|
|
YOUTH CORRESPONDENT
Music is a wonderful gift. It is our most favorite thing. But, of late, music has begun to lose its shine.
It used to be a great big diamond. Showing in the day and reflecting light off into all directions. Strong, like iron.
Then, you realized it was a cubic zirconium, and if dropped it would probably break.
Music has changed from the flashy diamond to a cheap piece of glass. You're probably thinking, "God, not another one of these whiny brats talking about what is 'punk' and what isn't."
Really it has nothing to do with that. Punk is on top of the list of things that is wrong with music today.
Nobody will ever be punk enough for anyoneso get over it.
Either bands are selling out, or they are so underground no one has even heard of them.
Apparently, that is cool.
News flash: Neither option is cool.
In 1994, America had punk shoved down its throat thanks to Green Day and the Offspring. Suburban kids went to school with green hair and spiked chokers without understanding why.
Then everyone got sick of it and cast it aside.
If you look back to 1991, people did the same thing with what the media labeled as "grunge." Record companies were signing bands that had never played live before, simply because they were from Seattle, hoping to find the next Nirvana or Pearl Jam.
Honestly, you don't really care. It's the same thing with punk as it was 10 years ago with grunge.
In another year or so, no one will care about punk, again, and everyone will stop trying to be Lars Fredrieksen (Rancid, the Bastards) and go back to wearing J.Crew and other trendy crap.
Magazines depicting designers' expensive creations of what is "true punk" is a travesty in itself.
Their studded belts. Their Von Dutch hats. You think everyone will be happier when it goes away and all the true fans can continue on.
All of the other parasites can find something else to suck the blood out of.
But of course, you probably think you're a true fan.
Rock 'n' roll has problems, too. Celebrities, politicians and even cartoons flow through the vein of rock, and it seems wrong. Like PlayStations at a board meeting. It doesn't mesh.
Everyone wants to be a rock star, and that is a problem. Face it, some people are born to be rock stars, and some are not.
You have had to deal with not being Robert Plant for some time now.
Pete Townshend (The Who) is probably the only guy who could tell anyone the truth about rock.
And maybe Bob Dylan.
The fact that Celine Dion covered an AC/DC song stunned you like a parental slap.
Then Shania Twain gracing the cover of Rolling Stone in an AC/DC shirt was the follow-through KO punch.
Come on, what is going on here? They aren't rock stars, they aren't artists. These are people who relish the thought of exploiting whatever is "in."
Or maybe their careers aren't doing so well and they need something to boost their image. A quick fix.
When Barry Manilow covers "Stairway to Heaven," rock might as well unplug itself and retire.
What happened to honesty and truth in music? Most artists don't care about music; they just want to make a million dollars and wake up to see their face on the cover of some magazine.
Another problem: musicians attempting to be politicians.
Just stop.
You hate the war in Iraq, you don't like big business and you didn't vote for Bush. However, there are millions of people who share the same beliefs that you do, and nobody cares about what they think, either.
Eddie Vedder (Pearl Jam) is stomping on a Bush mask during concerts, and Bono (U2) is visiting the United Nationswith stupid sunglasses on.
Get real; no one is going to take him seriously. People say it is wonderful. He is making a difference.
They are laughing at him and his polarized Maui Jims.
If you have a problem with something going on with our government, then write some songs about it and play them. That's when people will pay attention. Eloquence catches the ear.
Sadly, companies are destroying rock faster than the artists. Hearing Led Zeppelin on a Cadillac commercial makes you cringe.
Phillips using the Beatles' "Getting Better" made you decide to stop watching TV.
The RIAA suing almost everyone who owns a computer makes you not even want to turn the stupid thing on.
Every magazine saying the Strokes are saving rock is taking way too many Prozacs. MTV isn't even worth looking at because you don't remember the last time you heard music playing unless it was in the background of "Rich Girls" or the "Real (dumb) World."
Cell phones with ring tones that sound like your favorite songs are a joke. Cell-phone companies don't care about the music; they care about the dollar.
Major label artists don't care about the music; they care about the dollar.
The fans don't even care about the music, they just want to be cool.
It's all so frustrating. To make matters worse, you see Missy Elliot, Alicia Keys and Eve were on the cover of Rolling Stone as "Women in Rock."
If you are thinking Brody Dalle should be up there, you should probably be working for Rolling Stone.
They might as well put Courtney Love up there, because at least she's not a knock-off. Twelve-year-old girls admiring a 40-year-old junkie. That's rock 'n' roll.
Rap has gotten too bling-bling. You thought there was hope with Mos Def, Talib Kweli and the Roots, but Puff Daddy (yeah, forget P.Diddy), Nelly and the G-G-G-G-Unit have made you throw your hands up.
Alter egos are a major setback, as well. Who is Marshall Mathers? Slim Shady or Eminem?
It's the same old song and dance. Same women in the videos, same car, same Rolex and it was probably produced by the Neptunes or Timbaland and filmed by Hype Williams.
You've been "patiently waiting," but you're getting tired. You better "change clothes" and go to bed.
You think Don McLean was right when he sang, "the day the music died," because you haven't heard much life coming from it.
Just unhook the life support and let it go in peace.
Maybe we can all take up badminton.
RYAN KENT, a graduate of King George High School, is a student at Virginia Commonwealth University.