Bandwagon

I thought in light of the recent AMAs that I’d publish a little something about one of the more extreme events that took place that night. I’ve been a fan of Adam Lamberts voice since I fell into the last 3 episodes of American Idol last season, but I wasn’t happy when I found out he decided to play the pop music track vs. the Muse / Queen version I had in my head of his potential genre. I thought his voice was wasted with words he didn’t write, and music made to be catchy and played over the radio.

But that’s where I was wrong — Lambert really did choose the right genre. His personality, which someone interested in his career be clued into after reading his “public coming out” article in Rolling Stone would have been clued onto, is just that. Like his song title, For Your Entertainment, he’s about making a scene, making a point, and doing it with flare. I shouldn’t have just assumed that because he covered such alternative songs during his rise through Idol, that this would be his genre.

When we found out about his public makeout photos flickering around the internet, it should have been a clue that he likes to perform, and publicly at that. Therefore, anything but the pop inspired mainstream music he’s now cranking out just wouldn’t be up to par for him.

So in reaction to the public makeout on the AMAs and the groping of the various parts of his male and female dancers anatomy? No surprise. In fact, I laughed out loud because really, this is what we should learn to expect from Lambert: a show.

And I’m sure it helps that he’s easy on the eyes.

Just found this, and I must say, while I’m not on the T-Swift fanwagon, I have to respect the girl. She rises fast, and has millions of swooning fans tracking her every move.

It’s nice to see the nice girl make it big, and still get all the guys for a change. And I have to give props to anyone who can one-up Kanye.

Music snobbery has increased exponentially since the 90s. Yes, it’s always existed, but now it’s a fab to be a music snob.

But wait. Isn’t that a contradiction? Isn’t the point to stay out of the mainstream? But what if it’s mainstream to be not-mainstream?

Music snobbery is an art: it takes a discerning ear (or sometimes the lack of one), to fine tune ones taste to that which is completely outside the straight and narrow. Music snobbery is also a cult: if there are a few of you, and only a few, who like a band or artist, you’re on the right path. Once more than the myspace amount of around 10 thousand follows hit…shoot, it’s mainstream, we’ve got to move on!

It’s a challenge to leap-frog ahead. Run music snobs, run, the tweens are catching up! The media has caught on, and it just might be shown on MTV!

The question really is, why do we feel so violated when our favorite band makes it big? Don’t they need enough money to get by…? Because your favorite bands need to make money to survive in order  to continue along the road to what….oh wait, fame! and fortune!

The contradictions are just mind boggling.

There are some that defy the rules somewhat; ironically, these bands largely seem to be from England. These include Muse, Coldplay, U2, and Radiohead. (Personally I would also add Motion City Soundtrack, but I might be stabbed because everyone else thinks they sold out.) They’ve got massive cult followings but people don’t necessarily stick up their nose if any of these are mentioned.

There’s nothing like being close to your fellow humans; and there are very few ways to get closer to your fellow strangers than in a mosh pit. While you’re still on earth, you have to visit the chaos that is a music festival.

Why?

Because you have never lived until you have sweat and breathed with thousands of others who are gyrating and singing in discord to the same thing you are. Whether you love or hate being around people, it is something to experience. You cannot get closer to people without getting threatened with a lawsuit than you can at a music festival. Moshing is one of the most liberating experiences one can have: wear less clothing than you ever have before and no one bats an eye, be closer to strangers than you ever imaged, and immersing yourself in the beautiful labor of artists who seek to do nothing but play to live.

It is an experience that a person should not go without. Love it or hate it, anyone who ventures into the depths of a mob of moshing people is experiencing what it is to be apart of something utterly uncontrollable, something bigger and more alive than you can ever be. The people surrounding you in a mosh pit control you, you have to go with them or die. They jump, you jump.  It is the one of the safer uncontrollable mob situations, and people generally leave somewhat happily with their bruises.

To experience a music festival is to experience people at their most passionate. Coming out, you may have sweat off five pounds, have lost your cell phone, and your ears ring, but you have experienced something truly amazing. People in love with music open the window to a world outside of normal.

Whether you like country or death metal, there’s a music festival out there for you.

So dance like there’s no one watching. Because at a music festival, no one is.

Here’s a few suggestions : Lollapalooza, Pitchfork, Summerfest, Bonnaroo, Country Thunder