By Craig P. Dixon, southcoast247.com correspondent . Social Commentary 145
January 16th, 2008
Selling out. Some people call it tantamount to treason. Others look on it more favorably. After all: If it's between obscurity and fame, is there a choice?
For the former, selling out isn't entirely about the money. It's about staying true to oneself and one's fans. The latter believes creative control is a mute point when compared to financial well-being.
Put simply, there's a right and wrong way to sell out. And few have sold out as well as Henry Rollins.
What a bunch of assholes.
Henry's story is one of legend. A fan of seminal punk band Black Flag, Henry was at a show, jumped onstage, and pretty much got the vocalist job handed to him then and there.
As is the case with most lead singers, Henry eventually went solo. His fame took off. Supposed "true" punk fans, as well as his former band mates, derided him, claiming he'd forgotten the anti-establishment message. Yet, after film appearances and various onstage incarnations, Henry is widely regarded as an anti-establishment icon, managing to stay true to the message while moving into the mainstream.
Examples like Henry's are rare. Most sell-outs morph into completely new, more mainstream personas in order to reach a broader audience. Such change is quite the gamble, because one does so at the possible cost of the original fan base.
This is the case with The Black Eyed Peas. When the Peas started out, they were a damned good underground rap group. But they weren't making the big time cash. Then they added Fergie, dropped the De La Soul and J5-esque rhymes, and started marketing highly intelligent pop gems like, "Let's Get Retarded", "Don't Phunk With My Heart" and "My Humps". Unfortunately, people continue lumping this group in the hip-hop/rap category though they're not even a shadow of their previous selves. The Peas are as hip-hop as Barry Manilow and as rap as Madonna.
This isn't to say that the Peas are the worst of the sell-outs. This was an underground rap group making a comfortable living when more mainstream acts with less talent were bringing in millions and swinging G-rides. They made a choice. And though I don't care for the results, what do I know? They're swimming in cash like Scrooge McDuck.
The worst of the sell-outs are those that are already rich, have tremendous empires in their lines of work, yet continue to whore out their greedy selves for more. There are plenty that fall into this group, but the one that most glaringly pops into mind is Rachael Ray. Every time I bring up Rachael and her soul-selling ways, people try to defend her. Guys tell me she's hot, and hotness makes everything ok. Girls tell me she's cool, personable, likeable, what-have-you. Guess what? They're wrong.
Rachael Ray isn't cool. Her personality is a front. I've met plenty of girls like her. And though they seem cute, they're anything but. They tip ten percent. They talk shit behind your back. They growl and snap like mongrels. Don't let the cutesie-poo catch phrases fool you: Behind the scenes, Rachael is a mean-spirited diva.
As for Rachael being hot, I guess she is – If you want your women looking like Grimace. For a generation brought up on McDonald's, I guess it makes sense that a woman resembling Grimace would attract rather than repel. Maybe it's just me, but when I see Rachael, I don't think sex. I think about McDonald's puke - All brown and chunky with fry remnants interspersed throughout – and that purple freak Grimace hovering over it all.
Make no mistake: Rachael's a veritable media czar. She's got multiple shows on The Food Network, a daytime talk show, has published over a dozen cookbooks and a magazine. Rachael's as visible as Martha Stewart and Oprah. She's her own brand name.
Rachel Ray
Yet, even though she's got cash coming from all corners, Rachael had to go and plug Dunkin' Donuts. Dunkin' fucking Donuts. In a country where more than a quarter of the population is obese, Rachael is out there selling donuts, using her silly catch phrases and faux cuteness all for a few mil and a lifetime supply of coffee she'd never actually drink. She's the biggest sell-out of them all.
But hey, who's listening? Nobody.
That's alright, America. Go ahead and guzzle down another latte. Choke down another donut. It's ok. If Grimace does it, it must be.
