Ani DiFranco. She has released 18 studio albums and another 13 live albums since 1990. She’s a political activist and a feminist icon. She’s a self-made industry mogul, having started a successful record label (Righteous Babe Records) at the age of 18. She has collaborated with everyone from Prince to Maceo Parker. Her songwriting is almost universally praised, and she has won numerous awards and widespread acclaim over the course of a long, fruitful career that has changed the face of the music industry. So, what’s the problem?
This is the problem:
1. 31 albums… all about the same thing (herself)
OK, I haven’t listened to a whole hell of a lot of Ani DiFranco music, and I wasn’t about to listen to any more in order to do “research” for this piece, but at least three of every four Ani DiFranco songs that I’ve heard are about… Ani DiFranco. I guess this means her music is “introspective.” I like to call it “self-absorbed.” Look, if you have some personal issues to work out or something, and music is the best way for you to do that, fine. But enough already!
No, really - enough.
Oh, and to make matters worse, she just released a retrospective album. For realsies? A retrospective, recapping your career of talking about yourself? And people will buy that? For how much? Wow.
2. What’s with this singer-songwriter bullshit?
Seriously, someone needs to explain this to me. I know a lot of “artists” don’t “write their own stuff” these days, but do we really need to pat musicians on the back for writing music, as though it’s somehow going above and beyond the call of duty?
And another thing: the whole “solo vocalist with acoustic guitar” bit is pretty worn out. Listen, I’m aware that she’s branched out in a variety of directions using a lot of different instrumentation. All I’m saying is that if I have to hear another random idiot beating a poorly tuned guitar to death and being praised for their “creativity and vision,” I might puke a little – and Ani sure ain’t helping.
3. Her fans all call her “Ani” like they know her or something
Strictly speaking this isn’t about Ms. DiFranco herself, but it’s still worth mentioning. I know every good fanboy or fangirl likes to think they really know the object of their adoration, but Ani DiFranco is not Shaq, and naming conventions should be handled accordingly. I know – you feel like she understands the real you - the one deep down, inside. Here’s the thing: about a zillion other people feel the same way. She doesn’t know you. Get over yourself.
So, now it’s your turn. You’re a lifelong Ani DiFranco fan. You probably have some really impractical piercings, a tattoo or two that only you and your fellow warriors for change understand, and a whimsical, yet “introspective,” outlook on life. At the moment, your tailfeathers are probably a bit ruffled.
So tell me: what’s the big deal with Ani DiFranco?
Disclaimer: 98% of this article by volume is baseless hyperbole that was intended to be humorous. If you didn’t laugh, that’s probably because it isn’t funny… right?
Read more articles in the “What’s the Big Deal?” series.
© 2007 Evan Mix for Listen In. Some rights reserved.
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