Okay, back to the argument:
I have dealt with only music here. No one ever accuses actors, painters, dancers or sculptors of selling out. Their work can command a big fee and people expect this; they will even pay more for what they produce.
Music is a very different creature, at least popular music is. From the moment rock and roll gained any space in the media, it has been accused of going straight, selling out, and even dying. Why?
A theory: it was music associated with youth. Elvis was a truck driver who made good by gyrating on TV and making women realize that there was more to a singer than just his voice. The Beatles were youthful enough to seem like the perfect boys next door; the kind of people mothers and fathers would find acceptable for their daughters (even with the long hair). When the music became grimier, louder and, on the surface at least, more revolutionary, bands became wary of seeming too nice and acceptable. And there was punk, rap, various forms of metal and hardcore that seemed to be untouchable. There was an established elitism with these types of music; a beautiful ugliness.
No comments:
Post a Comment