FreeTime

Yup and I also like to pretend that I'm different from the average person... I don't like to be a part of the mainstream and I'm not scared or ashamed to admit it either...

KimberMac

I used to feel this exact same way, key word being "pretend". Because, I've alwasy liked something that was mainstream.

The problem with this whole situation is that people have been and will always be this way. Hearing something before it's on the radio doesn't make you cooler than the kid who heard it yesterday. I think people need to look at it more from the band's perspective. Wouldn't you rather be "mainstream" than struggling your entire career. I think that bands should be supported from day one, that is what makes you cultured and "original". I think people try way to hard to be different, which makes them more uniformed. People try way too hard to seem less mainstream and in return it only makes them look like a tool. Who care's really? Is it affecting your life in any way? I thought music was supposed to be about music and not a popularity contest.

__________________

you've got to get better,
said, it's all in your head,
we could live through these letters
or forget it altogether,
see the months they don't matter
its the days I can't take
when the hours move to minutes
and I'm seconds away

FreeTime

^

Music isn't only about the music or we wouldn't care about band members, band names or anything like that but there are obviously many people who care about that sort of thing. Your music fits your personality. Personally, I think that the mainstream artists out today are terrible. If one of my favorite bands suddenly turned mainstream, I would be pissed. I want my music to be more of a private thing because it feels more personal. (If you understand that...) Music is all about feelings. When I listen to The Doors, I'm not only happy because the music is awesome but because Jim Morrison is awesome. I appreciate the fact that he was different and I want to hear music from people who have unique qualities like he had. I want my life to be influenced by people who are more outcastish because I find them to be more insightful. I'd much rather sit down and have a conversation with a maniac in an insane asylum, than let's say, Bill Gates. There's no doubt in my mind that the music I listen to influences my personality. That's going to happen regardless of who I listen to, so I'd rather go with the more interesting people. Not to say that mainstream artists aren't interesting but they try too hard to be different. I want to listen to artists who are actually different and who have unique minds...

keigh

It's the whole "sell out" argument. "We hate when our friends become successful" as The Smiths once said. I kind of understand the sentiment as I've had bands I loved who all of a sudden become mainstream artists. But I don't really mind them becoming mainstream. Because that means the masses will start to appreciate good music. What I hate is when instead of continuing to put out excellence, the artist(s) in question, start to dumb down their music for the audience, usually at the demands of the record company.

But riding in limos instead of vans and sleeping in five star hotels instead of ....vans...will do that to a band. Especially when you've got artists out there with a mortgage, a couple ex-wives, several kids, several paternity suits or alimony payments hanging over their heads. Suddenly that double cd concept album about King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table with several eight minute songs they were planning on putting out doesn't seem like such a good idea after all.

Trey

^Nicely stated Keigh. I agree with your first paragraph completely, and I'm still lmao at the second paragraph.

__________________

I'm tied within
I'm luck's last match struck
In the pouring down wind

~Chris Cornell~

Chaos

I understand if somebody starts to dislike a band if they went from good meaningful lyrics and original melodies, then once they got popular to generic re-hashed guitar and drum solos and lyrics that came out of their ass, but if somebody is hating a band JUST BECAUSE they are popular, I think it's stupid. Take Shinedown, Foo Fighters, or Silversun Pickups for instance. They were all at once not very well known, but somewhere along the way they got popular, did they change their music? No. They're still the same band from before, just now are getting more recognition (and moolah.).

__________________

SMB

I dont really hate the band per se, I just hate that song or the particular direction they've gone in musically to push their songs onto the radio, if thats what they've done.
(Kings of Leon come screaming to mind here.)

__________________
the expectations on us are the
rules we made to get a quick start

WordzMyth

True story. That's why I do it. I love feeling better than everyone else. jk

__________________

FreeTime

Are you actually joking???

I'm definitely someone who falls under the category of "makes them appear more cultured"... Of course that's not even close to the only reason why I stay away from mainstream...

WordzMyth

Yeah I'm joking

__________________