The Weekend

1978. Al Hirt. I think Pete Fountain played one year. Not going to fly anymore as folks want fireworks and glitz. But at some point it may tilt back after the excess becomes tiresome to the jaded masses. 

No one touches the Beatles and Dylan to me. The Byrds, Animals, Stones, Zep, Who, Kinks, Floyd, CSNY, Allman Bros, Prine, Bruce, Tull, Chicago, Elton, Seger, REM, Talking Heads, U2, Willie, Emmylou, Lucinda etc. and scores more, all among my favs.--but in those days I used to sometimes spend hours listening to an album before I realized how much I liked the band (Thick As A Brick anyone?). Music was then and remains now extremely meaningful to me--sometimes as pure fun and other times as thought provoking musical poetry.

The attention span of most music fans under age 25 today is not the same as it was when I grew up. Video games, youtube, tiktok, instant messaging and other forms of engagement or entertainment simply did not bombard me during my rarely inactive (ie-non-sports occupied) leisure time. That time was spent reading, watching some tv and mostly listening fairly intently to music at length. I wonder how often teenagers and early 20 somethings have the inclination to sit down undisturbed with a lyric sheet and listen to an entire album a number of times before deciding it it’s ok, good or great.

As a 60+ year old, I do not give most music today the same privilege because, well, I just don’t find it "musical" or involving. Albums often don’t cohere. Lyrics, usually the product of teams of formula lyricists, do not grab me and, frankly, are not as literate as some of the great music of the 60s, 70s, 80s and even 90s. The music today often sounds like the same compressed garbage where musicianship and vocal talent are not part of the mix. But over the past few years, I’ve given some bands like 21 Pilots a number of listens and find that they are, in fact, very musical and very talented in a completely different way than I had ever experienced. Oblique lyrics, synthesizer dominated--but with a rock heart and attitude and excellent melodies that invoke genuine emotional response. There are only a handful of such groups and they are the exceptions. That being said, the wife asked me months ago to get an album by the Weeknd which I have occasionally listened to with her. It’s pretty good (not great), but there are some catchy tunes there and some excellent, albeit compressed, production. Since I knew some of his songs, I was actually able to enjoy the halftime show. Had I not been familiar with the album, I certainly would not have. This struck me as I watched the halftime show. Sure enough, my work colleagues thought it was terrible.

I do not lose sleep over the fact that as i get older, I hear less and less musical talent on the airwaves. I don’t lose sleep wondering if the style of the music of my youth (with exceptions like the Beatles and Dylan) will be to the future generations what Perry Como was to mine---anachronistic and meaningless. Rather, I often wonder how many groups like 21 Pilots are "buried in the hail...poisoned in the bushes an’ blown out on the trail" of most of the crap I hear today and how I can separate the wheat from the chaff so that I can capture and enjoy the likes of 21 Pilots more often.

I think the SB halftime shows fall victim to the same problem the game itself does:  very high expectations.  After all the build-up, people want to be wowed with something good they haven’t seen, and in real life that is hard to do.  In a regular concert venue, I’m sure the Weeknd’s performance would have been a big hit, but at halftime of the Super Bowl, it is easy to feel let down.

Also, the SB strives to appeal to a broad audience; something concert’s don’t necessarily have to do.  You feature a vintage act, you mostly get older folks; you feature the latest young sensation, it will mostly be a young crowd.  Trying to please various groups often falls short.  I think Gaga and Bruno Mars both put on good shows, but normally the acts fall short . . like the game itself.

" Posting it twice as you did is trying to make something out of it, and not in a nice way. It is pretty obvious the goal."

Please explain to me what I was trying to "get out of it" and what was my "obvious goal". IMO:  You are being opaque, the attack was not deserved or appreciated.

What the hell were you guys expecting anyway?  It was a half time show!  Having said that, I have to agree with audio2design (about The Weeknd, not the uncalled for accusation deserving an apology). 

I suppose my expectations were low and it was the first time I even heard of the guy. He has a nice enough and pleasant voice, sings in tune and the song was pretty well crafted and catchy......all, considering it is Pop.  He exudes a pleasant vibe that makes one think that he’s probably a nice enough guy; unlike the over-the-top “look at me”, or “diva” vibe of many of today’s Pop “artists”.  Ironically, probably the very reason that some of today’s Pop music consumers might think he is lame.  Sign of the times.