So, if you have or havn't heard of this bad, I don't really care.

I started listening to them in 2000, a year after they formed I believed. And as ridiculously petty as this is going to sound... in the last 10 years they have gained world-wide recognition... while on the one hand i think it is absolutely great, because they deserve every bit of attention they can get (their music and their philosophy - which are sort of one and the same). But a part of me can't help but feel annoyed, at all these fanboys and generics who just sort of also like them. And this is where I rant, because I remember being in school at around the time I found Gogol... majority of other kids were into their emo/alternative music, and they would openly shun a band if they became 'mainstream'. I would strive to NEVER, EVER be like that. I thought it was petty, you openly advertise yourself as belonging to this genre, and you proclaim Band X as being your favourite. Then they gain popularity and you ditch them like some aids-beriddled pony wart.

Edit: And I in no way belong to this genre (gypsy-punk, Eugene Hutz would have it called). I have simply been listning to a lot of Gogol Bordello in the last decade, purchasing albums (which I rarely do), and attempting to go to gigs (money, money, money).

So, why the hell do I feel the tiniest bit annoyed at all these 'fans' of Gogol Bordello? I do not know, all I know is that I do. I understand it is immature and ultimately arrogant to beleive that 'me liking' something makes them 'mine'. And it is the mind-set of a child. Two year old see's a ball, likes the ball, and all of a sudden the ball belongs to no-one except himself.

But aghh. Anyways, rant over.

Anyone else vaguely know what the fuck I mean?


Edit: And in a very ironic way, you could interpret this post as me advertising Gogol Bordello and claiming my stake in 'finding' or 'discovering' them... If you view it in this way you can go stick blunt knives into your eyeballs.

Edit3: Exact same thing happened with Die Antwoord (south african, rap-rave-zefling masters). But that was bound to happen.


Post has been edited 4 time(s), last time on Jan 6 2011, 1:16 am by Cardinal.

Because you're petty. This topic is kinda petty. And Gogol is only kinda good. An interesting feel, but nothing to be upset over.

It's usually 'whatever that makes me feel good' with music. It's got nothing to do with popularity. Although some bands in the past have turned their music into bad shit for money making purposes. I think that's when people usually ditch bands, with good reason.

Yeah, the problem with Gogol is they haven't really changed their musical style (well a little more English lyrics) but over all not changed at all. If they had changed their music completely and become 'like every other punk band under the sun', then I would not even be writing a topic about this. And I understand that if a band ditches it's 'style' or whatever you want to call it, for the simple goal of making money - then they deserve no fans.

I lost my two favorite bands to disbandment, and two more to sound changes. We lost He Is Legend to their singer not taking care of his voice and touring down south too much and Boys Night Out produced one good album and then stayed mediocre.

Anberlin is about 5 albums in and only recently did anyone find out who they were, and they just started getting radio play too. I knew them by their second album.

In other words, I know your situation well. But I keep my laments to myself because artists are just that, artists, and art is never predictable.

Ex hit upon something: Artists are just that, artists. Suck it up. It's music. It affects nothing in life. Next time you feel like posting something like this, where you know that you're wrong and petty, fight harder. Jesus, this is just sad. I really can't imagine myself doing something like this...

Everyone wants to feel unique, and music is one identifier. If it's good, more people will like it, and that might piss you off (it would me). But learn to control yourself...

The band is alright. It's not painful to listen to, but the voices are annoying and the only part I really like is the violin.

Funny story. I went into a used CD store to buy some old Paramore stuff after I got into them, right after they showed up on the radio. I go up to buy the disc and the guy is trying to start all this sortof cutesy small chat with me about how great they were before they hit radio. And I said, "oh, I got into them after they came out." and he looked like he absolutely hated the idea that I found out about a band on the radio. >mfw

However, I do like what you say about art and artists. It is true that sometimes when I'm creating my piece has a mind of itself, and anything I do to bend it to my will seems to destroy the whole piece. It is an exciting process. When I did music with the school I absolutely hated the idea of improvving on my sax, but now that I'm getting into guitar I could totally see me going crazy with it, even though speed wise I think I will always be better on sax. I just prefer to play it in a classical sax (fml not much of it exists ) Strange process.

Also, Cardinal, I was giving art in general some thought this morning. I'm a huge Pixar-Disney fan (bear with me). I think they're work is marvelous and I really appreciate how they are able to move me as an American animation company. It blows my mind. There is a short called Night and Day that is absolutely wonderful. When I first saw it in theaters I thought to myself, It is different and unexpected to be moved by animation, but it is not impossible. That is why they're here. They want to move people in unexpected ways. This is what art is about - taking a media everyone seems to know well and evoking genuine emotion from it.



When I first saw Wall-E I thought it was a spoof that I was moved to giddiness, because honestly it is a very sweet movie. With Bolt (I know that's solely Disney) I thought it was because I have a dog and his willingness to make an ultimate sacrifice was touching. But when Up came out...it blew my mind. Every time I watch it, even though I don't have any genuine connection with the characters, I feel for them, it was bright and beautiful, it mixed comedy with deep tragedy and resolved so wonderfully (aw man I'm tearing up now THANKS GUISE).

I stated that on the Pixar-Disney wall at some point (which is a fun page to watch, because they release storyboards, ss all that), and it was entirely ignored. I was mostly expecting that. But all of a sudden a bunch of idiots half my age were posting OMG!!11 ALADIN IS THE BEST MOVIE EVR! and were getting likes and comments. Holy crap they are dumb. They didn't live through the animation dark ages - they don't know how good they got it.

But I just let it go. If they want to think Aladdin is a Disney-Pixar movie so be it. Morons. I'm not going to get too upset about it, because they do not interfere with my enjoyment of the films.

Post has been edited 1 time(s), last time on Jan 6 2011, 12:33 pm by Fire_Kame.