I have friends, close friends, who are having a hard time with this, really struggling with it. They don't understand why Bruce Springsteen is playing halftime of the Super Bowl. One friend calls it "a soul-crushing betrayal." Another calls it "the ultimate sellout."
I can appreciate some of this; I for one would be a bit queasy if a Bruce song popped up in a Viagra commercial. Pun intended - I'm a funny guy!!!!!!!
But I was never one of those guys that hated when his favorite band got popular. In 1986, I wanted the entire planet to love the Replacements like I did. Bruce has sold kabillions of records and played to everyone on the planet except about 4 people; I don't know why these fans are so upset about - that the world will discover their hidden treasure, and start crashing the shows? Really?
The only way for an artist to "sell out" etc is with the art itself - as in, has Bruce changed his songwriting, or catered to "kids in Topeka like songs about dogs, so Ill write dog songs"? Since it's so subjective I guess it's an arguable point, but I'd say no. After the art is created, however many people see it or buy it has nothing to do with whether the artist has "sold out." If 5 people buy it, fine. If 5 million buy it, fine. And when you're lucky enough to have so many people love what you do that you get asked to play at the Super Bowl and you want to, you say yes. On one hand, how can you blather about how much something has meant to you and how it's bettered your life, yet you don't want other people to have the same experience? On the other hand, lighten the fuck up. It's just 12 minutes of a rock 'n roll show. There are bigger problems for your conscience to be having.
"Soul crushing"? REEEEEEEAlly?
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