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Singers

Reviving the Spirit of Rock Goddess Chrissy Amphlett: A Fragile Tribute

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Chrissy Amphlett, lead singer of the Australian rock band Divinyls, was a true original - brash, subversive, and a punk feminist icon. Sheridan Harbridge attempts to revitalize Amphlett's legacy in Amplified, a part-biographical tour, part-tribute concert that is a loving, if fragmented and uneven, tribute to the lost rock goddess. By evoking Amphlett's early years of abuse and marginalization, Harbridge captures the desperation and danger that defined Amphlett's music.

Key Takeaways:

  • Amplified is a tribute concert that aims to revive the spirit of rock goddess Chrissy Amphlett, with Sheridan Harbridge playing the lead role.
  • Harbridge has opted for an impressionistic approach, borrowing some of Amphlett's inflections and vocal mannerisms, but not fully submerging herself into character.
  • The show is based on Amphlett's life, including her early years in Geelong, her time with the Divinyls, and her later struggles with addiction and cancer.
  • The biographical material is sometimes poorly supported by the songs, and the "final act before the curtain" narrative device feels hesitant and abandoned by the conclusion.
  • The show works best when Harbridge threads her own feminism through Amphlett's biography, connecting directly to the songs and the life.
  • Harbridge comes from the world of musical theatre, which often seeks neatness and closure, but Amphlett was a true rock star, messy, obstinate, and brazen.

Statistics:

  • The show is currently running in Melbourne until 13 June as part of the Rising festival, and then in Brisbane from 19-21 September as part of the Brisbane festival.
  • Harbridge has chosen to avoid imitating Amphlett's look, eschewing the red wig and school uniform at the heart of Amphlett's iconic image.
  • The show features notable songs like "I'll Make You Happy", "Boys in Town", "Good Die Young", "Pleasure and Pain", and "I Touch Myself", although the performance of the latter song feels like an afterthought.

Sources:

  • "Riveting, terrifying, completely singular: how Chrissy Amphlett changed the game" by [unknown author] [no publication date]
  • [Various reviews and articles about Sheridam Harbridge and the Divinyls]

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