Vampire Weekend = 21st century minstrel show

[Boourns]

But without the makeup, because it might stain their expensive sweater vests.

So how is it that people are not offended by a band consisting of the whitest of white bread trust fund babies poorly imitating sounds that are "African"? Especially with that horrible singer and his fake African accent that sounds as stereotypical as something George Lucas would give to one of his uninspired CGI aliens. I guess it's a way for indie kids to feel like their music collection is "diverse" without having to actually make it so.

Terrible band.

[Neutral Milk Hotel]

Yeah, I would have to agree. It surprises me honestly that more people aren't kind of offended. It's one thing to take ideas from the music of another culture, but it's quite another thing to appropriate that sound wholesale, which is what Vampire Weekend are doing.

[Boourns]

Yeah, I would have to agree. It surprises me honestly that more people aren't kind of offended. It's one thing to take ideas from the music of another culture, but it's quite another thing to appropriate that sound wholesale, which is what Vampire Weekend are doing.

Exactly. Paul Simon actually went over there and worked with actual musicians instead of coming up with this shit in a dorm room, which is why he is the man and these guys are chumps.

[wmgaretjax]

I don't know if I'm "offended," because careless cultural appropriation is so rampant in music these days anyway that it's easy to become apathetic to it... But I certainly can't stand their music.

[summerkid]

people weren't offended by the police either....because they write catchy songs.

[LunaVC]

So what

they can't be influenced by other cultures and if they do they have to go to war torn countries in Africa? C'mon, they're a good band.

[emtgreg]

Vampire Weekend is like what happens when hipsters decide to make music. No no, not music like uffie, thats what happens when cokeheads (<3) decide to make "music". Rather, VM occurs after when hipsters, after working so incredibly hard to find authenticiy, actually end up using authenticity to become the ultimate posers. Meaning, they use authenticity in order to rip it off and create some false facade of bullshittery.

No one takes Vanilla Ice seriously, so why is it that anyone wants to take VM seriously?? Is it because they are making the effort to create "serious music" or is is simply because they take themselves so seriously??

[Young blood]

needs moar saxophone.

[Mr.Nipples]

i cant hear the rap influence in their music. sorry.

[Young blood]

OH SNAP! BLACK!

[emtgreg]

But are they actively participating in the culture, and understanding and respecting the history of the music and the instruments before using them??

Ie paul simon, bono, etc...(lol southpark)

Or are they being exploitave for the sake of pop music??

[Mr.Nipples]

ITT: peckerwoods


oh, and paul simon solo sucks ass by the way

[emtgreg]

i cant hear the rap influence in their music. sorry.

hahahaha

/thread

[Boourns]

I don't know if I'm "offended," because careless cultural appropriation is so rampant in music these days anyway that it's easy to become apathetic to it... But I certainly can't stand their music.

Yeah, it might be a case of "let it slide" if they didn't sound so terrible.

[LunaVC]

I get fucked off with people like Pendulum mocking British rave music that they have no idea about

but you guys love that shit and I don't make loads of threads about it. People get influenced by things - isn't that what it's all about, expresssing and respecting cultures?

[Mr.Nipples]

i nearly shat myself when i found out shaggy wasnt jamaican

[Boourns]

i nearly shat myself when i found out shaggy wasnt jamaican

LOL

I miss Merle

[Neutral Milk Hotel]

Sure, people get influenced by things. But let's look at it this way: I'm about the whitest guy imaginable. Let's say I start a band whose sound is suspiciously similar to that of Middle Eastern pop music, AND I sing with a faux-Pakistani accent. You wouldn't question that?

[LunaVC]

if they came out and said "yeah we're 100% calypso band from Africa" then I'd say they stunk

but they haven't they've been influenced by Africa which is a good thing surely

liberal white people don't alf start some weird threads

I bet you guys don't celebrate Christmas - I bet it's the 'Festival of Light'

kin ell!!

[LunaVC]

Sure, people get influenced by things. But let's look at it this way: I'm about the whitest guy imaginable. Let's say I start a band whose sound is suspiciously similar to that of Middle Eastern pop music, AND I sing with a faux-Pakistani accent. You wouldn't question that?

Yeah

kele from bloc party sounds well African

this thread is clutching at straws

and people get 'offended' by them

Ok, what do you make of UB40 then?

[summerkid]

it bugs me when people sing in fake accents or when white people try to sing soul music.

[zenidogx]

i like when white people get mad at other white people for "stealing" sounds from african music.

[LunaVC]

it bugs me when people sing in fake accents or when white people try to sing soul music.

oh my days

are there any African people on this website that are 'offended' by VW or is it just liberal white American students?

[Neutral Milk Hotel]

i like when white people get mad at other white people for "stealing" sounds from african music.

I think it's more that I'm ashamed of my fellow white man for this act of maximum whiteness.

[LunaVC]

WHAT ABOUT WHEN ASIAN DUB FOUNDATION PRETEND TO BE JAMAICAN AND SPEAK IN PATOIS? OR ARE WE JUST RIPPING INTO WHITE PEOPLE MAKING MUSIC TODAY?

[summerkid]

Yeah

kele from bloc party sounds well African

what? i dont hear that at all.

[Young blood]

SHABBA!

[LunaVC]

yup

MC Shabba

he sounds well white doesn't he

and everyone on this website loves Drum and Bass but picks on poor ol' VW

jesus christ

I thought liberals were supposed to be 'intelligent' and read the New Yorker and shit

[zenidogx]

I think it's more that I'm ashamed of my fellow white man for this act of maximum whiteness.

that makes sense.

i dig Vampire Weekend, even though they sound pathetic after listening to Femi Kuti.

[summerkid]

oh my days

are there any African people on this website that are 'offended' by VW or is it just liberal white American students?

i never said i was offended I just think it sounds bad. Music should be authentic its difficult to do so when you are singing in a fake accent and white people just shouldn't sing soul music because they aren't very good at it.