Sharleen Spiteri

ICE QUEEN: Sharleen Spiteri
BAND: Texas
ORIGIN: Glasgow, Scotland
GENRE: Folky rock first, then commercial pop
ACCOMPLICES: Ally McErlaine (guitar), Johnny McElhone (bass), Eddie Campbell (keyboards), Richard Hynd (drums).
DISCOGRAPHY: "Southside" (1989), "Mothers Heaven" (1991), "Ricks Road" (1993), "White on Blonde" (1997), "The Hush" (1999), "Careful What You Wish For" (2003), "Red Book" (2005), "The BBC Sessions" (2007).
INFLUENCES: The Clash, Blondie, Marvin Gaye, Prince, Diana Ross

IMHO: I remember when Texas started they were all cool, wearing black leather and looking simple and rocking to "I don't want a lover", and I don't know what happened to them but I listen to their last couple of albums and I wonder: where did my Texas go? Wha happened? Yes, I understand they need to sell records and stuff, but did they have to go that commercial? I seriously can't listen to "Red Book", it's asking too much from a lifelong fan. However, the first four albums of the band really made it for me and remind me of adolescence and good times.
Sharleen Spiteri has such a fantastic voice. Moreover, she sings with such a confidence and control that makes you jealous. I'm not a fan of her faux soul falsettos, but she can do whatever she wants behind a mic. I wish that Texas would have gone more experimental instead of pop, kind of following the line that they started with "White on Blonde"... It would be great to hear them do some Gathering covers, for example... Sharleen, you can do anything you want with your voice: surprise us.

FAVOURITE SONG: "Thrill Has Gone"!!!, "I don't want a lover", "Mother's heaven", "Why believe in you", etc.
FAVOURITE ALBUM: "Southside", a work of art

SEEN THEM LIVE: Yeah, it's hard to remember the exact date, probably circa 1998, but I do remember that The Pretenders were opening for them. The Pretenders!!! Needless to say, Texas are pretty big in Spain, bigger than Chrissie Hynde's band... Sorry...

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