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Volume CXXXII, Number 8 |
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Things that make you say ouch
MACAELA FLANAGAN
COLUMNIST
It's true that there are two sides to every story. Although music provides endless enjoyment and pleasure for so many people, it is certainly not an industry without its share of scary and sad events. In fact, sometimes it seems that popular music has more than its share of unfortunate circumstances, and the past decade has been no different. This article will delve into and spotlight some (but certainly not all) of the major downfalls of modern rock and roll.
We'll start with hashing over the music industry at large. We can't dismiss Satan himself, a.k.a. Ticketmaster. I hate Ticketmaster. If anyone knows what the "convenience charge" is for that TM happily slaps on to our already ridiculously overpriced tickets, please let me know because I certainly don't find it "convenient" to give them any more money than they already suck out of me. They are what's making rock and roll die; corporations are ruining our chances to see the shows that we want to see. Who has $50 (or $75, or $100…) to drop every time a popular and fun band comes to town? Not me. So we dig into the bars and clubs, not into the arenas and stadiums. Let's just hope TM doesn't get claws of "convenience charges" into those places too.
I can't write an article talking about the devastations rock and roll has faced in the recent past without talking about some things that are much weightier than the usual substance of my column. One of these issues is the untimely loss of Sublime. The Long Beach guys managed to make original and beautiful music that has become popular-unfortunately not until after Brad Nowell's death-in a time when original and beautiful music is sometimes seen as too chancy in exec's eyes. 40 Oz. To Freedom is one of the greatest albums ever recorded, and if you read this column then you know how hesitant I am to glorify any band that has become famous within the last ten years. Brad's death was a huge blow for the music world…
…As was the end of Kurt Cobain. Our parents talk to us about the influential explosion known as the British Invasion; we're going to talk to our kids about Nirvana.
Enough heaviness. Let's stop discussing music we wish could still be made and talk music that we only wish would go away…
Creed. There isn't even one thing to bitch about with these guys because the entire package sucks. I'm glad they have found God and are comfortable preaching about their faith, but leave me the hell alone. Whenever I hear them I immediately think the end of the world is upon us. Then I realize, "oh, it's not Armageddon-IT'S EVEN WORSE."
The return of the boy band is equally sad. The difference between the boy band of yesteryear (let's use the Monkees as an example) and the boy band of today has to do with exposure. The only time you hear the Monkees now is on the oldies station; in other words you have to voluntarily seek them out. Unfortunately, we have to suffer through what I am sure plenty of people did with the Monkees: facing the Backstreet Boys everywhere you look-music, magazines, posters, TV, movies, lunch boxes, sheet sets?!… I have come close to O.D.ing on them on several occasions.
What's even worse than boy bands? The Billboard 2002 Music Awards lineup: Avril Lavigne, Creed, Nelly, and Puddle Of Mudd. That is the most horrendous excuse for an awards show lineup I have ever heard. I suppose it shouldn't surprise me too much however; last year's big winners were R.Kelly, Destiny's Child, and Tim McGraw. And the worst part of all? Creed has won Billboard's "Rock Artist of the Year"… twice. It's a sad, sad world.
I'm really not a mean person. I honestly give credit to all of these artists for achieving what everyone else wishes they could do: make a living being a performing musician. I don't give them credit for being talented musicians, but they are nonetheless still making a living from it. Despite my negative tone, I'm sure there are plenty of great things happening in popular modern music… I just can't think of any.