All hail the Queen of Glycerine
You probably spend more time doing nothing than you realize. I know I do.
The list of what constitutes "doing nothing" is surely vast. I count surfing the Internet, watching syndicated court programs and supporting "grass roots" political candidates as just a few. Sleep isn't factored into this equation, because when you slumber you're actually resting your mind and body. This is necessary for another long day of B.O.-laced subways, overpriced coffee and tepid Sanjaya jokes.
Naturally, this brings me to Gwen Stefani. While killing time recently, I found myself on the popular video sharing Web site, YouTube. For reasons unknown, I gravitated towards Mrs. Gavin Rossdale ... I must have had a hankering for confessional offerings by blondes in flowing blue sun dresses. After watching several clips, I came to the conclusion that most every heterosexual American male does. That being, Gwen Stefani is pretty damn perfect looking.
But that wasn't all.
I also realized that the Orange County-bred singer has a far more important place in modern American culture than most people realize. And that is this: Gwen Stefani, without anyone really noticing, has become the queen of Generation Y.
Stefani was born in 1969, making her 37 years old and a chronological member of Generation X. But her cultural rise -- beginning in 1995 with No Doubt's 15 million-selling Tragic Kingdom and cresting 10 years later with the worldwide success of "Hollaback Girl" and accompaning solo album Love. Angel. Music. Baby. -- made her an institution for many before between 1978 and 1982.
This is not to say that you must be a huge Gwen Stefani fan to agree with this assessment. I own a ND greatest hits package and several of Stefani's solo singles on my iPod, but I would hardly classify myself as a diehard fan. It's more about respecting the fact that artist's have been chewed up and spit up in a quarter of the time that Stefani has been in the spotlight.
And if you disagree with placing her at Gen Y's throne, who do you submit in her place? Over the past 12 years, no woman in entertainment has remained more culturally relevant. She has the entire package -- musical chops, a large and diverse fanbase, her own fashion line, a high-profile marriage and, of course, that whole stunning beauty thing. She's a once in a generation talent, and sometimes I don't know if this is fully appreciated by the general public.
Of course, the you can make the claim that the crown was handed to Stefani by default -- this was Britney Spears' title to lose, and she surely did just that. This won't be disputed. But if Britney's stunning fall from grace illustrated anything (other than provide fair warning not to marry dirtbags, do drugs and have babies in succession), it was that this global spotlight business is slippery stuff. While others have tumbled (Brit-Brit), faded from view (Alanis) or were eventually exposed as one-dimensional prisms (Jessica), Stefani has soldiered on with grace.
So I guess this is my way of saying thank you, Gwen. The queen deserves proper respect.
The list of what constitutes "doing nothing" is surely vast. I count surfing the Internet, watching syndicated court programs and supporting "grass roots" political candidates as just a few. Sleep isn't factored into this equation, because when you slumber you're actually resting your mind and body. This is necessary for another long day of B.O.-laced subways, overpriced coffee and tepid Sanjaya jokes.
Naturally, this brings me to Gwen Stefani. While killing time recently, I found myself on the popular video sharing Web site, YouTube. For reasons unknown, I gravitated towards Mrs. Gavin Rossdale ... I must have had a hankering for confessional offerings by blondes in flowing blue sun dresses. After watching several clips, I came to the conclusion that most every heterosexual American male does. That being, Gwen Stefani is pretty damn perfect looking.
But that wasn't all.
I also realized that the Orange County-bred singer has a far more important place in modern American culture than most people realize. And that is this: Gwen Stefani, without anyone really noticing, has become the queen of Generation Y.
Stefani was born in 1969, making her 37 years old and a chronological member of Generation X. But her cultural rise -- beginning in 1995 with No Doubt's 15 million-selling Tragic Kingdom and cresting 10 years later with the worldwide success of "Hollaback Girl" and accompaning solo album Love. Angel. Music. Baby. -- made her an institution for many before between 1978 and 1982.
This is not to say that you must be a huge Gwen Stefani fan to agree with this assessment. I own a ND greatest hits package and several of Stefani's solo singles on my iPod, but I would hardly classify myself as a diehard fan. It's more about respecting the fact that artist's have been chewed up and spit up in a quarter of the time that Stefani has been in the spotlight.
And if you disagree with placing her at Gen Y's throne, who do you submit in her place? Over the past 12 years, no woman in entertainment has remained more culturally relevant. She has the entire package -- musical chops, a large and diverse fanbase, her own fashion line, a high-profile marriage and, of course, that whole stunning beauty thing. She's a once in a generation talent, and sometimes I don't know if this is fully appreciated by the general public.
Of course, the you can make the claim that the crown was handed to Stefani by default -- this was Britney Spears' title to lose, and she surely did just that. This won't be disputed. But if Britney's stunning fall from grace illustrated anything (other than provide fair warning not to marry dirtbags, do drugs and have babies in succession), it was that this global spotlight business is slippery stuff. While others have tumbled (Brit-Brit), faded from view (Alanis) or were eventually exposed as one-dimensional prisms (Jessica), Stefani has soldiered on with grace.
So I guess this is my way of saying thank you, Gwen. The queen deserves proper respect.
posted by Dan Hanzus at 5:51 PM
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