I admit that in the past couple of years I haven't been as diligent with my Behind The Music viewing as I once was. I blame night school. No, I think I'll blame the horrible day job I had when I was in school. Either way, I am probably at least two years behind in Behind The Music episodes. However, that isn't stopping me from thinking about how much I love that program.
There are lots of reasons to like Behind The Music. If you are like Linda and me you will watch anything broadcast on VH1 and that is how you got sucked in to the world of Behind The Music. She was another early lover of the show and if you combine the number of times that she and I have seen the Andy Gibb episode I am sure the number is well into the millions. Or at least over fifty.
Some people like seeing the truth behind the lives of their favorite teen idols. Who knew that Leif Garrett was so troubled? That the Bay City Rollers were hopped up on goofballs? That David Cassidy was such a slimebag? Actually, that one doesn't surprise me, but that is because I'm a Shaun Cassidy gal myself. He doesn't have a Behind The Music! I can only assume it's because he is too dull.
Dull is bad for Behind The Music. Remember the one with Weird Al Yankovic? He apologized for not having a drug problem. Of course, his show remains one of my favorites. The fact that a so-called novelty performer has been popular for over twenty years is quite the feat. Also, I have always had a good deal of respect for the members of his band. They are very versatile. They can perform anything, be it a note-for-note spoof of a pop song or one of Al's polka medleys. They consistently impress me and I think they are hugely underrated.
Anyway. Weird Al's episode was interesting because that is where I found out he graduated early and went off to architect school. And the fact that he is a hilarious interview didn't hurt either. But often times, Behind The Music is only good if the performer had hardships. Oh, we Behind The Music viewers love hardships. Love them!
But the hardships are not my favorite part of the show. My very favorite part occurs in the last five to ten minutes of the show. The what does the future hold? portion of the program. VH1 takes fifty minutes to map out every horrible thing that the artist ever did, or that ever happened to the artist, and the last ten minutes is the inspiring part. The part that gives us hope. The part that is hilarious.
The last ten minutes is when the artist or band or former band members all say a variation on the same theme. That they are making the best music of their career. I squawk with laughter every time that happens. If we are really lucky, Behind The Music shows us footage of the subject in the studio, making the best music of their career. Yeah, right. As if Leif Garrett could top his version of Johnny B. Goode. I am so sure.
But then I got to thinking. What if it's true? What if these artists featured on Behind The Music really are making the best music of their careers? What if we are missing out? I'm guessing I'm not the only person who laughs at that statement, but what if all of us in the snickering section are missing out on great music because we have written off the likes of, say, Foreigner?
That's a bad example. I don't like Foreigner. Or is that a good example? Just because I don't like the music that Foreigner used to make doesn't mean I wouldn't like their new stuff. And for the record, I haven't seen the Foreigner Behind The Music, so I don't actually know if they are making the best music of their career. I just grabbed them from the Behind The Music show list as a likely example.
The same goes for people who appear on Where Are They Now? I seem to remember the lead singer of Loverboy claiming he was making good music. I know for sure he thanked Kurt Cobain for killing his career because then he got to spend more time with his kids.
Item One: I hate it when people blame Cobain for stuff like that. The tide was turning guys, just accept it and shut up.
Item Two: I thought Loverboy's career was waning way before Mr. Cobain came to town.
Item Three: I'll have to ask Jeff J. if he remembers the guy in our fifth grade class who wore the Loverboy bandana.
I called his house and was told to reach him at work.
Jeff J.: (Name of employer) this is Jeff J., how can I help you?
Me: Do you remember when we were in fifth grade and (name omitted) wore a Loverboy bandana?
Jeff J.: I can't say that I have a clear recollection of that.
I was about to explain that he wore it when we were rehearsing for the Christmas choir concert (back when the very fact that we were elementary school students meant being forced to sing in music class) but he had to go attend to work-related stuff and I didn't have a chance.
Anyway. When LCG and me saw Journey last summer the set list featured three or four new songs and they were fantastic. The fast tunes were pretty heavy and for one of them Jonathan Cain was playing the harmonica. The harmonica! Who knew that Mr. Keyboard Guy had some bluesy harmonica riffs bottled up inside? Not me! I wasn't surprised that Journey still makes good music, but it makes me sad that there are plenty of people who have stopped believin' and probably wouldn't buy a new Journey release.
Journey may be an excellent exception to the rule, but how can I be sure? Because the way I see it, being a musician is a job. And very often, the longer a person has a job, the more skilled they become at that job. So if members of an allegedly washed-up act claim they are better than ever, why shouldn't I believe them? Even if they were terrible when they were popular, could they really be any worse now? I guess I'll never know, because it's a cinch that I won't be buying the new Styx album any time soon.