R.I.P Chrissy Amphlett
A beautiful, strong and empowered Australian Icon has left the stage for the final time. After suffering from both Multiple Sclerosis and Breast Cancer, Chrissy Amphlett, lead singer from the band the Divinyls passed away on Sunday in New York.
I think Helen Razer summed her up eloquently via twitter
I have yet to see a performer pleasure a mic, caress a crowd or smoulder with the heat of Christina Amphlett.
I used to have this friend Gary – a purely platonic friendship but our conversations were as filthy as fuck. Virtually every time we were both traveling in my car the Divinyls song – ‘I Touch Myself’ always seemed to be playing on the radio. ((It may not have literally been every time but it certainly felt that way.)) This of course only encouraged further filthy as fuck discussions on the topic of touching ones self.
The sexual innuendo wasn’t limited to ‘I Touch Myself’ though, The Divinyls had many songs with very strong sexual undertones, but it was Chrissy’s slightly husky, incredibly sexy voice and her sensual performing that threw the sex right in your face. Commanding the stage in that sexy school girls uniform she performed to crowds of women who wished they were her and men that wished they could have her – she was Divine. She was greatly loved and will be sadly missed by most of Australia – so much so that we have pushed the album ‘Essential Divinyls’ to the #1 spot on the iTunes chart.
I had a very hard time trying to decide which song to include here and whether to put just lyrics or embed you tube video. Considering how much I suck at decision making ((I’m a true Pisces: two fish continuously swimming around in circles!!)) I have ended up including both options for two of her songs, including the most famous and aforementioned …
I Touch Myself
I Touch Myself
I love myself I want you to love me
When I feel down I want you above me
I search myself I want you to find me
I forget myself I want you to remind meI don’t want anybody else
When I think about you I touch myself
Ooh I don’t want anybody else
Oh no, oh no, oh noYou’re the one who makes me come runnin’
You’re the sun who makes me shine
When you’re around I’m always laughin’
I want to make you mineI close my eyes and see you before me
Think I would die if you were to ignore me
A fool could see just how much I adore you
I’d get down on my knees I’d do anything for you
I don’t want anybody else
When I think about you I touch myself
Ooh I don’t want anybody else
When I think about you I touch myself
& the song this post stole its name from …
Pleasure & Pain
Pleasure & Pain
Lover lover why do you push
Why do you push, why do you push
Baby baby, did you forget about meI’ve been standing at the back of your life
Back row center just above the ice
Please don’t ask me how I’ve been getting off
No please don’t ask me how I’ve been getting offBreak my body, with the back of your hand
Doesn’t make sense from where I stand
Baby, baby why you want to mess it up
Sooner or later I’ll find my place
Find my body better fix my face
Please don’t ask me
How I’ve been getting off
No please don’t ask me
How I’ve been getting offIt’s a fine line between pleasure and pain
You’ve done it once you can do it again
Whatever you’ve done don’t’ try to explain
It’s a fine, fine line between pleasure and pain
When I was about 16 I was living in a place for homeless teenage girls and I got along really really well with one of the workers, Judy ((Her name was Judy Trimm – If ever you see this please get in touch with me – I was the girl who was Courtney Loves biggest fan )) we bonded over a shared love of Courtney Love. Judy’s girlfriend at the time – Jasmine was an incredibly talented photographer who shot photos of Chrissy and the band for their album ‘Underworld‘ and went on to take many more photos of Chrissy over the years. The photos in this post are just some of the photographs Jasmine took of Chrissy.
Thank you Chrissy for being such a hell raiser. Such a strong, powerful, female role model for all us girls growing up in the 80’s & 90’s. Your body may no longer be with us but your spirit will never die!
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Violet xx
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