Confessions of a Musician
Time to ‘fess up. I want to be cool but haven’t been on top of the latest and greatest since The Clash, Depeche Mode, and Erasure. Sure, I listen to the Edge, which pretends to be hip but is probably more for the leftovers like me who think we’re still hip. The Edge’s musical selection hasn’t changed much in 10 yrs. Maybe a new song here and there. I feel oh-so-edgy when listening to this station, but really, the Edge mixes a soup with Kurt Cobain and Wheezer broth and the occasional zest of someone new.
I don’t have time to weed thru all the fad crap to find the one or two gems. And let’s face it, most new music is sold on an image. This is not just for the Brittany Spears. This is for the emo and the goth and the punk and the bohemian. You have to look a certain way. You have to look non-conformist, sometimes like you’re on drugs with dark mascara smeared around your eyes, pasty skin, and hair that looks like it hasn’t been showered in weeks when in all reality it has been washed and greased in mommy and daddy’s mansion this morning. Or you have to wear the right glasses or the right clothes (and it doesn’t matter which style you are in, there are right clothes). This makes me hate images, no matter what that image is, and I want to have a certain image just like all the others who say they hate images.
Back to me, though. You see, in all honesty, while I try to talk shop like I know exactly what’s going on with My Chemical Romance or The Colours or what-not, with the exception of U2, I’d rather be at the symphony or a Broadway show. I’d rather be talking Sondheim. Right now, am I listening to some punk music? No. I’m listening to Stravinsky’s Firebird. (Who, when you look at it, was the punk of his day – I mean, his Rite of Spring caused a riot. Literally.) So now you know. I’m not cool.
While we’re being honest: I just looked online to fill in another name of some cool band besides My Chemical Romance. I don’t know who The Colours are. Shame, shame.
10 comments:
Shouldn't it be Brittany Spearses?
You should stick to Polkas, they won't let you down.
Ah mah Gah! Youh ah soh, like, outtah it, Guhrl. Gag mah with ah shpoon.
Used to be that the poets were the ones who directed a culture's thinking. I'm talking, REAL poets. Today's poets are less poets and more like marketing billboards. Totally and completely image-driven. But still directing the culture, for sure.
I think the black turtleneck covers just about all seasons, all images and all genres.
I often grieve for the many musicians behind the scenes (like the ones who create and play the movie themes..e.tc)
they've spent hours of study and practice. Then some dirty faced off key screamer makes a million bucks a night. sigh.
I think the nice part about growing up is being able to find the music one really likes, and freely listen to it. I have discovered I really like Cuban music, African music, and good old Mozart.
I'm with Laura -- someone who knows what they like, no matter how esoteric or old-school, is way more interesting to me than someone trying to keep up with the latest fad.
I liked your confession about being "so not cool." It reminds me of dozens of passages in Lauren Winner's great book "Girl Meets God." She 'fesses up like a winner (pun intended) in that book, and I loved her for it.
PS: Kudos to you if you can name the allusion built into that last line. Come on, Heather. It's gotta be primed into your soul by this point in life. Can you name it -- the movie, the character, and the scene?? :)
The Clash and Depeche Mode will always be cool! Who are The Colours?? What are the colours? I personally like turquoise
Christianne, I have no idea. Seriously, all I can think about are Rocky and those Confessions movies: Dangerous Mind, Teenage Drama Queen. It's probably something "pssting" at me from the corner of the room, and I'm too deep in thought to pay attn.
Claudia - hmm. same answer. I have no idea! I like red and orange and purple, personally.
Darn! It was actually that little-noticed part at the end -- "...and I loved her for it" -- which is a direct quote from MORILLA in your beloved ANNE OF GREEN GABLES when Anne goes off to school at Queens! Ah, well. That's what I get when I try to be clever in a blog comment. :)
Boy, is my face red. I can't believe I missed a quote from my favorite of all books!
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