SIXTH AND LASTLY: Has anyone else noticed this trend among musicians? When it is a band with a male lead singer, the band usually is named so that the lead dude isn't put front and center, and everyone gets credit (Our Lady Peace, Nickelback, Creed, Counting Crows, Everclear, Smashing Pumpkins, Barenaked Ladies, Goo Goo Dolls, The Calling, Metallica ... the list goes on and on). There are exceptions, such as Enrique Inglacias and Bryan Adams, and some bands are named after the lead guy (Dave Matthews Band, for example), but generally the trend holds true.

However, when we look at bands where a female is the lead singer, the opposite seems true. Sarah McLachlan, Avril Lavigne, Sheryl Crow, Celine Dion, Madonna, Alanis Morrisette, Jewel, Shania Twain, again the list goes on. There are once again exceptions (No Doubt, Dixie Chicks, Destiny's Child, for example), but ... does anyone else see the pattern here? Are men more willing to remain anonymous and give credit to everyone in the band, while women are not? Do women change band members all the time and thus not name the band as a whole? Are women just glory-hogs? This is not to criticize anyone ... I just find the difference interesting.


The reason is simple. Look at the genres in which these artists work. The female artists you have named (and the male soloists) are pop stars. They are vocalists. In most cases they do not write their own material. Those that do, are very traditional "guy/gal with a guitar" types in most cases. The recors their albums with session musicians. They are the descendants of Frank Sinatra by way of Elvis.

Bands on the other hand are rock musicians. They are bands, generally a bunch of folks who write collaboratively and generally work in the rock genre. Dave Matthews Band is a name dreived from Dave Matthews gathering of his band to him. Wheras the Goo Goo Dolls for example, are friends from high School. The difference is primarily as simple as the single name artist generally isn't part of a band. They are an artist, who has a band back them up from a time. The Band however is a unit, and names reflect this.



Keith (NOT BACK)
One always dies too soon-- or too late. And yet one's whole life is complete at that moment, with a line drawn neatly under it, ready for the summing up. You are-- your life, and nothing else. - Garcin, No Exit