I don't often read those websites that list musicians' birthdays but, when I do, they often reveal something interesting. Today was no exception. Up first were two classics: saxophone immortal, Charlie Parker (1920), and superb jazz/blues vocalist, Dinah Washington (1924). Very respectable. So far, so good.
However, today also presented two absolutely bizarro pairings. The first features two entertainers of vastly different measure: the electrifying and preternaturally talented, though profoundly disturbed, Michael Jackson (1958) and the execrable, profoundly untalented, though equally disturbed corprophiliac punker, GG Allin (1956).
The more interesting pairing for me, however, is the second one. This one featured two vocalists: the glossolaliac Queen of etherea, the Cocteau Twins' Elizabeth Fraser (1958) and the harrowing avant-blues-operatic dark majesty, Diamanda Galas (1955). Both women delivered vocal signatures and performances the world had never quite heard before them, although in radically different forms. Fraser unfurled wordless spiraling streams and swirls of airy and crystalline shimmer. By extreme contrast, Galas unleashed virtuosic wails, moans, growls, shrieks and caterwauls of abject rage and horror. Despite their extreme formal differences, both artists shared a surprisingly large crossover of fan bases during the late 80s-early 90s indie/goth golden years. I do wonder what Virgo has to say about all of this...