But then at 5′ 9″, that’s about right, isn’t it?

Before I could say anything, he answered his own question and said they are sirens, not divas.

His observation came to mind this afternoon. I was at my sister’s and was channel hopping when I came upon the tail-end of VH1 Diva Duets on the MTV channel. Believe me when I say not everyone featured in that programme are divas. The ones who are were Cyndi Lauper, Debbie Harry and Pattie Labelle. Maybe even Sheila E. But … but … dang, I can’t even remember the names of those I don’t think are divas. And Tom Jones? Where does he fit in?

Anyway, according to ES, Janis and kd are not divas, but sirens. Definition time, courtesy of www.dictionary.com …

Si·ren n. Greek Mythology. One of a group of sea nymphs who by their sweet singing lured mariners to destruction on the rocks surrounding their island. siren A woman regarded as seductive and beautiful.

Conclusion? Definitely not divas. Not sirens either. But definitely both of them are in a class of their own – a class where voice reigns and neither depends on anything else to entrance their audiences.

I haven’t heard Angel with a Lariat for quite a few years now, so I played it during my drive to work yesterday morning.

Produced in 1987, Angel with a Lariat is the album kd released before she hit the big time, getting the attention of Owen Bradley, the late Patsy Cline’s producer, and recording her Shadowland album with him, and getting support from old-timers such as Loretta Lynn, Brenda Lee and Kitty Wells.

It’s a high energy album, lots of fiddles, driving drums, and most of all, enthusiasm from kd and her band. I burst out with laughter a couple of times, completely carried away by the joy that was pouring out of the speakers of my car stereo. This is a great example of what kd was about before she crossed over to Nashville and went on to become “mainstream”.

I googled for some of the songs’ lyrics, and here are some examples:

Hey yo, told you before Tell you when I find a decoy Sittin’ in the water With your hopes up high Have you takin’ a nosedive hard, boy “High Time for a Detour”

Starving, I’ve got this hunger Growing from deep within Carving an internal thunder Oh a craving that wears me thin Well, it`s hard to ingest So many faces I get my fill but still Those passersby Leave me empty On a diet of strange places It all should enhance my senses Tell me why Does the spice of loneliness Seem all but tasteless And lays there To haunt me from inside “Diet of Strange Places”

I love the brunettes, blonds And the redheads, too Love ’em since I don’t know when I love ’em all right down the line And then I start all over again I start all over again I got the bull by the horns In a downhill drag Things are better than they ever have been I missed a lot of lovin’ In my lifetime But I’m never gonna do it again, no Never gonna do it again “Got the Bull by the Horns”

Despite coming out in 1992, the signs were already there in this earlier album, especially in the above song.

Here’s the full song list:

1. “Turn Me Round”
2. “High Time for a Detour”
3. “Diet of Strange Places”
4. “Got the Bull by the Horns”
5. “Watch Your Step Polka”
6. “Rose Garden”
7. “Tune into My Wave”
8. “Angel With A Lariat”
9. “Pay Dirt”
10. “Three Cigarettes in an Ashtray”

Click here to listen to samples of some of the above songs

Yes, that’s the word to describe her now. The closest I could come up with was “almost two-and-a-half-times her size from almost 20 years ago”, which is a mouthful. Which goes to show, when you put your mind to it, and in the hands of a skilled wordsmith, one word will do. Guess I’m not (skilled wordsmith).

I thought she was past her prime. She proved me wrong that evening. The voice still rules. She’s mellowed, gone past the wild 90s. All there is now is the voice. That’s all that matters. The voice. She could sing “Ba Ba Black Sheep” and it would still sound good. Biased? Probably. But I’m sure all the kdfans in the world agree with me.