Last night’s Report featured Stephen’s analysis of the Grammys (he’s a voting member of NARAS since he won a gramophone last year). It centered mostly on the Best Alternative Album category, which served as a good setup — and netted a couple of Colbert one-liners on Arcade Fire, Band Of Horses, and Broken Bells — for a “sell-out-off” debate between Ezra from Vampire Weekend and the Black Keys on which band had most sold their souls. (Stephen’s verdict: “Clearly you have equally whored out your music.”) Watch it for Colbert’s likening the economic evolution of music to that of porn (nobody pays for it anymore), or for the bands’ jabs at Pat’s “ironic glasses” and Ezra’s Cape Coddity, or for my favorite part: the audience’s confusion as to how to react to the airing of the commercials the bands use as exhibits in their competition to be the biggest sell-out. Since they’re making fun of something traditionally viewed as artistically undesirable, the audience is left with the difficult decision of how best to use their applause power, which they reconcile in the way audiences do best: applaud for the thing they are most familiar with. Which means, of course, VMPR WKND’s Honda “Holiday” ad brings down the house. The fun starts around 3:45.
Tune in to watch Arcade Fire not win Album Of The Year during the Grammys telecast on 2/13. Here are your nominees.
You Might Also Like
 Vampire Weekend, Steve Buscemi & Fred Armisen @ Roseland… |  Major Lazer – “Jessica” (Feat. Ezra Koenig) |  Watch Ezra Koenig’s Girls Cameo |  Frank Ocean Nominated For 6 Grammys |
 |
 |
Leave a Reply
Sign in Sign in with FacebookYou must be logged in to post, reply to, or rate a comment.
Self-awareness runs deep these days, and given the popularity of such great satire as The Colbert Report, I wonder how it is affecting the evergreen idealists of the liberal arts school freshman classes? Are they already jaded and dismissive of wide-eyed dorm room lessons about activism and integrity?
Someone needs to do a Never Been Kissed style infiltration of the young’uns and report on this very important topic. Just whoever does so must be careful not to have it become a Back To School style descent into one-liners and Robert Downey Jr.
I thought it was funny. And it’s interesting to see how things have changed in 15 years. Maybe it is due to the changing nature of the we consume and pay for music, but I certainly have no problem with it when a favorite band decides to cash in on their creations (depending on the product they shill for, of course).
And I don’t think it’s so much that no one pays for music so much as no one listens to the radio anymore. Bands have to get exposure somehow. I’m pretty sure I first heard the Walkmen and Brendan Benson through the use of their songs in commercials, and they’ve both become acts that I see in concert every time they come through town.
Truth. The Black Keys have put out a whole lot of music in their short career, but I feel like they’re only starting to get the kind of big time exposure they deserve. And if commercials and soundtracks are why, then I gotta think it’s a good thing. I’m sure there’s a ton to say about integrity and all that, but shit. They keep putting out tons of good stuff, and I’m glad they’re making money off it/funding more of it. God knows I don’t buy music anymore.
I’d agree with both your comments. When I was a bit younger I used to get annoyed when a band I liked got “too big”, or “sold out”. Like the band signed a commercial contract for the use of one of THEIR tracks as a way to spite ME. I think the thing that people seem to forget, because of how consumed we can become with music, is that the people and groups that create the art are the ones who should have the say in how it’s used, distributed, etc. They work incredibly hard at their craft to entertain us, and for most the common goal is to hit a critical mass level of recognition for what they’re providing to the people. I don’t see one damn thing wrong with that. If you “discovered” a band before your friends, co-workers or a Prius driver who is influenced by a commercial your favorite song is on, then savor some quiet pride in the fact that you have good taste in music. Just don’t be a jaded d-bag about it when artists try to put some coin in their pocket for a job well done.
God I hate the Grammys and the fact people think they are “Music’s highest honor”
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see
I think I’ve got just the mellow music to soothe your jangled nerves.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_i1xk07o4g
You’re so hip that you’re probably pissed at me for calling you hip
You remind me of the “anarchist” kids at my middle school who protested their curfews.
im making a list of all sell outs check it out: http://indiesellsout.wordpress.com/
if anything that list of yours just shows how common it is for bands (especially new bands trying to make it) to sell songs to commercials. Its not selling out if its a sign of the times
It’s funny that Colbert said nobody pays for music anymore cause both of these artists had an excellent past year. Contra was number one on the Billboard charts in early 2010. If anybody’s made money the past year it’s definitely these two bands.
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see
Great segment.
LOLz
PS: Guys, don’t quit your day job for acting.
PSS: Thanks to Colbert for instructing me on why the Grammy suck so much: people are voting on things they know nothing about! Simply check the most familiar name. Why not let winners vote only on their category, in his case, comedy.
right? the acting was soo bad haha. pretty funny tho
That was one of the best sketches I have ever seen. Ezra shouting profanity was the icing on the cake! But truth be told, The Black Keys have won the “Sell-Out-Off.” They have had way more music in commercials than Vampire Weekend.
I miss Dan Auerbach’s beard
I don’t, actually. I find that he’s at least three times sexier without it.
Loved it! sometimes people get so angry when their favorite “indie” bands “sell out” but for fuck’s sake if they don’t change their musical style and continue giving the fans the same good music then there should be no problem with them selling their music to big companies, after all music is their way of life and their only income. And many people come to notice these bands via commercials, etc. I dont get all the fuss about “selling out”, bleh.
Selling out, hmmmmm, doesn’t really affect me. Who watches TV anyway? TV is garbage. I’ll never see any indie band’s commercials, only people watching ridiculous reality TV will.
Loved the segment! They deserve so many congratulations for being nominated, but I’m really excited for Broken Bells, too! Their debut album (nominated for best Alt album) is on sale for $5 on Amazon until 1/31. get it!