You are now watching the greatest living rock star on the planet.
When we think of rock stars we think of a guy with long hair in a leather jacket with ripped jeans, a cigarette hanging out of his mouth and the sweet smell of every possible drug they could get a hold of lingering on his aura. We imagine them holding a guitar; thousands of eyes on them. We consider the likes of Mick Jagger, Gene Simmons, Steven Tyler, Ozzy Osbourne, Jimi Hendrix… they all have one thing in common - they’re from the past.
Gone are the days of rock musicians being the true rock stars. Rap is the new rock. Rappers are, in many ways, the true rock stars of today. So when Kanye West tells his audience that he is the “greatest living rock star on the planet” why is that met with such disagreement? Being a rock star is more than playing rock music. Modern rock music is arguably irrelevant in mainstream music, it is difficult to think of a band that has the same legacy as any of the names previously mentioned. But, for arguments sake, let’s consider a few.
Thinking of rock music candidates for rock star status is a difficult task. A quick scroll through the Top 40 and you’ll find that the closest thing to rock is Maroon 5. Rock music does not exist in mainstream charts. The Rock Top 40 is a medley of Fall Out Boy and Muse with sprinkles of classic rock singles. Arctic Monkeys attempted to reignite a rock music rock star, but after Alex Turner’s embarrassing new accent and the infamous mic drop speech it’s difficult to take them seriously. The Foo Fighters are arguably up there with Dave Grohl being one of the coolest men ever. He just doesn’t have that element of rebellion or arrogance; he’s too likeable. Image is the most important thing in being a rock star, and there are no rock bands with that image. There are barely any musicians with that image.
Kanye has that image. He also has the talent to back it up and denying that is illogical. Everything he does gains some sort of comment from the press (“don’t do no press but I get the most press kit”). There is a reaction to absolutely everything that he does, whether it be standing on a table in Nando’s or releasing the Yeezy Boost 750s (I’m a size 9&½ in case anyone wants to send me some).
Rock Star noun
- a famous and successful singer or performer of rock music.
- a person treated as a celebrity, especially in inspiring fanatical admiration.
He doesn’t match the first definition but he personifies the second. It’s a grandiose attitude to define yourself in such a way but is he wrong? I don’t think so. What up, Yeezus?
(P.S. The Mundane Philosopher kicked off a year ago today so happy birthday to me).
