I wrote a disparaging remark about Madonna to provoke a response from one of my three readers who is an avid Madonna fan. But in fairness, let me give the Diva her due.
Madonna is, or perhaps, was, a great entertainer. I have danced to her music in clubs and have a few of her tunes in my Ipod. I do enjoy her songs from time to time. I think she is a shrewd business woman and obviously she is way more successful -- measured by fame and wealth -- than I could ever dream to be. In this regard, I tip my hat to her.
But she has the importance of cheesecake. Cheesecake is tasty, enjoyable and a pleasurable part of life. But immeasurably bad for us if that's all we eat. And we could live without it. The problem I have is not with Madonna, it's with her legions of fans who think she is important. Sure she's fun. But meaningful?
One of my readers writes that her songs are "memorable." Well, that's true, in the same way as one remembers "It's a Small World After All" after a trip to Disney Land. The true test is if 100 years from now artists are re-recording her songs and people still know the words. My guess is not. They don't call it "pop" music for nothing.
I'm willing to bet you a slice of cheesecake on it.
8 comments:
So, DCDD is performing an arrangement of her music, though not under your baton. Has it ever occurred to anyone that a symphonic band arrangement of Madonna's music is not cool? That MOST symphonic band arrangements of pop music are crap. That the last thing anyone who is a fan of Madonna, or even pop music, would want to hear is a symphonic band arrangement of her work? A symphonic band arrangement!! Not cool; less than meaningful. Only band geeks could love that. It will NOT be the thing that is to be remembered from the concert. Give me cheesecake.
well that certainly was a bitchy thing to say
I couldn't agree more with anon. However, some band members don't agree and they made their opinions known.
BTW, although I allow them on my blog, I kinda think anonymous commenting, especially when taking potshots, is not cool.
Madonna is important to many of her fans because of what represents and what she has done. One could argue that she represents everything wrong about celebrity and being a media whore, but those aren't the fans I speak of. To many fans of hers, Madonna represents what you can make of yourself in being successful despite all of the people who say you're good enough and those who want to put you down. She came from very modest beginnings and became famous from nothing but shear willpower and a belief in herself. She never chose to conform, insisted on doing it her way, and that uniqueness is what drove people to her (and even drove some away from her). To me, I see her as the ultimate underdog. She is never fully appreciated - there's always some caveat - she's not that good a singer, she's showing her age, she's not talented, she's not that pretty, she sucks as an actress (I'll give you that!), she's a has-been, she's meaningless....etc., etc., etc. Most people want underdogs to achieve. A lot see themselves as underdogs as well.
You may argue that she's not important to the world (what pop artist really is?), but she is important to people who are inspired by her. Is that so bad?
Also think about how much she has supported the gay community...from day one and her AIDS activism. I remember when I got the Like A Prayer album when it came out and the insert that she included about AIDS awareness and safer sex back in 1989. And even now with the attention she is trying to draw to the orphans in Malawi.
I for one, would like to see the concert.
And just so you know that this person is not the one taking potshots at you or your blog, I am not signed anonymously.
sorry I meant to sign the previous comment... AD
http://youtube.com/watch?v=jsU25c7fFJA&feature=related
Anonymous's first comment really is a bitchy thing to say. Sure, maybe it's not your cup of tea, but you don't have to diminish its value for other people. I don't care for jazz, but I understand that some people may like jazz, as I'm sure some people like symphonies playing Madonna music.
I agree with Scott that anonymous commenting is for losers.
And AD, though I too like Madonna and her music, I find a few flaws in your defense of her relativity.
1. "She came from very modest beginnings and became famous from nothing but shear willpower and a belief in herself."
She also used a healthy dose of overexposure and a willingness to do and say anything to get attention. She definitely has will power, and she must believe in herself enough to pose naked and to tackle Evita, but the girl's an attention hog. Adopt a kid from Malawi to stay relevant lately? Make out with Britney on national television much?
2. "To me, I see her as the ultimate underdog."
That would be Helen Keller. The girl was blind AND deaf for goodness sakes.
3. "You may argue that she's not important to the world (what pop artist really is?), but she is important to people who are inspired by her. Is that so bad?"
The same could be said about Paris Hilton, Nicole Ritchie and Tara Reid, so yes, that is bad.
:-P
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