k.d. lang
Miss Chatelaine

And Kathryn Dawn Lang, aka k.d. lang, couldn't really explain it to herself, all in lowercase as she herself requested. She, a "big boned gal from southern Alberta," a country tomboy, a singer raised with the myth of Elvis, chosen as woman of the year by Chatelaine, a glossy women's lifestyle magazine; o tempora, o mores! Of course, I'm joking, and so is Kathryn. Yes, I'm sure she was fully aware of her charisma, her sex appeal, her potential as a singer but also as a character; she was perfectly prepared for fame, otherwise she never would have come out with a piece like "Miss Chatelaine". Pretending to be caught off guard, taking it lightly, with irony, was a clever and winning move in every aspect, a perfect example of how "shrewdness" does not necessarily have negative connotations, especially when used with style as in this case.

I've already talked about the superb "Ingénue," an impeccable album that propelled k.d. lang towards international fame, sumptuously arranged by Greg Penny, full of instant classics; "Constant Craving," but also (I would say especially) "Season Of Hollow Soul," "Still Thrives This Love," "Save Me," and, indeed, "Miss Chatelaine," which amid this triumph of elegant sensuality stands out as the eccentric and wild younger sister. Technicolor lights, soap bubbles, outdated wigs, showgirl poses, daisy-shaped earrings, powder in abundance, even a fake beauty mark on the cheek; you get the irony, right? But of course you do, it's not hard: one of the last remaining divas playing the stereotype of the traditional diva, and the staging succeeds perfectly thanks to the innate charm and immense class of k.d. lang. Obviously, knowing her usual style, it all becomes even more delightful, one might almost say that in the "Miss Chatelaine" video she's performing en travesti, and she does it excellently.

"I can't explain why I've become Miss Chatelaine" Yes, sure, of course! Now, frankly, I'm not exactly sure what a typical Miss Chatelaine is like, but if it were up to me, I would have made this woman Miss Universe as well, and who knows how she would have reacted! If I were ever to meet her, perhaps in a remote pub in the Canadian prairie, over a mug of beer, chatting about this and that, I certainly wouldn't miss the chance to ask her. An unrealizable fantasy, I know, mainly because she is now a Star and hasn't frequented certain places for ages, and she's earned it. Success, awards, recognitions, this little tribute of mine, all absolutely deserved: intelligent and also lucky, which never hurts, and then with a voice and a character like that...