Sell Out
Went to the Warped Tour on Sunday, saw plenty of bands, a couple that I don't want everyone to know I saw.. I'll lose my scene cred. And I don't know what I'd do without it, but it was a good time.
Now for some thoughtfulness.
Over the last two days, firstly going to the warped tour, secondly the Mall of America, I've seen a number of young teenagers walking around singing along with the extremely trendy songs, whether they be a bands big radio hit or a cover... or walking into Hot Topic with their mom and looking for the ultimate accessory to make them look cool.
I know what you're thinking "oh, how original, complaining about little poser kids." Quite the opposite actually.. I think it's wonderful. Sure I can't completely disagree that the music scene has been dumbed down.. and I feel downright old hoisting a 14 year old girl into her first crowd surf, but I think it's wonderful to see them there.
I think those moments are what music is ABOUT. Sure they're on a mission to look cool, but they're discovering something that understands them, that helps them walk away from the shittiness of being a hormone-crazed high schooler, something that gets them through the day.. they're not being concerned with making sure that they're really punk... and they don't know what bands will help them gain scene credibility. They might buy Fall Out Boy and Avril Lavigne shirts and Katy Perry and Good Charlotte CDs.
They don't care..or know what that makes them look like to punks..but they know what they like... and any asshole who looks down as them as posers has completely lost the true meaning of music.
Gerard Way said it better than I could.....
"If for one minute you think you’re better than a sixteen year old girl in a Green Day t-shirt, you are sorely mistaken. Remember the first time you went to a show and saw your favorite band. You wore their shirt, and sang every word. You didn’t know anything about scene politics, haircuts, or what was cool. All you knew was that this music made you feel different from anyone you shared a locker with. Someone finally understood you. This is what music is about"
Now for some thoughtfulness.
Over the last two days, firstly going to the warped tour, secondly the Mall of America, I've seen a number of young teenagers walking around singing along with the extremely trendy songs, whether they be a bands big radio hit or a cover... or walking into Hot Topic with their mom and looking for the ultimate accessory to make them look cool.
I know what you're thinking "oh, how original, complaining about little poser kids." Quite the opposite actually.. I think it's wonderful. Sure I can't completely disagree that the music scene has been dumbed down.. and I feel downright old hoisting a 14 year old girl into her first crowd surf, but I think it's wonderful to see them there.
I think those moments are what music is ABOUT. Sure they're on a mission to look cool, but they're discovering something that understands them, that helps them walk away from the shittiness of being a hormone-crazed high schooler, something that gets them through the day.. they're not being concerned with making sure that they're really punk... and they don't know what bands will help them gain scene credibility. They might buy Fall Out Boy and Avril Lavigne shirts and Katy Perry and Good Charlotte CDs.
They don't care..or know what that makes them look like to punks..but they know what they like... and any asshole who looks down as them as posers has completely lost the true meaning of music.
Gerard Way said it better than I could.....
"If for one minute you think you’re better than a sixteen year old girl in a Green Day t-shirt, you are sorely mistaken. Remember the first time you went to a show and saw your favorite band. You wore their shirt, and sang every word. You didn’t know anything about scene politics, haircuts, or what was cool. All you knew was that this music made you feel different from anyone you shared a locker with. Someone finally understood you. This is what music is about"