Interview With Melissa Etheridge

AE: Oh, OK. Well, what do you think of her hair?
ME: [Laughs.] I think it has a life of its own.

lol

 Woah, what a fantastic interview! So long and involved - thanks Melissa for taking the time to share some thoughts :)

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www.NZGamer.com

I love Melissa and Tammy, and I think they're doing a great job of just being true to what they believe in, and trying to get the message out there. Thank you guys! =D

Also, thanks to AfterEllen for working so hard to get us the best interviews =D

I'm not American or anything so I only see the politics from the outside, but it's good to see that someone with a stronger voice (pun intended) is willing to speak up for positive changes in the world, it can definitely use them...

And I'm not sure that it's cluelessness so much as a lot more bright than many dare dream of, but again, that's just from afar.

As for the music, brilliant as it's ever been... It's too bad people are deprived of it over corporates, finances or whatever the hell makes someone in their right mind put a show like that anywhere but in the spotlight.

I guess that's the risk you take for mixing music with something other than skimpy clothes. :P

- Fox

I like the new album's return to that solid rock sound only Melissa evoked before. As for all the politicized lyrics, I am less than enthusiastic. Politics is complicated and requires more than the sloganized, repetitive format of the pop song. To be honest, their heart is in the right place but they seem cliched and trite.

Celebrities are asked to step up to the plate and contribute to political causes and I'm glad when they do, but I'm not sure that a celebrity's art benefits from becoming a political cause.

It's a woman's prerogative to change her mind. And back again! ;)

"call me old fashioned but I prefer feminism that leaves a little something to the imagination!"

What a fabulous interview! Thank you... It is so good to hear Melissa speak of her new album.  It is the most amazing album my heart has ever heard.  The coolest thing is that there is finally someone so talented and inspired who is actually speaking of the truth that resonates in each and everyone of us.  What a delight! Witness and mirror. Brilliant! So honest in the interview and album!

Thank you!!!

Peace and much light!

Genevieve

Damn, thank you very much AE for the interview.  I have loved and respected Melissa since I was 10 years old.  I remember listening to Yes I Am tape in my step-dads car, he and I were both singing not just the singles but also the whole album.  I didn't know the significance of the album at the time, I just remember loving the music as I still do today.  It sounds cliché but I have looked at Melissa as a role model especially during my coming out days.  I listened to her music all the time and it was awesome to see someone in the public eye live the life she wanted to live and still lives today.  I look forward to the new album and I will be buying it tomorrow morning.  I really hope to catch her on tour next year as well.  My local radio stations suck about announcing upcoming concerts and she was in the Baltimore area for two days last year I think and I missed both shows.  They both sold out quickly.  I'll be updating ticketmaster.

As for her political views, again I respect how she feels, does not mean I agree 100%.  Everyone has different political views and because a celebrity will endorse a candidate doesn't mean that I will, I have my own mind.  Who we elect as President next year will matter, just like the country electing Bush for a second term has greatly affected our country these past three years.  No one is satisfied with him including most conservatives, so it isn't just our community.  I will try to avoid going on a political rant, but I would like to say that my generation especially has got to step up and pay attention.  It drives me nuts when most of my friends say, "it doesn't affect me".  Are you bloody kidding me?!  Of course it affects you.

Yup, so I'll calm down, ha.  Thanks AE and thanks to Melissa again, I loved reading the interview. 

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"Normal is not something to aspire to, it's something to get away from."

Thanks so much - a 5 page interview - wonderful.  Thanks for bringing us some Melissa!  I have to say, though sadly a result of her chemo, her short hair look fulfilled a dream of what some of us fans wanted to see on her for a long time.  But the longer do looks great on the concert circuit.  Lesbians are all about the hair, so funny, so true.  Looking forward to the album.  I try to buy each new one the week it comes out.  And listen from beginning to end.  Her classics are part of the fabric of my world, of course, but SKIN and LUCKY have been fantastic new works as well, with different genres interspliced.  Love it.  ON SKIN, I especially liked Lover Please & The Different...ON LUCKY, I would listen to Coming Out Tonight, Secret Agent & Giant over and over.  Looking forward to THE AWAKENING.  There's a listening party in LA, I'm flirting with idea of going to....just for that community feeling... :)

Wow...ok this is my SECOND ATTEMPT to post this comment! This clearly shows the dedication being that I lost my first comment in its entirety.

First, I'd like to give a very deep and sincere thank you to AfterEllen.com. This interview means a lot to me, but it clearly shows how much this website has done for me. For me, it has evolved from me sneaking to this website, to viewing it but being too afraid to make an account, to having it be a staple of my everyday internet excursions. This website has become base to me, a strong sense of home via the internet. To me, that's pretty remarkable. I am so grateful to your many talented writers and to all of your hard work. I clearly am a big fan. I know this comment will most likely get lost in the abyss of the rest of the comments, but thank you. This means more to me and I'm sure many others than can ever be expressed.

Second, thank you Melissa Etheridge. You are the role model I never knew I had. I am 20 years old and grew up in south Louisiana where the good 'ol boys run thick and the country is cajun...very cajun. I remember feeling so alone with myself growing up. Watching tv, the only visibility I saw was Ellen's failed sitcom and an occasional mention of you. Being so young, I had no idea what you were doing. It's amazing to me that when I was so small and the world should have been so big, it wasn't. It was very judgmental and small. Reading the things you have been through, your ongoing beliefs and seeing that you truly put yourself into your music is just so inspiring. I am grateful that you have had the strength to make it through what you have and am so glad that I can read about it and feel that common connection that comes from having a community of people. Hardly anyone reads my blog or hears the things that I say, but to have you in the public light representing the things that I believe in is so amazing. Thank you so much for that. As for me, I am a 20 year old business major at LSU who plays guitar and is a lyricist at heart. Your life keeps me determined and inspired to keep true to myself and my goals for the future. I can not thank you enough. Thank you so much.

As a person who is in a long relationship (going on 3 years) it is so nice to see a couple like the Etheridges. I am a regular reader of Hollywoodfarmgirl and love the references to their relationship. Their life together is a beautiful thing in such an ugly world. It gives me hope. Thanks and thanks again. It can not be said enough.

Clearly I could keep going but I'll cut it short.

Thank you more than I could ever express,

-Ana

First, let me say that we should avoid getting into politics here. We've tons of political topics and on-going discussions on the forums which can be found here. There's a whole thread there specifically on Kucinich, in fact.

Okay, so I *loved* reading the interview and I have to say the picture of Melissa on this page is fantastic. Of course, they all are, but that's just such a sweet, sincere look she has on her face.

I cannot imagine what it must feel like to be such an inspiration to so many. I've read/heard story after story of how Melissa's albums have influenced so many on a personal basis. What more can you really ask for in life? Her music definitely influenced me in more ways then I am willing to say. All for the good.  I don't blame her for my baby dyke stage either.  ;)

Best part of the article: Melissa saying she'll take a break from being a Rock Star when she's in her 70's or 80's. That means I'll be able to enjoy new songs and concerts for decades!  [whistles tunelessly to herself]

And something I think is neat? I think it's probably fair to say that Melissa and Tammy have read this response I wrote. I've moderated here since nearly the beginning and I never would have thought AfterEllen would have become what it is today. And well, if they didn't read it; well, no harm no foul. Kudos to you both!

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"If you go flying back through time, and you see somebody else flying forward into the future, it's probably best to avoid eye contact." - Jack Handey

I've been following Melissa's career ever since I used to gather with my friends at the Que Sera on Wednesday nights in Long Beach (or Sunday afternoons at that piano bar on Willow) in the 1980s.  Our paths have taken some very parallel courses including disappointment in love, motherhood, serious health scares and eventually peace and happiness with my true love.

So it has been fun to listen to the sneak peeks at "The Awakening" and feel like in some ways the songs tell my stories, too.  Keep it up, Melissa - like so many other fans, I'll be happily anticipating your next career move and cheering on your happiness with Tammy and your ongoing spiritual flowering.

And, of course, I've already pre-ordered "The Awakening" on iTunes.  I don't think I could have stood returning to the Midwest if it wasn't for the interwebs and online access to the wide world, but thank the Divine that real estate is still affordable here.

"Never explain, never complain." - Katherine Hepburn

Wow.  I think equating Saddam and Bin Laden with Hitler is probably just about the most ridiculous overstatement I've heard in a while.  Try reading a history book and then some newspapers, eh?

Anyhow.. Great interview :)  Thanks a million.

Totally forgot to post that Melissa rocks!!! 

I have been a fan of her music since I first heard it many, many years ago. ( in fact really dating myself by mentioning cd players weren't even around yet I think :)) and she is definitely a brilliant live performer! Was lucky enough to catch one of her concerts in Holland. I love how she, apart from giving it her all on stage, also makes genuine contact with the audience!

Also did anybody else feel that considering the fact that obviously, yes even "celebrities" read Afterellen maybe we should be aware of that fact when criticizing so called celebrities and keep that kind of thing as civilised as with any other group? Just wondering?

"call me old fashioned but I prefer feminism that leaves a little something to the imagination!"

I'm glad to see that women of our generation are making a difference.  I'm the same age as Melissa, so I know what you're talking about!  I lived through the crazy 80s and 90s, now it's definitely time for all of us to wake up and smell the coffee.  Let's elect Hillary as president, and make some positive changes for everybody.

And, I can really relate to the whole "work, eat, sleep" ethic... but there is a point to life outside of being a mindless consumer.  Being spiritual can save you from all that crap.

Looking forward to listening to your new album.

Thanks for this interview AE.  I grew up in the 90s when the Yes I Am album came out.  I heard I'm The Only One on the radio one day and thought OMG, who is this?  I quickly ran out, bought the album, and listened to it in its entirety.  I was definitely blown away so I had to see if she had any previous albums.  I bought those too.

I don't really pay much attention to celebrities; however, I've followed her music since and been a huge fan of her as a musician and as a person.  Of course, I don't know her personally but what interviews, dvds, and concerts I've read and seen.....I think she seems to be the real deal.  Strong.  Brave.  Truthful.  Raw.  Spiritual.  Janis Joplin is a rock star legend and I think Melissa has earned the right to sit along beside her.  She will definitely be in the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame.

I'm glad she's making a positive difference in the world because our world definitely needs more people like her.  She rocks.

I'm glad for this.  I remember when I first started to buy Melissa's albums, back in 1996 and had them around the house.  My mother was like "Who is this Melissa person you keep buying".  I could have said, "well mummy if you must know, she's the one who helping me come to grips with being a well adjusted lesbian"  Instead, though, it was more like, "yeah, no one you know....what's for dinner?" 

Melissa, I don't know if you'd see it, and I'm sure you've heard before, still I thank you for sharing your life story and for your wonderful music.  I am waiting for Amazon to ship me my copy of the new one.  This time, when I leave it laying around the house, and my mother happens to see it, I can now say, "hey mummy, remember her, she's the woman that help me come out..."   Or something like that ;) 

Thanks again, and all the best to you and your family.

Yes, I was comparing Kucinich to the APPEASERS of hitler, certainly not to hitler himself.

To the individual who thinks we are dealing with just a "tiny band of terrorists", you have your head burried in the sand and are completely oblivious to the current reality.

Countries have never invaded others to throw out "dangerous evil dictators" who were oppressing their own people...

So genocide against the Kurds and others is none of our business. So much for liberal compassion.

Oh, but if it's a oppressive regime like that in Saudi Arabia, it's just fine if they're allies. If there's no oil near the oppressive regime (Burma, Zimbabwe, etc etc etc), there seems to be a fairly big "couldn't care less" attitude coming from your powers-that-be.

No, its not ok to align ourselves with these hideous regimes as far as I'm concerned. I would have no problem, in fact I would approve of bombing mecca and medina.

One of mine is being covered in glitter at a concert in Germany, the guy next to me was being recognized for being a 'superfan', I still find an occasional piece of glitter in my luggage.

More memorable would be the lovely woman who spontaneously kissed me for a good while at the start of a M.E. concert in Michigan, and disappeared into the crowd. 

as for NBC cutting out the performance - seriously, i do not see why. because nothing she said was provoking to me. i think NBC's decision not to show the speech made it provocative.

Melissa got one thing right - it's about changing the whole way of living. to tell you the truth America became a big fat joke. i am a child of former Soviet Union(on which you all comment, but know zero about) - the one you hate so much and compare to Iraq. well, we never hated you - America, quite the opposite - we worshiped you. i wonder if that's what Iraqis did before they got the piece of infamous Democracy. we got that too and what came with it - wars, hate, McDonalds, greed replaced humbleness and naivety, blockbuster movies replaced poetry...and we all got scattered around the world looking for jobs.

and i really like this one - Iraqis should rise up. you know what? Americans should rise up. and stop the superiority attitude they imposing on others.  

anka.

I'm not American, so I won't go into the political stuff, as to who Melissa's endorsing for presidential election and whatnot. She's entitled to her opinion, anyway. That's what democracy is all about...

I prefer to focus on the musical and social aspect of Melissa's presence in the spotlight. First of all, the lady rocks. Big time. Those of you who have any reservations on the matter, please just check the video from the Grammy's where she's covering "Just another piece of my heart". All I can tell you is that a certain Ms Joplin was really made justice by a gutsy bald lady struggling with chemo.

On the social level, I really can't think of any other lesbian celebrity who's been exposed to the media more than her. With all due respect to Martina, K.D, Ellen and all the other ladies who have consequently come out, I really think that she has fought a hard fight out there. She came out on camera, she had children with her partner when the whole thing was rather unheard of, she went through cancer very publicly, she thanked her wife at the Oscar's. Come on! She deserves nothing but our respect and gratitude for sticking up for both herself and the whole community, not taking crap from anyone.

She is a strong lady, proud to be a woman and proud to be gay, thus setting a fabulous example ofr us all.

Really loved the interview!!!!! 

wishing I was in NYC to see Melissa tonight!!!  You rock girl!!!!!!!!!!!!!

love always to you and yours,

Sandra 

Sandra

In 2007 please take the time to see the movie:  An Inconvenient Truth (2006)

thanks for the great interview!! I'm a huge melissa etheridge fan and I think you asked just the right questions!! we saw an inconvenient truth with my school when it was in the cinema here in austria and I was really impressed when I heard the last song when the credits rolled and realised that that was melissa etheridge singing. no politician in austria would ever work so closely with a gay person here. although I have to say - al gore isn't really that much of a politician anymore.

well, anyways, great interview and I'm sooo looking forward to the new cd! 

"Normal is not something to aspire to, it's something to get away from." ~ Jodie Foster

I love Melissa and I love, even more, what she stand for.  Her poetry, her beliefs, her passion is something to be admired.

I've listened to her new album over and over and I just don't like it and it grieves my heart to have to have to say that.  Not one song grabbed me as many on her other albums have.  Maybe it's just my state of mind these days.  I'll come back to the new music later and see if it's the same feeling. I hope not.

 "Sleep" is one of my all time favourties of hers. 

I am, still, LB.

Melissa is the best!!!! I knew about her here in your web, because in my country (Spain) almost nobody knows her. I will buy "the awakening" next weekend!!!!!

Melissa, please, come to Europe next summer!!!! please!!!