In a message dated 6/26/2003 6:43:05 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
burgaus(a)juno.com writes:
> Yeah, it's not a masterpiece of musical genius, but it's fun.
> There's nothing wrong with having fun with a song.
Fellow Stingers,
I don't think anyone is saying that "having fun with a song" is "wrong." But
Sting fans in general have come to expect more than breezy dance numbers done
purely for commercial gain. Few artists in this era of corporate rock are
able to push boundaries, but Sting is one of the few. If Sting fans wanted
fluff, they'd buy the Backstreet Boys, Brittany, or any rap music you can name.
But Sting fans want craftsmanship. For a Sting fan, "fun" comes from hearing a
song with flair, a song that has uniqueness.
As a lifelong Sting fan, I know that I can put my money down on a Sting album
and expect quality art in return. An unwritten contract exists. Based on
the man's sterling history, I still expect a shining album. But I must say that
the version of "Send Your Love" being kicked around on the 'Net is beneath
Sting. Let's hope it's a remix, not an original. Sure, it's a fun little
ditty, but as Sting fans, we should want more. And there's nothing "wrong" with
setting high standards for our "fun." It depends on what you want from your
music. The criticism that this newsgroup has directed toward "Send Your Love"
says a lot about what we expect from Sting, says a lot about our respect for
him. We want music that soars. And Sting, much more often than not, uncages
songs with wings.
We didn't want limericks from Hemingway. We don't want pornography from Kurt
Vonnegut. And we don't want techno from Sting. We want quality reflective
of our favorite artist's talent. Nothing "wrong" with that.
Johnny Nitro
