When the God Rocker thing didn’t work out, Katy decided to go in a completely different direction.  Her pseudo-lesbian song, combined with lots of boob shots, has put Katy Perry on the cover of Blender magazine as well as on the pages of gossip blogs everywhere.

So what are we to learn from this transformation?  Boobs trump God?  Image is everything?  A catchy beat can make you a star?

One thing we do know is that no matter how much Perry wears them, high waisted booty shorts are never finding a place in our wardrobe.

They were gorgeous and bright, well versed in their rights, talented, and respected. They had lyrics crafted especially for the freeing of the spirit. You know who I’m talking about. Ani Difranco. Tori Amos. Fiona Apple… the list goes on. These ladies helped mold me into who I am today with presence and personality that could give any girl hope and strength.

My questions is this: Where have all of these fantastic ladies gone? As a musician, I can only aspire to be like them, but when I look around, I feel as though I hardly see anyone else aiming for that goal. I see one hit wonders without longevity. I see women using curse words matched with a catchy chorus to be “cute”. Giant boobs and bare midriffs and lyrics written by some fifty year old guy.

Where are the heroes of this generation? Which female singer today would get up at the MTV Video Music Awards and tell little girls everywhere that “This world is bullsh*t“? What singers are telling every record label “F*ck you” and starting their own? Which singers will boldly, and in detail, write a song about being raped?

I know there are great women musicians out there, and I try myself to be the best I can. But when I look at teenage girls today, I feel bad for them because they don’t have the same women I had in their lives to look up to. It pains me every time a younger girl says “Ani WHO?”.

I hope I’m wrong about this, but I feel like my generation was the lucky one for having so many talented ladies holding the reigns in the 90′s. Today’s girls…who do they have?

1. My Alcoholic Friends – The Dresden Dolls

Pretty much all my drunken regrets can be blamed on one thing…my alcoholic friends.

2. Lua – Bright Eyes

It’s true – everything seems simple in the moonlight.

3. You Learn – Alanis Morissette

At least, we hope you learn.

4. Keep it Loose, Keep it Tight – Amos Lee

This song is peaceful, calm and reminds you that it really will be okay.

5. Shameless – Ani DiFranco

Ani never apologizes, so why should you?

6. Hey Jude – The Beatles

Classic.

7. Dry the Rain – Beta Band

I don’t really know why, but this song always makes me feel better.

8. You Gotta Be – Desiree

Take Ms. D’s advice and be bad, be bold, be wise…next time you’re drunk and in bed with a random boy.

9. It Don’t Matter – Donovan Frankenreiter

If it don’t matter to you, it don’t matter to me…mmkay?

10. Walk in my shoes – Emily King

And just remember if people try to make you feel bad for your decisions….nobody else walks in your shoes, so what do they know?

I sometimes drift off to this place where I feel very detached. To borrow a phrase from a friend who once witnessed me in it…it’s kind of like “existential despair”.

I think a lot of people out there can occasionally relate with this feeling. It’s like you’re suddenly outside of everything. You WANT to focus on pushing forward with your goals, caring about the train being late, picking which sandwich you’ll eat for lunch…but there’s this one problem: everything just seems too irrelevant to care.

Sometimes, it’s comforting to listen to music that soundtracks this experience. Sometimes it is nice to know that you’re not the only one out there questioning EVERYTHING.

The next time you’re feeling disconnected, spend some quality time with these songs. And then get off the couch and go run…or something.

“Mad World” by: Michael Andrews

“Grey” by: Ani Difranco

“Meets His Maker” by: DJ Shadow

“Each to Each” by: The Gutter Twins

“Dizzy” by: Ours

“Requiem” by: Cave In

“When I Was A Young Girl” by: Feist

“A New Family” by: Colour Revolt

“A Viscious Circle” by: Day One Symphony

“Sweetness” by: Jimmy Eat World

Enjoy your detachment, boys and girls.