On Music and Preciousness
Preciousness, I hate it. In spite of my love for twee, I cannot stand “look at me look at me” sentimentalism. This is why I hate Everything Is Illuminated, Natalie Portman, Wes Anderson, and numerous other things.Carrie Brownstein sums it up beautifully on Monitor Mix:
Each of us has a deal-breaker when it comes to songs, albums, or musicians…For myself, the line in the sand is neither of the aforementioned. My deal-breaker is preciousness: when the music is a tiny, baby bird that needs us to be nurturing and respectful, otherwise it can’t spread its wings…
Other indicators of preciousness include, but are not limited to…asking people to lie down on the floor for the next song; and any audience sing-along or participation so complicated that it needs to be explained BEFORE the song starts.
I’ve butchered her quote so go read the article for the whole thing. Unfortunately my comment on the blog was moderated out. It said “Re: ‘asking people to lie down on the floor for the next song; and any audience sing-along or participation so complicated that it needs to be explained BEFORE the song starts.’ I was at a Mirah show where this happened circa Advisory Committee. So were you.”
I can’t help but think that’s exactly what she was referencing, because I seem to recall her grimacing the entire show. Mirah asked everyone to sit on the floor for one song and then gave complicated sing along (and jangle your keys to the beat) instructions for another.
