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JMDL Digest       Wednesday, September 4 2002       Volume 2002 : Number 348



The Official Joni Mitchell Homepage, created by Wally Breese, can be
found at http://www.jonimitchell.com. It contains the latest news,
a detailed bio, Original Interviews, essays, lyrics and much much more.

The JMDL website can be found at http://www.jmdl.com and contains
interviews, articles, the member gallery, archives, and much more.
==========

TOPICS and authors in this Digest:
--------
  Re: Singer Ethel Murfman , Smurfophobic? - njc         [Murphycopy@aol.com]
  Re: Michelle Mayfield-homophobic? njc  ["Bree Mcdonough" <bree_mcdonough@h]

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Wed, 4 Sep 2002 02:47:44 EDT
From: Murphycopy@aol.com
Subject: Re: Singer Ethel Murfman , Smurfophobic? - njc

The letter from Ethel Murfman:

A Letter to My Many, Many, Many, Many Fans:
Date: Wed, 4 Sept. 2002

Hello Fans and Friends,

First of all, I want to thank all of you for your continued support of me and 
my music. I have enjoyed the past few days and am very excited about what is 
in my future. It will be swell, it will be great. In fact, I will have the 
whole friggin' world on a plate. However, there is a situation that has been 
brought to my attention that needs to be addressed, starting here, starting 
now.

At the present time, within my fan base there is a significant group of 
colored people who happen to be blue -- Smurfs, if you will. Please know that 
I appreciate my fan base no matter who or what they are - I, in no way, 
shape, or form am complaining about these blue mutants. However, as an 
artist, I am continually wanting to expand that fan base - to mothers and 
fathers, to college students, to teenagers, to the incontinent, to people who 
happen to be jaundiced, to pinkish Irish-Americans and to people who are all 
the many wonderful other colors of the rainbow, etc. I honestly believe my 
music has the appeal to be able to do that. It is not only important to me 
personally, but it is imperative for my future ~ record executives are 
looking for artists with an established and significant following - they 
don't do very many "developmental" deals these days. Plus drag acts generally 
are death to deals of any kind. 

However, I have had several complaints from bar owners, racists, homophobes, 
friends, the KKK, fans, sexists, Republicans, the closeted, neighbors trying 
to sleep and yelling "not so loud," three waitresses, Canadian hockey 
players, and potential fans regarding the disgusting show of Smurf-like 
affection that has taken place at my shows. This type of behavior, right or 
wrong, reflects on me as the artist who has brought you sorry blue bastards 
to that club. Let me give you some examples:

1) I have several friends who will not ask their families, friends, Catholic 
priests, Yani fans, nancy boys, shelias, coworkers, rubyfruit lovers, or 
non-blue people in general to my shows because of this behavior and the 
potential negative reflection that may be projected upon them as fans of mine.

2) A gentleman from a show made a comment in the men's bathroom, "What's 
going on here tonight? Isn't that Ethel Merman peeing at a urinal?"

As an artist, I want to be known for my MUSIC. It is VERY IMPORTANT to me to 
NOT be stereotyped, bitch-slapped, pigeonholed, keelhauled, cornholed, 
fingered, or categorized in a way that will alienate anyone from listening or 
coming to see my shows. I do not want to become a Bob Muller or a Jackson 
Browne (although I tolerate them both and could respect them as artists if I 
had lots of mind-altering drugs) - most people don't think about their music 
first.....they think of all the restraining orders Joni Mitchell has against 
these two - whether right or wrong, that's the way it is. Whether I am 
straight or gay, blue or a little green, it is no one's business in the first 
place and I, personally, even though I am a lady gym teacher, am not open to 
making that anyone's business. It should be about the music...period. Ernest 
Borgnine be damned. 

I cannot control the behavior of anyone, however, I am respectfully asking 
all of you as fans and friends to please be respectful of what I am trying to 
accomplish as an artist. DON'T TOUCH EACH OTHER AT ALL WHEN YOU COME TO SEE 
ME! Please be respectful of the places where I am performing by being aware 
of the actions that can possibly turn potential fans away from my music or 
from my future shows. NO MUFF DIVING, NO BOBBING FOR BANANAS, NO SMURF-LIKE 
LOVE AT ALL! Also, please try to control your farting while I'm on stage. 

I want EVERYONE to feel comfortable coming to my shows - and from what I've 
been told, people are not comfortable because of the big, blue, rockin' and 
rollin' Smurf pile of love they have to deal with when they get there. If 
this means you cannot continue to support me or come to my future shows, then 
I will understand and respect that decision, you perverted blue bastards. I 
appreciate your support up until this time. But for now, bye-bye. Don't let 
the door hit your big, blue asses on your way out. 

I sincerely hope you will understand the purpose of this letter and will 
respect my request. 

Thanks for your continued support ~

    --Ethel Murfman

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 03 Sep 2002 23:56:03 -0700
From: "Bree Mcdonough" <bree_mcdonough@hotmail.com>
Subject: Re: Michelle Mayfield-homophobic? njc

(I just reread this)

Look...I don't know how much public affection went on where she was 
performing? ** But personally, I do not like to see this...it belongs at 
home. Be it homosexual or heterosexual.  Homophobic?  Naw....she just wants 
her cake and eat it too.  (like all of us) I see her guilty of chasing a 
dream...she sees that dream being jeopardized....she sees her self more 
diverse....she wants more than just a gay following.(some perfomers 
don't.....bless Holly Near)  SHE sees this $$ evading her.  AND for her 
artistry, she wants it to appeal to the masses.  But to label her a 
homophobe...well the situation is way too layered than that.  That is too 
easy!!!   She took a gamble that her fan base would understand and her 
friends....SHE LOST.  The only thing I see her guilty of, like I said 
before...she wimped out.....and is a tad bit dishonest.

*holding hands, hugging, this IS NOT what I'm referring to here

Bree

NW: Joy Luck Club

>From: "Lori in MD" <lrfye@lrfye.lunarpages.com>
>Reply-To: lrfye@lrfye.lunarpages.com
>To: "Bree Mcdonough" <bree_mcdonough@hotmail.com>, joni@smoe.org
>Subject: Re: Michelle Mayfield-homophobic? njc
>Date: Tue, 03 Sep 2002 15:10:42 -0700
>
> > Dodging donuts here....I'm not so sure she is a homophobe
> > or just a plain wimp.
>
>Regardless of your sexual orientation, if you make comments like
>Mayfield's, you may or may not be a wimp, but you are definitely a
>homophobe.  Period.
>
>Lori
>
>~






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End of JMDL Digest V2002 #348
*****************************

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