We're Not Worthy!

OR: Winch’s Listening Corner Number Four

I’ve noticed in my dealings with friends both in Connecticut, on Long Island and throughout the burrows of the internet, that people take pride in the music that they like. If someone clues his or her friends on to a band, they take pride in that and they are the ones who can claim that they turned on their posse to a certain artist or genre. Also, let it be noted that people in little local bands can take pride if they play a gig with a band that eventually gets a big break take pride in the fact that at one point in time that band was on a level similar to them (as I do so often with Gym Class Heroes and Patent Pending). And by no means is this pride in music wrong-in fact it makes for good conversation. But what happens when those responsible for turning on their friends-or just mega fans-take this pride in their artists too seriously? To be quite simple, the people come off as ignorant.
One major piece that makes over-confident music fans look ignorant is claiming to be loyal to one scene. This could be the white kid who has only been into hip-hop for a year, and claims to be some underground hip-hop aficionado or the kid who says he is a hardcore metal fan yet doesn’t own one piece of leather and only listens to the metal you’ll hear on Headbanger’s Ball. I’m not saying the people that are in these scenes are ignorant-just those that are…posers. Identifying yourself with one scene these days is foolish for many reasons, but if one makes that choice they need to have credibility towards it and they need to live out that scene. Although I am not a fan of their music in general, I must say I respect the punks that sport 10 inch mohawks and studded jackets, since they live the image that’s present throughout their music. So to wrap this minor subject up, don’t go sayin’ you’re something you’re not. And know what you are.
Another thing that bothers me is people putting their favorite artists on a pedestal above the rest of music. This really bugs me because people can get so defensive-and rightfully so in some cases-since they really love the artists. I know with me, I have gotten a handful of people tell me that Primus and Mr. Bungle suck, and those are two of my favorite bands, but I don’t get mad since I know it’s all about preference. Oftentimes this over-defensive idealism comes in from people that are fans of generic classic rock-specifically the Beatles and Led Zeppelin. Bands like the Doors, Who, Pink Floyd and Lynrd Skynrd also fit into this category, but generally the two gargantuan rock bands are the Beatles and Zep. People make it like the Beatles and Led Zeppelin are these untouchable deities that if tampered with, will kill whomever toyed with them. And when I say “tampered with” I mean anything-sampling, covering or mashing up. People hear Dangermouse’s Gray Album, or Puff Daddy’s “Come With Me” which features Jimmy Page playing the “Kashmir” riff and say “You can’t do that to The Beatles/Led Zeppelin” and when you ask why the answer is usually something along the lines of “Because it’s fucking Led Zeppelin!” Let me tell you something, Elvis stole “Hound Dog”. Think about that for a second. Elvis stole one of-if not-his biggest hit. Do people look at that and criticize Elvis for stealing someone else’s song? No, because apparently he is on a pedestal above everyone else. So why criticize Dangermouse for mashing up two great artists?
I’m not saying that all covers and samples should go without criticism, if it’s bad call it out, but if it’s good, it doesn’t matter who did it or who it is sampled. An example of this criticism is one of the tracks off the new Wu-Tang Clan album called “The Heart Gently Weeps” which as you may have guessed, samples the chord progression from “While My Guitar Gently Weeps”. It even has Dhani Harrison tracking guitar-but I think it’s a weak song, especially coming from the Wu-Tang Clan and I’m not afraid to criticize it, in fact I feel that if an artist misuses a sample they should be criticized even moreso. What pushes my buttons even more is the fact that people think these musicians would be offended to hear that they have been sampled or covered. Everyone who says “You can’t cover Classic Artist X” has obviously not heard Jimi Hendrix’s “All Along The Watchtower” which is a cover of Bob Dylan or even Johnny Cash’s cover of Nine Inch Nails’ “Hurt”. These artists are not angry that they are being covered, they are honored. Think about it in simple terms-being copied by someone is the greatest honor, right? Same theory applies in music. In fact, oftentimes these artists are very for being sampled or covered. Public Enemy’s Chuck D has openly allowed people to sample his music and now it seems like any and every rapper uses a Public Enemy sample-Chuck D’s not sitting saying “Saul Williams isn’t good enough to sample my music!” He’s saying “Damn, these people are influenced by me enough to take a bit of my tune and using it in theirs!” And this is not hip-hop exclusive-it is just as relevant in rock. As I mentioned before Jimmy Page appeared on the track with Puff Daddy, so that means he approved of what Sean Combs was up to. And Queen guitarist Brian May made a comment after William Hung (of all people) covered “We Are the Champions” he said that he will allow anyone to cover Queen as long as they do it in a creative fashion. And honestly, do you think Steven Tyler and Ozzy Osbourne were upset to hear guys like Eminem and Lil’ Jon sampling them? Hell no! They were getting exposure from these artists who obviously appreciated them enough to sample them.
So to summarize, no artist is untouchable and no artist is perfect. Now I’m not going and saying that all artists are on the same level, but all artists are subject to being used as a form of inspiration for other artists-and if this means Lil’ Jon samples “Crazy Train” so be it. All of you leather clad metal heads just change the channel or station!
So the bottom line is this music lovers, don’t be close minded. You’ll come off as an ignorant jerk and you may hurt someones feelings. All music is equal (except for Grindcore and modern Country…just kidding) and no artist is immune to any treatment. That’s not too hard is it?

Please comment back with feedback and thoughts-all is appreciated.