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SXSW preview: Margaret Cho
“I think Courtney Love is such a tremendous icon,” says Cho, 41. “There’s so much about her legend that people don’t talk about her music. It’s really influential and incredible. I’m thrilled just to get to see them.”
(Official showcase: 10:10 p.m. Saturday at Esther’s Follies, 525 E. 6th St.)
American-Statesman: You recently blogged about John Mayer’s controversial Playboy interview.
Margaret Cho: When you make statements about not being attracted to (certain) women, about how you have a David Duke (expletive), it’s so insulting to women of color. I think I’m lucky because I don’t really know his music at all, and can’t say I’m a fan. I don’t think anyone I’m a fan of would do or say something like that.
Who are you a fan of?
I loved Duran Duran when I was growing up. They helped me understand sexuality, that I like guys. They included women of color as objects of desire in all their videos. In “Hungry Like the Wolf,” I think there’s a black girl that they’re chasing and an Asian girl in other videos. That made me want to be a groupie. A true sign of a really great rock star is that you have an Asian girlfriend (laughs).
What inspired your new video, ‘My Lil’ Wayne’?
I love Lil’ Wayne! When I was working with (Australian singer-songwriter) Ben Lee on my record, we’d always end up talking about Lil’ Wayne. He was like an angel always present in the recording studio (laughs). So, we were talking about him going to prison, and I wanted to write a song with the spirit of Tracy Chapman’s “Fast Car,” like, “Let’s break Lil’ Wayne out of prison!” I think it’d be a really good idea for him to do a remix and add some beats to it.
It’s very Weird Al (Yankovic).
What people don’t tend to notice is that Weird Al is an incredible musician. It’s quite difficult to do song parodies because you have to be as good if not better than the original musician, and also write great parody lyrics. Weird Al does it with such style and finesse.
But his songs are so topical. Do they stand the test of time?
He has a really lasting legacy. I think the song “Eat It” is just as well known as the song “Beat It.” “Amish Paradise”! His newer song “Craigslist” might be my favorite. It’s a Doors parody, and he actually has (Doors keyboardist) Ray Manzarek playing on it. It’s so tight. For me as a fan of music and comedy, it’s a perfect marriage.
Other than Hole, will you have time to check out anyone else at SXSW?
I’m coming Friday morning. I’m in a bunch of shows, but that won’t prevent me from going to a bunch of shows, too. The most important one for me is the Broken Social Scene, which is so exciting. (The band’s songwriter) Kevin Drew and I have been talking about collaborating for years. I also want to see B-Real from Cypress Hill and Tom Brosseau. There are so many I’m dying to see!
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