Women singers singing in their knickers.

[Thelasthurdle]

I admit I'm older generation.
I'm a great admirer of singers such as Nina Simone, Linda Ronstadt, Suzi Quatro, Christine Perfect, Joan Baez, Tracy Chapman etc, etc.
They all not only have great voices but also real musical talent.
And they also don't stand and sing in their knickers
So what is it with people like Beyonce and Rhianna? If they really are talented why do they need to sing in their knickers? Why do they need to use sex to sell their songs? They are powerful enough not to bend to the industry pressure on them. Why not stand or fall on their talents rather than on selling their sexuality.?

I'm not at all a fan of the rebranding of wearing skimpy and highly sexualised outfits to appeal to the male gaze as 'empowering to women', but it's a bit disingenuous to suggest that apart from the knickers-wearers, the popularity of singers is purely about their voices and talent. The visual aesthetic style of bands and singers (male or female) has been a big part of their appeal for a long, long time.

Given how tight it was I don’t think he was wearing any.

Women being sexual and confident is fine with me. What bothers me is that male pop singers are invariably fully clothed and female are half naked. I know there are exceptions to the rule but the rule still stands. it’s such a double standard. Grrr!

I remember the "singer" from Black Box appearing on TOTP in a bandeau top she was in danger of bouncing out of. The next week she was dressed in a baggy T-shirt and dungarees. I think someone at the BBC must have had a word.

Yeah it does because it brings up into the consciousness themes of abuse that need to be healed. Things have to be shown up so they can be addressed. Otherwise they stay buried and nothing changes.

I've seen Beyoncé live 4 times. She doesn't sing "in her knickers". They are leotards and on her last tour she had a variety of costumes - including full length gowns, shorter dressers, catsuits (or whatever they are called) and a few leotards etc.

Funnily enough I was a punk late 70s, but it was more bondage trousers, DMs, dyed spikey hair etc, same with my friends. None of us wore just a bra out in public, maybe the more risqué punks were London based.

If you are really talented why do you need to sell your body? Why is your musical talent not enough?

Why are you assuming you can't be both talented and wear few clothes? Times change. Let go of the pearls.

And I'm 57, so also 'older' generation.

I wouldn't have wanted to get on that ball after her 😄

Are bondage trousers really less ‘sexual’ on whatever the appropriate measurement scale is than what Beyoncé wears?

I was going to suggest 1982 - but I recall even when I was 16 we had Hotpants then 😃 (crimplene).

I’m older generation too, but looking back I wish I had had the confidence to wear all those fashions when I was young and lithe - it’s only when I look at the old photos now, that I see my figure was actually ok, not morbidly obese like now.

Go ladies is what I say, enjoy your youth, no criticism here.

Have you seen her Uber Eats ad?

Why are you assuming they think people will only listen to their music due to their attire?

Both Beyonce and Rihanna have a primarily female audience.

And to repeat Rihanna has not performed in years and her last one off show she was covered up so why did you mention her as an example.

Beyonce performa in a mix of outfits. The more revealing attire tends to be dance pieces and this wearing clothes easier to move in. Akin to gymnasts. I saw her two years ago in concert and she was not performing in her knickers. She started in a gown and then moved onto leotards and jumpsuits before finishing with another gown.

Female bodies have been sexualised, in a way that men’s bodies have not, pretty much forever. And that sexualisation makes money.

what’s the equivalent of a basque, stockings and suspenders for men? Why do women wear high heels and push up bras and men do not? Which sex is generally found gyrating round a pole in a strip club?

i don’t like it, but ‘‘twas ever thus. So I don’t blame female entertainers for following the money.

I remember DS seeing MTV when he was about 4 and asking ‘why are those ladies dancing in their pants?’ . Indeed: why are they?

This. Beyonce definitely usually has legless body suits but it’s just dancing attire. The examples are strange.

Holy victim blaming batman.

In today’s episode of “A Woman is Always to Blame”.

If men are stupid the issue is with their stupidity. Not women’s behaviour.

I think YAB a tad unreasonable op!

I am of an older generation and I think there is room for all sorts of different female music acts.

Beyoncé is fabulous in her own right and now has considerable power in the industry.

Ditto Lady Gaga

You could call Dolly Parton’s image overtly sexual but she is so much more than just that!

If you reduce performers to just the clothes they are wearing, then you are guilty of objectification I’m afraid.

I think it falls to personal preference tbh!

Like you, I absolutely love seeing Joan Armatrading and Tracy Chapman perform, not only for their music, but also because it’s wonderful to see two middle aged women performing on world stages, such as Glastonbury, wearing minimal make up and having had no tweaks! They look like ordinary women and are reveered and celebrated just the same!

Neither Adele or Billy Eilish have hyper-sexualised images and yet they are at the top of their game too!

So there is room for all sorts!

Yes she pretty much started it. Some really take it the extreme though. Sabrina Carpenter looked like she was ready to give birth (in the squatting position) in the only few seconds of her performance I’ve ever seen! I admit I clutched my pearls.

For some reason I thought you said sing into their knickers and that gave me an odd image 😯😁

Have you never been to Greece ors Rome. There are countless ancient monuments to male sexuality. In Greece you can buy gift shop copies of the male effigy with the most enormous dick.

I think you have misinterpreted my point.
Obviously men are 100% to blame for their actions.
But playing up to male fantasies and fetishes gives the idea that it is ok with women.
It is not ok.

Everything is sexualised these days and it's a shame that kids have to grow up before their time having it thrown in their faces all the time, same with TV adverts and such like.

Agree about leotards/bodysuits being dance wear for more modern pop artists. I don’t think Joan Baez, Nina Simone and Tracy Chapman were pulling out the same sorts of dance routines as Beyoncé, Taylor, Sabrina et al these days. Taylor Swift rehearsed her whole show walking on a treadmill as it was so physical. I’m not even a Swiftie/pop fan, but their performances are impressive!

???? I've danced around in my time wearing almost anything you could imagine; this is the first time anybody suggested to me that jeans impair dancing!

I just don't understand all the hype about singers such as Beyonce. If you are really talented why do you need to sell your body? Why is your musical talent not enough?

Well they're not just singers are they, they're performers. I don't see many artists standing on a stage with nothing but a spot light.

I don't know a lot of the women you mentioned, but I assume they did put on some kind of performance when performing live, and even if they didn't, I'm assuming a lot of them pre-date music videos, mobile phones, social media and streaming?