Quote:
Originally Posted by pklongbeach
I think Carre has already made some huge steps toward giving women equality in this business.
Because her fame and success came without Nashvilles stamp on it, she showed how influencial a woman can be.
Shania, as well.
Others seem to conform to the restraints of the system. (Faith, the beautiful trophy wife. Sara, the cheated-on. Taylor, the pampered daddys girl.)
But Carries appeal (like Shanias) seems to break the molds. She succeeds as a self-reliant, independant woman, with or without the system.
I whole-heartedly believe the system has altered itself already to include alot more strongly supported woman-acts because of Carrie and Carrie alone.
Of this, we fans can be truely proud. (Even as these women achieve their own levels of success)
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If you're going to put labels on people, you can't overlook the fact that Carrie has a label of her own, All-American Girl. In other words, the Wholesome Girl Next Door. And that label was there before she came out with the song of the same name. That's why some people came out and criticized her when BHC and LN came out - they weren't typical sweet Carrie stuff, and they assumed she was selling out or changing. But overall, she's still sweet, innocent, wholesome Carrie.
There have been other Wholesome Girls Next Door before, but fame and success usually changes them (remember when Britney claimed to be a virgin?). I'm hoping it doesn't for Carrie. It hasn't after three years, so I think the odds are good.
In regards to saying these other women conform, I don't necessarily agree. Faith Hill has had crossover success, and even put out an entire album that was criticized as "too pop". Yet it was a success anyway. And Taylor - she has redefined the meaning of non-conformity with her constant pop remixes. And she's been successful with it as well. So I guess I don't fully understand the examples you used to illustrate your point. These women aren't cowing down to country rules, they're doing their own thing. Carrie is conforming more than they are, with her steadfast "staying true to country" feelings.
I don't think that Carrie, and Carrie alone, has changed country music for women. Shania, LeAnn, and Faith all started the pop crossover movement. It's partly because of them that BHC was so widely accepted outside of the country format. It's partly because of them that Taylor Swift is getting away with all of those pop remixes. Country music has slowly evolved over time, as more and more artists pushed the boundaries. Not because of Carrie alone. If anyone got the credit alone, it would be Shania. She pretty much broke the mold, as far as I'm concerned.