Gone are the days of lyrics with meaning to the author, passion for the work, and writing for the love of music. Today the goal is not to create a masterpiece, but to reach as many musically uneducated ears as possible.

My hope that todays music will have lasting impact and talent is no longer dying.

Its dead. Thank you, Nickelback.

Nickelback is becoming one of the music industrys top bands, selling multi-platinum albums and selling out shows, but their popularity is based only on a widespread fan-base, not critic approval.

Gone are the days of lyrics with meaning to the author, passion for the work and writing for the love of music. Today the goal is not to create a masterpiece, but to reach as many musically uneducated ears as possible.

For this reason, Nickelback has made the decision to cut out individuality from its music.

Our fans are really over the map, and that makes it really easy when we pull into town to draw a large variety of people who want to sit and listen to Nickelback songs, Chad Krueger said in an interview with CNN.

As hard as I searched, I could not find a similar Jimi Hendrix quote. Nickelbacks first hit, How You Remind Me, was simply luck.

In the fog of Sept. 11, the release of the song could not have been more opportune. It tugged the heartstrings of America and the Canadian band had us hook, line and sinker.

Apparently they run on the theory of if it aint broke, dont fix it. Two years later Someday hit the airwaves. Did anyone else have painful déjà vu when they heard it? This is where it gets fun.

Any hardcore Nickelback fan reading this is probably cussing me out for insulting two of the bands best songs. Considering they are identical, why dont you admit that music is not your strong point? Simultaneously play both songs (or go to www.thewebshite.net/nickelback.htm) and then come after me with your pitchforks. The only defense Ive heard for this is also a pathetic display of musics downfall: Well, their new stuff isnt all identical!

That may have something to do with the fact that their record company wanted to sue them for self-plagiarism.

Dont worry Nickelback fans, they have found a way to redeem themselves. Their latest single, If Everyone Cared, has raised over $200,000 for a charity campaign.

Im not sure whether they are trying to justify crappy music with helping people, or if again they are recycling old successes by trying to tug at peoples heartstrings.

Beginner power chords and ambiguously attractive lyrics do not make a musician, but apparently they make one of the worlds biggest bands.

By Mary Makowski

Special to the Post

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