Video killed the radio star,
MP3s killed the record companies,
but YouTube will never replace a live performance, at least not by Adam Lambert.
“Video Killed the Radio Star” is a song by a “one hit wonder” British group called The Buggles. The video was the first shown on MTV at 12:01am on August 1, 1981.
I’m not sure that video killed the radio star but it seems it was the beginning of the end. I remember listening to the radio at work and as certain songs were played someone would ask, “Did you see the video for that?” And we would discuss what we liked about the video. Liking a song had as much to do with what the song looked like as much as what it sounded like. But of course we didn’t have a TV at work or in our car, so we still counted on the radio. Many still purchased vinyl albums and some of us were lucky enough to have cassette players in our cars. But albums and cassettes were expensive and you didn’t buy them unless you really liked the group or you had a contract with Columbia House and had to buy 5 cassettes within a year or risk being arrested, which explains my 80s cassette collection. LOL
“MP3s Killed the Record Companies” is a song written by Adam Lambert and Monte Pittman before Adam was on American Idol.
Album sales are on a huge decline because people can download songs and many people download them for free, also known as “stealing.” MP3s are also driving the final stake into radio because there is no point in listening to 20 songs you don’t care for before you hear one good one when you can choose any song at any time on a convenient MP3 that can be taken anywhere.
I am having a
right now and can’t figure out how to conclude this blog. I wanted to make a point about YouTube not being able to replace a LIVE performance, especially where Adam Lambert is concerned.
So I left for work. There is a special spot on my commute where I pay special attention to what is playing on the radio. It’s like some kind of magical portal area. I don’t know how else to describe it. Today’s song was Abba’s “DANCING QUEEN”, which I like, although it didn’t dawn on me until later that it was indeed a message. I thought that Freddie Mercury was resting comfortably now that he got what he wanted, for Adam and Queen to perform together. But Noooooo. My son had a dream on Friday night and in the morning his bowling plaque that hangs on his bedroom wall was in bed with him. Also, a large oil painting that I made in art school that hangs on the same wall was turned almost sideways. Then I took a look at that painting and realized that it is the inside of a RADIO. I think Freddie came in through the radio, which is one of two pieces of my art that I have room to hang in this house. I recall a question being asked of Brian May (guitarist for Queen) about the difference between pop and rock music and he gave an example using Abba. Right now I am on a mission to eliminate all references that pit fans against each other. I say that rather than choose between two things, why not do both? So it doesn’t have to be rock OR pop, but can be rock AND pop. I also am predicting that Adam will tour with Queen and that they will do both Queen music and Adam’s music, which is dance/pop. So “DANCING QUEEN” was a confirmation that it will come to pass.
You know you want to see a video. CLICK HERE.
5:50AM- The first song I hear on the radio at work is “Juke Box Hero.” I’m thinking back to what replaced the juke box, and I guess piped in crappy music replaced them. For some reason I start to think about my blog and MTV and I think about the song “Money for Nothing” which starts out with Sting singing “I want my MTV.” Then I think about Adam fitting in to pop radio and how his current music videos are almost too deep for pop music. Adam is not like a round peg that fits neatly into the round hole that is pop radio. He is multi-talented, can sing any genre, and really, belongs somewhere else.
7:50AM- “Rocky Mountain Way” comes on and reminds me of a story I blogged about on 11/11/11. It was the one time I requested a song on the radio and my sister and I stayed up all night waiting to hear it. They played John Denver’s “Rocky Mountain High.” Sorry Adam, but I haven’t requested a song since.
A book from my childhood comes to mind. It’s a Dr. Seuss book called “Put Me in the Zoo” about a leopard who can change the colors of his spots and do all sorts of fun things with his spots. He tries to convince two children that he should be in a zoo. In the end they decide that, much as he wants to be in the zoo, it is not the right place for him. The circus is the perfect place for him. My conclusion is that as much as Adam Lambert wants to be on pop radio, he just doesn’t fit in.
So where is this “perfect place” for Adam Lambert?
Being a judge on American Idol is a great place to display his talents. Perhaps they can make the judges table with a clear top.
(SORRY! “Glambert Bubble” inside joke. GOOGLE “Adam Lambert talent scouts” if you care about the joke and you are able to handle NC17 content)
And then bring on a worldwide tour with Queen, where they play Adam’s music and Queen’s music. Since both Adam’s and Queen’s music covers many genres, it should be the most diverse show since Clay Aiken’s “Juke Box Tour.”
If you really want to see a video, CLICK HERE. You are a masochist. CONFESSSION TIME: I went to the “Juke Box Tour”, and actually, that video was hilarious.
So that’s where the juke box went. Clay Aiken killed the juke box. LOL
The name of the Queen + Adam Lambert tour will be
“DANCING QUEEN”
and they should consider opening with a cover of it.
LOL
