The world's biggest pop star sings a Yoko Ono song with Yoko. And that can only be a good thing. I could write 2500 words on Gaga, but for the sake of space let's just say: music = pretty good for top-40, performance = bloodthristy & captivating).
I know to most of the world she's nothing more than a punchline--actually, I suppose that applies to both of them--but for my money, Yoko Ono is one of the most creative, interesting, and (here's a word that seems to pop up a lot these days) experimental artists in the history of music. In fact, after attending the recent AUX show at Little Kings, I walked away disappointed in a couple of things. First, the lack of female representation in general (3 non-singers out of the 42 performers), and secondly that somewhere along the line it was decided that, as it pertains to female vocalists, a slow dull moan that sounds a-little-sexual-but-maybe-also-a-little-constipated constitutes 'experimental.' Nobody, it seemed, was familiar with Yoko Ono--or even James Brown, for that matter. (As always, the lovely and amazing Vanessa Hay is exempt from this criticism).
Here's a song by a woman in her 70's. It came out early last year.
And here's a song she made shortly after she saw her husband shot and murdered. (1981, in case you're not good with the math).
There's plently of stuff, both wilder and more beautiful, where this came from. Go find it if you're interested.
More Yoko thoughts:
1) My favorite Beatle-related album of all time is John Lennon's Plastic Ono Band. Her influence is all over it.
2) At the time he met her, John Lennon was an abusive asshole, to his wife, his son, his bandmates, pretty much everyone he came in contact with. It is a testament to Yoko Ono's strength, patience, and love, that he was significantly less of an asshole at the time of his death.
3) If Jordan Stepp is reading this, she would probably be interested to know that Cindy Wilson and Kate Pierson were hugely influenced by Yoko Ono. You can trace a direct line from Yoko's early stuff to the vocals in Rock Lobster, to say nothing of Give Me Back My Man.
More AUX thoughts:
1) Jeff Tobias offering to let anyone in the audience play his saxophone, provided 'they had never played saxophone before' absolutely embodied everything I think that experimental (the temptation to put it in quotes every time I write it is strong, but I resist) music should be.
2) Each of the drummers were fantastic.
3) It might be fun next time to mandate than 1/3 of the performers shouldn't know how to play their instrument.
4) It might be fun to see more than a couple of people actually look like they're having fun. The atmosphere fell somewhere between a library and a professor's den.
5) There would appear to be a direct correlation between the volume of a performer's amplifier and the number of masturbatory gestures they make on their instrument.
6) I don't know how much of it was rehearsed, but if all felt very safe. If we're not going to see performers taking risks, then what's the point of going to see experimental music in the first place?
7) I left about 2/3 of the way through. So my opinions are based on that. I intended to go back, but just didn't feel like it. Such is the freedom that comes with having no boss and no career ambitions.
Which brings us back to one of this article's subjects--Lady Gaga--and a question. When the most successful pop star in the world is more 'experimental' (I couldn't resist) than the avant-garde, does that reflect poorly on the avant-garde? Or does it mean that we might have, in Lady Gaga, a performer worth watching because we don't know what she'll do next?
That last question was rhetorical by the way.
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6 comments:
So "masturbatory" is a bad thing? But is the musician necessarily supposed to give pleasure to others, or even to himself?
I don't like the excessive volume of most nightclub Rock shows. It distracts from what is indeed supposed to be pleasurable. At most shows for music branded as experimental, loudness is hardly a problem.
Which of these artists said their music isn't safe? Is music supposed to be dangerous? If so, why? Is it supposed to be fun? If so, why? Besides, I like libraries.
How do you define if a musician knows how to play an instrument or not? If they are making any kind of sounds on the instrument, I presume they know how to play it exactly how they want to play it. You're suggesting you accept certain standards of musicianship but don't let us know.
Hey, anonymous. To answer your questions in order.
1) That depends on how you feel about it.
2) That depends on how you feel about it.
3) None of them said that. Of course it'd be kind of weird if they did.
4) Not necessarily, but I do like to see people take risks when they perform. It makes the show more exciting for me.
5) Not necessarily, but sometimes I like it. Keep in mind that my definition of fun may be different from yours.
6) I don't define it, but I do think it is possible to measure someone's technical skill/ability.
Anyway, anonymous, those were just my opinions/thoughts/feelings about (a little more than half of) the show. And like most opinions/thoughts/feelings, they are pretty much entirely subjective. Music, especially the experimental kind, is one of the most subjective art forms out there. What moves one person may leave another person cold. What sounds like Otis Redding to me might sound like Michael Bolton to you. And vice-versa. That's just the way it rolls sometimes. Best not to take it too personally. If you don't like one opinion, there's another one right around the corner
You and I do agree on one thing, however. The volume level was excellent.
Wait. I also like libraries. The UGA library in particular has a fantastic collection of poetry.
No, I think you misunderstand. I'm not suggesting the opinionated nature of the article is bad. I meant that you do not express the opinions fully!
Though you elaborate some in your response, still your opinions are very unclear. For example, how you do define a live musician taking a risk?
I do not know why you would think I am "taking it personally." I do not live in Athens, and did not attend or perform at the show you were speaking of. Just reading music blogs here and there...
you do know what the word 'risk' menas don't you? seriously, if you're capable of ordering a pizza, or driving a car, then you're capable of understanding what i was talking about. if not, i suggest you lay off the music blogs for a while and pick up a good book.
may i suggest 'the thousand autumns of jacob de zoet' by david mitchell? i'm reading it right now, and it is outstanding.
You seem awfully angry. I asked, how do you define a live musician taking a risk? You argue like a politician...
There is little risk at an event curated to include friends and those-who-may-be-useful later. Also, women generally don't support other women. See above.
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