Where are the women?

It was brought to my attention by Bellsg at the end of the countdown that not one single female artist made it into the hottest 100 of all time. NOT ONE. In 100 songs, NOT ONE OF THEM WAS FEMALE. While there were a handful of female band members and featured vocalists, there were no females whose own songs made it to the hottest 100.

What does this mean? Is it simply that all the great rock gods are just that, gods and not goddesses? But surely there are some female artists out there that warrant that coveted hottest 100 of all time title? What about Stevie Nicks? Tori Amos? Bjork? Janis Joplin? Not even Carole King?

I find it very hard to believe. But also very eye-opening.

After this discovery, I went through my music collection to see what were my favourites, what I listened to the least, and what I listened to the most. And while female artists were high up there on the number of times listened, all my favourite songs are sung by male artists. The ones I voted for in the top 100 were Riders on the Storm (Doors), All Along the Watchtower (Jimi Hendrix), Throw your Arms Around Me (Hunters and Collectors) and Smells Like Teen Spirit (Nirvana). No females there.

And when you think about it, the biggest bands of all time are all males: The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, Nirvana. So what's the message behind this?

I think it has to do with society's obsession with rock stars. That classic leather pants, scruffy hair, smoldering sexiness, all revolve around that iconic rock god look, beginning, of course, with the one and only Jim Morrison, who was likened to the Greek god Adonis during his time at the top. And let's face it. Rock gods are idolised. Women want to be with them, men want to be them. The power, the money, the fame, the whole bad-boy persona (maybe not in the case of The Beatles...but that's an exception) that surrounds the rock god type.

And while there are plenty of females to idolise, the psychology isn't there. Men might think they're hot, but that doesn't separate them from any other hot female. Women might think they are successful and great musicians, but that also doesn't separate them from the rest of the successful, great female musicians. Male rock gods are elevated by society as exactly that-unattainable gods who we admire from afar.

So while it's disappointing to know that really, there are no female artists out there that have made as strong an impression on us as their male counterparts, perhaps it's a chance to redeem ourselves. Think about your favourite female artists and make sure you vote for them next hottest 100 of all time!

You can see the full list of the hottest 100 of all time here; more info on the lack of females in the charts here; and what The Age had to say about it here

Soundtrack of my life

*After conversation with Twitter peeps I have had to amend my list somewhat to include a bunch of songs I forgot all about until we started chatting about it!*

You can tell a lot about a person by the music they listen to, and the songs that define periods of their life. From as early as I can remember I have a soundtrack for my life, that starts around the time I was 5 and is, of course, still growing. It consists, so far, of around 20 songs of different genres, from heavy metal and jazz, to hip-hop and funk, with a bit of clubby music on the side.

What I also love about music is the same thing many people love about clothes and fashion, that you can change it to suit the mood you're in. I have music to suit the massive range of emotions I can go through (sometimes in one day). My hubby can often tell what sort of mood I'm in by the music I'm listening to. Watch out if I'm listening to Tool, Korn, Marilyn Manson, Butterfly Affect or anything heavy like that. But if you hear Gotye, Lily Allen, or Basement Jaxx playing you're usually ok to approach me (although treat Lily Allen music with caution, because I could be venting my distaste for authority and/or men).

The major songs in my life soundtrack include:

Learnalilgivinandlovin- Gotye (my life song)

New York, New York- Frank Sinatra (tap, jazz, and ballet dancing in high school)

The way you look Tonight- Frank Sinatra (my preferred-yet not given-wedding song)

Shiny Disco Balls- (?) (fun days working at Crown)

November Rain- Guns n Roses

My teenage angst could be summed up in two songs: You don't know me (Reel Big Fish) and Fly Away (Lenny Kravitz) along with the whole Marilyn Manson's Coma album.

UFO- Sneaky Sound System (one of my best friend's wedding nights and the best night out in a long time, even if it was in the Go of Bendiness. Lots of drinking and dancing involved)

Touch Me- Rui De Silva (when I met my husband working at Crown Casino)

Water Runs Dry- Boyz II Men (my first "real" boyfriend and my song)

Forbidden Apple- Paul Van Dyke (night of pure bliss)

What songs would your life soundtrack consist of? Are there any songs in particular that really stand out and return you suddenly to that part of your life that you love to remember (or rather forget)?