Becoming Unnerved
I turned on Saturday Night the previous week the way one looks at a car accident as they cruise by in traffic. After the VMA's I figured blowing up would be too obvious and PR rehab was the prescription, but whay I got was a surprise.
Miley Cyrus was the host AND musical guest (I wonder why?). The humor was only mildly self-deprecating, less though than I would have liked and the irony up against Sinead O'Connor's infamous SNL stunt permeated the air after their public feud.
The surprise came of all places, in her music. As a traditional hater of pop music I was unprepared to be open-minded despite having heard she was coming out with a hew album. When she came out with very little fanfare in front of nothing but a true blue rock band it was curious (although attempts to diminish her own attractiveness in some curious goal to eliminate her child-star persona remain successful). What came next was unnerving...I liked it.
Yes this poor, wretched masters class in self-destruction belted out a rock song that to be honest I think would have made a Pet Benatar or Joan Jett proud (Joan Jett was someone I remarked she should reference for a better understanding of rebellion after the VMA performance).
The problem is, now what do I do? I have always lamented that Pink allows herself to be lumped in with the pop stars, and even blogged before about Adele. Now I find myself warming to not only Miley Cyrus, but Katy Perry, this new girl Lorde and a couple others. Am I just softening or is pop music actually getting better. If so, why? How? It occurred to me that perhaps the shows American Idol and the Voice have returned a greater emphasis on talent and substance over shlock with younger performers. Any other possibilities?
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I have no objection to liking new music. I often tuned out PLJ back in the day for playing too much of some songs and nary a certain great band (think my avatar). I often found new artists listening to WNEW-FM back in the day. Now the biggest impediment involves my inability to connect with the DJs on stations such as FUV (there is a format and outside of the late great Pete Fornatale, I do not listen as much -- maybe in the car on a Sat eve if Vinnie is on and I am driving but he stopped being must listen to when stopped on his Sunday eve shows on QIV.
Rock icon Al Kooper is someone I follow for new music -- he literally scours through new iTunes material on a weekly basis -- but not really much moves me. Usually checking someone playing live does it for me. I discover Michelle Shocked at Jazzfest in New Orleans that way I think all the way back in '93 or so.
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