| Urbandictionary.com
tells me that the term 'selling out' refers to "compromising one's values
and/or artistic vision in order to gain fame and/or monetary profit".
Relatively straight-forward, yes. It seems, however, that more and
more often nowadays, 'selling out' has come to mean something more along
the lines of "sounding different from original recordings", possibly "sounding
more produced", or even "signing to a major record label". However
we choose to define the term, though, some music, whether it's "sold out"
or not, will always be good music - and I think this is where Green Day
comes in.
Over
the past few years, GD has become one of the most loved AND hated bands
worldwide. New fans have flocked to this brand of easy-to-listen-to
modern punk, while old fans have turned away in disgust at the squealing
fan-girls and exploding groupings of fans, and moreso, the apparent "selling
out" of the band. It is believed by many that this revolution began
with the 2000 release of 'Warning'.
'Warning'
was unlike Green Day's previous recordings. The harmonica was introduced
on 1997's 'Nimrod' but was nowhere near as instrumental (pun partially
intended) on that album as it was on 'Warning'. The mandolin and
farfisa were also not greatly accepted among Green Day's old school punk
fans, though many new listeners were drawn in by the odd, not so punk elements
of the new album.
And
so, six years after their first boom, Green Day "changed" and recruited
some new fans yet again. They already knew that with every few new
fans an old one was lost. Apparently they were willing to take a
risk or two in making a new sound for themselves.
It
worked, seemingly. Green Day's fan base grew larger than ever!
Still, there were those fans who canceled their support on October 3rd,
2000...
As
I see it, selling out occurs far less than we've come to believe.
Other bands have claimed that they feel it's wrong to release two records
that sound the same. It's the growth and change of a band that makes
them better and better, and allows them to truly develop THEIR style of
music. We need to keep in mind that if we did love a band at some
point or another, we obviously share a musical taste with the band members.
No two people's tastes are quite alike, however, which is why certain fans
don't like ALL the records of their favorite band. Just because their
sound has changed, though, doesn't mean that they have. They're simply
trying out alternate elements of their musical abilities.
Warning
was a turning point for Green Day. They displayed their diversity
and proved that Green Day may be quite unpredictable, even within the twelve
songs of one album, but you can always predict something good. They
left behind some of their crazier, more immature components and embraced
their ages at last. Their music sounded foreign in comparison to
many of their earliest works, and yet it was a new flavor that was actually
rather tasty.
It
may be an acquired taste; there will always be those willing to try anything,
and those who reject it without taking a spoonful. As for me, I consider
it delicious. I recommend big helpings.
KF |
