If you were a heterosexual male rock music fan in the '80s and Madonna's stylish, lacy sex-kitten image didn't really do it for you, then chances are you noticed with some enticement the rise of Chrissie Hynde of the Pretenders. The singer's tough but sexy persona meshed perfectly with the band's blend of punk, new wave and classic rock styles throughout the '80s.And while Hynde's appeal was far from conventional, that was most definitely part of the attraction. Of course, her unique vocal style had a certain throaty, primal sort of allure, but the primary reason for Hynde's substantial hottie quotient was always her display of confidence from the inside out, in her songwriting and her performances. For these reasons and many others, the standards for sexy women in music have thankfully expanded considerably since the '80s, as singers like Shirley Manson of Garbage have become huge sex symbols despite not fitting into typical standards of beauty.
- Profile of the Pretenders
- My list of the Top 10 Pretenders Songs of the '80s
- Compare prices on Pretenders CDs here.
- Sample or download Pretenders songs here.
Album Cover Photo Courtesy of Sire Records
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