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k.d. Lang: All You Get is Me
All You Get is Me uncovers k.d.'s deepest emotions, from a commitment to animal rights that threatened to ruin her career, to her coming to terms with a sexuality that made her an unwitting poster girl for the lesbian and gay community. Full f rare photographs, this is the definitive biography of k.d. lang.
317 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1994
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
June 11, 2012
Kathryn Dawn Lang (born Nov 2, 1961) prefers her name to be written as k.d.lang because her favorite poet is e.e.cummings. She is a Canadian having been born in Edmonton but grew up in Consort. Then when she was in high school, she felt that she was not cut for school so she went back to Edmonton and tried show-business. The rest is history: she is one of the world's popular country female singers, so far won 8 Juno awards and 4 Grammy awards and collaborated with many world-known artist including Tony Bennett singing the song "A Wonderful World." The album where that song was included, won the Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album in 2003 Grammy Awards.
That album made me realize of her existence. Being an Asian and not really a fan of American/Canadian country music, I did not know who k.d.lang was. Until that album with a cover of her and Tony Bennett smiling on the camera like enjoying each other's company.
My brother bought this for me. He texted me if I wanted to read a k.d.lang's biography. Since I am using "K.D." as my alias here on Goodreads, I texted back: Yes, pls. I thought it would be cool to know more about the lady and she is a contemporary artist so her book cannot be deep with philosophical musings and long that it will take me a month to read from cover to cover.
The book is very readable. There are no big revelations though and so this could be the reason why this book did not make a splash when this was publish in 1994. Even the existing reviews here on Goodreads seem to be lame for my taste. To me, k.d. (in small letters, mine is big K.D.) seemed to be an ordinary person who dreamed to be a star because she knew she had the talent. She did not use her body or connections, she just worked hard and had the big patience waiting for her break in the Canadian country music industry. Her idols included Patsy Cline and Anne Murray. The story behind Patsy Cline and the airplane crash that caused her death became very interesting for me when k.d. associated it with her dreams of airplane crashing. k.d. said that there was a connection between her and Cline and I thought I, with my childhood experiences in seeing ghosts, agree with that.
Her k.d. means Kathryn Dawn while my K.D. means Kuya Doni. I choose to be called this way because I am one of the most senior members of our bookclub here on Goodreads called The Filipino Group. So, I am making myself a big brother to all of them. In our language, Filipino (Tagalog), "Kuya" means "brother."
However, I will soon stop using the book cover as my profile pic. I don't want my friends to get an impression that I am a man wanting to be like her. Although her sexual preference (she's a lesbian) never became a big deal in her life, k.d. got into controversy regarding her other advocacies like animal rights (she is a vegan) and as a Tibetan human rights activist. I am neither of those, so the similarity ends with the name, I guess.
But of course, it is nice to know who k.d.lang is. Thanks, brother.
That album made me realize of her existence. Being an Asian and not really a fan of American/Canadian country music, I did not know who k.d.lang was. Until that album with a cover of her and Tony Bennett smiling on the camera like enjoying each other's company.
So, why did I decide to read this book?
My brother bought this for me. He texted me if I wanted to read a k.d.lang's biography. Since I am using "K.D." as my alias here on Goodreads, I texted back: Yes, pls. I thought it would be cool to know more about the lady and she is a contemporary artist so her book cannot be deep with philosophical musings and long that it will take me a month to read from cover to cover.
The book is very readable. There are no big revelations though and so this could be the reason why this book did not make a splash when this was publish in 1994. Even the existing reviews here on Goodreads seem to be lame for my taste. To me, k.d. (in small letters, mine is big K.D.) seemed to be an ordinary person who dreamed to be a star because she knew she had the talent. She did not use her body or connections, she just worked hard and had the big patience waiting for her break in the Canadian country music industry. Her idols included Patsy Cline and Anne Murray. The story behind Patsy Cline and the airplane crash that caused her death became very interesting for me when k.d. associated it with her dreams of airplane crashing. k.d. said that there was a connection between her and Cline and I thought I, with my childhood experiences in seeing ghosts, agree with that.
Her k.d. means Kathryn Dawn while my K.D. means Kuya Doni. I choose to be called this way because I am one of the most senior members of our bookclub here on Goodreads called The Filipino Group. So, I am making myself a big brother to all of them. In our language, Filipino (Tagalog), "Kuya" means "brother."
However, I will soon stop using the book cover as my profile pic. I don't want my friends to get an impression that I am a man wanting to be like her. Although her sexual preference (she's a lesbian) never became a big deal in her life, k.d. got into controversy regarding her other advocacies like animal rights (she is a vegan) and as a Tibetan human rights activist. I am neither of those, so the similarity ends with the name, I guess.
But of course, it is nice to know who k.d.lang is. Thanks, brother.
March 29, 2015
This book has been sitting on my shelf - unread - for years.
The problem I have with biographies - especially biographies about people I already am familiar with - is that I tend to get tired by the authors' attempts to explain everything and give meaning to everything. Quite often this attempt backfires because their interpretation is somewhat removed from plausibility.
This is worse when the author is a fan.
I have no doubt that Victoria Starr was/is a k.d. lang fan, and to this day, her book is probably the most comprehensive biography there is.
The problems I have with the book however are that:
- it contains some glaring factual errors.
- it contains a lot of rumors and speculation that was going around at the time when the book was written.
- it focuses on the music industry and the reported / second-hand information that was available in the media, but doesn't give many details about the sources - which enhances the feeling that a lot of the book is speculation.
- it doesn't go into k.d.'s music much at all. And I would have thought that would be a major part of the biography of a musician.
Also, the book was published in 1994 and is obviously outdated.
Overall, it was an entertaining read, but you have to read this biography with a pinch of salt, like fan-fiction.
The problem I have with biographies - especially biographies about people I already am familiar with - is that I tend to get tired by the authors' attempts to explain everything and give meaning to everything. Quite often this attempt backfires because their interpretation is somewhat removed from plausibility.
This is worse when the author is a fan.
I have no doubt that Victoria Starr was/is a k.d. lang fan, and to this day, her book is probably the most comprehensive biography there is.
The problems I have with the book however are that:
- it contains some glaring factual errors.
- it contains a lot of rumors and speculation that was going around at the time when the book was written.
- it focuses on the music industry and the reported / second-hand information that was available in the media, but doesn't give many details about the sources - which enhances the feeling that a lot of the book is speculation.
- it doesn't go into k.d.'s music much at all. And I would have thought that would be a major part of the biography of a musician.
Also, the book was published in 1994 and is obviously outdated.
Overall, it was an entertaining read, but you have to read this biography with a pinch of salt, like fan-fiction.
July 28, 2015
What a voice! From the cold winters of a small town called Consort in Alberta, Canada came Kathy Lang. While many pooh-poohed the tall mannish woman from the plains, she always knew she would be a star. This book, published in 1994 tells of her career to that date.
Her early stage performances sound downright goofy, but with that terrific voice and a lot of heart they must have been amazing. Author Victoria Starr takes you through her times playing small venues with friends to ever larger gigs. You learn about her animal rights advocacy and how participating in the “Meat Stinks” campaign that created a backlash and hurt her family living in the heart of Canada’s cattle industry. You also learn of her worship of Patsy Cline and her attempts of follow her footsteps in Nashville.
After her Nashville country “period” she was freed to be more creative in music and other formats. There was an experimental film, “Salmonberries” where director Percy Adlon, grafted the narration onto her personality. After this film, or perhaps from it, came the album “Ingenue”, which brought her wide recognition.
Through Lang’s experience you get insight into the music industry. Despite solid record sales, sell out performances and big named recording interests in her voice, top 40 radio stations would not play her songs. Even today, some stations are said to limit female artists to 15% of the airtime. In the 1990’s it was most likely worse, especially for someone whose image did not fit the mold.
The last chapters deal with the aftermath of fame. Her “coming out” (she was always “out” to her family and friends) comes with interesting back stories about how interviews are set up and how “The Advocate” interview was neither wanted or advised by her promoters.
The last chapter implies a retired k.d., describing her life in California and her farm in Canada more than any artistic endeavors. I checked the internet and since 1994, while not as active as before, k.d. has been steadily recording and acting. I also checked for an updated biography. While there were a few other publications in the 1990’s there is nothing since, suggesting this would be a good time for a follow up.
The book begins calling Lang “Kathy” and as she changes her signature to “k.d.” (in deference to e.e. cummings), the text changes too. (Her band, the “reclines” (note Patsy Cline imagery) was similarly lower case.) The black and white photos are OK. The index had what I was looking for. While there is a lot of interpretive material, the author did well without access to k.d. or other key people.
August 10, 2024
I honestly wish I hadn't started reading this book. It has cursed me with the knowledge that kd lang is not in fact a cool person as I'd always thought, but rather she is completely fucking insufferable and I can't unknow this now.
How you gonna be the reincarnation of Patsy Cline, kd? You were two years old when she died!!
There's another bit in the book where a guy they describe as her soulmate died in a really tragic and unnecessary incident at a party, and it's presented in this hippy dippy way of "kd's career really took off after he died, so maybe it was the sacrifice he needed to make to the gods for her success"...I'm sorry, that is a fucking unhinged take on some poor guy having his throat stomped.
Anyway. If you enjoy being enraged at the antics of some piece of shit narcissist who uses spirituality as some bland handwavey thing to justify her egotism, this is the book for you!
How you gonna be the reincarnation of Patsy Cline, kd? You were two years old when she died!!
There's another bit in the book where a guy they describe as her soulmate died in a really tragic and unnecessary incident at a party, and it's presented in this hippy dippy way of "kd's career really took off after he died, so maybe it was the sacrifice he needed to make to the gods for her success"...I'm sorry, that is a fucking unhinged take on some poor guy having his throat stomped.
Anyway. If you enjoy being enraged at the antics of some piece of shit narcissist who uses spirituality as some bland handwavey thing to justify her egotism, this is the book for you!
April 16, 2023
This is an unauthorized biography and I have seen some negative reviews on it in that regard. I do not find any of it salacious or prying even. I see it as interesting to follow the development of the artist based on apparently a lot of interviews with associates.
The books goes from growing up in small-town, "country" Alberta on to Ingénue (Sire, 1992). During that time, lang developed as a rural bohemian artist operating in more than just music; painting for instance. Discovering Patsy Cline has a huge impact on her and she deserves a lot of credit building a successful touring and major label recording career in the country music genre with an image that made for a lot of headwinds getting radio play, positive press support etc. Of course, her vocal talent allowed her to reach legions of fans despite that and grow outside the genre, which was really a phase or as she says a "project".
The books goes from growing up in small-town, "country" Alberta on to Ingénue (Sire, 1992). During that time, lang developed as a rural bohemian artist operating in more than just music; painting for instance. Discovering Patsy Cline has a huge impact on her and she deserves a lot of credit building a successful touring and major label recording career in the country music genre with an image that made for a lot of headwinds getting radio play, positive press support etc. Of course, her vocal talent allowed her to reach legions of fans despite that and grow outside the genre, which was really a phase or as she says a "project".
October 2, 2022
3.5 stars
Reading about the life story of music artists is fun because then you listen to the discography and remember things you had forgotten. This book seems like an authorized biography, mostly a telling from interviews with people who knew her/know her, and the news. It was written in 1994, only two years after lang came out, so it’s a bit of a time capsule regarding the music industry and gay culture at the time. An interesting enough read if you have any interest in her or her music.
Reading about the life story of music artists is fun because then you listen to the discography and remember things you had forgotten. This book seems like an authorized biography, mostly a telling from interviews with people who knew her/know her, and the news. It was written in 1994, only two years after lang came out, so it’s a bit of a time capsule regarding the music industry and gay culture at the time. An interesting enough read if you have any interest in her or her music.
June 28, 2013
Really cheesy biography of k.d. lang by someone who never actually met or interviewed her. Starr's style of writing is like a cross between tabloid muckraking and Harlequin romance. When she's "quoting" someone who has something particularly nasty to say, she'll say that person "hissed". Really? They hissed? Good lord.
I'll probably end up keeping this book just because some of what's written is actually true, but mostly it's just speculation and conjecture both on her part and on the part of the people she supposedly interviewed. This book is definitely not to be taken as gospel truth.
I'll probably end up keeping this book just because some of what's written is actually true, but mostly it's just speculation and conjecture both on her part and on the part of the people she supposedly interviewed. This book is definitely not to be taken as gospel truth.
August 2, 2021
More of a 4 1/2 than a 5 for me but it round up rather than down. The first 4/5’s of the book are a solid 5 stars with lots of great info about k.d. the world and situations she moved through and experienced along with the people who worked with and for her during those years. It’s after the info about Ingenue and the affects of it’s release that the book lags for a while. The section that doesn’t work for me is her coming out. I’m not sure why but it didn’t flow for me. However it might work for others. The book finished strong with a good description of what her life and circumstances were like as the book was being finished back in the ‘93-94 timeframe. I would love to read a book by the same author covering her life since then up to the present day.
June 6, 2024
Despite being born after this book was published, I have enjoyed KD Lang's music since I was young. When I saw this book in the library I assumed it was new. I quickly figure out it wasn't a new book.
However, upon reading it I am not disappointed in it. I didn't know much about KD's personal past, so this book was an eye-opener.
However, upon reading it I am not disappointed in it. I didn't know much about KD's personal past, so this book was an eye-opener.
April 9, 2021
Enjoyable, but until the end, seemed more focused on music production. If that’s your thing, great. The end was more personal. This book was published in 1994, not long after her official “coming out”. Would love an autobiography now (27 years later) to see where her journey has taken her.
January 12, 2021
Not a fan so this was not a book I enjoyed, fans may get more out of it
February 22, 2021
lovely biography! so happy to have found this one, very heartwarming <3
Read
January 9, 2008I had heard K.D. Lang only on albums, but it wasn't until I heard in concert that I became a true fan. As long as I am on a run of celebrity autobiographies, it seems that I should not exclude her from my reading list.
November 17, 2009
Interesting but is more an intinerary of her professional life and I was more interested in her personal life.
October 21, 2011
Bought and read years ago. Love k.d.
January 16, 2016
K.D. Lang is one of a kind but still not a fan. Enjoyed reading the book, Author did a fair job about keeping it real and at times
January 3, 2024
loved loved loved this book about the life of kd lang, how/where she grew up, high school, music, friends and her journey to stardom. fascinating and interesting
June 4, 2025
This is a very good biography of kd's early years as a singer.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews