Hot Guys and Guitars: Rock Star Heroes

Photo by Schmeegan via Flickr

I once heard an editor for a major romance publisher say that women don't find rock stars attractive. Ummmm, what? Do we need to take a trip on the way way back machine (called YouTube) to see Bobby Soxers go crazy for ol' Blue Eyes, girls pass out from excitement listening to the Beatles, or people chant BRUUUUUUUCE at a Bruce Springsteen concert? I mean, yeah, Springsteen's kinda old and crusty nowadays, but it wasn't for nothing that Annie Leibovitz photographed his butt for the cover of Born in the USA. Girl knew what she was doing there. And (some) people still find Axl Rose attractive, although why is something of a mystery.

The point is, anyone with sense can see that rock stars are attractive. Unless you actually know them, in which case you're probably like, "I know you're on the road, but could you at least TRY to shower once in awhile?" But these are books we're talking about! Personal hygiene can simply be assumed.

Even if you know some real-life musicians and are aware of the less-than-glamorous aspects of their lives, rock stars are still romantic figures in the popular imagination. Like cowboys and knights in black denim, they're heroes of the working man, living by their wits and talent. They have a freedom us schmucks with 9-5 jobs can only dream about, and all the highs and lows of a job without a safety net.

So yeah, I think rock stars are actually perfect figures for a romantic hero. Yet finding rock stars in fiction is pretty rare. Why? I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that rock n' roll isn't as popular as it once was. I've heard some people say it's dead, but I prefer to think we're living in the 21st century version of the disco era. Either way, there aren't a lot of super-successful rock bands out there anymore, and those that are don't have hot leading men. 

With one notable exception: Adam Levine. ZOMG, Levine is soooooo hot. I feel the need to compulsively tweet about his insane attractiveness multiple times whenever I'm watching The Voice, that's how hot he is. And he's super duper nice and funny and owns more sweaters than I have ever seen any other American male wear and I DON'T KNOW WHY but for some reason I find this INCREDIBLY ADORABLE. Just thinking about him makes me get all capslocksia with excitement. 

But it's not just physical attraction! Come on, I'm not THAT shallow (actually that's debatable, but let's say I'm not for the sake of argument). Levine's also talented and the lyrics to his songs reveal a romantic, sensitive soul. "It's not right, not okay/To say the words that you say/Maybe we're better off this way…" Who hasn't felt like that during a break-up??? It's like he's speaking to my sooooouuuuuuuullllllll.

So if you're wondering who Michael de Bracy in The Aspen House is based off of… keep wondering. Ha! I kid.

Is there a rock star who makes your heart flutter?

Ear Bugs

Three songs that inspire me or lift my mood:

• "It's Coming Up" by Paul McCartney--I actually think of this as my theme song. This is going to sound totally dorky, but I tend to think of myself as a flower--I need lots of sun and water, and if I'm tired I get all droopy. This song always makes me feel optimistic.
• "Tequila Sunrise" by The Eagles--I am a huge Eagles fan, and this is one of my favorite songs of all time. I love how it evokes a mood and tells a story.
• "Even if it Breaks Your Heart" by Will Hoge--This is my current ear bug. I love the message of this song and the melody is perfect.
  

So now that it's clear I listen to a lot of classic rock, what are some of your most inspirational songs?

iPod Shuffle

Top ten results of a random iTunes shuffle:

1. "Don't Be Stupid (You Know I Love You)" by Shania Twain--Ah, Shania Twain. I think I summed up my feelings on this one when I told my friend, "She's pretty good if you don't mind shallow."
   
2. "Surprise Hotel" by Fool's Gold--This was a free weekly download on iTunes. /end why I have it on my iTunes
   
3. "Always" by Panic! At the Disco--I saw this CD at my library and was like, "w00t, free CD." Panic! At the Disco is okay. My brother thinks they're an an emo band (they kind of are).
   
4. "Make You Feel My Love" by Maria Muldaur--Muldaur made an entire album of Bob Dylan covers. It's pretty good if Dylan is a little too up-tempo for you. Slow that song down, buddy, I was almost staying awake.
   
5. "San Francisco Bay Blues" by Eric Clapton--It's Eric Clapton. /end why I have it on my iTunes
   
6. "Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite" by Eddie Izzard--Uhg, I actually HATE this song. Or not the song, really, just the way Eddie Izzard sings it. It's on the Across the Universe soundtrack. I would delete it, but having incomplete soundtracks on my iTunes makes me twitchy.
   
7. "Pick Somebody Up" by Rick Midon--Pretty sure this was another free download.
   
8. "Rapt: In the Evening Air" by The Art of Noise--This is part of an album I heard about on Twitter, The Seduction of Claude Debussy. The Art of Noise used Debussy's ideas of music evoking all the senses and blended Debussy's compositions with jazz, hip-hop, electronica, opera, narration, etc. I like this track especially because of the line, "It will remind you of a line from Baudelaire: sound and perfume swirling in the evening air."
   
9. "Paradise (Not for Me)" by Madonna--I like Madonna. She's ballsy.
   
10. "Brokedown Palace" by The Grateful Dead--I was totally obsessed with The Grateful Dead when I was in high school, but I haven't listened to this song in forever! I'm suddenly struck with the desire to sit outside and do absolutely nothing.
    

Any of these on your iTunes?


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