Tank Top Tuesday: Music Edition

Music makes the people get together. Or at least that’s what Madonna said at the Super Bowl. But I think it also makes the people get sweaty. And when the people get sweaty, might I suggest they wear a tank top? Yeah. You saw that one coming. Today, as you might have guessed from the thrice-as-nice Pink, is all about musicians getting their tank top on. Or as Pink also illustrates, a little bit off.

Alicia KeysWas anyone else all “Whaaaat?” when you learned she was married to the CEO of Megauploads?

Brandi CarlileI had to miss her when she was in my area. I still have not forgiven myself.

Ani DiFrancoThere’s just something about a woman straddling a chair. And that something is hot.

FeistIs she going to give us some new music again? Soon, please.
p.s. Shoot, she did? Damn, never mind me & the rock I live under...

Michelle BranchI understand she’s gone country. If she keeps wearing stuff like this, I say yeehaw.

Tegan & SaraRemember when I met them over the summer? They definitely weren’t wearing this eye shadow then.

Missy HigginsShe went blonde. I know I’m not supposed to be noticing that, but oh well.

Meshell NdegeocelloPut on “Beautiful” for your girl and try to not get laid. Hint: It is impossible.

Emily HainesI could watch her dance around and play the tambourine on stage forever.

See, Madonna was right. Looking at musicians in their tank tops made us people come together. Happy Tuesday, kittens.

Little folk singer, redux

While researching a post for Tumblr over the weekend (yes, I haven’t even been on Tumblr a week and I’m already breaking my fun, easy, no words rule), I rediscovered the distinct joy that is listening to Ani DiFranco all night. It’s not that I don’t listen to her anymore. I do. It’s just with the advent of shuffle and Pandora and other such music mixologists, I tend not to listen to one artist exclusively anymore. (Well, that is unless I’ve just bought her CD and can’t stop playing it, cough, Adele, cough.) But I popped in Ani in the early evening and one album led to another and another and another. The rawness of “Imperfectly.” The hurt of “Dilate,” The irreverence of “Little Plastic Castles.” The growth of “Evolve.” I (and imagine Robe Lowe’s character from “Parks & Recreation” saying this here) literally have all of her albums. Yes, all of them. I’ve seen her probably a half dozen times. I even got to interview her once. It will remain a high point in my life forever.

While I didn’t really discover Ani until college, she has since been with me through almost all of my major life developments. Graduating. Finding a job. Moving across the country. Breaking up. Hooking up. Watching presidents come and go. Fighting for change. Growing older, growing up. Each record, especially the older ones, plays like a record of a time and place in my life. Sometimes they remind me of a specific person, sometimes they remind me about myself. But it’s always fascinating, like musical archeology. You uncover layers of your life that you thought were long buried. But once dusted off, given a wash and shined up, the emotions rush back like yesterday.

Just a few favorites, out of too many to count.

Shy


Dilate


Little Plastic Castles


Swan Dive


Evolve

Oh, Ani. You’ll be in my neck of the woods this week and I won’t be able to make it. But I’ll be there in spirit, singing along to every single word. I’m sure many a gal – gay or otherwise – feels the same way. Or perhaps you have another musical time capsule. Well, by all means, don’t be shy – share.