Divinyls vocalist Christina Amphlett can soon be seen on a stage near you.
Many videophiles will find this enough reason to turn off MTV and head toward the Park West when Divinyls-consisting of Amphlett, guitarist Mark McEntee and three tour musicians-perform there Friday. After all, who else but Madonna is able to get away with showing extreme amounts of skin while singing about various risque topics?
Although Madonna had censors working overtime with her bisexual ”Justify My Love” video, Amphlett`s suggestive video for the single ”I Touch Myself” slipped by MTV unchallenged. But not unnoticed.
According to MTV spokesperson Carole Robinson, the heavily rotated video was ”very well received” and not a single complaint was filed by viewers, or more surprisingly, their parents.
Along with Madonna, Paula Abdul and the remodeled Janet Jackson, Amphlett has made the sex object the dominant image of women in rock. Maybe one who is in control-as Madonna loves to note-but still one appreciated more for impressive cleavage than for talent.
Amphlett sees her sex appeal-and exploitation of it-as merely a way to get publicity for her music. ”I`ve gotten people`s attention and that`s a good thing,” she says. ”I`ll get people`s attention any way I can.”
She also believes that any sensation she causes will eventually shift to the music. ”In this case, I think it has worked,” she says. ”I don`t think our music is being ignored in favor of me.”
The Divinyls began 10 years ago in Australia, when McEntee discovered Amphlett singing for a church choir. ”Working with the choir was mainly a way to strengthen my voice,” Amphlett says in a husky speaking voice that has just a hint of Australian accent.
Before Madonna toyed with crucifixes, Amphlett was performing in a schoolgirl`s uniform-with garter belts replacing the traditional bobby socks. ”I was very shy when the band first began performing-I felt vulnerable on stage,” she recalls. ”The schoolgirl`s uniform let me be another character and that helped me perform.”
Although Amphlett`s distinctive rasp excited college radio, it wasn`t until the pair`s fifth and latest album, ”Divinyls,” that the band sold in mainstream America. The album climbed to number 15 on Billboard`s Top Pop Album chart and earned a gold record (500,000 copies sold).
”I Touch Myself,” peaked on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart at No. 4, swept along by its provocative lyrics. The new single, ”Make Out Alright” should expand on Divinyls fame with its catchy DB`s-style guitar licks and steamy video. Other songs from the recent album, such as ”Lay Your Body Down” and ”Love School” also center on lusty desires.
”It`s more of a sensual album than our others-it was just a mood I was in when I wrote the album,” explains the unmarried Amphlett, adding that she has no desire to discuss her private life. ”The songs are of a personal matter themselves,” she says.
While the boxer-faced McEntee looms in the shadows during performances, breathless attention is focused on Amphlett`s voluptuous body, suggestive moans and considerable lack of clothing-all proving that sex sells more than good guitar picking.
”Of course I act this way to sell albums,” Amphlett says, laughing.
”But people don`t have to take it so seriously.”
Amphlett finds Americans usually get the joke. ”It`s been great here,” she notes. ”In England, they`ve been a bit conservative and worrying about children asking what `I Touch Myself` means. The song is racing up the charts there, anyway.”
Amphlett says women are finding acceptance easier in the music business today than ever before. ”There are lots of plain girls who write beautiful songs,” she says. ”I think women are being accepted more as individuals than before. I`m not beautiful, but I`m accepted.”
To gain acceptance on MTV, however, beauty helps. For her sleazy video look, the thirtysomething Amphlett relied on heavy makeup, special lighting and brassieres of space-age technology. ”I`m certainly no model,” she explains.
Amphlett-who co-wrote ”I Touch Myself” with the same songwriters who penned Madonna`s ”Like a Virgin”-is often compared to the erstwhile Boy Toy. It`s an analogy that has rapidly become annoying to her. ”We have nothing in comparison,” she notes, scowling. ”We are a rock band.”
