Shirley Manson On Pressures Caused By Cute Pop Stars

Garbage recently played at the Pacific Amphitheatre in California, and singer Shirley Manson noticed some cute young women not normally attending a Garbage show. “I want to thank you for being here instead of at a fu**ing Jessica Simpson show,” Manson told the ladies. “Now, I may not be as young or cute, but I am a lot smarter and, I guarantee you, I’m a much better shag!” The singer explained her comments to Australia’s Time off magazine, saying it was nothing against Simpson or other pop stars like her. “But what are young girls thinking when they turn on the TV and all the performers have perfect teeth, slim, muscular beautiful bodies, perfect smiles and big tits,” she asked. “Where are the voices for those girls who don’t conform to that ideal? These cute girls up front looked very ‘Middle America’. Usually our fans are more… fu**ed up [laughs]. I was very surprised and touched to see them. I think it was indignation that made me spout off about the women who changed my life by encouraging me to do certain things. I wonder if the American pop girls of today are empowering, like my heroes. Or do they send the message to young girls that they are worthless because they’re not blonde or blue-eyed?”