OMG Melissa Etheridge is back! Back in Australia and back on the lesbian hipster-hairdo scene.
Seriously, walking through Newtown these days is like being in a late ‘80s time warp – so many long-haired lesbians in leathery folk-rock garb. Even the butches have tussled mops hanging halfway down their backs.
Perhaps that’s why after 16 years the thirsty lady with the raspy voice is back down under.
She waited for that spiky early-noughties faux-hawk period to pass (think Michele Timms/Jenny Shimizu – hey, we’ve all been there); she sat patiently through the asymmetrical lady-mullet revival (Tegan and Sara – you’re not the only ones); she switched off when every dyke in town was rockin’ ‘The Shane’ (season two – hands down the best Kate Moennig ‘do); she blocked her ears when lesbians the world over looked like Justin Bieber (hey, do not knock the Biebian); and Etheridge was unfazed when the uber-cool undercut/quiff combo dominated queer clubs that would never, ever play her tunes (clock DJ Kim Ann Foxman for some shaved-neck hotness).
This knowing that after all these years, her time was about to come. Again.
And come it did. Just take a look around. All those short-haired Sapphic scenesters have ditched their scarves in favour of a home-grown ear, neck and shoulder warmer – a.k.a. The Etheridge.
Of course this additional hairiness can make a single lass confused – “Are they, or aren’t they?” you say to your pal as you eye off some long-haired chick at the bar. Gay or straight? Butch or femme? Hipster or housewife? The jury’s out it seems.
Meanwhile, Etheridge is swooshing her long, shaggy, rock’n’roll mane around with fist-pumping glee as she performs to stadium after stadium of screaming, sweaty ladies who look like inner-city trendsetters but possibly aren’t because they’ve actually just had that haircut since 1988. Please. Somebody bring her some water!
To all those lesbians who’ve stuck with Etheridge’s original stylings since day dot – respect. Some say you’re stuck in the past – but really, you’re just way ahead of the times.
Awww don’t worry, Ellen – the classics never go out of style.
