Too much too young : popular music, age and gender / Sheila Whiteley.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Whiteley, Sheila, 1941-2015.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Child musicians--Social conditions--20th century.

Child musicians.

Musicians--Social conditions--20th century.

Musicians.

Musicians--Social conditions.

Social conditions.

Physical Description:

xvi, 243 pages : illustrations, music ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

London ; New York : Routledge, 2005.

Summary:

Too Much Too Young explores the relationship between popular music, age and gender, examining the role of youth and youthfulness through a series of themed case studies. Sheila Whiteley begins by investigating the exploitation of young artists such as Brenda Lee and Michael Jackson, offering a psychoanalytic reading of the relationship between child star and oppressive manager, and looks at the current glut of boy- and girl-bands and solo performers in the mould of Britney Spears, to examine the continuing fatal fascination of stardom for adolescents.

Whiteley then considers the reception of female singer-songwriters Kate Bush, Tori Amos and Bjork, whose 'little girl' voices and characterization by the media suggest a girlish femininity which is often at odds with the intentions of their musical output. She then moves on to explore the rock/pop divide as it affects the image of male performers, considering why male stars usually fall into the category of 'wild boys' such as Jim Morrison, or 'nice boys' Cliff Richard, The Monkees and Wham! Whiteley ends by asking what happens to artists when they begin to age; why death has bestowed iconic status upon rock musicians; and why the manipulation of youthfulness has been integral to the careers of pop artists such as Kylie Minogue and Cher.

Contents:

Nursery crymes

Little girls

And little boys.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages [210]-216) and index.

Includes discography.

ISBN:

0415310296

0415310288

9780415310284

OCLC:

51178137