What is "scissor sisters"

n. (scissor sister English)

Scissor Sisters is an American pop group formed in 2001. Forged in the "scuzzy, gay nightlife scene of New York," the band took its name from the female same-sex sexual activity tribadism. Its members include Jake Shears and Ana Matronic as vocalists, Babydaddy as multi-instrumentalist, Del Marquis as lead guitar/bassist, and Randy Real as drummer (who replaced Paddy Boom). Scissor Sisters have incorporated diverse and innovative styles in their music, but tend to sway towards pop rock, glam rock, nu-disco, and electroclash.

The band came to prominence following the release of their Grammy-nominated and chart-topping disco version of " Comfortably Numb" and subsequent debut album Scissor Sisters (2004). The album was a success, particularly in the UK where it reached number one, was the best-selling album of 2004, was later certified platinum by the BPI, and accrued them three BRIT Awards in 2005. All five of its singles reached positions within the top 20 of the UK Singles Chart while " Filthy/Gorgeous" scored the band their first number one on Billboard's Hot Dance Club Songs, despite the album's meager success in their native US.

The album continued its success in countries around Europe, in Australia and in Canada before the release of the band's second studio album Ta-Dah (2006), their second consecutive UK number one album which produced their first UK number one single " I Don't Feel Like Dancin'". Their third studio album Night Work (2010) displayed a shift towards a more club-oriented sound, charting at number two on the UK Albums Chart, number one on Billboard's Top Independent Albums chart and in the top 10 of several international territories. The band released their fourth studio album Magic Hour in May 2012.

Scissor Sisters have performed around the world and have become well-recognized for their controversial and transgressive live performances. They have also collaborated with a number of other well-known pop musicians, including Elton John and Kylie Minogue; these particular collaborations have been received positively by both critics and other notable figures. In 2004, Bono, lead vocalist of rock band U2, described Scissor Sisters as "the best pop group in the world". They have also collaborated with Global Cool in 2007 on one of their green lifestyle campaigns.

Scissor Sisters is the debut studio album by American 5-piece band Scissor Sisters, first released in 2004 (see 2004 in music). It was released by Polydor in the UK. It reached number 1 on the UK and Irish albums charts, and was the best-selling album of 2004 in the UK. Since its release it has gone 9× Platinum in the UK, selling over 2,100,000 copies in the country alone. In Ireland it has been certified 5× Platinum. The album was not as successful in their native USA, peaking at #102 on the Billboard 200. The album has sold 3,300,000 copies worldwide, and is listed as one of 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die in the book of the same name, edited by Robert Dimery.

The album won Best International Album at the 2005 BRIT Awards. In July 2006 it was named by Attitude as the top gay album of all time.

Linda and Charlotte Mulhall are sisters from Dublin, Ireland, known for having killed and dismembered the Kenyan immigrant, Farah Swaleh Noor, in March 2005. Noor was killed with a Stanley knife wielded by Charlotte and struck with a hammer by Linda following a confrontation with the sisters and their mother, Kathleen Mulhall, whom he was dating. His head and penis were sliced off and the rest of his corpse dismembered by the women and dumped in Dublin's Royal Canal where a piece of leg still wearing a sock was spotted floating near Croke Park ten days later.

The subsequent manhunt and the trial in October 2006 attracted intense media attention in Ireland as the true details of the crime slowly emerged. The sisters and their mother were arrested but released until Linda confessed to involvement in the crime. Kathleen Mulhall left the country at this point to live in England. When Charlotte and Linda were charged with murder in December 2005, their father, John Mulhall, hanged himself in Phoenix Park. As a result of the method they used to carry out the killing of Farah Swaleh Noor, Linda and Charlotte Mulhall were dubbed the Scissor Sisters by the media. Justice Paul Carney, presiding over the trial, said during sentencing that it was "the most grotesque killing that has occurred in my professional lifetime". Charlotte Mulhall was given the mandatory life sentence and Linda Mulhall was given a 15-year sentence for manslaughter, with both being sent to Mountjoy Women's prison in Dublin.

Noor's head and penis were never recovered, although Linda later admitted they had put the head in rubbish bins around Phoenix Park. It was also thought that they carried the head by bus to Tallaght and buried it in a field, with Linda returning later to dig it up, carry it to another field using her son's schoolbag, smash it further with a hammer and bury it again. Linda attracted further media attention when she slit her wrists and was sectioned. Charlotte also attracted media attention when a photograph of her holding a knife to a male prisoner's throat was published; that action resulted in an increased security presence in all Irish prisons and Charlotte was moved from Mountjoy to Limerick. Kathleen Mulhall voluntarily returned to Ireland in February 2008 and faced several charges. She pleaded guilty to helping clean up the crime scene to conceal evidence and was sentenced to five years in prison in May 2009.

The case has resulted in several books and has been examined in at least one television series. It was said by the Irish Independents legal affairs correspondent Dearbhail McDonald to have "fuelled fears of ritual killings in Ireland".

The Scissor Sisters are a pop band from New York.

Scissor Sisters may also refer to:

• Scissor Sisters (album), the debut studio album of the Scissor Sisters band
• Scissor Sisters (convicted killers), two sisters from Dublin convicted of murder in 2005
• Scissor sister, pejorative slang meaning lesbian