come: I absolve you all! Amen! Amen!
Amen!
--Salieri, Amadeus (script by Peter Shaffer)
Driving home the other day, listening to the radio, we were struck by the following question: Do you suppose there's anyone out there whose favorite band is Los Lobos?
Understand, we have nothing against Los Lobos. From the limited sampling of their music we've heard, they seem like a perfectly competent rock and roll band. They play their instruments well, their songs are inoffensively if unspectacularly rhythmic and melodic, their lead singer has a perfectly acceptable voice. At the same time, though, there's nothing particularly interesting about any of their songs.
We have this (admittedly unprovable) theory that every band is somebody's favorite (perhaps only the band members' and their mothers', but still). We also believe that the same holds true for movies, TV shows, novels--essentially, any area of creative endeavour: Everything is somebody's favorite. So, hard though it may be for us to accept on an aesthetic level, we believe that there are people out there who flock to the record store (or iTunes) for every new Los Lobos release, that there are people who get seriously jacked every time Los Lobos comes to their town.
(Digression: Did you know that Los Lobos has been making albums since 1976!?! Came as a surprise to us, too. EOD)
So, here's our question: Is it better--in an artistic field--to be mediocre but successful, or to produce a memorably spectacular failure? Before you answer, consider Vanilla Ice. "Ice Ice Baby" is a frankly offensive bastardization, and Mr. Ice has thankfully disappeared to the realm of D-list reality shows (see "The Surreal Life"). Yet his name remains in the public consciousness. We would bet that, in a random survey of semi-informed respondents, more people would be able to hum the opening of "IIB" than any song by Los Lobos.
(PS: Their cover of "La Bamba" doesn't count.)
(Image of Los Lobos from abc.net.au)
Thanks for asking. Here's the link to THE NEIGHBORHOOD, a message board where you should pose your question.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.jabfela.net/NBH/
Seriously.
David "Tuggboatt" LoVine
Los Lobos Fan
ps,
LOS LOBOS New release "TIN CAN TRUST"
3 August 2010. Pre-order at Amazon!
There are thousands of us out there... but the better question is why would you ask such a silly question... You sound like some acned record clerk voicing his own insecurities by trashing a band you obviously know nothing about... My suggestion is go out an buy Los Lobos' album KIKO, listen to it a few time, and then honestly make the mediocrity argument again... at least then we'll have proof you have absolutely no idea what you're talking about...
ReplyDeleteWhat time capsule did you just get out of? Was it buried in the 1950s...1960s? Just because you have not had the opportunity of being exposed to the music of a band leads you to ask such an ignorant question? Check the data. Read up on Los Lobos and you will find that they happen to be one of the most critically acclaimed musical artists of their career. Many music professionals attend their concerts and are admitted "fans". Take the time to do some research before putting your fingers to the keyboard next time and you will come across as someone who writes atricles worth reading.
ReplyDeleteOooooo...looks like some Los Lobos fans read your blog1
ReplyDeletedoes anyone really read this blog? is it someones favorite blog(besides the authors?
ReplyDeleteLol! I like Los Lobos because they're easy to listen to. Whether it's movies, books or music, as long as I like it to hell with what everyone else says. But to answer your question Sol, I would rather languish in anonymity than have one "Ice Baby" to my name. Thank you very much and I will be playing next Thursday in the backyard.
ReplyDeleteLook what Google kicked out. Oy.
ReplyDeleteThe one thing you should understand about Los Lobos (and of which you are a woefully ignorant) is the high regard with which other musicians (some very popular and others not so much) hold Los Lobos. If you did understand (and actually listened, not just sampled), you would realize how foolish your comments seem to the 'Loboistas.'
Blogging: what you do when you can't get a job being a real journalist.
ReplyDeleteReally...you could have actually made this an interesting piece...but instead you wrote an article that could have easily been titled "I'm going to critique an artist's career. By the way, I'm completely unfamiliar with this artist's body of work."
To actually address your last question, I guess it is up to each of us to explore what makes us valuable to society and makes our hearts happy as well. Not every musician wants to be Paul Mc Cartney...so while you may be searching for fame, it is not the case for many others, musicians or otherwise. Personally I enjoy Los Lobos' music but I am also a music junkie.
ReplyDeleteIf this guy was really a solipsist, he wouldn't even have a blog. rjk
ReplyDeleteAnd just btw - great artist Elvis Costello loves Los Lobos, and has played with them on several occasions. David Hidalgo of Los Lobos has played on one of Costello's album, and has toured with him too. I'd guarantee you that great artist Springsteen is a fan too.
ReplyDeleteDon't worry, I think the storm is about passed here, you can go back to writing for your family.