The Internet, this unruly friend / foe commercial pop borders were opened as scheduled. It demolished part of the walls that exist pretentious PR, dispelling some of that mystique. Fans of bands can read all the lists each day of a European tour and can easily download what was once (and therefore expensive) non-US releases from specific sites, or the bands' or file sharing. A little over a year ago, I paid $ 30 for an import Japanese jazz / most recent album, the blues musician Terry Callier, not available in the U.S. at the time. Ironically, it was recorded in Chicago, where I lived at the time, I still had to order all the way from Japan to get it. And when he arrived, he had the Japanese overlay, which gives this an album of nothing but Americana, the aura of Asia, and I was more than a little fascinated by it as something of greater artistic value.
Cinema and literature is translated or dubbed and more accessible to foreign audiences than music, making a relationship between the musician and the public abroad unique. Perhaps the best example of this is Leonard Cohen, the opening page of his official website, Leonardo.com links to microscopes for fans in Belgium, France, Holland, Italy and Poland. His albums, like the films of Woody Allen, have more success in Europe than they do on their own continent. And Paul Duster, who has lived in years ago France and speaks French, written in English, is translated by others. Imagine that, a master of words being more appreciated in a nation where they are not even words used. Ironic? Who cares. Those who know him and his work in the United States only see the Euro-worship as a boon to the Auster Street Cred. And if it makes us American readers a little more cosmopolitan in the process, the better.
Another issue involved here is the concept of the release date, and how it is selected for different countries based on the reputation and recognition or for entirely different reasons. Eels more success in Europe, with sales of more albums in the United States. Carjacker the Eels last album, was released in Europe there are about 6 months and still will not be released in the U.S. next week. Why is that? It's just an album acoustically difficult and with the exception of a few pieces, it is less radio-friendly than its predecessor, Daisies of the Galaxy. Is an original European release, a way to have embraced when the record company is more confident of his success, which could in turn cause a larger reception at home? The "Big In Europe" strategy? Or could it have something to do with his sardonic, flippant tone? This is pure conjecture, but it could be related to the title song itself, which includes the lyrics:
Johnny does not like the teacher
Johnny does not like school
One day, Johnny Is Gonna Do Methinks '
Show 'Em it Nobody's Fool
Oh yeah
This may seem inconsequential as the controversial lyrics go, but later Sept.11th jokes about school shootings are not taken lightly in the States. And this is not the first time something like this: O film, a modern version of Othello last year, was completed in 1998 but delayed its release due to the eruption of violence school as that described in the film. Regarding the eels, the group's website provides no explanation for the delay, but a recognition of the injustice of waiting and excuses such as making a double album with a few rarities and (European) of B-sides which is added to the album price. Whatever the reason for the delay, the fact remains that the eels, like other bands have a special relationship with European fans that differs from those of North America. And now the band is to give something back to his American fans who normally go to hose off Europe.
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As for movies, the Internet has erased the notion of target slow-release. Word of mouth now travels instantaneously. A line for children in Europe or in Malaysia can watch trailers for all the latest movies being released in the months and months of United States before the campaign specifically timed message starts in his country. Without even intending to, the Internet enables global advertising campaigns. And studios have taken on this. Who are they to stand in the way of that and not take advantage of the universal interest in a film? Five years ago, most American films are distributed in France was released in the States, on average, almost half a year earlier. Now he is three months or less. Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings and the Time Machine to come and Star Wars Episode II have publication dates in the initial days of the first American. But what of American films released in advance abroad? Of course, some of these had to do with funding agreements, especially if part of the production funds from European countries, for example. The film Donnie Darko, the story and the next Human Nature played in France for months. The three film stars have very bankable American in them, but share the characteristic of having complex, gender bending plots. Storytelling first film since 1998, Todd Solondz's Happiness, was a scene of very graphic sex clubs red features covering the naked bodies of the couple, a pre-pre-emptive protest again inevitable verdict of the MPAA rating of 17 years The commercial suicide (and possibly prohibited by contract Solondz, which might, as do other filmmaker-state that can not do anything until the film wins at most an R). All comments on these red boxes out how the European version of the film has no type of censorship, like Kubrick, Eyes Wide Shut before it. Again, the idea of the mature European audience, in contrast to the reputation of the Suppression of the United States. And it is no doubt that American fans of this or other movies, he waits patiently for the DVD, hoping to see the film "real," giving birth to the idea of European versions as the real form and pure American works.
In addition to the cultural gap between nations is a priority in the dialogue between the fans, the press and musicians in Europe. John Ondrasik, the singer / composer of the famous group Five For Fighting sees a very different perspective abroad. "The most pleasing thing for me was the sophistication of the international press," said Ondrasik, whose album America Town has sold over half a million units and is just beginning to be made abroad . "I like that [with European journalists], we spend 90 percent of the time to discuss the themes of my record beyond the musical component. Unfortunately, in the Member States, this is a very frightening.
"Obviously, the marketing of a record called America Town is a bit difficult at international level if at the end of the day, it is always about the songs ... and frankly the subject of [the album] are certainly not unique to America. "For the first album, Ondrasik teasing, he recorded a hidden track named European B-Side, a coda of sorts that combines the themes of the album.
The question arises, however, about whose expectations are met by the press and industry. Is "essentially" a real product in the U.S.? Jefferson "marketplace of ideas" really is reduced to the lowest common denominator? Or is it just a bunch of Hooey, the common complaint of lack of interest in American art beyond the black and white? Recently, these issues have overwhelmed in the arena of politics as well. Not a few European leaders have criticized President Bush for his Reagan-esque simplification of conflict and world affairs with his self-assigned "Texas-style" Lingo, and concepts clearly set of Good vs. Evil, with respect to the war against terrorism but also beyond. This is an embarrassing legacy of Americans as well or not so narrow-minded Puritan, but as unable or unwilling d 'explore and accept the complexity of history and current events. An exercise in obvious generalizations to be sure, but it feeds our mutual notions of what is worth our time and theirs.
And yet, could not part of this culture is the appreciation of that over-simplication in the other direction? The mystique of New York City is vital to the works of Woody Allen and Paul Auster in a way that works as a travelogue of sorts. Nashville-based non-country musician Josh Rouse admitted that many European journalists do ask the same questions on Garth Brooks and country music several times because he was of the same region in the U.S. and there is no doubt that things Americans have a high value of money abroad, so at present, these sweet thoughts are confined to our pop culture.
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Still, Auster, Cohen and the late Jeff Buckley ... Ultimately it is the artists that show respect, accessories, if you want to other countries. Public foreigners their reward with their attention and support for what they see as a grand vision of the world beyond americentricism "other pop culture figures. Contrary to popular belief, the French do not hate people who do not speak their language. They would just respect you a whole lot more if you have at least mentioned one more, anyone else besides your mother tongue.
Leonard Cohen
According to the public, is important in Europe is certainly a boon, indicating a higher sense of culture, a special status, something to aspire to. Or it is commercial suicide, the equivalent of being a communist: Obscure, radically contrarian difficult. But at least there are no subtitles. Of course, Europeans themselves like some Hollywood has grown without reflection, but we all have guilty pleasures. This is not the m.o. official film or music here. Once, some years ago one of "Why Ask Why? Try Bud Dry" ad asked why foreign films must be foreign. The images were a parody of Bergman and Fellini. It is true that these authors were Europeans themselves, but the feeling remains that which is behind this. This way they love all that kind of "weird, boring, difficult things." But if we Americans can get their respect, then he goes, we must be doing something.
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