Between pop and poetic
June 9, 2002 | 12:00am
Here comes another girl with a guitar and a scrapbook full of songs.
First, there was Sheryl Crow. Then Jewel shone in the charts. Now, its Michelle Branchs turn to be everywhere in every listeners ears and in every pop-loving males dreams.
What everyone first noticed when she walked in the room for the press conference of her Philippine promo tour was her deadringer Ara Mina looks. She could be the next "imported" screen siren if she wants to but at the moment, shes busy promoting and enjoying the enormous success of her second album, The Spirit Room, which has already gone platinum in the United States.
"We all play guitar and write our own music," Michelle says in response to comparisons between her and Sheryl Crow or Jewel. "I think Jewel is definitely more poetic. Sheryl Crow is a definite rock chick. I think Im kinda lingering in the boundaries of pop music."
Its difficult to label Branchs sound, however. Her tunes are not as pop as Britney Spears and not even as rock and roll as Sheryl Crow. She gravitates more to the level of Lisa Loeb but with enough poetic sparks of her own to give Jewel a run for her money.
Branch names Joni Mitchell and Cat Stevens as her influences in song writing and guitar playing but she admits that she doesnt apply alternative tunings and complex chord progressions that Mitchell and Stevens had been known for in her songs or during performances.
"I dont really think of them as guitar gods," Branch reveals. "I just love their music and what they do which is writing songs."
Her other favorites include Aerosmiths Joe Perry and Led Zeppelins Jimmy Paige.
Branch nevertheless creatively fuses poetic sensitivity ala Mitchell and Stevens (some eyebrows are raised, I know) with catchy pop rhythms that only a 19-year-old like her can come up with. Think of Britney Spears with a higher IQ and enough finger dexterity to churn out a slew of guitar strums and youve got Michelle.
"The first song that I learned to play on the guitar was my own," she recalls. "But the first song by someone else that I did on the guitar was a gospel song. I was pretty much into gospel music before everyone went into that genre."
For now, Michelle Branch has not a moment to enjoy the fruits of her labor. Shes scheduled to undertake a rigorous European tour in the following days.
"Everywhere is a song about not really knowing, not really understanding what goes on but you feel inspired," she shares. "Something is out there and its everywhere but Im going for it."
Indeed, shes everywhere.
First, there was Sheryl Crow. Then Jewel shone in the charts. Now, its Michelle Branchs turn to be everywhere in every listeners ears and in every pop-loving males dreams.
What everyone first noticed when she walked in the room for the press conference of her Philippine promo tour was her deadringer Ara Mina looks. She could be the next "imported" screen siren if she wants to but at the moment, shes busy promoting and enjoying the enormous success of her second album, The Spirit Room, which has already gone platinum in the United States.
"We all play guitar and write our own music," Michelle says in response to comparisons between her and Sheryl Crow or Jewel. "I think Jewel is definitely more poetic. Sheryl Crow is a definite rock chick. I think Im kinda lingering in the boundaries of pop music."
Its difficult to label Branchs sound, however. Her tunes are not as pop as Britney Spears and not even as rock and roll as Sheryl Crow. She gravitates more to the level of Lisa Loeb but with enough poetic sparks of her own to give Jewel a run for her money.
Branch names Joni Mitchell and Cat Stevens as her influences in song writing and guitar playing but she admits that she doesnt apply alternative tunings and complex chord progressions that Mitchell and Stevens had been known for in her songs or during performances.
"I dont really think of them as guitar gods," Branch reveals. "I just love their music and what they do which is writing songs."
Her other favorites include Aerosmiths Joe Perry and Led Zeppelins Jimmy Paige.
Branch nevertheless creatively fuses poetic sensitivity ala Mitchell and Stevens (some eyebrows are raised, I know) with catchy pop rhythms that only a 19-year-old like her can come up with. Think of Britney Spears with a higher IQ and enough finger dexterity to churn out a slew of guitar strums and youve got Michelle.
"The first song that I learned to play on the guitar was my own," she recalls. "But the first song by someone else that I did on the guitar was a gospel song. I was pretty much into gospel music before everyone went into that genre."
For now, Michelle Branch has not a moment to enjoy the fruits of her labor. Shes scheduled to undertake a rigorous European tour in the following days.
"Everywhere is a song about not really knowing, not really understanding what goes on but you feel inspired," she shares. "Something is out there and its everywhere but Im going for it."
Indeed, shes everywhere.
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