Dear Hipsters, Indie kids, rebels, whatever you call yourselves these days (a thousand pardons, we mainstreamers are so behind on the lingo),
Hello! Nice to meet you, though I know you won't actually read this because blogs are very out, as is getting information firsthand. You'll probably just barely hear my message as it is relayed to you via a less independent friend over the bass line of a Sleighbells song at a venue so underground you're not even sure what it's called. To help spread my message I'll be sure to post copies (typewritten, on an actual typewriter, naturally with a serif font) on the cork boards of all the local thrift and used record stores. Though not a member of your conglomerate ('communities' are far too mainstream, everyone has those), I am somewhat of a lurker around your borders and many less insightful people tend to group me with you, as I own several berets. Anywho, I was writing to address a small issue that has been on the rise since the rights to more popular music have become too expensive for advertisers to cope with (especially with this economy, I'm sure you've noticed how crowded the Goodwills have become), the phenomenon of indie bands being featured in *gasp* commercials and pop culture.
Please, pause, readjust your wayfarer frames and compose yourselves.
The most recent in this string of felonies has occurred as the indie favorite "Heads Will Roll" by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs was featured in tonight's episode of Fox's 'Glee' Members of your nation have already switched their fonts to sarcasm and hit the YouTube comment boxes hard, striking blows at the integrity of Karen, Brian, and Nick (members of the YYY, but I'm sure you knew that already) as well as other artists whose songs have been feature on Glee, in commercials and advertising, or in other forms of mass media. And might I say, for a crowd as laid back as you all appear to be, you are a vicious bunch! Now, I have a great deal of respect for independent music, and artists, don't get me wrong. I think that they're incredibly talented people. However, I don't think that they deserve your scorn for wanting to get their name out there and maybe catch a few more fans. See, the great thing about music is its not susceptible to inflation. It doesn't lose value the more people who listen to it. It's exactly the same whether one kid in a basement in Seattle listens to it as if every single iPod up and down the east coast has it playing (this excludes the phenomenon of being overplayed on radios, that's a whole nother issue). The music doesn't change. The whole hipster movement is based on the idea of being ahead of the curve, being too cool to like mainstream things and follow trends, but aren't you following trends still? They're just the next wave? And by moving on from an artist whose music you valued so strongly at one point, aren't you forfeiting your individuality and following a trend set by the culture you've chosen to adapt? Please note, I'm not saying that you can't ever stop liking bands or get out of a phase of music, but to hate an artist because you are no longer the only one on your block that owns their EP? That's a little drastic if you ask me.
And if you love that music so much, wouldn't you want the world to hear it? Wouldn't you wish the best for the artists producing it? And if those artists do chose to have their music produced in bulk, shouldn't you support them enough to respect their decision? Personally, if I find music I like, the second thing I do (after listening to it straight for a 24 hour period) is burn my friends mix CDs filled with this great new stuff. Mass media helps bands reach audiences that there's virtually no way they'd reach otherwise, and I think that's fantastic. I'm not gonna lie, there are defiantly some bands that I've discovered because their music was featured somewhere, and I'm not the slightest bit ashamed of that. Plenty of artists maintain their artistic integrity while also being successful (Prince, Beyonce, Michael Jackson). I'm enclosing a list of great music I've found in commercials over the years (sorry if this may be a bit of a repost):
"Wraith Pinned To The Mist and Other Games" Of Montreal (love this song <3)
"Such Great Heights" The Postal Service AND Iron and Wine (same song, two bands, two different commercials)
"Holiday" Vampire Weekend
"Flathead" The Fratellis
"1234" Feist
"Jerk It Out" The Ceasars
"Fort Knox"Goldfish
"New Soul" Yail Naiim
"Don't Upset the Rhythm (Go Baby Go)" The Noisettes
"Great DJ" The Ting Tings
"A-Punk" Vampire Weekend
(See? Good music deserves sharing! the videos I can't vouch for though....lol)
Anyway, I know, I know, who am I to preach? I'm a mere mortal, a mainstreamer with one tiny toe in the world of all things hipster. I wear the plaid button downs and converse, but not like I mean it. I have plastic framed glasses and listen to public radio sometimes but I also have seen the Jonas Brothers live, so all my credibility goes down in flames. I understand this. But if you're here that means you either value my thoughts, got here by accident, or need something to laugh at with your buddies Monday morning around the water cooler. But I promise to get off my reclaimed wood-constructed soapbox after making one last point.
I'm pretty damn sick and tired of every video of any 'indie' band being spammed with thousands of comments attacking Lady Gaga. Seriously? Will pointing out how much more completely awesome and original and wonderful [insert lead female singer of some undiscovered band here] is than Lady Gaga really help you sleep at night? Why does it even matter if he/she is better than Lady Gaga? If he/she tried to gain Gaga's popularity, you'd ditch them anyway! It is my personal and strong opinion that Lady Gaga is fucking great and talented and awesome (once again, my blog, my opinions). But I also value all sorts of other musicians and music without having to comment on every random video about how terrible the band is in comparison to Lady Gaga. Seriously, every single video of every random unsigned independent video I've watched (which is a fairly good amount) has some stupid comment about "Who needs Lady Gaga when you have this?!" or "OMG this is so much more forward and innovative than Lady Gaga could ever hope to be"
SHUT UP! Gaga's famous, Gaga's making money, Gaga's making money, Gaga's making a difference. Obviously someone is buying her stuff and liking it. Even if it is us humble normal people too ignorant to listen to your new wave music. Gaga is not taking opportunities away from any other artist, she just happens to be what 'the people' want. And I'm terribly sorry if you disagree with the taste of the collective music listeners, but who knows? Maybe the artist you think is more deserving will get some airtime and become the next big thing. But by that time you'll probably have moved on because they're too well known and be on to the next wave of artists, complaining that they are much more deserving of fame than those other guys you used to like before they sold out...
Sincerely, Krysti
p.s. I'm not nearly as bitter as this letter makes me seem, but I just got through watching a series of videos all of which featured a slew of stupid comments about Lady Gaga and whatever indie band 'selling out'
Krysti,
ReplyDeletei couldn't agree more with every single thing you said here. i am so tired of people thinking that they are so goddamn original. didn't they ever have ms. mitchell for english class? the whole idea of liking something because nobody else does is ridiculous. the whole "indie" kid persona is so much more mainstream than any of them want to admit to. jeez, i feel like every person i pass on the street is wearing plaid shirts, skinny jeans, and chucks. not that there's anything wrong with following that trend, but just recognize that that's what you're doing. you know what would actually be original? nothing.