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___ Over the Edge September 18}1996 1,

~ UNBC Backyard BBQ II:

In Review
Bif Up Close and Personal

-by Dayle Bowyer

‘Bif Naked’s Passion is
direct, showcasing the singer’s

strong sense of independence
and uninhibited self-expres-
sion. Her music can mystify,
calm and shock. Some times all
at once.’ Her music is an elec-
tric mix of grinding hard rock,

ballads and seductive funk. It 7

is an emotionally packed power : :

punch of lyrical pathos and
musical moodiness. In lay-
man’s terms, her music is great;

it pulses with emotion and |

reaches out to the listener with
incredible intensity, especially

to those of us that fit into the 9}

Generation X bracket.

As a fan of her music, (3

you may be reading this article
and wondering, “What is Bif
really like up close and per-
sonal?” I, myself, had many
such questions running through
my head when I found out I
would actually get to meet and
talk with this person I have idol-
ized (at least for the last few
months). The interview was
nothing like I expected. In fact,
it was a lot easier to talk to Bif
then it would have been to walk
across the Winter Garden and
have a conversation with one of
my fellow students. Bif Naked
is probably one of the most hu-
man humans [| have ever met.
She may come across as a bit
strange with the tattoos and the
Dyed Black hair, cigarettes and
tough image, but she was one
of the most polite people I have
ever talked to. >
Bif Naked is a highly
motivated, highly dedicated in-
dividual. She has taken 12
years of Ballet, started taking
drama at the University of
Winnipeg, and been a touring

Bif Naked taking the time to talk with some of the Edge staff before
going on Stage. In the Background: Her road manager (Babysitter),
Ken. -photo Cameron Rowe

musician for the past nine years.
It has taken Bif a lot of hard
work to get where she is today.
She noted getting divorced
when she was 21, engaged and
unengaged twice since, and
working a full time day job for
5 years, without taking one
sick-day, as some of the most
significant things in her life.
When asked about her record,
she said that here at home her
the response has been anticli-
mactic; it was overseas that she
has really had an effect, To that
extent, she as been on several
tours of Europe in the last two
years.

Dad’s Getting Married is
not anew album. In fact, it was
released in 1995 and only
started getting radio play in
Canada in August. The album
has huge Generation X appeal,
which she contributes to the fact
that she fits into that age group.
She says the Generation X is
lucky because we had a stunted
adolescence. Her music is in-
fluenced by a wide variety of
things; for instance, musical
artists that influenced her are
widely varied, from Sound-
gatden to Tory Braxton, and
Screeching Weasel. As well,
her surroundings have a large

< ——
Je MD

effect on her mood and tone.
When she is inside, she feels
melancholy; and when she’s
outside, she is in a good mood.
She has always written . . . start-
ing out with poetry, which her
Mom still keeps. She said her
Mom is her biggest fan, and
while her Dad used to laugh
about it, now he tells her that
he has the name of an accoun-
tant.

Her songs, more reflec-
tive of poetry with lyrics, are
comprised of outbursts of emo-
tions. They are riddled with
graphic imagery, anger and
truthfulness. In the past, she has

been compared to Alanis
Morissette in style and genera-
tion appeal. When questioned
about this Bif laughed. “You
have to laugh, you can’t really
worry about it. . overseas they
compare me to Courtney
Love.” In reality, Bif is only
herself; while her music may
have a generational appeal, the
meaning, depth and truth that
permeate her songs are incred-
ible and bear no comparison.

Across: Bif taking time to
dutograph a poster for a fan,
-photo Cameron Rowe

Bif with Brenda NUGSS Social and Promotions Direc