8.10.2005

Hypocrites

Green Day is coming to Chicago and everyone is so excited about it, I thought I'd put in my two cents.

That group always disparages the establishment, whether it's political, societal, or informational. Not a unique thing--how long have groups sung about their grievances? But what bugs me is that they have become super rich from their albums and tours singing these types of lyrics:

Welcome to a new kind of tension.
All across the alienation.
Everything isn't meant to be okay.
Television dreams of tomorrow.
We're not the ones who're meant to follow.
For that's enough to argue.

Don't wanna be an American idiot.
One nation controlled by the media.

Aw, let's pity them. Or not.

If you walked down Michigan Avenue when their latest album was released, you would've seen a VERY LARGE sign that screamed that the album was at Virgin Records--it filled the entire window. Okay, we got the message. We will obey, walk into the store, and buy it.

If you've turned on the radio, you've heard them every few minutes. If you've looked at magazines, they've been on the covers. If you've turned on your television--that's right, the same television that they are whining about--they are there. They are everywhere. Doesn't this demonstrate their intense desire for others to follow them, to fork out big bucks so that they can become part of the elite that they consistently criticize?

The media that they are complaining about that wants to control everyone is the media that has catapulted them to fame and fortune. If they are so disgusted, why aren't they handing back all the money that they've made through their saturated media presence?

If they really wanted to practice what they preach and be true to the messages that they are bombarding the populice with (the very people who've given them their wealth and fame), then they should not pursue any marketing or PR because they are poisoning themselves with the evil that they are complaining about.

At least U2 is honest about what they're pursuing and how.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

That's why I always loved Pearl Jam. They are not wishy-washy when it comes to their hatred of all things democratic. I can respect them for not compromising their message, even though I don't agree with it.

La Shawn Barber said...

PJ's Eddie Vedder is attractive in a grungy sort of way. (Shhhh...don't tell anybody I think he's cute.)

Margaret Larkin said...

Isn't Veder into certain illegal substances? I think it affected his looks.

About the Ramones: people over at the Chavscum site were saying the same thing.