Day: August 9, 2007

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Play Your Hits!

http://jam.canoe.ca/Music/Artists/C/City_And_Colour/2007/08/09/4404631.html

Here’s an interesting article about Dallas Green not wanting to play his hit song ‘Save Your Scissors’. It goes on to talk about other artists who get tired of playing the same hit song and want to stop.

I remember years ago reading this about Counting Crows Mr. Jones and how they stopped playing it for a tour.

Where do you stand on this issue? Where do I stand on this issue?

Mmm…years ago I saw the sense of it and how you could get tired of playing the same old thing. Even I hit a wall playing Mr. Jones because everyone wanted to hear it all the time. I was thinking “But I have so many other songs I can play which I have fun with and I think you’ll like them also!”

I think it was when I started reading a lot more about U2 and the Rolling Stones that I realized that part of the music business is the fact that you are there for your fans, not for your self-indulgent ways on stage. So if you can take 3 minutes out of your life to play the crap out of a song that you don’t care to play, but then you make the entire audience be moved, then play the song! Back in the day, music was more of a business and musicians knew that a lot more. They knew they had to go play the hits. Heck, why do you think cover bands appear at bars? We’re not there to see them drone out their own material, we want to hear some Billy Idol playing!

That being said – I feel for the artists who get tired of playing a song, but I think you should remember who you’re there to entertain. Sure, you can throw the argument that the hardcore fans would rather you be happy and play what you want, while all the while getting a few gems you pull out from yesteryear instead of playing a hit. But do you really think a band’s audience consists of only hardcore fans? Do you really think when AC/DC goes out on tour, their fans own all their albums? Why do you think Greatest Hits albums are a great seller year after year?

Artists – play your hits. Please the masses. Even your hardcore fans aren’t going to say “Oh man, not THIS song again.”

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Reviews

Review: 300

Got around to watching the 300 film with Eric, Annie and Mike last night. 300 is based on the graphic novel of same name by Frank Miller (Frank, we love you!) which deals with the 300 Spartans who go to battle with Xerxes.

Stop right there. I don’t know much about Greek Mythology and if you don’t either, don’t worry. You don’t need it to watch this film.

Anyhow, the film shows how 300 Spartans hold their own against the hordes (read: millions) of warriors sent by Persian ruler Xerxes. Hey, this is just a film so if you want to know the truth of numbers, go read some Greek mythology. There’s an interesting quote about this film from the director where he speaks of the narrator and says “Dilios – “a guy who knows how not to wreck a good story with truth.” I feel they are speaking about me because (believe it or not) some of my stories have a little embellishment. 😉

Anyhow, the film was filmed entirely in Montreal around a bluescreen which allowed for each scene to resemble the graphic novel comic book panes once assembled via special effects. Much like Sin City. Very cool concept. I would like to watch it again with the graphic novel in hand.

There was stylized violence (think The Matrix) which I love but others hate and there was this fantastical aura surrounding the film – especially when you peer upon some creatures that the Persian army employ.

I enjoyed it and if you want a good film to check out (but with a lot of battle scenes, the whole thing reminded me of an extended Helms Deep film (Helms Deep from The Two Towers for those who are keeping check)) I would recommend it. I wasn’t blown away by it, but I enjoyed it nonetheless.