I have been blogging for *almost* two years, and I am shocked that in that time I have barely mentioned kd lang. I can't believe that, having adored and worshipped kd for - let me see - twelve years, she barely figures on this blog.
Just to set the record straight - I absolutely adore kd lang, who is the only woman I have ever had a celebrity crush on. She is close to perfection. I have eight of her albums, plus the single of Crying she did with Roy Orbison. I have actually seen her live, and, you know I have been to so few pop gigs that is really remarkable, as is the fact that I travelled to Brighton especially to see her. And I screamed hysterically (ish).
What can I say? I am not a fan of Country 'n' Western, on the whole, and some people class kd as C&W. To me she transcends categorisation. She writes many of her own songs, and when she covers other people's she does so in a way that makes all preceding versions irrelevant. As it happens, I find it easy to sing along with her songs because our voices lie in the same range. Although, of course, she has a brilliant voice and mine is on the borders of croak-and-squawk with an occasional reference to the tune. (Actually, goddammit, I used to be able to sing, what the fuck I have been doing smoking for the past twenty three years - and smoking seriously for 17? Fuck fuck fuck!)
Just on the album from which this post takes its name, I will single out Big Boned Gal and Nowhere To Stand, one a boppy hoe-down-ish song, the other an absolute Torch miracle. Both of them tackle issues of social marginalisation. and they do it with gorgeous music and a gorgeous voice.
Much more kd to come!
