for posterity

Message Bookmarked

Bookmark Removed

Can pop music be immortalised in a tasteful way? I have real reservations about the notion of posterity in something as ephemeral as pop music. Rock Circus is obviously naff. But I saw something this weekend which made me question my opinion. I was in Manchester this weekend and walking along Oldham Street I saw some paving stones engraved with Manchester bands album sleeve designs. Kind of like a Hollywood walk thing, but with cracking bands like The Buzzcocks, Joy Division, etc. My Mancunian friends reckon it's great that the city council sees the importance and value of pop music and wishes to immortalise heroes from the city. Where do you stand? Is it possible to make tasteful monuments to popular music?

― Daniel, Sunday, 9 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Related question - "is good music that which can withstand adulation as well as obscurity?"

― dave q, Sunday, 9 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Ah! I saw those Mancunian paving stones last month, and I thought they were wonderful. What I liked about them was the subtlety- that if you knew and loved the bands and the music, they were instantly recognisable, but if you didn't, they would appear crytic and intriguing, rather than some annoying flash hollywood thing.

― exile on krumkill rd, Sunday, 9 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Problematic - but can be good. It depends on the gesture and whether the city council in question had a recent history of trying to censor music, shut down clubs due to ridiculous city codes aimed at 'limiting undesirable traffic' (ie - racial profiling venues playing hiphop), add to this the intent (Tourist Dollars! Come Visit Music City!! Come See where it all happened!! Hendrix Slept here!!)... Civic endorsements from business/corporate sponsorships - complete dud. I've a current plan to start a coup against Paul Allen's 'Experience Music Project' (and naturally appoint ILM/E as the people's tribunal)...

We built this city....

― jason, Sunday, 9 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

whose ass?

― Geoff, Monday, 10 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Every day on my way to the bus stop, I walk past the front of the Bill Graham Auditorium, and embedded into the sidwalk are brass plaques with the images of Bay Area rock legends of the 60's variety. It's tasteful enough. I take care never to tread on Janis.

― Sean, Monday, 10 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

You must be logged in to post. Please either login here, or if you are not registered, you may register here.