Melissa Etheridge

Melissa Etheridge was the second female artist I really got into, after Kate Bush.

ME’s 1988 debut album Melissa Etheridge was really raw, in a good way. Her heart was on her sleeve and she poured emotion into every song. I love every song but the standouts are “Similar Features“ and “Like the Way I Do” and “Bring Me Some Water”. The song “Watching You” just makes my heart ache.

Go on and close your eyes, imagine me there

She’s got similar features, with longer hair

if that’s what it takes to get you through

Go on and close your eyes

It shouldn’t bother you

I think her second album Brave and Crazy is not quite as good, but it holds its own. The best songs are the title track, “No Souvenirs” and my personal favourite “You Can Sleep While I Drive“.

Never Enough was more adventurous, straying from the straight out roots rock of her first two albums with dancey “2001” and an abundance of quiet, thoughtful songs like “The Boy Feels Strange” and “Place Your Hand”.

The ninth song, “The Letting Go”, was kind of the theme song for my separation from my first wife. It still hits me hard.

Etheridge really hit the big time with her fourth album, Yes I Am.

“Come to My Window”, “I’m the Only One”, and “If I Wanted To” were smash hits.

Breakdown was her sixth album. The lead song was awesome, leading off with a thunderous drum introduction. The rest of the album is solid, and “Angels Would Fall” is a standout.

My wife and I went to see her and Serena Ryder on February 24, 2011 at the Pantages Playhouse in Winnipeg. It was an awesome show. Their duet for “Broken Heart Sun” was memorable.

Etheridge was diagnosed with breast cancer in late 2004. She made a very memorable performance of Janis Joplin’s “Piece of My Heart” at the 2005 Grammy Awards, bald from chemotherapy.

Over time, her music has become more “country” / “roots rock”. I confess that I haven’t enjoyed her later albums as much as the first six, but that might be a reflection of my own tastes evolving.

“Down to One” from Skin, “Kiss Me” from Lucky, “Monster” from This is M.E., “Wild and Lonely” and “Here Comes the Pain” from The Medicine Show, and “Wild Wild Wild” from One Way Out are my favourites.

Whenever I need to get energized, putting on some Melissa Etheridge tunes is a sure way to get the blood pumping.