#quasarwave

Hi-Hi-Whoopee JANUARY 18TH, 2014 COLUMN : Toronto/Peterborough’s Tiny Community “QUASARWAVE”

I would call pop music the opiate of the masses if Karl Marx didn’t use it to describe religion in the mid 1800’s. Perhaps it’s my inherit non-conformist attitude (a characteristic of myself you’ll notice frequently) but there is nothing more annoying to me then an opinion of art that is purely based off the fact that “everyone else is doing it”. Yeah, I’m a hypocrite; we all conform along side our opiate high brethren. Am I saying I hate “We can’t stop” by Miley Cyrus? Sort of, I do actually like it, and I do sort of enjoy Blurred Lines. I’m not a purist, but I think I enjoy music from a perspective that is more critical then most music consumers (said the hypocrite snob).

  But what are most consumers? Am I saying my taste is “better” or “worse” then a bunch of 13 year old girls on VEVO? In a way, it is true that VEVO is the medium most net savvy individuals discover music to those who don’t like reading. Perhaps my feeling of superiority is purely based off the fact that I am almost actively looking for music. I’m open to new genres, and scenes and I don’t really appreciate what is considered universally appreciated by most people because those artists are playing it safe.

  When artists “play the hits” I don’t appreciate what their doing to smaller artists. Am I saying all artists should starve? No, what I’m saying is where pop music artists (artists who play the hits) are being displayed is a non-accurate representation of all music artists.