Re: Nirvana & Society

["L. Bird" <pkeets@hotmail.com>]

>Yeah...they made the "mistake" of staying around too long. Long enough to 
>do some less-than-great material. And even though I'd say Nirvana did some 
>lessor material as well, Cobain's death gave it all a mythic quality. I 
>mean, even Hendrix, Joplin and Morrison did some crap material...but since 
>they're dead, you can't say that without stirring somone's wrath.

This is something I've tried to point out to Hendrix fans, and we just can't 
get to any meeting of minds.  Somehow dying young in a blaze of glory lends 
that mythic quality, and sticking around to deal with things gets you 
forgotten.  Why is that, please?  Seems like sticking around shows a lot 
more guts.


>To make the argument society and the economy doesn't impact Art is one I've 
>never heard before, anywhere. After all, The Who clearly came from the 
>Mods...it molded most of what they'd do throughout their career. Tommy and 
>Lifehouse both reflect society's dissatisfaction with Christianity.

Not quite that.  It's a satire of the "true believer," I think, who gives up 
control of their own life in exchange for oneness with a group.  As far as 
religion goes, the spiritual quality feels good, and then also, some people 
can't cope with choices.  They need an institution (like the army) or a 
messiah (like Tommy) to tell them what to do.  They want a pre-set plan they 
can follow so they don't have to think.  You'd gather Pete felt he was being 
pushed into the messiah position, and he wasn't too pleased with it.  I 
mean, after all, look what happened to Jesus.

The same message runs in QUAD from the other side, except that Jimmy seems 
to break free of the true believers and achieve a clearer vision.


>Siege, the next album which was never made, was to be
>about "a soul under siege." Once again, dissatisfaction with standard
>religious beliefs.

It's such a cool concept.  I wonder if Pete's got any of the songs stuck 
away that he'd want to dust off and have another look at.  Again, I think 
the meaning is likely broader than just religion.  There are lots of things 
out there that threaten the soul.  Fast food maybe?  Pete sounds to chirpy 
and happy just lately, that it would likely turn out a little differently 
now than it would have in 1983.


>To me, it's quite obvious where Grunge came from. And all music, even
>(shudder) Disco and Rap.

I have a certain amount of respect for these forms.  Even if I don't 
necessarily want to listen to them non-stop, there are generally particular 
examples that I like.  There's generally nothing wrong with rap--it's an 
intellectual more than a musical exercise, I think, but the subject matter 
often sucks.


keets
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