Recommendations of the Editorial team
I was 19 or so when I heard a Patti Smith record for the first time. That was “Horses”. I still know that the sound of her voice fascinated me, this wild one in it. Later I particularly liked the intellectual and political content of her texts. And I liked her image, this completely unglamorous look with the nail scissors hairstyle.
She is a folk singer in the same way as Bob Dylan. I liked that she also wrote, painted and photographed poems. Music was not everything for them. And she knew what kind of force was in her image that she was really sexy and how she could use it in her art. What Madonna does, Patti skillfully skillfully from the start. Madonna is just about selling. At Patti, on the other hand, I had the feeling that she wanted to donate comfort and joy with her things – I personally. In the first words of “Revenge” on the album “Wave” I still get goose bumps today: “I feel Upset/ Let’s do some celebrating.”
Four or five years ago I played Garbage at a festival in Athens. Patti was also there and gave me an autograph on a set list: “Power to the people, Patti Smith.” This is a cliché. But Patti knows that clichés can work. I recently talked to a boy who refuses to make use of his right to vote. I can understand his point of view, but I also believe that everyone matters. A single person can be decisive.
There must be millions for which she sings who feel like me
When Patti sings “People have the power”, it moves me because I know that I’m not the only one out there. There must be millions for which she sings who feel like me.
When I look at the charts today, which women sell the most plates and get the most press, then I get really bad. Because all of these women are checked by male ideas, how a woman should be and what it means to refuse against something. When Christina Aguilera is seriously viewed as a rebel, we have a huge problem. I am only glad that Patti is still ready to stand up there and fight. Then I feel less alone.