In these deep, dark winter months there is little to do outside of school. The activities of most students include going home and then somehow ending up on the internet. They check their email, they talk to friends, and then, heaven forbid, they download mp3 files. Oh my goodness. I realize everyone remembers Napster and the whole bit with Metallica. What was the over all mood after that? That big money grubbing corporations were pure evil and were trying to get all of the money you have.

You swore that they wouldn’t get any of your money. Nope, not yours. They won’t trick you. They have. Be it due to ignorance or apathy, you’ve given them just what they want. You know your new wonderful bands out there. The ones that you buy their sweatshirts, posters, god know what else... Thanks for buying into corporate America. Thanks for leaving your vow behind. Many new bands are completely fake. They are formed by these wonderful corporations. This may come as a surprise to you, but you beloved Jimmy Eat World and Linken Park are fake. That’s not them writing that stuff. For all you know, it could be some fat guy named Hal sitting in some office somewhere.

These bands are just a different type of boy band. You don’t care. What do you get out of these bands? Are they cute? They are simply posers. They are models for someone’s product. Just spokesmen. In essence they are they are just like the jolly green giant, or Mr. Clean. These bands sell a product. Hopefully we all know who The Monkees were. They couldn’t play, they couldn’t do much of anything. They only made it because teenage girls bought their records. Now that we’re speaking of history. Do you guys remember the Partridge Family? This is the same concept. You don’t need to be able to play. You just need to be able to look good while acting like you are. Just be able to fit some stereotypical role in a band then you’re in. These people don’t deserve you admiration. It’s the people that are actually out in the clubs, the bars, etc... The people actually trying to make it on their own that deserve your respect. They aren’t the fakes.

Modern music is based on what people think you want. They have basically two thoughts. The first is that everything is good. This style is seen in modern pop music. I don’t buy into this blissfully ignorant music. The second is that everyone is so depressed. They act like everything has gone wrong in your life. Blah Blah Blah... My parents didn’t hug me enough... blah blah blah... There are more than two feelings out there in the world. There’s a time for being happy, and then there’s a time for feeling down. You shouldn’t be forced to feel either all of the time. You may not know it but the media is forcing these feeling on you. I know there are other feeling that are so popular in music, we have hate/rage, indifferent, etc... This music also brain washes you into thinking that everyone is the problem. That you are the victim, nothing you do causes your problems. We all know that everyone does mess up. It may actually be your fault. They give you false hopes. Few actually make it in the music business, but these people make it seem so easy. The music business treats you like you are the most gullible person on the planet. Like mentioned before, they music industry tells you what you want to hear. These giant corporations not only degrade you, but they insult groups of people. Do yourself a favor, don’t degrade yourself by listening to this music.

I believe that music says a lot about you. It says who you are. If you listen to this fake music what would that make you? A fake yourself? I won’t say it. You be the judge of that for yourself. Just be fully prepared for what the label brings you. Learn about the music, and the people who play it. For my first example of music that you don’t know about I will use “Every Breath You Take,” by Sting and The Police. I know most of you don’t listen to this but you have heard it before. Your reaction probably isn’t favorable at this point, but I guess you’ve decided to read this far. Just stick with me here. Okay, back to the song. What do you think it’s about? A man devoted to a woman, true love, and the whole sappy story. So cute isn’t it? Do you know that song is actually about the cold war? Sting even says so himself. It’s big brother watching every step you take. Can you believe that some people have that as “their song?” There are millions of examples out there. Not only of songs, but of bands. Not everything is what it seems. Don’t lie to yourself. Be aware of things around you. Just be more aware in general!