Cross Canadian Ragweed, Flaming Lips pay tribute to Bettie Page
Bettie Page (Associated Press file photo)
In an interesting case of cross-genre coincidence, two disparate Oklahoma bands are paying tribute to legendary 1950s pinup model Bettie Page with their new music efforts.
As I mentioned here on the blog earlier this month, red dirt rockers Cross Canadian Ragweed tell the story of Page’s life and death in the song “Pretty Lady,” from the band’s new album “Happiness and all the Other Things.” Page died in December 2008 at the age of 85.
The song has a bluesy outlaw country vibe that seems to suit Page’s life story and makes the track my favorite on Ragweed’s stellar new album. You can see the band perform it live in this YouTube video:
Even better, see the alt-country rockers play it live and in person today at the Cross Canadian Ragweed Family Jam at Oklahoma City’s Zoo Amphitheatre.
Psychedelic rockers The Flaming Lips are other Oklahoma band illustrating the continuing influence of Page, who has a huge cult following. The Lips released earlier this week the video for their playful song “I Can Be a Frog,” on which Karen O of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs provides the animal noises. The video features a dancer with a distinctive Page look and sensibility:
The Flaming Lips "I Can Be A Frog"
“I Can Be a Frog” will be included on the Lips’ double-album “Embryonic,” due out Oct. 13.
It’s an interesting concurrence of ideas – and further evidence of Page’s lasting mark on pop culture – that two Oklahoma bands with such different aesthetics found inspiration from the “Pin-up Queen of the Universe” at practically the same time.
-BAM
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[...] reported by The Oklahoman”’’s Brandy McDonnell, in her BAMblog, two Oklahoma-based bands draw inspiration from Ms. Bettie Page in two recent offerings. The [...]