[NON BLOG] The Diva Factor
Nov. 16th, 2005 07:53 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
rfmcdonaldI'll be heading to Woody's tonight, for the 9 o'clock launch party for Madonna's new CD Confessions on a Dance Floor. I'm not working tomorrow, and I'd like to unwind, and not only do I already own her 1990 greatest-hits The Immaculate Collection but I've a few of her other non-greatest-hits albums besides, so why not?
Yes, I know that this is a bit stereotypical, but then, as the BBC points out, sometimes stereotypes are rooted in facts.
She certainly plays to this fan base. Me, I'll just note that I listen to other female vocalists with similarly unconventional approaches--Annie Lennox, Kate Bush, Tori Amos--quite a lot and leave things there.
Yes, I know that this is a bit stereotypical, but then, as the BBC points out, sometimes stereotypes are rooted in facts.
Madonna's most loyal fan group has been gay men, which gay magazine Axm attributes to her eye for fashion and music trends, and her ever-changing image.
"Many gay people want to break away from their past, and every six months Madonna goes into a cocoon then emerges as a new butterfly," says Axm editor Matt Miles.
She strengthened her gay and lesbian fanbase by challenging sexual and religious convention in promo videos such as Like A Prayer and Justify My Love, suggestive live performances and 1992's explicit Sex photo book.
"Madonna's gay audience has always been very forgiving, perhaps too forgiving," says Mr Miles. "It would take an awful lot to put gay men off her."
She certainly plays to this fan base. Me, I'll just note that I listen to other female vocalists with similarly unconventional approaches--Annie Lennox, Kate Bush, Tori Amos--quite a lot and leave things there.
