Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Love Songs from page 3 The Magnetic Fields touring band also contributes (Sam Bavol-cello; John Woo-guitar; Claudia Gonson-keyboards and drums). In the same week as the Athens show, The Magnetic Fields will stop Thursday in Atlanta and on Saturday in New Or leans. In the home field of Merge Records, The Magnetic Fields will play two shows April 25 and 26 at the Artscenter in Carrboro, N.C. These two days. The'Magnetic Fields will perform the entire set of 69 love songs. ■v My Sentimental Melody Stephin Merritt I m a hopeless romantic You’re a terrible flirt Cool and unfazed, you’re always amazed when someone gets hurt I live on the blue planet that I saw in your eyes but now I can’t stay knowing it’s made of beautiful lies ‘I thought, well, what do I have that nobody else can do, that I could turn into a revue? Well, I write pretty good loves songs. Nobody else is writing modern love songs.' Stephin Merritt singer/songwriter for The Magnetic Fields but my sentimental melody like a long-lost lullaby will ring in your ears down through the years —bringing a tear to your eye Goodbye Love can kill people, can’t it Well it still hnay kill me Each drop of rain -is a glass orchampagne It’s sweet and it’s free When I drink I don’t panic When I drink I don’t die When I’m far gone it’s all just a song just beautiful lies... Special to The Gamecock (Left to right) Sam Davol, Shirley Simms (guest vocals), Claudia Gonson and (in the mirror) Stephin Merritt The Magnetic Fields will be playing Friday April 21 in Athens, Gan in support of their latest release, 69 Love Songs. If you’re really ambitious The Magnetic Fields: On Tour 20 April Atlanta, Ga. The Variety Playhouse 21 April Athens, Gn The 40 Watt 22 April New Orleans, La. Tipitina's Uptown 25-26April Cartboro, N.C The Artscenter PERFORMING THE ENTIRE 69 LOVE SONGS OVER TWO NIGHTS 24 May Columbus, (Mo The A1 Rosa 25 May Pontiac, Midi. The Seventh House 26-27May Chicago, 111. Old Tom School PERFORMING THE ENTIRE 69 LO VE SONGS OVER TWO NIGHTS 28May Minneapolis, Minn. Women's Club Assembly 6 - 7 June Los Angeles, Calif. Knitting Factory West PERFORMING THE ENTIRE 69 LOVE SONGS OVER TWO NIGHTS 9-10 June San Fransisco, Calif. Great American Music Hall PERFORMING THE ENTIRE 69 LOVE SONGS OVER TWO NIGHTS Royal We from page 2 er take to their sound, and we would honestly not want to give them up. You see, it’s like knowing something that no one else knows about: Half the kick is knowing that you know something no one else knows. You aren’t readily willing to give that beauty up. But we are diverging. The point we re trying to make is this: When R.E.M. appeared on the cover of Rolling Stone, it was because of their extreme popularity. They were on the top of the music world, and everyone knew who they were. Since then, the commercial era has more or less ignored their albums, and they’ve symbolically retreated to the depths of their own creativity. They are as happy as clams, but they just don’t get as much press. So, to make a long story short (too late), we’re trying to tell you that we now realize we’re at fault for our lack of comfort on the recliner of popular cul ture. We can’t find salvation because this preacher isn’t speak ing our language. We are the ones who walk the unbeaten path and stray from the norm. We are the outliers. We don’t get what everyone else knows, nor do we want to. You see, we think that popular culture has ceased to be a luxury. It doesn’t open us up to any new ideas or outlets. It is more of a necessity now. Record labels and production stu dios push their agendas through the filters of popular culture to make a buck or start a fad. There is no real care or con cem for enriching the audience and advancing the genre. That stuff isn’t profitable. Like our friend Todd Money said, “Pop ular culture serves its own purpose. Kind of like a K-Mart. It serves its generic purpose and doesn’t really branch out in the terms of creativity.” It’s a sad state when the main medium that music and film are supposed to operate through is aiding in the deteri oration of its creativity and edge. Why would a director or songwriter take a risk when they know they can easily make lots of money utilizing the same formula of those who have gone before? The quest for the almighty buck has outshined and eclipsed the desire to make an artistic statement. The cul ture is getting dumber, and it’s taking its faithful followers with it. No one in the scope of popular culture would dare make an artistic statement. What, you think Rage Against the Ma chine are true anarchists? Hell, they are the machine. If they think people listen to them for their lyrical content and po litical import, they need to try again. Put those words to jazz, and then see how many fans you get. And what about us? Well, you know what they say, “When a ship is sinking, follow the rats.” While this makes us out to be rats, we’ll be sitting comfortably on the high ground while the SS Popular Culture runs itself aground. “If your time to you Is worth savin’ Then you better start swimmin’ Or you’ll sink like a stone For the times they are a-changin’.”