March 23, 2004
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I have a dream that one-day people will have a magnetic pull towards concerts. That ticket prices will be lowered, as well as CD pricing, and that stars will get paid what they’ve earned. I want all people to be able to love, and listen to their favorite bands, without having to pay massive amounts of money.
There is nothing like a live show, nothing at all. The way the smoky atmosphere fills the arena, like fog rising off the ground. The way the crowd jumps to their feet at the slightest indication the act is about to come on, to them the most magnificent being on earth is about to enter. The way the voices of the people around you blend to one with the music, like doves crying out to each other. The way the band starts to mellow out, lighters fly into the air, an unpredictable quite forms and “boom!” the rhythm falls back in with a lively tune, that makes your heart beat in time to the drums. The way the true fans mouth every word, eyes fixated on the performer. Nothing in the world matters at the moment. The way the people are after, with comments like “ahh man, that show was sick!” you see their eyes light up and dance around like they did when they were young, like eager little children. There’s truly nothing like it in the world.
I went to my first Dave Matthews concert Tuesday night, my Christmas present from my sister. It was the most amazing environment, everyone up, dancing, singing along, and having an awesome time. We didn’t have the best seats in the house, but it didn’t matter, the visual wasn’t the point. The feeling that nothing can touch you comes to mind when you’re sitting there in your seat watching your favorite band. Dave’s voice, mixed with Reynolds and Trey switching verses on guitar was one of the best moments of my life. Watching Devlyn and Loo, my sisters’ avid Dave loving friends, spaz out as Trey strummed his electric at a fast steady beat was the most amusing part of the night. I can’t even begin to explain the amazing feeling of living, of having fun, of screaming out the lyrics to “you get me high” my favorite song. And as “stay or leave” dropped in, after an elongated intro, the place went absolutely nuts. This concert was a crazy riot, a fight to keep the good things in life burning alive inside.
There is one downside at this day in age to seeing a live show, the money. We didn’t sit backstage or front row at Dave, we had balcony, and those seats cost about $60 each. It’s absolutely asinine. You would think that with millions of adoring fans you would like to give them a cheaper price to come praise your work.
Take Britney Spears for example, she can’t sing, she can’t act, and her social skills and character are at a bare minimum. Somehow though Britney is managing to make $75 a pop off little twelve-year-old girls. For what, so they can come to see her dance? There is no talent behind Britney, just a smiling face, and a personal trainer. Why cant people see real talent?
$50-$150 for the admission, don’t add in parking money, which if in Boston, you’re paying a huge number for. And don’t count the food you may want at a show, that’s only $7 for a plate of nachos. Then there’s the apparel that you just have to have, which is ridiculously expensive. $35 for a t-shirt, $20 for an un-framed poster, you want a beanie, that will be $25. A night of pure music has now turned into something more than that; it’s turned into a financial nightmare.
How can people not boycott the sale of these items? Why don’t people stop going to shows? As I said before, it’s because they’re amazing. I find it rather ironic seeing the people who made the rock stars famous in the first place get charged large amounts of dollars to go see their show.
When I fall in love with a band, their music speaks out to me, and I want right away to know every song, every verse, every small sound the guitar makes as the person holding it plucks away. But these things take time; you need to go buy their CD. But at age fourteen, do you honestly think we have the money to go out and get every LP, and EP there is, unfortunately the answer in most cases is no. So why are record companies still charging $15-$20 for a CD, and expecting teens not to download?
Prices need to be lowered, and it needs to be now. Teens are sharp objects in the toolbox of life, but no multiple millionaires, and even if we were I think we would still have to rebel against high pricing. I don’t think it’s fair that we made them and their making us pay in the end. It’s just such a mystery to me; how stars just don’t seem to see that without fans they would be nothing. Where’s their conscious?
Have any of you every seen the show Cribs? Well, if you haven’t it’s pretty much showing off how much money the stars have “earned”. You see their massive house, which in most cases take up a square block, you see their hot cars, and beautiful clothes, what I don’t see is their talents, and the praise they give to their fans.
I was looking in a People Magazine the other day, and I came upon a picture of Beyonce Knowles in South Africa. She was sitting with children, making it seem as if they were having a great time. I then realized that she had on what looked like a $2,000 suit. I thought to myself how pathetic, she’s wearing that trying to look good for the camera, and there is a poor, hungry, cuddly bearish boy on her lap.
This is a fast world, and if you don’t live it the best you can then what’s the point? Have a good time, see what you want to see in this carousel we call life, and don’t worry about anything, it all works out in the end. I have a feeling that one-day humans will rise above everything, the money, the fashion, and the parties. That one-day we will be able to go to benefit concerts, were you get paid if you’re a good act. That one-day we will be willing to work for what we want, and we wont have to deal with outrageous pricing, and payments. That one-day I will be able to rest in peace, knowing I lived it well.
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