Spring Break
Pop culture - not the radio - killed the video star
Jonathan Boydston
Issue date: 2/16/07 Section: Diversions
Earlier this week, in a fashion much like almost every week, I lay in my bed racking my mind over what aspect of pop culture I might pick apart for this article. Suddenly, while scrolling through the array of music stations, the answer hit me.
Over the past two decades, the role of not just cable music stations but specifically music videos has both evolved and degenerated drastically and in such a short span of time that my head is still spinning because of the rollercoaster-like motion.
Consider this: when most of us were in, say, middle school, it seemed like everyone knew everything about the latest music videos coming out. Everyone knew who Carson Daly of MTV's "TRL" was, and nobody would miss an opportunity to watch a VH1 "Pop-Up Video" marathon. I mean, how could you pass up the chance to find out everything you never needed to know about how the Spice Girls put together their latestt chart-topper?
Music videos, to some degree or another, stood as timelines of our generation's childhood. Whether you were watching Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" while you were pissed at your parents or catching Christina Aguilera (in her pre-crazy years) roll around in the sand in "Genie in a Bottle," music videos captured the essence of the times.
Nowadays I just as much assume that, like myself, no one actually cares about music videos anymore.
Maybe I am wrong in this claim, and maybe there are actually 13- and 14-year-old versions of us who still know and care which video got the top spot on TRL yesterday. But for me, I'll remain content with solely watching late night music videos for their educational purposes.
Except, of course, until the next time Black Eyed Peas comes out with their next music video ... unless Fergie isn't in it. Then I'm out. I just want to know what she's going to do with all that junk next.
What kind of education can you get out of watching music videos? Cultural education and a lot more than any textbook has ever taught me.
Over the past two decades, the role of not just cable music stations but specifically music videos has both evolved and degenerated drastically and in such a short span of time that my head is still spinning because of the rollercoaster-like motion.
Consider this: when most of us were in, say, middle school, it seemed like everyone knew everything about the latest music videos coming out. Everyone knew who Carson Daly of MTV's "TRL" was, and nobody would miss an opportunity to watch a VH1 "Pop-Up Video" marathon. I mean, how could you pass up the chance to find out everything you never needed to know about how the Spice Girls put together their latestt chart-topper?
Music videos, to some degree or another, stood as timelines of our generation's childhood. Whether you were watching Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" while you were pissed at your parents or catching Christina Aguilera (in her pre-crazy years) roll around in the sand in "Genie in a Bottle," music videos captured the essence of the times.
Nowadays I just as much assume that, like myself, no one actually cares about music videos anymore.
Maybe I am wrong in this claim, and maybe there are actually 13- and 14-year-old versions of us who still know and care which video got the top spot on TRL yesterday. But for me, I'll remain content with solely watching late night music videos for their educational purposes.
Except, of course, until the next time Black Eyed Peas comes out with their next music video ... unless Fergie isn't in it. Then I'm out. I just want to know what she's going to do with all that junk next.
What kind of education can you get out of watching music videos? Cultural education and a lot more than any textbook has ever taught me.
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Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
ForgottenWalrus69
posted 2/21/07 @ 6:15 AM PST
Don- get off that country stuff and get back to Chicago immediately. I was okay with your little "Food Network" craze and all even though I think Rick Bayless is a child molester, but "CMT" is taking it way too far. (Continued…)
john b
posted 3/03/07 @ 2:16 PM PST
post some on webratsmusic.com
would add alot
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