notable addition to this category.”
Would have to check that one out, Dan. Haven’t heard it.
“Some alright stuff, nothing exceptional, but that cover of Wuthering Heights is god-awful. Did a great job at making an extremely interesting song extremely boring.”
It usually takes me a few listens to get into an album, and was the case with this one. But you’re right about “Wuthering Heights”; it doesn’t work. Sorry, Josh Pyke. I purchased it after hearing sexy old Tex Perkins growling over the speakers at HMV.
“*puts up hand*
It’s a dirty job, but someone’s got to do it.”
Tee hee, join the queue, Pavlov’s Cat, join the queue.
Mikey, someone covers “Nothing Compares to U”, which is a Prince song really, but Sinead made it her own. A reasonable effort. Actually doing the song “No Man’s Woman” would’ve been interesting.
For the moment, you can hear all the songs off the CD on myspace – http://www.myspace.com/nomanswomanmusic
Thanks, Adam.
Good way for people to judge whether to buy it, and I see they are doing a show (but not in Melbourne, alas).
That Tex Perkins version of ‘I Am Woman’ sounds pretty funny, perhaps somewhat along the same lines as Loudon Wainwright’s I wish I was a lesbian.
Thanks for the link, Adam.
Never mind ol’ Tex, go and have a listen to Angus Stone singing Joni Mitchell’s ‘River’.
Yes, Angus’s version is pretty. I was ready to hate it (what with being a Joni fan and all), but he changed my mind. It’s sweet.
As for Tex, when I had stopped laughing, I thought “cheeky bastard, thanks for taking a feminist classic and loading it with a ton of blokey sexuality….errr, ummm, gulp, what was I thinking about?”
Interesting that you mention Mr. Wainwright, I purchased his daughter’s last CD and still can’t bring myself to listen to it. Martha, Martha, Martha.
The definitive male vocal version of Wuthering Heights is of course on Mr. Floppy’s The Unbearable Lightness of Being a Dickhead album.
Mr. Floppy’s The Unbearable Lightness of Being a Dickhead album.
Monaro, that is the best album title ever. Mr. Floppy is very self-aware.
Love it.
Sorry, Darlene, I don’t understand. Why not? Has she done something dreadful?
I guess Tex doing “I am Woman” is slightly better than that execrable Nescafe ad.
Umm, how to explain.
I saw Martha on the Leonard Cohen “I’m Your Man” film, and I thought, “she’s interesting”.
I went out and purchased her CD. I watched Martha on said CD again, and I thought “mmmmm, interesting, but”.
I don’t know, I think Martha is an acquired taste, and I am desperately mainstream (and I’ve recently turned 40, which means I have no capacity for new things).
What’s this about a Nescafe ad, Davey?
Darlene, I certainly agree that she’s an acquired taste. I saw her live in Adelaide when the McGarrigle/Wainwright family was touring the country after the original Sydney ‘I’m Your Man’ concert. I thought she was fantastically talented and a monumental pain in the arse. She came across better (as a human being, I mean, but musically she was also really impressive) the night she was on RockWiz last year (?). Then I heard her on the car radio singing Cohen’s ‘Tower of Song’ — without realising who she was — and was so blown away I had to pull over until I’d recovered.
I am considerably older than you and like to think I still have a capacity for new things, but then I watch Idol and look at Matt Corby’s hair, and wonder anew at the fact that I seem to be the only person on the planet who thinks it’s utterly ludicrous, so maybe not.
PC, I can’t help feeling that the Wainwrights do Cohen better than they do songs by the Wainwrights. Will give her a try on the weekend. “Tower of Song” is such a great song.
Now, I don’t even know who Matt Corby is so I had to Google him. Have to agree with you about the hair (it’s really 80s I reckon). He’s certainly got pretty little lips, that boy.