The Evolving Festival Culture
I may be a complete idealist when it comes to music but I’m still in love with the idea that everyday people can pick up basic instruments and make sense
of our world. Although, I am beginning to think that I am in the minority. I’ve heard this theory that there are two kinds of people in the world. There are lyric people and music people. The lyric people tend to be analytical, all about the meaning of the song. They’re the ones you see with the CD insert out 5 minutes after buying it, poring over the lyrics, interpreting the hell out of everything. Then there are the music people. They are the people who could care less for the lyrics or the meaning behind the song as long as it’s just got a good beat and you can dance to it.
There is probably no better example of ‘music people’ then the thousands of people you can’t avoid at festivals all over the summer every year. The kind of people who have no idea who is playing but are there anyway, rain, hail or shine. They are there, usually shirtless or wearing as little as possible.
It’s clear that music festivals are fast becoming less about the music and more about people trying to look good and fulfill their constant need to get ‘loose’, with a combination of too many drugs, too much alcohol and way too much fake tan. Their general shitness crosses all boundaries of musical tastes, so whether your festival calendar involves Big Day Out, Splendour in the Grass or Parklife they will be there showing off their sweaty Southern Cross tattoos, right along side the scantily dressed girls who are too busy taking photos for their Myspace and Facebook pages to go see any of the artists appearing on the stellar line ups. That is if you can even get your hands on a ticket in the first place.
It seems that these days to get away from that kind of festival culture you have to take a 19 hour long drive down to Melbourne for Falls Festival or discover a new festival in its first or second year of life, although it is definitely a welcome relief from what music festivals are evolving into. Maybe one day they will look back and realise what the rest of us already know. For now, I still battle the fake-tanned bogan crowds because I love music, safe in the knowledge that others feel my pain. ‘Lyric’ people still exist – you just have to fight through the bogans to find them.
October 12th, 2009 at 7:09 pm
The music is just as important as the lyrics, if not more. That’s why they tend to split up royalties in to music and lyric. What about instrumental bands? And I’m sorry, when did festival attire become proportionate to how much a person likes music and/or lyric?
October 12th, 2009 at 7:14 pm
Yep, with Cam on this one. I see the point you’re trying to make, but you just confused us all.
October 14th, 2009 at 12:59 pm
Wow, high-horse much?
October 15th, 2009 at 6:21 pm
I think what you’re saying is true in that festivals are becoming less about the music and more about the party. And certainly, there are ‘music’ people and there are ‘lyric’ people, but assuming that all ‘music’ people are bogans/druggies/fake-tanned is jumping to conclusions.
October 16th, 2009 at 11:04 am
I’m a massive ‘music’ person. Especially when I’m listening to music with lyrics that are indecipherable- it doesn’t make me like the track less. Most of the time learning the real lyrics aren’t as awesome as the ones I’ve made up!
I agree that learning the lyric to a song often adds a deeper understanding and feeling, but saying that people who just listen to the music and like it because they can dance to it are generally bogans is a little bit narrow-minded. I like certain tracks for that reason and although I may come from Ipswich, I don’t colour my skin like an Oompa Loompa or wear a bikini top as a top.
In short, I agree with Will and Cam.
Oh and won’t the bogans just go and drink their XXXX and take their pingers away from me? Southern Cross tatts aren’t patriotic, they’re cringe-worthy. Just had to get that out there.
June 7th, 2010 at 4:59 am
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