You know how sometimes you're in a shop and out of nowhere feel
the urge to pick up more things than you had set out to? Suddenly
just the pair of stiletto pumps will not suffice; you also want
those purple thong sandals, and maybe the cream leather clutch?
Studies have already revealed things like faster music will make
you shop more; French music will affect your choice in wine, and
so on. And then there is music that instantly awakens the desire
in one to be a lot more edgy than they are. The best way to become
hipper, faster? New clothes. Even Marc Jacobs' Spring '93 collection
was inspired by Nirvana's 'Come As You Are'. Instep observes some
tunes that inspire in us the love of fashion.
'Freedom '90' (1990)
George Michael
 Although
George Michael insists in 'Freedom '90' that "Sometimes the
clothes do not make the man", this is one song that can release
the stylishly dark chemical in the best of us. Perhaps it's the
fact that George had models such as Linda Evangelista, Naomi Campbell,
Christy Turlington, Mario Sorrenti and Cindy Crawford pottering
about in sparse, modern spaces shot in black and white that has
associated the song with fashion and style for many. Perhaps it's
that though all of them are at their grungy best, they still look
like they should be sashaying down a ramp, modeling Jean Paul Gaultier
street looks.
But mostly, 'Freedom '90' just has such swingy tune, and fun, snarky
lyrics, that all one wants to do once the tune hits the ears is
drink lots of black coffee and smoke Gauloise while lounging around
a loft wearing slouchy sweaters.
'Vogue' (1990)
Madonna
 Yes,
so 'Vogue' was all about the dance style that involves a lot of
posturing and miming favourite fashion and film icons - but have
you ever listened to that song while innocently rifling through
a rack of tees or while dressing up? Immediate enthusiasm for the
whole process of putting together an ensemble while out shopping
or electric blue eye shadow is guaranteed to crop up. What can one
say - we're slaves to subliminal messages.
The video of the song itself was pretty stylish, with Madonna and
a variety of actors doing the Vogue, recreating 1930s Hollywood
and images by fashion photographer Horst P. Horst on an art deco
set. The chorus "Come on vogue/ Let your body move to the music"
unleashes a sense of carefree well-being in the system that might
be false, but feels so fantastic while it lasts.
And ultimately, when Madonna tells you to "strike a pose",
you have no choice but to.
'Supermodel (You Better Work)' (1992)
RuPaul
Simply known as RuPaul, the "nice drag queen image" has
managed to let people allow RuPaul and his many ventures into their
hearts. Model, actor, singer, TV show host - RuPaul has done it
all. The one song though that made the big time from RuPaul's repertoire
of work was 'Supermodel (You Better Work)'.
The song has a fun tune and infectious lyrics and the video had
RuPaul the model sashaying around in a multitude of outfits. To
add more cool to this song, Kurt Cobain admitted to it being one
of his favourites.
'Hotstepper' (1995)
Ini Kamoze
 Robert
Altman's '94 film Prêt-à-Porter which revolved around
several disparate storylines strung together by Paris Fashion Week
probably gained attention from the masses because of the annoyingly
catchy 'Hotstepper'.
The song, by Jamaican Ini Kamoze, was incidentally the singer's
one and only US hit. The lyrics at best are fun to sing along to,
("No, no, we don't die / Yes we multiply") and at worst
make zero sense ("Cut to fade is me/ Fade to cut is she/ Come
juggle with me, I say every time"). Which of course meant that
'Hotstepper' was a catwalk favourite in the '90s .
The video was a couple of skinny model types hanging out in front
of a silver wall, interspersed with shots from Prêt-à-Porter.
The video and film connection both bring strong clothes and accessory
images to the mind; however, it is this one line from the film,
also in the video of the song which Julia Roberts' character Anne
Eisenhower says, that ties it all up: "I'd say, it's very,
um, prêt-à-porter."
'Fashion' (Unreleased)
Lady Gaga
 "Fashion
put it all on me/ Don't you want to see these clothes on me?"
Self-proclaimed lover of fashion, Lady Gaga simply deserves a mention
here because she tries so hard. While her look is on the insane
side of ridiculous, because she talks about fashion as if it were
her long-time spouse, her songs have simply developed that connotation.
The song 'Fashion' though doesn't really even try to imply anything
- it just lays it out for all to listen .
Is there anything left to say? |
