Earlier this month on another wild Saturday night spent at home in front of the TV, I happened to come across a rerun of VH1’s Divas 2009, hosted by the always questionable Paula Abdul with appearances from some of the biggest female names in music.
When Divas first started back in 1998 under the name Diva’s Live it was greatly made fun of – partly because said Divas spent most of the program trying to out Diva each other. Who can flail their hands the most? Who can hit the most ridiculous high note for the longest? Who can get the longest standing ovation? Who had the biggest boobs? (Aretha Franklin. Duh.)
However, I thoroughly enjoyed 2009’s Divas offering, despite Miley Cyrus wearing what appeared to be her underpants on stage and Paula Abdul being, well, Paula Abdul. During Cyndi Lauper and Leona Lewis’s “True Colors” duet, I realized what I loved so much about the show.
It wasn’t necessarily the music, the fashion or even who appeared on the show – it was the sheer idea that that many powerful, talented and creative women were excited and willing to collaborate with other women.
Despite having so many fiercely fantastic women in music today, the industry is seemingly typical of any industry with a high concentration (or even low concentration) of women: Cheryl hates Lily and Lily hates Kate Nash but then Katy said Lily was fat but then Mariah hates Christina and did you hear that Christina ripped off GaGa, etc, etc.
It’s pathetic.
But watching Divas gave me a little hope that perhaps, just perhaps, women were figuring out that there is power in numbers.
Beyoncé and Lady GaGa are clearly fans of each other with their double collaborations on “Telephone” and “Video Phone” - but beyond Beyoncé’s willingness to work with other women like Shakira and GaGa, why aren’t more female pop stars working together? When was that Madonna and Britney song? 2003?
I’ve heard Lily Allen sing La Roux’s praises –how cool would a duet with those two be?
What about Florence + The Machine collaborating with Rosin Murphy?
Sophie Ellis Baxter and Kylie Minogue?
Nelly Furtado and Carrie Underwood?
I’m sure there are an infinite number of inspired and brilliant songs that could come to life if only more female powerhouses were willing to collaborate.
So what’s stopping them?
Jealousy? Intimidation? Record label politics?
Whatever the reason is, I hope more women like GaGa and Beyoncé wake up and don't just wait for VH1 to ask them to perform on a TV special before they collaborate with another female artist again.