I just broke the seal for the first time last week. I found it pretty nondescript, which was weird - I figured, if I didn't like it, it'd be bad, but crazy earwormy to the point that its dominance would make some sense to me...like, I suppose, a garbage Black-Eyed Peas song. But it's just kind of...there. Honestly, two minutes after listening to it, I couldn't remember anything about it beyond the hook - lyrics, cadence, nada. The strangest thing.
This isn't me saying I'm too cool for school, or anything - I'm a poptimist and I'm not sitting here claiming to be better than anybody because this song didn't click for me. It was just weird and kind of a first to hear such a mammoth hit and not find *anything* that made its success make sense to me.
I've seen a lot of people wondering about whether the music of The Beatles would resonate today and parsing down what would exist and what wouldn't if the Beatles didn't exist...but, really, that's not what this movie is about. It's about whether it's more important to be famous or to live a modest life that's true to what and who you love. Everything else is just trappings. Admittedly, the Beatles make for a hell of a trapping, but still.
As for whether the music of the Beatles would resonate today, that's probably a good an interesting question to discuss, but I wouldn't take it as a knock against the movie. I mean, think about this: You want to make a movie about the above (fame vs. true love) in which a struggling British musician (and the movie is decidedly British) shanghais the music of a now-nonexistent, universally famous artist to become famous, himself...who else do you choose?
I dunno. If you're looking for something to challenge your perceptions or a logic puzzle to unpack, this definitely isn't that movie. But I found it sweet and charming. YMMV.
One simply can't be too complimentary of straightforward rock music in the modern musical era, lest one be seen as insufficiently deferential to the assorted geniuses out there muttering off-key over Apple Loops.
The only reason the evacuation was a clusterfuck is because people are stupid and also assholes. Anyone who came to that island yesterday not prepared for bad weather - poncho, boots, the works - is insane. And then, when they ordered the evacuation, all you had to do was walk out. Instead, people start throwing trash, destroying property, and fucking with staff who were in more danger than any of us were because they had to stick around and make sure all these bratty lunatics get out safely, first.
The evacuation was a fiasco, yes...but because of the attendees, not because of the festival.
I really enjoyed RBCF's set, but saying they were the standout rock band of the festival is crazy. That one goes to Lord Huron, in my opinion, unless you count Florence as rock, because she positively crushed it.
Comments