Daman Albarn is not fan of Glee. He’s made this known previously, basically saying he wouldn’t allow his music to be used on the show, calling the covers they do “a very poor substitute for the real thing.” While doing an interview with Q TV he reiterated and expanded his position.
“It’s a homogenization of everything and it will ultimately lead to emptiness.” “Pedophiles” disagree.
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Costs him in the pocket!?!? How much money ought one man want!?!?!?
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I think that is certainly true in the realm of The Archies (still underrated) or Gem and the Holograms, but with Gorillaz and how much thought and care goes into both the visuals and the music, I think you do need to take into account the intent of the creator(s). When I listen to Gorillaz, I hear a group of people trying to create a new music for a new century, but I don’t think anyone will argue the same about Glee. Or maybe they will? Prove me wrong, kids, prove me wrong.
I think peoples attitude towards this are all wrong. They’re not JUST a “cartoon” band, some would argue they aren’t at all anymore. They’re an audio/visual experience and that’s the way they’ve chose to present their music. And yes, you want your music to be heard, but not played by other musicians (if you could even go as far enough to call them that.
When Gorillaz play live, they’ve got a 14 piece band playing that is just as prominent as the cartoon on the screens. So they’re not substituting anything. Except, perhaps, giving you utter creativity.
If I were in Damon’s position, I’d have responded, “Is this an interview, or a marketing meeting?”
From Dianna Agron’s blog: “I’d like to start by saying that these are solely my thoughts on the November issue of GQ and the controversy that has surrounded its release. I am not a representative of the three of us, the show, or Fox, only myself….”
Still haven’t seen this show.
Damon Albarn, has always been a bit too British for me, but I’ve always had alot of respect for him. He knows music, he’s been a popstar, but he never really sold out. He never really made a hit because he had to. Blur>Oasis. Nuff said. lol
He makes good points, but they seem to be a bit more catered to shows like American Idol. In which case, he’s dead on. He’s probably right about a lot of things, but I still love Glee. Like Nip Tuck before it, is uses music as a plot device (unlike, say, a Wes Anderson movie where you have the film and then the creator’s weekly playlist as the audio). And unlike truly empty network talent shows, it shows (in an admittedly over the top, cheesy way) how music can help people work through struggles or form an identity etc. etc.
That all sounded really corny. And I guess that’s fine, because Glee’s a corny show. And yeah it’s a big show and there’s probably a good share of evil there, but I don’t think it’s as slave evil and Albarn’s making it out to be.
Dianna Agron is hot.
I feel like what the DJ is saying, rather than Damon, is more geared towards the American Idol thing, you know? I don’t know how you can argue that being on Glee can lead to more success in the music industry. I mean, when he says that it’s a way for bands to have their music out there, does Glee ever use music from obscure or up and coming bands? I don’t know, I’m honestly asking because I’ve only seen one episode, but they were singing Doors songs on the one I saw. And then didn’t they do an entire Madonna episode? It doesn’t seem like it’s a springboard to success to me.
I think that the point about Wes Anderson is a good one, except for Needle In The Hay from Tennenbaums. Pretty haunting, that scene, music especially.
No, you’re exactly right. Obscure on Glee just means big hits from the 70′s or 80′s. I don’t know, maybe some teen show where they play tons of radio friendly but kinda obscure music would be a good way for bands to make money and get exposure, but that’s some Gorillaz doesn’t need to worry about.
And Wes Anderson was just the first dude that came to mind. Needle in Hay did work perfectly, though. A lot of crappier examples just came to mind first
Hate to say it, but that sounds like a job for The O.C.
That is how I got into The Walkmen. rip Marissa Cooper
Forgive the diatribe, but I have to interrupt and say that I think Wes Anderson is a bad example of using “the creator’s weekly playlist as the audio” for a film. That applies a sense of randomness to the musical selections. His first three movies had a nearly perfect integration of music. The sound of the music always added to the ambiance of the scenes and heightened the viewers senses. Obviously, “Needle in the Hay” is amazing, but several others also come to mind:
-Love: “Seven and Seven Is” (the house robbery scene in Bottle Rocket)
-Love: “Alone Again Or” (the love scene in Bottle Rocket)
-The Who: “A Quick One While He’s Away” (Herman Blume & Max destroying each other’s property)
-Faces: “Ooh La La” (the after-play party in Rushmore)
Sure, it’s become cooler to make fun of Wes Anderson at this point than it is to say you love him, but what he did with music in those movies made for unforgettable moments.
You also mention that Glee shows “how music can help people work through struggles or form an identity etc. etc.”, which I think Wes Anderson does a good job of, too:
-That French song at the beginning of The Darjeeling Limited where Schwartzman keeps playing it, as if it is a mantra he needs to repeat.
-The Rolling Stones: “Ruby Tuesday” (Richie & Margot bonding over a record in the tent)
-The Rolling Stones: “I Am Waiting” (Max Fischer walking away from his mother’s grave and hiding away in his house)
He certainly has his moments, and those are probably well thought out uses of music. But for every instance of a song that works perfectly, there seem to 5 others where he’s just trying to fill empty space with something that seems to work. Like, These Days when Margot gets off the bus in Royal Tenenbaums is lovely at first, but it’s too short, and too hurried in the way it’s trying to sort of force this sentimentality on you at the beginning of the movie to really make an emotional impact. Or Life on Mars in the Life Aquatic. They hit the chorus immediately and it’s this huge thing, and then it’s over. I get that he just met this estranged son, and that’s a big moment, but the song doesn’t really seem to fit. It just goes along with having the Bowie soundtrack.
Again, he was just the first dude that came to mind. And I honest to goodness love most of his movies. The only one I haven’t seen is Darjeeling Limited, and that’s because at the time it came out, I just couldn’t motivate myself to spend $8 on what appeared to be another go at the same old same old. He makes great movies, but at this point there needs to be a little more variation to get me to see a new one (thanks Incredible Mr. Fox!). All the love aside though, I think the fun of throwing your favorite tunes into your movie does need to be critiqued at some point.
God damn that’s way too much text. Stopping now and never mentioning Wes Anderson on Stereogum again.
Well, actually, Will Oldham did criticize that in an interview with the AV Club a few years ago:
http://www.avclub.com/articles/will-oldham,26498/
But I remember when Rushmore came out, the soundtrack was a Big Deal. There was even an interview I read at the time with the Musical Director of the film, saying basically “holy shit you put Here Comes My Baby in the movie!!!” So whatever it has become, when it first came out it was a novel and interesting idea.
I like the Gorillaz. I like Damon Albarn. That is all.
You leave Wes Anderson out of this! On another note, maybe Albarn just thinks Glee is not a good show. And he would be right.
It’s a total disgrace that Glee surpassed The Beatles as the most hit charting “recording artist”.
That’s too depressing!!!!
I have a new found respect and love for Mr. Albarn.
I love damon, but he still sells blur tunes to car commercials and other awful companies. His criticisms ring a little hollow
I don’t know anything about the show Glee, but I think Damon’s point was about having young musicians using cover versions of songs to establish careers rather than write their own songs. I don’t think his willingness to license Blur songs invalidates this opinion.
He should. It’s a horrible show. The singing and dancing routines are cheesy. The performers may be talented, but the show is stupid. I know the sagging music industry is desperate to get their songs included in the show, but really? Isn’t this just High School musical or one of those other shows for young adults?
This makes him extremely more attractive to me than he already was…so incredibly smart and good-looking…yes, yes, go Damon…aarrrhgggghhhh
granted he was in one of the most successful 90′s bands in the UK and made tons of money already…he is right…
I sincerely hope that the interviewer is just playing devil’s advocate with those questions. I was always a Glee supporter, because most of the time their musical arrangements actually furthered the plot in some way. But I’ve noticed more and more, especially this season, that they are just inserted into the plot. Basically it’s like this:
“I’ve been feeling kind of sad because of this or that, so I will express my feelings in song”. And that might happen about 3 or 4 times in one episode. So the show might have started off as this innocent show that actually cared about cohesiveness between music and the story of these music geeks, but it’s not like that anymore. Damon made an excellent point, and he is the man. In all respects.
Damon isn’t in it for the money. Don’t you think he’s been offered huge amounts for a new Blur album? Gorillaz is good but Blur was amazing. Anyway… What’s Glee ?
Good on him for speaking his mind! In what I would say quite an eloquent manor.
the comment “Damon Albarn, has always been a bit too British for me” made me smile! :)