Cat Power: The Greatest Feat

In the wind I crunch I want to die
They can give me pills
Or let me drink my fill
The heart wants to explode far away
Where nobody knows—from Cat Power’s “Hate” from the album The Greatest.

To sing such honest and exposing lyrics to hundreds of audience members requires a serious skill. The thought of doing this makes me cringe and evokes my “run and hide” instinct, as being so openly vulnerable is my worst nightmare. Musicians, especially singer/songwriters, garner my utmost respect for their ability to express themselves so candidly to the masses—a true feat of self-confidence.

Cat Power, whose real name is Chan Marshall (pronounced “Shawn”), is an interesting artist to analyze from the perspective of self-confidence. Cat Power has carved out a niche for herself with her gut-wrenching, emotionally poignant, and pensive lyrics that are belted out in a Southern-accented, folk blues manner. She’s been making music since she dropped out of high school in 1995, but still struggles with live performances. Before the release of The Greatest in January 2006, Chan was notorious for stopping shows mid-set because of personal freak-outs. Several years ago she actually played a show with her back to the audience due to her paralyzing stage fright. Since January 2006, her shows have lost this volatility and she has played all shows from start to finish without any meltdowns.

So, let’s do the math—it’s been about nine years since she’s been a musician and only recently has she been able to cope with her stage fright. Pretty remarkable. Her lyrics are so raw and exposing, it doesn’t surprise me that it took her so long to get to a point of feeling comfortable with sharing these so intimately with her audiences. I think one of the most compelling things about Cat Power’s music is that it feels so genuine and that she’s not an artist that hides behind a glossy exterior of self-confidence. You can tell that she’s human and emotional, which makes her ability to share her lyrics that much more special.

The Greatest is one of my favorite albums. The album is lovely and organic and emotional. Chan recorded the album in Memphis and is accompanied by an all-star cast of e70s soul musicians. They help to give the album a robust feel without overshadowing the intimate beauty of Marshall’s voice. The album is perfectly produced with all of the nuances of her voice and breathiness coming through. The piano and string accompaniments are also spectacular. The Greatest will take you on a “country-soul” journey and you’ll think she’s three times her age and been making music all her life.

By Saleema Fazal