Synopses & Reviews
Reading like a whos who of rock stars ex-wives and ex-girlfriends, this discussion of such hits as Maggie May,” Lola,” and The Sweetest Thing” reveals the surprising names and relationships that inspired musical greatness. Lisa Bonet, Billie Jean King, Mia Farrow, and Gwyneth Paltrow are just a few of the women who have become immortal by being the girl in the song.” In addition to linking the womenor in some cases girlswith the song, this rock history handbook profiles how each woman inspired the song, the songs writer and performer, the release date, and the tunes' successes on the music charts. Accompanying mini biographies bring music buffs up-to-date on how the songs affected the muses and the current whereabouts of the women while sidebars on the performers give more details about their histories, successes and failures, and notable performances.
Women have long inspired rock artists, but what do fans really know about these muses? The Girl in the Song focuses on the girlfriends, wives, rivals, exes, groupies, celebrities, mothers, children, and even complete strangers who inspired 50 of rocks greatest songs. Who was the Emily in Pink Floyds See Emily Play”? Did life change for Prudence Farrow after John Lennon wrote Dear Prudence”? And whatever happened to the girl with mousy hair,” an ex-girlfriend David Bowie sings about in Life on Mars”?
Songs are typically short and one-sided, and rarely do justice to their subjects. But author Michael Heatley explains how each woman inspired the song written about her, when the song was released, and the impact it had on the charts, the performer, and the woman. He also includes a mini biography of the songs muse. Music buffs will also appreciate sidebars on the performers who wrote about the women in their lives--Pink Floyds Syd Barrett would include as many as four girls in the same song--as well as trivia from recording history. Its the perfect book for anyone whos ever wondered, Who was the girl in that song?”
Review
"Packed with entertaining information." Booklist
Synopsis
Women have long inspired rock artists, but what do fans really know about these muses? The Girl in the Song focuses on the girlfriends, wives, rivals, exes, groupies, celebrities, mothers, children, and even complete strangers who inspired 50 of rocks greatest songs. Who was the Emily in Pink Floyds See Emily Play”? Did life change for Prudence Farrow after John Lennon wrote Dear Prudence”? And whatever happened to the girl with mousy hair,” an ex-girlfriend David Bowie sings about in Life on Mars”?
Songs are typically short and one-sided, and rarely do justice to their subjects. But author Michael Heatley explains how each woman inspired the song written about her, when the song was released, and the impact it had on the charts, the performer, and the woman. He also includes a mini biography of the songs muse. Music buffs will also appreciate sidebars on the performers who wrote about the women in their lives--Pink Floyds Syd Barrett would include as many as four girls in the same song--as well as trivia from recording history. Its the perfect book for anyone whos ever wondered, Who was the girl in that song?”
Synopsis
Originally published: London: Portico Books, 2010.
About the Author
Michael Heatley is the author of more than 100 rock books, including The Complete Deep Purple, Dave Grohl: Nothing to Lose, and Michael Jackson: 19582009: Life of a Legend. He has contributed to rock music biographies and encyclopedias such as the Virgin Encyclopedia of Rock as well as magazines such as Billboard, Music Week, and Record Collector. Michael Heatley has contributed to many rock music encyclopedias, including the Virgin Encyclopedia of Rock, and music biographies, including Eminen and Deep Purple. He has written for magazines including Music Week, Billboard, and Record Collector.