Oh, This Could be the Start of Something Good
There is a great new addiction lurking in the world today. It is not a product of Philip Morris, RJ Reynolds, or Seagrams, but probably came about because of Steve Jobs. Yes, my friends, the ITunes Music Store might just be the business idea since they started selling Ramen Noodles 7 for a dollar.
Seriously, you can go on the ITunes website, and peruse an incredibly vast library of music, and the best thing is that you do not have to worry if Lars Ullrich from Metallica is going to slap a huge lawsuit on you for music piracy. I guess Lars was worried about not being able to afford that second Bentley, but I digress. It is completely legal, and you are able to buy individual songs for ninety-nine cents. That is a deal. Especially if you do not want to buy the entire album, which brings me to the complete history of my ITunes Music Purchases. Don't worry, there have only been five.
In my opinion, "California Stars" is the most beautiful song that Wilco has ever written, but since it is on a collaboration that they did with Billy Bragg entitled "Mermaid Avenue", I will probably not pick up the entire album, but ITunes allows you to purchase single songs. I also purchased "Casino Queen" from Wilco's debut album, A.M. I will probably purchase A.M. at some point in the future, but since it is not available anywhere besides Amazon, it will be a little while.
Today was the ultimate music day though. When I was sitting in the audience at Freshman Follies this past fall, I heard two songs that I really enjoyed, but I did not know who the artists were. One of those songs was a catchy tune entitled "Breakaway." I thought, that was pretty good, and I wonder who sings it. My sister, wanting to protect my musical elitist views, withheld the identity of the artist. I walked back to my room and did a Google search for this mystery tune. I was quite shocked to see that I actually enjoyed a Kelly Clarkson tune, but I withheld this information not knowing if I would my shunned by my well-heeled musical peers. I held the secret tight until today, when I decided to take the ITunes plunge. I am now the proud owner of "Breakaway", "When You Come Back Down" by Nickel Creek, and "Follow Through" by Gavin Degraw.
Come to my apartment. Mock me openly. Call me a purveyor of musical pedestrianism. All I have to say is, "Make a Change and Breakawayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy."
posted by Justin @ 1/15/2005 08:23:00 PM
4 comments
4 Comments:
Nickel Creek rocks! That is all.
-kizer
I am Joseph R Halbert, working musician, and active music snob. I am here to defend Justin Scott's decision to buy single songs on iTunes Music Store from you other, less enlightened music snobs.
I know what you are thinking... 'If you really support the artist, you should buy the whole album. Record sales are down bc of pirated music, and even legal stores like iTunes Music Store'
Justin WILL buy albums of artists he does support, such as Wilco. IF, however the artist is incapabable of making a decent album, why should any of us support that? If you know Justin, you know how much he gets into his favourite performers. What better way to decide than through legal, sample songs? Also, record sales are not down because of iTunes. They are down because the majority of the current releases are often not worth purchasing. Make a quality product, and people will buy it. Stop making excuses.
'Kelly Clarkson? Are you kidding me? How can you like Phish AND Kelly Clarkson. What a fake.'
Let me ask you, sirs, what is more fake? A person who has to listen to music s/he doesn't really like in order to adhere to the likings of a particular subculture's accepted ethos, or a person who listens to music that they LIKE? I promise that half of music snobs don't even like a lot of what they listen to, while my man Justin jams only to what he enjoys. Doing what you want to do, free of convention...ladies and gentlemen, that is what punk is really about.
Therefore, friends, what could possibly be more musically enlightened, acceptable, and even punk, than Justin Scott listening to Kelly Clarkson on iTunes?
I dare someone to argue with me.
Joseph R Halbert
I totally bought "Breakaway" on iTunes as well. Don't feel ashamed; it's a catchy tune.
Hate to be a jerk about it (but you know I really don't), but Woody Guthrie wrote the lyrics to "California Stars," later set to music by Billy Bragg and that pill-poppin' genius, Jeff Tweedy.
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