A while back, I read into Rebecca Black’s biography to put the craziness to some perspective. It appears that her journey to viral stardom was a simple one. A 14 year old girl wanted to be famous so her parents bought it for her. They just needed to make a convenient one-stop shop at ARK studios, which is like the Wal-mart of pop star productions. They write lyrics, compose, produce, and even record music videos. Works splendidly for stage-mom schedules! Out of the ARK’s pop machine came out Rebecca Black’s song “Friday” that later was referred to as a “vanity release” (among other things).
It’s the kinda semantics that sting the humble and sensible. But how is vanity distinguished from other self funded artistic ventures? Why doesn’t it have the same glory as the independents? When you lavish yourself with website, photos, videos, promos, production, can it be just as vain?
I’ve heard many definitions and debates for “indie”, but I haven’t heard it put quite cleverly than my friend John, a musician that’s done his time in the scene. He says: “an indie musician works hard, practices, and spends a lot of time on music. Rebecca Black went downstairs and opened a Christmas present”.
It seems to me like the difference between indie and vanity is in the objective. Indie aims to produce art while vanity aims for fame. The distinction is a gray area because you can interpret any self-funded art as a mix of more than one and the other. If you wrap the downtown core with posters of your band, its annoying, but it could still be indie if the original goal was to create music that is artistically objective to money and outside interests. They just want to get their art out there. I’m sure any indie band wouldn’t mind some sales! But they shouldn’t mind if they don’t. However, Rebecca Black aim had nothing to do with music, it was only to become the next greatest pop star. Music happened to be it’s requirement. She had barely anything to do with the production of ‘Friday’. ARK studios (now defunct) tried to follow a formula and did a bad job at it. Then Black threw her name on it not knowing exactly what she was getting herself into.
Vanity strives to be commercial, it tries to follow the steps of others for the red carpet treatment, a mob of journalist, the limo, and all the markers of self-worth in American culture. Vanity sits in an ugly middle of the indie and commercial spectrum. There’s nothing cool or glamorous about it. It’s a wannabe, a poseur. MTV won’t play it. No campus radio stations will play it.
For listeners, the whole appeal of indie music is that you hear a new sound and authenticity that’s not found elsewhere. It’s music for the purpose of music, not sales. It’s why we can find fresh, unique, unusual and risky ideas the commercial industry wouldn’t dare try. Artists max out their personal funds and credit cards so that an idea they believed was cool can be out there. Recognition doesn’t hurt. In a perfect world, sales should be contingent upon quality. But that’s up to us- so let’s vote with our dollars and let creativity flourish! And p.s. I actually like her new song (released on her own label)!
