Pearl Jam Hypocrisy

2-feign-reluctance · March 2011

It's their art, legacy & lives to make however they want. They can't please everyone, nor do I think they want or wanted to.

JOEJOEJOE · March 2011

I can see how people would have an issue with PJ doing a deal with Target. The band had very extreme opinions 20 years ago, but things often change. Obviously, someone popular, and with such strong convictions will be put inder a microscope should they decide to deviate.

However, we must keep in mind that PJ did a deal with Sony in the early 90s....they associated their name with a major label, and in exchange, they got an advance, money to record/tour, as well as a $100,000s in promotion and advertising. It can be argued that PJ wouldn't have gotten where they are without Sony.

In a sense, Target acted as the band's record label by providing most of the promotion for the new album. Doing a deal with Target may be viewed as "selling out", but, IMHO, these days, it isn't that much different then signing to a major label.

Though they have obviously done ok financially, using all of their own money to record and promote an album is very risky these days. I was surprised to see them on a Target commercial, but as long as they continue to tour, I am not too bothered.

Someone once joked "I didn't sell-out, I bought-in!

adamdude · March 2011

Ok, I think I need to clarify that when I said Eddie, fuck you, I was semi-joking about the fact that Eddie said "fuck you" to all the artists he mentioned in that quote.

adamdude · March 2011

I think the thing that doesn't sit right about the Target deal isn't the deal itself, its mostly that commercial and the private gig. The deal itself I probably wouldn't have thought twice about if it didnt come with those things. And maybe even if the commercial was just the fixer clip with "get it exclusively at Target" at the end, rather than Target logos floating everywhere. That makes it a pretty obvious promotion for Target the shop itself too imo. And it seems like these things have come along at the same time as the music becoming more like watered down pop music thats easy to digest for as many people as possible. So I think it may be affecting the music.

adamdude · March 2011

And yeah, the sony label thing is a good point but there were never any commercials with floating sony logos everywhere.

JK109224 · March 2011

adamdude wrote:

And yeah, the sony label thing is a good point but there were never any commercials with floating sony logos everywhere.

I respect what you're posting, and agree on some points, but what a ridiculous thing to say. Every PJ album ad had massive Sony logos in them.

AzWicker · March 2011

Also, a lot may have to do with age. What pisses you off when your 25 isn't necessarily the same thing when you are 45... Well except my kids when they are bad

josevolution · March 2011

You want discussion how about i don't give a damn about anything that bothers you concerning this band to me it doesn't make a difference i don't rest my laurels on them , They still give more than they take from us ..

aus_suz · March 2011

MR151287 wrote:

Report this postReply with quoteRe: Pearl Jam Hypocrisy
by adamdude » 12 Mar 2011 01:38

aus_suz wrote:
adamdude wrote:
aus_suz wrote:
I know where u live.... j/k's

I do tho

haha. that you do.

So u doing any EV solo shows??

Yeah I'm going to the second Melbourne show, you?
adamdude
Posts: 76
Joined: 02 Feb 2006 14:34
Private message

Im sorry but didn't you tell Ed Vedder, "FUCK YOU"
Who is the hypocrite? :roll:

:idea: You can stop talking now

What??
Its a joke between Adam and I...

aus_suz · March 2011

adamdude wrote:

Ok, I think I need to clarify that when I said Eddie, fuck you, I was semi-joking about the fact that Eddie said "fuck you" to all the artists he mentioned in that quote.

LOL... u should've put j/k's after it ...
although sometimes that doesnt work...

Who are u heading to Melb with?

Shawshank · March 2011

Fuck...I wish my life was so carefree that I actually gave a shit about stuff like this. :roll:

12345AGNST1 · March 2011

JK109224 wrote:

I don't really care these days.

I think thats the difference these days. People dont give a shit anymore.

igotid88 · March 2011

They were promoting their album. Not Target.

McNairn · March 2011

I think there is something to be said about efficiency of energy-
give a shit about things that actually matter-
But in the spirit of good debate, I will expend some energy here:

Unless you disagree with commerce and selling anything then you may have a point, but if not then there will always be links in the chain that are not ideal.
You could argue that Pearl Jam should not even be producing a CD, vinyl, paper, Deep magazine, stickers, T-Shirts or even having concerts at all given that they are usually in corporate named venues, essentially creating all of the waste in burning fossil fuels that the fans use to get there, but go one step further - They shouldn't even practice as a band- that uses energy and profits power corporations who are flooding wild lands to make dams or if not burning coal or if not creating nuclear waste that will last virtually forever- it should be all acoustic- but where does the wood come from to make the guitar? Natually fallen trees only with road kill cat gut strings. Its easy.
To be free of hipocracy is an impossibility unless you admit that life is about making the best decisions under the circumstances some of which could be in part contracdictory in a direct or in some distant way to your core values.

On top of that, when you get married and start to have children you have to still be constantly pissed off at everything so your kids don't think you think everything is ok, and they realize how screwed up everything is right off the bat and never forget it.

That way you would never write anything close to a pop song.

Black73 · March 2011

SuperStickman wrote:

:shock:

Really man - are we comparing an artist no one would have given a shit about and would still be working out of back rooms in LA bars if not for her elaborate stage dress to PEARL JAM?

Okay, so a couple of things:

1) While I greatly enjoy Lady Gaga, I never said I like Gaga's music more or even as much as Pearl Jam's. Pearl Jam has a depth and variety to their music that few bands can come close to matching and I don't think Gaga is even in the conversation at this point.

2) My point is about her integrity and standing up for her beliefs. This is something that I really admire about Pearl Jam and I hope they continue in that vain. To me, deciding whether or not to continue a partnership with Target knowing what is now known about them (i.e. their contributions to right-wing, bigoted politicians) should be a no-brainer for a group still putting their values ahead of their bottom line. And even that being said, if they do continue with Target, I'll still love them, still buy their album, still see them as many times as I can afford every tour (probably one or two more, actually); it will just be a little bit disappointing.

3) Saying that LG would still be playing out of backrooms in bars if not for her stage dress is sort of missing the point of her. Whereas (imho) bands like U2 and Tool have come to depend on stage effects and costumes to the detriment of their live performances, LG is one big avant-garde piece. It's all part of the package with her, the music is just a piece of the whole. She's more like Alice Cooper than Madonna and she takes it to the next level.[/quote]

Anyone happen to catch Lady Gaga at Lollapalooza 2007? I unfortunately did - her lip-synching didn't match the skipping music track, so personally I don't get all the hype surrounding him, er, her. On another note, no one has mentioned that PJ is one of the only bands to offer all its live shows for purchase to its fans. Sure, they turn a profit on this, but no longer do we only have shitty quality bootlegs for purchase. Any other bands care that much about their fans? I guess these "sell outs" better do a commercial soon to boost their bootleg sales, huh?

fox_mulderX · March 2011

i think every band sells out to a certain extent. if they didn't, their music wouldn't reach so many people.

LukinFan · March 2011

JK109224 wrote:

I don't really care these days.

Gary Carter · March 2011

fox_mulderX wrote:

i think every band sells out to a certain extent. if they didn't, their music wouldn't reach so many people.

to which case they'd end up playing in some shit "punk" club to the same 200+ kids every weekend while not growing as a band or musically and eventually quit being a band.

force-10 · March 2011

Being mad about a deal with a big company (for cd/lp distribution) is everyones own right. But it might be based on wrong conclusions. The term "Not seeing the bigger picture" fits well here.

First of all, they signed with epic records, a sony label, some 20 years ago. Would we have been happier if they would have signed with an independent label back then? Ask yourself this question if you dislike the way PJ aproached the backspacer distribution. Keep in mind they are their own label now. Target paid them for like two million album units (if I recall correctly), wich would make it a multimillion dollar deal. Think that maybe this kept ticket prices lower for us.

And remember, the band members make a living as musicians. Its not like this is a hobby for them, and actually earn a living as doctors, arquitects, or any other occupations. Of course, they were already wealthy before backspacer. But money does not grow on trees and I for one, as many others I believe, think they really give back, or have given back, to many different causes.

If any of them would decide to buy mansions, hot rods, spend money on drugs, prostitutes, parties, etc it would be their decision (and life). But we don´t support them for what they do, literally. We support them for the music they create. Would you like it if they would keep releasing records sounding the same as their most mainstream and most succesful record? Or if eddie sings about how angry he is about his childhood, not knowing who his dad is, etc, etc?

Don´t you think him singing about how happy he is now in his 40´s? In love with someone. In love with music. But also realising it could all end if he dies. Don´t you feel this authentic? Rather than singing about the same old song and dance all these years?

Backspacer is a fun uptempo record. In a PJ kind of way. You either like it or you don´t.

Target, for them was a good deal. Its not up to us to decide.

darthvedder81 · March 2011

Pearl Jam didn't sell out and they aren't hypocrites. They changed their minds. Aren't we all tolerant liberals here? Isn't life all about keeping an open mind? Corporations and products aren't inherently evil. God rest his soul but Bill Hicks was a doofus for saying that. Ed probably regrets what he said (saying "Fuck You" to someone for endorsing something is just a tad extreme I'd say). Target is a good company and Pearl Jam knew they could trust them with their product (yes everyone, their music is a product). The band grew up and they and we are better off for it.

Pearl Jam Hypocrisy

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