MOG

That title requires a certain level of clarification, and I shall deliver it by regaling you with a story.

I was listening to the radio (KROQ in Los Angeles) a few weeks back when they had a segment on which bands do you immediately turn the radio off upon hearing them. I thought it was an interesting topic, although one that could have the hidden agenda of trying to cull the herd of radio play music on the station without upsetting too many fans, but whatever.

Anyway, one caller called in and mentioned that they turn off Green Day. I'm not the biggest Green Day fan in the world, but I certainly don't turn off their music, it's fun, it rocks, good times. I do believe they started one of the most deplorable eras of rock music ever, but that's a post for a different time. So, anyway, they ask the caller why. She says it's because of the record American Idiot. That they're a different band now than they used to be. Maybe they're too political.

Alright. I don't even know where to begin with this, but I'm going to try.

I think American Idiot is Green Day's single most important, most mature, most intelligent record to date. And the songs are kick ass.

I'm sorry you favorite band that used to write cute songs about whacking off and being crazy grew up, realized they had a voice, and tried to make the situation around not only them but their country at large better. Get over it.

Alright, story over.

Now I'm not saying all music must be trying to sell you something, if you catch my meaning. I love silly music with no particular agenda. As a matter of fact I own of it, and write plenty of it on my own. I'm a huge fan of Tenacious D, Ween, Frank Zappa, even Jet and Local H.

I think there has been a seriously upsetting movement in recent years, which I believe may have started in the late 90's to early 2000's, where people started looking to pop music as a means of diversion only. People became less tolerant of musicians taking a stand for what the believe in and writing a song about it. I could bore you with a list of songs, but I'm not going to.

Pop music, I believe, used to mean a lot more than it does currently. It used to foster change. Look at all the Vietnam era rock. That's some of the greatest pop and rock music ever. The themes discussed are universal and many of the songs can be applied to situations we face to this day. Now people don't want to think about what's going on around them. They want to listen to catchy songs of 30 year olds whining about how hard they had it in high school. Have things really gotten that bad? Shouldn't that be a sign that we should do something about it? Maybe your favorite musicians are trying to spur you out of complacency.

Yes, there are bands with more politically charged lyrical content. You have your Rage Against the Machines, and the System of a Downs and so on, but to stop liking a band because they wanted to tell you something other than, "Dude, when people tell you you'll go blind from whacking off... it's totally not even true!" that's just ridiculous. Maybe it's time for you to move out of your Mom's basement, stop working at Pizza Hut, and start taking an active role in your life and where you live. These people are trying to draw your attention to an issue that might have far reaching implications, things that may change the way you live. All some people want to do is put on their head phones and shut out everything around them.

Don't do that.

Listen and think please.