Just Wrong

Yes, I am one of those annoying people that know all the lyrics to most songs.  and yes, my brain is full of “useless” facts about most bands. If there was a major in college for Rock Music and Pop Culture, I would have been all over it. Alas, the School of Rock did not exist yet. 

So some would call me an obsessive music fan. Some would call me “Mr. Nostalgia” (see last post). Yet some of you out there surely understand the feeling of embracing music as a part of you, and not just background music in elevator of life.  And it is for those of you that fit into this last category that I write today, for last night I witnessed and heard the complete and utter trashing of a classic song. 

The scene: a dance, complete with flashing lights, big screens, camera, and 2 DJ’s (sadly, no pyrotechnics, but maybe next year).  The typical modern fare was being blared from the speakers: Rhianna, Madonna, numerous rap songs complete with keyboard/chorus repeated ad nauseum.  I was watching the large screens as entertainment, when the songs weren’t my cup of tea.  Suddenly, an image appeared that was instantly familiar: it was Kurt Cobain’s face up close-the final scene from the “Smells Like Teen Spirit” video.  ”Hmm”, I thought to myself. “That is an interesting shot to throw into a loop of dance music/videos”.  But the thought stopped there, since I figured it was just a random 10 seconds in an endless montage of short attention span theater. 

So imagine my complete shock and horror when the opening riff of the song kicked in, along with pulsating bass and electronic drums.  Yes, I was listening to a horrific club version of the seminal song from the early 90’s. To make matters worse, there was an edited version of the video playing, cut to make those anarchistic cheerleaders appear to be hopping up and down to the pulsating beat.  I could not believe my eyes and ears. Not only was this completely lost on many of the patrons of the dance, most of which were not alive when the song came out. But for those of us who were indeed walking the earth when this song wiped clean the slate of Sunset Blvd rock and roll, we knew how far away from its original intention and inspiration this was straying. This, without a sense of irony, was a travesty. This was blasphemy in the truest sense of the word. 

I suppose this is what people from the 60’s and 70’s feel like when they see a Bob Dylan or Led Zeppelin song being used in a car commercial. At least in this case it was not being used to peddle 4 wheel drive and efficient gas mileage.  But still…wasn’t the awful version Tori Amos put out years ago torture enough? What is next, Chris Cornell collaborating with Timbaland for an album called Scream that has over 600 negative reviews on iTunes?  Just throwing out possibilities, people. 

Some of you are saying it is just a song. Some of you are wondering what the big fuss is. Some of you went to New Kids on the Block concerts in 7th grade, and the reunion concert. I rest my case. All I know is that if you hear reports of the zombie-fied body of Kurt Cobain invading clubs across the US, seeking the life (and brains) of any DJ playing this nauseating remix, you shouldn’t  be surprised.