there's never been such grave a matter as comparing our new brand-name black sunglasses

[primroseburrows]

In which Mark Morford rants so primroseburrows doesn't have toooo!

Fie on all of my gen's rock stars who sell their souls songs to car companies. Even those of you I admire. Especially you. WTF?

Comments

[robinhoo.livejournal.com]

While Morford's rant certainly jiggles the knife that's been stuck in my heart ever since I first heard "Like A Rock" on a Chevy commercial and almost simultaneously learned that not only had Alan Jackson sold out to Ford, but had actually re-recorded "Mercury Blues" so that he could tell us he was, in fact, "crazy 'bout a Ford truck," it doesn't take into account an important fact: there are still artists out there with integrity. Tori Amos and the White Stripes are not telling me which stores to shop in. Smashing Pumpkins and DMB are not telling me which cars to drive. Pearl Jam has, in fact, made it pretty clear that "selling out" in this fashion would not be something they would do. And while it's true that U2 has achieved new levels of "synergy" with Apple/iPod, it's important to note (as Morford does, kinda) that their team-up is about the music -- can you really imagine Bono selling the rights to "Pride" or "Sunday Bloody Sunday" to, say, Target? I can't. So while the phenomenon Morford rants about is disheartening in the extreme, I disagree with his fundamental framing point that "rock 'n' roll is dead" and the coffin has been nailed shut. There remain voices of protest against the marriage of rock and commercialism, and it is a disservice to these artists who maintain their artistic integrity to write off their medium just because some of the major players have caved.

[primroseburrows.livejournal.com]

And while it's true that U2 has achieved new levels of "synergy" with Apple/iPod, it's important to note (as Morford does, kinda) that their team-up is about the music -- can you really imagine Bono selling the rights to "Pride" or "Sunday Bloody Sunday" to, say, Target?

Yep. For some reason the U2 thing is different--it doesn't bother me at all.

Tori Amos and the White Stripes are not telling me which stores to shop in. Smashing Pumpkins and DMB are not telling me which cars to drive.

Mmm-hmm. And people like Dave and Tori are giving of themselves in other areas, like Tori's RAINN, and all that Dave does for peace and environmental stuff--and U2.

So while the phenomenon Morford rants about is disheartening in the extreme, I disagree with his fundamental framing point that "rock 'n' roll is dead" and the coffin has been nailed shut.

I agree here, too. My agreement was with the disgust Mr. Morford has with the sellouts. Rock and Roll is still here to stay.