I went to a fun show last night at the Troubadour in L.A. to see two bands that I really like, Gram Rabbit and The 88. The 88 have released two stellar records on their own without any help from a record label. They are not played on commercial radio but you may have heard their music on TV (The OC, Grey’s Anatomy and a gazillion others) or in movies (Little Miss Sunshine, You Me and Dupree). They have also been extremely successful at getting their music licensed to commercials.
Now, at one time, this was the credibility kiss of death. Use of one’s songs in a commercial was considered extremely taboo or even a "sellout". But it ended up giving national and mainstream exposure to numerous "underground" artists. I can still remember some jaw dropping moments in the past: Henry Rollins in a Gap print ad, (beautiful photo), Luscious Jackson in a Gap Christmas commercial (which was pretty good, no?), Iggy and the Stooges in a Nike commercial, Iggy Pop in Princess Cruises, Ramones in Cingular, The Flaming Lips in a Lexus (I think) spot.
These days whenever I hear good hard working bands on TV spots, I think ka-ching ka-ching, good for them! They have found a way to get paid without being on payola radio or selling millions of records. The 88 on Target – good for them! The Bellrays on Nissan- good for them! Peaches on The Gap – good for her! Eagles Of Death Metal in Pay-Less Shoes – good for them!
Low to mid-level bands do not have it easy. These bands are not living high on the hog. This is how they are supporting themselves so they can continue to make music. This is how some of them pay to get their next record made and ultimately enrich our lives on this Earth.
What I think is most interesting and really great, is that some of these ad agencies and music supervisors have far hipper tastes than commercial radio. Kudos to the money people who want something fresh and interesting and not something shoved at them from major labels or crappy commercial radio.
How about Donita Sparks for the Prius or….Jaguar? You know, which ever comes first. (I do realize that my two songs posted on my MySpace page "Infancy Of A Disaster" and "Curtains For Cathy" wouldn’t really be appropriate. I know, I know, a bit dark). FYI… if you’re an ad agency person out there, I am working on a new, more upbeat number I’m tentatively calling "This Car Is Fantastic". Sign me up, momma needs a new Marshall.
What’s The Spin You’re In?
The Spin iMix In: Fall Into The Cash
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Editor’s Note: The iMix has been acting funky again, sometimes it launches and sometimes you have to click the individual song links to listen to the tunes. If you have trouble launching the iMix try searching for it using the iTunes search box or just click the individual track links below the iMix graphic above. If you have more trouble than that I’m right here to help out.
Fini FiniTOOBZ! is my hero
Yeah! So now ad agencies hire a full staff of cool seekers. I want that job!
I’ll buy it!
OT
Josh Marshall points to an interesting consideration
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/
I’m boycotting artists wearing cowboy hats.
Say,I wonder if Joe will be getting fit for one
now that he’s on the other side?
Spins: Snark-facing, Race-baiting, Street-fighting edition
This week with audio…* LISTEN AWAY, firepups!
The Return of Cochise – Lenni Sesar … I’d like to give a shout out to all the Macacas in the house!
Streets of Calcutta – Ananda Shankar … oh, THAT kind of Injun… I thought you meant Macaca.
Black Love – Carlos Garnett (vocal is Dee Dee Bridgewater) … cuddling up to Step N’Fetchit, are we, Mr. Lamont?
How You gonna get Respect – Hank Ballard … AND Jessie Jackson. AND Maxine Waters. And, and… THEM!
Eastbound – Budos Band … trust.
No Justice – Choppa Chop … Good thing DJ Abu G smacked down the uppity judge. I was beginning to think there was a case of justice going around here.
Check the Address – 764-HERO … Directions for the bombadier.
No Unnecessary War – I Wayne … all I’m saying “ain’t karma a bitch?”
(aka: I finally remembered it was friday and uploaded my spins for the thread)
Donita Sparks @ 3
[blushing] Awwww shucks, ma’am, ahma jest dewin muh jawb ’round here.
I think the same way… good for them! you know, sell out thing or whatever who cares? you do what you want with your music, specially these days that music industry have to find another/different ways and/or a new media to sell music… so “ka-ching ka-ching” specially if you need to buy new gear…maybe is music making money to make more music!!! wish I had money to buy a gibson flying V onde day… what I need first? money or talent? ha!
I love that song Naked eye… sad Lucious Jackson never toured my country, brazil… wish I could check the Bellrays live too…
rock on Donita, If I ever heard your music in a tv commercial, I’d buy whatever you sell… ;)
Donita — what a fun group of songs! Can’t wait to give them all a listen. And Fini — you are da master. :)
Donita and Fini!
I’ve been noticing those tunes in the commercials too. Usually commercial music is just so god awful. Would love to see Donita-tuneage on the t00b hehe. Just as long as it’s not a Mylanta commercial or something awful hehe.
I love Iggy’s The Passenger, but I’m really fond of Siouxsie’s also. I know some people despise covers, but I like hearing an old favorite reinterpreted by another band.
Oh, and just a reminder to everyone — please take a little time to click thru our fabu advertisers who help us pay for the toobz that keep this place hopping. Thanks!
Christy Hardin Smith @ 10
Oh I dont know about that, but thanks for the compliment, Christy. You guys are so awesome!
Christy Hardin Smith@10
Thank you Ms. Lady of the Lake!
Nice post. I definitely agree that Madison Ave is way ahead of commercial radio. Clearly, the balance of power in our media culture has shifted since the Nike “Revolution” controversy. Nowadays it’s hard to say who’s using who: are automakers using music to sell cars? or are musicians using automakers to sell music?
Peace.
Bruno @ 9
Bruno I will be sending your last sentence to every ad agency in the world.
Kurt @ 11
I’m looking forward to Donita’s Jaguar commercial with her new song “This Car Is Fantastic” ;)
I kinda think “Infancy of a Disaster” would work well as a Huggies or Pampers commercial. Or maybe a Lysol commercial touting the antibacterial uses for cleaning up child care centers or something.
wacky margins?
Dr. Bong @ 18
huh?
Though now that I think about it, L7’s Shove might be a great song for a laxative commercial lol!
Get out of my way, or I’m gonna shove!
Fini FiniTOOBZ! @ 19
left/right margins on the page are waaaaay out… usually a long linky or some other phenomena casues it… No biggy
just bein cantankerous. now to the tunes!
:-)
Thanks for another great playlist! Someone should hire you at an ad agency.
Sid
Donita-
about 6 months ago I swore I heard an l7 song in a California tourism spot. or am I mistaken?
The 88 appeared in issue 25 of “Manhunter,” published by DC comics (in stores this week). The cast is having a fun night at an LA club, which is crashed by a supervillian. Mayhem ensues, the band gets involved, and Manhunter (a kick-a$$ former DA who is, by the way, a woman) saves the day. Check it out!
Dr. Bong @ 21
Anyone else having this problem too? I’m not experiencing this at my end.
Fini at 25 — I am — the right-hand margin is being stretched out by the second graphic (the playlist). It’s a bit larger than the usual graphics size, and that makes the margins a bit wonky. It comes up fine for me in IE, it just requires a slight side scroll.
he he. I just had breakfast with RevDeb. Now that was FUN!
Fini FiniTOOBZ! @ 17
Me likey! Me likey
Christy Hardin Smith @ 26
Aha! I will go fix, be back in a jiffy!
a little worrisome, The 88?
wtf? do they have a nice little story about why they chose this name?
88 is a neo-nazi code phrase, based on the 8th letter of the alphabet, and its alliterative use in the famous hitler salute.
Donita:
I dunno about providing the musical background for commercials without some measure of restraint. The Army recently used some songs to induce recruits to sign up. I’d hate to be the artist who did this music.
Hi and thanks, Donita!
Wacky margins here too.
Um, this is the first one of Donita’s threads I’ve made in real-time, and I can’t recall the protocol: is it music-only-please or are OTs admissible?
nicelyput2000 @ 23
Yeah, sounded a lot like “The Masses Are Asses”. Some other people brought this to my attention as well. Oh well
sporkovat @ 30
There are also 88 keys on a piano. Their music has piano on every song and a killer pianist in the band. I’ve been told by a band member that that is how they go their name.
Donita- Have you ever been on Jonesy’s Jukebox?
OK, I think I fixed it, can the wacky margin folks refresh your browsers and let me know if it worked or do I need to go back to remedial graphic arts training?
Ms Sparks,
Thanks for all your good work for the progressive cause. A friend of mine (back a while ago) turned me on to L7 and the Runaways, too. Were you a member of the Runaways and L7?
Thanks for the margin-fix, Fini!
Fini — works perfectly for me now. Thanks! :)
lotus @ 38
*Whew* YAY! I forgot to resize the graphic before posting *blushes*. This is why I leave the graphics work to Darkblack and others.
Oh and OT is allowed lotus, whats up?
OT (sorta) of my own – if there are any entertainment lawyers reading this, I would like to know what the latest legal thinking is regarding use of major label music in a podcast. ASCAP and BMI are negligently behind the times on this issue.
Because I just can’t help it… here is a little ditty by the Beat Farmers!
Rest in peace COUNTRY DICK!
hackworth @ 37
No. Joan Jett, another rock goddess, was in the Runaways
ot, but VERY important
raw story is breaking the story that cheenty is disregarding the cia AGAIN and making up hsi iranium intel for Iran
surprise of surprises, he’s using breufings from the pnac officers instead of the cia career profesiionals
we HAVE TO GET ON THIS, and this can be the floodgate that unforms America about the pnac and the REAL reason we invaded Iraq
far be it for me to ask what to wright about, but PLESASE do a piece on this and let’s get some ACTION out if it so we can EXPOSE the pnac and get Americans to understand what has happened
http://www.rawstory.com/news/2….._0818.html
Oh and FYI for the Pull Up a Chair thread fans — thought we could talk fresh fruit and dog days of summer tomorrow morning. Please pass it along to everyone, in case folks want to prepare for tomorrow morning. :) Thanks!
Whazzup, Fini, is:
lotus @ 155
(You buyin’?)
Me to Me,
There is a determined effort on the part of many Americans to prevent a foolhardy and ruinous attack on Iran.
Will the realists, pragmatists and those that want to prevent America from a humiliating disaster win this tug of war with the Neo-con radicals who are intent at losing and losing and losing until they hope they can vindicate themselves by winning.
This is what Murtha is about and what Chuck Hagel is about, and of course Ned Lamont too.
We are in perilous times.
-GSD
Donita @ 34
thanks, I thought there probably would be a good explanation.
Unexpected interpretations are always possible, I wasn’t jumping to conclusions, just a little startled.
thanks for straightening it out.
Everythingseemssoneat @ 35
Not yet, but I’ve been on the Mighty Morning Show a couple of times
fran @
6
Careful now with that anti-hat stuff . . . Yeah, Dubya’s giving cowboy hats a bad name, and there are lots of rightwingers wearing them, but not every artist wearing a cowboy hat is Toby Keith wantin’ to kick Saddam’s ass.
but not every artist wearing a cowboy hat is Toby Keith wantin’ to kick Saddam’s ass.
True, some of ‘em are that Gentry person wanting to shoot tame bears named Cubby …
Nobody ever said leading a moral life was easy. Leading a moral life means just that, you lead a MORAL life–even when your own pocket book is effected. Ask the workers in the Marianas how they feel about funky, hip American bands selling the pesticide laden, genetically engineered crap from The Gap. Or ask the folks in Mendocino county who are trying to stop the Fischer Family (owners of the Gap) from clear cutting the last bits of old growth forest near the Albion River.http://www.gapsucks.org/#why
Corporate greed is corporate greed and if you allow your music to sell their crap, you may become richer, but you’re helping screw the rest of the planet.
So I guess the question is, when is it O.K. to sell out. In my opinion…never. And that is what a tell my kids who are in one of those up and coming bands.
lotus @ 50
And some are like Tim McGraw who thinks Clinton is the best president ever and who would like to run for Governor of Tennessee at some point . . . and whom the Big Dog is encouraging to do so!
Surfmom @ 51
Point well taken. Kudos to you!
Also, here is a diary from KOS about Lamont v Loserman.
Is it designed to suck up some valuable oxygen from other candidates?
http://www.dailykos.com/storyo…..145835/476
This is a rallying cry for a multi-front approach.
I say hit them everywhere and hard and not just focus on Unholy Joe, he loves being the center of attention. Depriving him of that power will do wonders.
-GSD
Surfmom @ 51
So I guess we wont be hearing your kids on TV anytime soon. Tell them to start learning “Brown Eyed Girl” “YMCA” and “Celebration”, theyre gonna need to know those songs on the wedding band circuit they will be stuck in for the rest of their careers.
Yay!
Finally got my iTunes to work. I’m pretty much a fumblethumbs so it seems that something called auto-run was not set right. It works fine, now.
Did a little exploring within the app itself, prompted by a comment seen here earlier, and found Air America and some other cool radio stuff.
Not me, I consider it a tragedy. It just furthers the destruction of our culture by having it sucked even more deeply into the realm of corporate control. Particularly when the music is either old standard or groups that I have an emotional investment in. I end up feeling that a part of me has been stolen and sold. I avoid buying products marketed to me this way, because it angers me so.
I understand your point, though, and my disagreement is purely an emotional one.
Oh dear, Peterr, some day you’re going to hafta tell me who is Tim McGraw (wasn’t he a ball-player like, um, Mary’s Sen. Bunning? oh. no. that was Tug, wasn’t it. nemmind. [grins, bats eye-petals blankly]).
FiniFiniTOOBZ! @ # 17:
I’m looking forward to Donita’s Jaguar commercial with her new song “This Car Is Fantastic” ;)
From my experience with Jags, a better song title might be “I wish it was as easy to keep this car tuned up as my guitar”
Late for the party — BUT –
The Passenger is, perhaps, my favorite song. At least a top-ten fave.
And Siouxie and the Banshees version is mighty fine. Enjoy, pups!
And THANKS, Donita.
FFF – Surfmom simply gave her opinion. She did NOT tell anyone else what they SHOULD OR SHOULD NOT DO. You can disagree with it, but don’t denigrate her for it or be condescending.
If she would make the choice of the “wedding circuit” over “stardom” or hope her children do, then so what, they’re her principals.
sigh … until I get my PB fixed, I’m stuck with work laptop that blocks Itunes … but I’m saving all the lists for a wonderful Donita celebration come the day.
If you want a wonderful example of the complete inanity of MSM, watch brainless CNN anchors attempt a bit of DYI handwriting analysis in the Ramsey case … I feel so enlightened.
That’s Junior Brown in the hat, friends. And to judge him by his hat-well, that’s just sad.
It goes against all my “principals”.
There is nothing finer than a five-x beaver open road. Nothing.
seepeesate @ 57
I understand your point too. I also understand 16 hour drives in a cramped van in between shows burning a lot of very expensive gasoline. It can be brutal. I am tugged both ways on this issue. I just know that these bands do not get “rich” on this, they can just keep going. “Old Standards” are usally owned by major labels… aka corporations. Is there a difference to you?
I’ve got to go now. I’m making a record myself today. CD’s unfortunately use a lot of plastic and paper. I try to make it up by playing benefits and participating in stuff like this website. I try, but I of course am not perfect. Most of the artists mentioned in this post have participated in NUMEROUS left wing causes.
Evil Parallel Universe @ 61
Excellent point. Surfmom, please accept my apology for being so flippant. You have to understand though, as I have many friends in the business struggling, ANY souce of income that comes their way is for simple survival. The days of average musicians living like kings and queens are over, if those days ever existed in the first place. Most musicians struggle for dinner.
I have some friends who managed to get a song sold to Dawson’s Creek when it was on the air. That license fee paid to them paid for their next self released CD. That license deal also got them much needed major label attention in a marketplace where there are thousands of bands vying for attention from the corporate masters in control of the business.
Musicians have to do crazy shit to survive. If you’re sitting in your home enjoying their music you have no idea the heartbreak and dissapointment experienced along the way by the group that recorded that song you so easily dismiss as “just a song”.
If you want to talk about emotional investment in a song, ask a songwriter – they’re our babies. To turn one over to the corporate jackals for a buck to eat with truly sucks and the decision is not taken lightly by any musician.
I discovered long ago, the term “sellout” is thrown around far too easily. I came to terms with the fact that if you want to get right down to basic facts, you sell out the moment you create a song and then ask someone else’s opinion of that song. We all sold out long ago deciding to be professionals and making music our primary source of income.
So if you feel morally superior while my fellow musicians make a living selling their babies to corporate criminals, go ahead. Moral superiority and $2.50 will get you a cup of coffee at the restaurant down the street.
Donita, I’m sorry to write here, but you’re contact e-mail at you website doesn’t work? all my messages are returned, don’t know if is blocked… anyway I’d like to say that I have your camera from MIX auction… oh yeah, your camera goes to Brazil… so your webstie e-mail is lazlo@donitasparks.com ??? if not, someone should change on donitasparks.com
thanks,
B
Old Coastie,
And here are the networks, per Thinkprogress
seepeesate @ 57
Another way to look at this…just who is using who??? Gotta go.
Think that was Ned I just glimpsed in Wolfie’s on-camera green room on CNN . . . coming up live in a minute?
after 4pm — Ned ! @ CNN
*ilson46201 @ 71
Ned will get 1 minute, Ramsey will get 59 minutes.
So MSNBC has this new (at least to me) promo up for Tucker Carlson, with the graph “This guy takes no S***.” (Sic. I would have spelled out shit otherwise). And I thought to myself, yeah, Tucker Carlson, that’s who I think of when I think of people who take no shit, able to cower others with their gigantic intellect and insightfulness. And, prior to losing the bowtie, I would never have seen it – then he was just a prissy rightard – now, without the bowtie, he a guy who doesn’t take shit, FROM ANYONE.
I’m glad they cleared that up.
blitzer’s question in the story titled “nasty race” – is ned lamont going too far linking lieberman with the GOP?
WTF! What about linking Lamont with al qaeda??
Evil Parallel Universe @ 73
…but he sure can dance!!
lotus @ 50
I actually thought I was going to upchuck when
I heard that about the bear.Good God whats the
matter with the human race?
While I at times get this virtual cringe when I hear a favored song promoting something I disapprove of … I also remember that I know almost no one whose own income is not tainted in some way. How many of us work for those same corporates or for companies that do business with those corporates or purchase products from those corporates or …
as the wonderful Nicole yelled as we waltzed into the Venetian for sushi during YKOS – “Look at all the artists they paid!”
siun @ 77
Very well put.
Can’t wait to see Ned teach le loup-garou wot’s wot. (We got Anne’s excellent margaritas downstairs, btw — bring the popcorn!)
My Jr Brown story–
SXSW, 1994. Opener–Lucinda Williams, very cool. Next, Hellecasters–I know dey gonna smack it, been a Donohue fan since his Fairport days. But who’s this guy, Jr. Brown closing the show? Everyone says I gotta stay for it. JawSmack, on the floor–been a fan ever since. That’s his wife on acoustic. He can’t keep a rhythm going and only his wife can keep him on the beat. So he says.
Dan
twolf1 @ 75
I wrote a country song years and years ago, with the chorus -
my house is filled with souvenirs, from all my loves throughout the years,
and you can’t tell me that it isn’t true
that I’ve taken things from every man I’ve loved,
and I’ve taken shit from you
NED ON!
If you think about it, the only reason COMMERCIAL radio (and MTV) exist and are able to play artists, is because those artists attract ears and eyes to the advertisers. I mean, actually being the music in an ad is one step closer to being a corporate shill, but just being on the radio is still working hand in hand with the advertisers on the station, who are paying for you to be played. I don’t grudge the artists one dime of that advertisment money, God bless ‘em. Anyone who buys a volkswagon (or other product) because they have a cool tune on their commercial is a sucker anyway. I say take the cool tune, and leave the product alone, and everyone is a winner.
lotus @ 82
NED ON! Apply directly to the dickhead!
NED ON! Apply directly to the dickhead!
NED ON! Apply directly to the dickhead!
Listen to Fini. (Wish CNN would.)
ned on lieberman “experience does not equate to judgement”
Has anyone else noticed that every TV show that has had Ned on their show invited Lieberman to appear too and he couldn’t make it? Hiding from Ned a bit, Joe?
Fini FiniTOOBZ! @ 87
He’s too busy hiring Republican consultants:
http://lamontblog.blogspot.com…..lster.html
damn … CNN running the DSCC dreadful security ad story …
I gotta run for now, thanks for checking out the Spin list this week, if you have any technical issues for me I can be reached via email at finifinito at gmail dot com.
What’s been spinning in the G5 today:
Lonesome Brothers (plus it’s their “Mono” CD release party tonight at the Iron Horse in Northampton)
The Fawns – A Nice Place to Be
Gnarls Barkley – St. Elsewhere
The Kinks – We Are The Village Green Preservation Society
The Jam – In The City
…plus some demos of stuff I need to learn for upcoming sessions. My Connecticut songwriting partner says everyone he knows just wants Joe Loserman to start looking for a new job.
This is my third post. I check in most days, but have only lurked until last Friday. Best to all, and to all a good weekend. Cheers.
Usually commercials make me sick with their ridiculous way they attempt to advertise. I sometimes think you have to be mildly retarded to be an ad exec. But this ad by Liberty Mutual featuring Hem’s song Half Acre is just good. It’s not funny, it’s not shocking, it’s not XTREME or action packed, it’s just good. I don’t know how well it sells their services, but it’s a nice concept. And it features a great song. You can listen to the whole song here and read the lyrics there too.
Rick DeVille – welcome to FDL and thanks for speaking up!
Glad to see some Kinks in that mix!
PS, regarding someone’s post WAY back there somewhere about 88 being a neo-nazi code. In the early eighties, I was in a New Haven CT band called Eighty-Eight, and our name choice was based on it being that decade, there being 88 keys on a piano, and also because “88″ is Morse Code shorthand for “love” in Ham Radio parlance when signing off. Honest. Just ask Joe Walsh.
Dunno where this newer band got their nom du gig, but there’s another point of view, anyhow.
siun…Thanks, and yeah. Kinks!
I love me some Junior Brown, good choice!
Donita
Just checked out Gram Rabbit a month ago – fun stuff. Maybe you could throw in a link to their music or include a song in your next playlist?
Thanks for another groovy installment.
I remember my first extended weekend get-together at Boston University School of Theology, 1970. Ravi Shankar was the evening guest. I quietly inquired of the woman next to me if he could play ‘Honky Tonk Woman.’ Thus began my prolonged and extremely informative graduate education.
Donita, it’s just such a kick to have you here.
My grandma was a Sparks, and I wondered if you were maybe from the Denton TX area?
PS Marily, LOL!
PPS Hi and welcome, Rick DeVille!
I know this this is probably EPU’d ( I can’t believe I got to say that!!) but EPU @ 61. Thanks. Thanks for knowing where I was coming from. Same goes to you Donita. You’re a class act.
As for you Fini, thanks for the back-handed apology. Nothing like sincerity. You said “The days of average musicians living like kings and queens are over, if those days ever existed in the first place. Most musicians struggle for dinner.” Friend, those days have never existed. That doesn’t mean you sell out to survive. My husband’s been a working musician for over 40 years. I know it’s tough, believe me, and I don’t need the “It’s O.K. to be a shill, because I need to put food on the table lecture” I’ve heard it for the last 30 years and look were it’s gotten us.
I married a jazz musician. I don’t even know what music is besides business these days…and clothing lines. I find no honor or music or talent that is for us; the bottom line is nowhere. Bottom, indeed, for those who appreciate all kinds of music.
Marily,
At least you didn’t ask for “Proud Mary”… ;-)
I’ve known the singer and pianist for The 88 since high school, and can assure the world, as Donita said, that they are not only amazing musicians, but incredibly good guys and the furthest thing from fascist a-holes. (They helped fundraise for John Kerry, playing at a show with Tenacious D and Dave Grohl during 2004.) The coincidence of their name is a bit unfortunate, but the MUSIC is amazing and their fans are loyal. How a major record label hasn’t signed them yet is baffling, but they’re doing tremendous even without ‘em. The Kinks were mentioned before– the lead singer/songwriter Keith is a huge fan of Ray Davies, along with Dylan, Beatles, and some modern influences. If you love the Kinks, I bet you’ll love The 88 after a listen or two.
Everyone who participates in corporate capitalism — via consumption, employment, whatever — sells out to some extent, by feeding institutions that are demonstrably destructive. There’s no getting around that. I think it’s really unfair and unrealistic to demand that all indy artists refuse to associate with the dominant economic structures of our time (an impulse which, in effect, simply yields more media space to “no-talent ass-clowns like Michael Bolton” to eat up the fruits of the market unobstructed by real talent).
So as I see it, questions about associating with corrupt corporations shouldn’t be tests of individual morality, but should be questions about how best to pursue institutional change. I think there’s room for debate here. No need to be doctrinaire. Once in a while a bunch of creative types will get together, in a bar room much like this one, and come up with a way to at least momentarily turn the tables on the powers that be.
Surfmom @
101
If anyone is lecturing anyone here it is you. It’s more than ok to take the works that you have created and offer them to anyone who wishes to pay you for those works, its called being a responsible working musician. A responsible working musician seeks out every way possible to promote their music and get paid for it. To not do everything in your power to make a living from your music is lazy and irresponsible.
It is not the musicians’ fault that corporations or the people who own and run them behave badly. Many times, the musicians’ works in question were sold by their publisher to the advertiser without consulting the musicians that created it. Of those who actually are consulted in the process or who seek out TV or movie placement of their songs or who seek out advertisers to use their music, these folks are considered particularly shrewd artists.
Your resentment of musicians who “sellout” is hollow. As I stated earlier, the moment your husband decided to make music his primary income he sold out. If his or your moral repugnance at selling his creative works to advertisers is an issue its because you or he have decided to make it one. This does not make you morally superior to others. We all have sellout moments where we break down and deal with the corporate folks, every single one of us, including and especially you.
You may consider selling your house, it was probably developed on land that was habitat to a squirrel or racoon or something. You definitely want to sell that car that guzzles so much gas and quit funding the Wahabist regime in Saudi Arabia who fund the schools that create the terrorists we are all dealing with now that feed the BushCo fear factory. You’re gonna want to get rid of all those sweatshop sewn clothes you and your family are wearing, and the exploited labor picking your vegetables and slaughtering your meat for your meals would probably appreciate your hunger strike that will make them lose what miniscule income they make from being migrant farm workers.
No American is morally superior in the corporate blame game. Please come up with a new schtick to hate musicians with other than “don’t be a corporate shill”. If you harbor resentments because your working musician husband has not had financial success in 40 years of playing, I suggest you work that out with him.
There are millions of people in the same boat with your husband, including my oldest brother who has been a working guitarist for 36 years. Myself, I have been working as a recording engineer, live audio tech and club DJ when times are tough for 18 years. Refusing to pick up an oar and row along with the rest of us just creates opportunities for another oarsman to get promoted to the poop deck.
One more thing, being the wife of a musician is nowhere NEAR the same as being the musician. If you want to lecture me on any other topic you yourself have experience in, I’m game. Until then, I suggest you think long and hard about lecturing musicians on what they do with THEIR creative works. Glass houses and all you know.
Sorry no time to read all the comments…just driving by to say I adore Lucious Jackson!
Those chicks were awsome…if any of them have a new band, I would like to know.
Here’s a song by James Mcmurtry(yes, larrys son) with a wicked slide show.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTW0y6kazWM
splunge @
108
Alex – is that you? Great video – thanks.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rocket_88
right on donita & Fini FiniToobz! i agree wholeheartedly! we all try to “do the right thing” but at the same time, you’ve got to enjoy life too, no? i try to be socially conscious, make the right choices when i can, but i drive a car that runs on gas, i pay rent to a landlord that may be a stinkin’ republican (not sure), etc…
LOVED THE JUNIOR BROWN!
Re;108 Guess I should have mentioned it’s called “can’t make it here anymore”. Deals with the VA, outsourcing/walmart, etc.
And no thewheezer, no alex here.