Fall Out Boy, Death Cab for Cutie, Motion City Soundtrack, and Say Anything are all bands that I once considered “mine”. Now Fall Out Boy has sold millions, Death Cab is getting radio play scrunched between John Mayer and Jack Johnson, Motion City Soundtrack is every 14 year old’s favorite, and Say Anything is on TRL (I thought they were the one band I was safe with!). We have all experienced the heartbreak that occurs when one of our favorite bands gets big, but the question is, is it selfish of us to want them to remain ours?
Whenever one of our most cherished artists becomes popular, the natural instinct is to hate the heartless sell-outs they are. I mean, we’ve been listening to them ever since they released that shitty EP seven years ago, how is a 14 year old, Panic! at the Disco-loving girl supposed to appreciate them? Well, unfortunately they aren’t. This however, should have no bearing on your admiration of the band. Unless the band has done anything purposefully to cater to these types of fans, they cannot hold the blame for it. As hard as it may be to stomach, a band’s fans are no reason to turn your back on them. I promise if you stand away from the teenies it will be just fine. Case in point, I was at a Motion City Soundtrack show this December and was having a miserable time. When I moved back and away from those that cannot legally drive, my enjoyment of the show increased tenfold. For one, I could actually see the band instead of focusing on the meaningless back and forth sway that had caused me to fall over at least twice and I could now breathe, which I am told is necessary for all of our life processes. I found the show to be much more enjoyable without the needless high pitched screams of cartoon-watching girls filling my ears. So yes, it is possible to work around even seemingly insurmountable difficulties such as annoying new fans.
There is however, one clause which allows you to void your fan to band contract; actually selling out. It is rare when a band you love can surprise you by selling out, it is usually fairly easy to predict and set yourself up for the letdown. However, every once in a while a band you thought you were safe with will get too tempted by the money and fame and construct a radio-ready generic piece of garbage. Luckily for you, your contract with them is now null and void. Since they violated the terms by changing and dumbing down their music in a negative way, you are free to do as you please.
This does not mean that getting out of your contract is easy. When Death Cab for Cutie signed to Atlantic, I will admit I was a little wary, but I believed my faithfulness would be rewarded. Thankfully, Death Cab relieved my worries by releasing their major label debut Plans which was a natural progression from their previous album Transatlanticism. However, I’m sure there were those that turned their back on Death Cab once they had their “The O.C.” fame and signed to a major [label]. There were, I’m sure, many “fans” that decided that by signing to a major (and thus deciding to be able to afford to pay their bills) Death Cab had “sold out” and was no longer worthy of their hipster esteem. This is clearly a violation of the contract and is deserving of a stern talking to.
So please, when one of your bands deservedly is acknowledged for being talented, don’t immediately write them off as another “sell-out”, but instead be glad that they will actually be able to get to tour in a bus, own a decent house, and eat something other than McDonalds for once. It will not change how the CD sounds in your car and hopefully it will not change them too much. Yes, it is in fact okay if your favorite band gets big..well…maybe not your absolute favorite…because I don’t know what I would do if they…um…it’s okay if a couple in your top ten get big…and I suppose it’s okay to be a little protective.
