Do We Expect Too Much?
Monday, March 2, 2009 at 12:04AM As die hard music fans, do we expect too much from our favorite musicians? I don't mean that we demand a great product regarding albums and live shows. I'm talking about subconscious pressure that we expect our musicians to make us feel better when we're lonely, sick or sad.
Let me explain. When I'm happy, I listen to music. When I'm sad I listen to music. That's pretty standard for everyone that reads this website with any regularity. The difference is the rough patches. We've all had (or will have) a tough phase of life. It's inevitable. Things happen and sometimes life does suck. It's during those times that people turn to solace in other things. For some, it's negative like drugs. For others, it's positive, like music. When a favorite band doesn't sound the same, has new crap songs or just generally falls flat...we take it personally.
That's it: we take it personal! I've seen this time and time again just by running this website. Rock fans cannot handle criticism! We're all so attached to our favorite bands that it becomes a personal insult when someone says "I hate Poison" or "RATT sucks."
I'll own up. When I first started this website at the end of 2006 and someone said "Why do you run a website about hair bands?" I was ticked! I played it cool and laughed it off, but damnit, I was offended. It was like, "How dare this person not get it?" That intimate affection for anything: a band, a sports team, a pet can become very intoxicating. The "thing" becomes a part of us, doesn't it? So, we're looking to the band, sports team or pet for comfort and escape.
That might not be healthy.
Ok, I'm over-the-top rock, right? I mean, obviously. There's no longer a discussion between me and my husband when big tours come through town: he just knows we're going. That's life, but is it? You know, this is something I wrestle with on a daily basis. I swear I feel like I live a double life, where I put all my eggs in the Glam basket and demand so much from musicians because reality bites. Hell, maybe that's why musicians worked so hard to get famous in the first place: because the daily grind blows. At any rate, I've taken a circuitous path here, so let's double back: do you put too much stock in your favorite band? Why or why not?
Reader Comments (5)
That's a lot to ask of a band. Especially one led by Axl Rose.
And yes i always expect more from my bands - the older music allways hits the spot - i know what to listen to no matter what mood im in - but when the new stuff arrives im usually allways disapointed.
I have had many, many arguments with people, usually quite heated, because they've told me that Motley suck, or to 'turn that shit music off'. It usually ends up by me slagging off all their favourite bands and then going on a rant for about half an hour about how awesome Skid Row or Motley or Hanoi Rocks are.
After this they're either dead through boredom or have simply walked away and im so wrapped up in talking about the band that I havent noticed.
I know exactly how you feel and I agree...
When someone says something about the bands or music that I love...like if they put them down or something, I take it as a slap in the face because I love it so much. I know I shouldn't, but I do...
So I definately know what you mean there...
This music just picks you up when you're feeling down and that's one of the MANY things that I love about it.