What is selling out?

Ah, the topic that never fails to get an answer out of me. What is the definition of this SO commonly used phrase to describe a band? My definition: Selling out is not when you've gone multi-platinum and your on the cover of every magazine, but when you've drifted away from the reason you started making music in the first place. Not because your really popular and your CD just sold a bazillion copies, but because that CD wasn't you. It was something you knew would get you a big paycheck, and there was no risk involved. Fair enough?



What got me thinking about this, was Green Day's new record, "21st Century Breakdown" I was skeptical at first when i saw the track listing, seeing how it was separated into parts. Reminded me SO much of what they did with American Idiot, their last album. Then there was the first single "Know Your Enemy" When i first heard it, i hated it. In fact, I still do. I'm listening to the album right now, as I'm writing this. I've gotten as far as "East Jesus Nowhere" I'm trying really hard to like it.



I stood up for Green Day alot in middle school. I was a huge fan long before American Idiot, and I actually liked that album. My friends would pick and prod and say things like "Ew, their such sellouts." Believe it or not, They were my favorite band at one point in time, and I saw them live with dyed blue spiked hair, and loved every second of it. That aspect of me still exists (with the exception of the hair), and i still like them as a band. This new album though, it just gets to me. I feel like It's not even them anymore. This music sounds nothing like them, but yet I can clearly hear Billie Joe's distinguishable vocals. I'm not one of those people who agrees with everything anyone says about music. For example, if I'm standing in a group of people, (true story) were talking about Rise Against, and someone says "Ehh I don't like their new shit" and everyone agrees, I'm probably going to be the one to say "Nahh The new album is great, I'll burn it for you."

Then theirs other things like an email i received today, from my uncle containing this link to a Yahoo article about Green Day refusing to put their album in Wal Mart stores because of censorship.

My reply: "I understand where their going with that, and their a big enough band that their fans are going to get the record whether they buy it at Walmart, Target, iTunes, or steal it. So it doesn't matter for them. But what about the lesser-known artists that need the publicity? Regardless of censorship, their going to do what makes more sense for them. And besides, All of Green Day's previous-explicit records were released in both formats, and the versions of their songs being played on the radio RIGHT NOW are censored, so if it comes down to it and a kid wants to listen to them, but their parents make them buy the censored versions, their screwed. Way to think of your fans! Haha this whole idea of censorship and changing what you originally wrote has always spun around in the back of my mind. You can either go with the flow and give up some creative control, and reach a bigger audience, or you can play the originality card and make headlines. Whatever floats your boat!"

I leave you with this extremely long post, yet long overdue. If i stop procrastinating so much i might just post a review of the new Cd. Look forward to that. As for now, goodnight blog-o-sphere.