I have seen the future. And, I don’t think I like it. It’s inevitable, I suppose, and there is tremendous potential and artistic possibilities, but it is a bit creepy.
Hatsune Miku
Hatsune Miku, Japan’s latest big pop star, is just a computer projection. She’s sexy, for sure. I used to think Betty Rubble was really hot, too. But it’s not real. There’s something very strange about 10,000 people paying 6,300 yen ($76, 58 euros) to stand in a stadium screaming and waving their plastic light sticks in the air for a computer generated image on stage.
She’s got super big animé eyes, long legs, a tight body, ridiculous, long, flowing, light blue hair. And the songs are apparently fan generated, so it’s like an arts project or a talent competition for song writers in the bland pop category. (although, in the future, this technology will invade all genres, and continue to gain in popularity as the technology improves and, just as talkies killed the silent stars, so eventually live rock acts on stage will seem as quaint as vaudeville.)
On the one hand, perhaps it’s really no different from going to a movie, because I’m sure all the fans are aware the person on stage isn’t real. Maybe I’m just being conservative, not being hip to all the latest technology, naturally resistant to modern trends. That happens at a certain age.
And, of course, the Japanese are always the ground breakers in stuff like this- robotics, on line games, living in a fantasy world. So, I suppose it’s inevitable and there’s an up side. The rock stars of the future will never cancel due to being too stoned, they will never get arrested for beating up their girlfriends and they will never die.
I still think it’s a little bit creepy.
www.gurukalehuru.com 
Saw Van Halen in concert, recently. Dave was good, but he messed up a couple of times. We weren’t sure if it was because he was under the influence – didn’t really look like it – or just getting old. A CG Dave would be flawless.
The show was still kick-ass, though. I’m trying to convince the wife that catching the last show of the tour would be a “good thing.”
Long live live music
I dunno, Willie… I don’t think there’s a lot to worry about here.
I love the Gorillaz. Their creative process is not the same as Hatsune’s– the voices and talent do belong to real, live musicians, and their music is killer funky.
And while Hatsune does strike some provocative and graceful poses, she has none of the sexuality, or subversiveness, that real female artists like Madonna or Gaga exude.
I hope the people who went to the concert brandishing their glow sticks are ‘in on’ the joke. I hope that they realize that this is just ‘virtual entertainment’….
I think at least EYE get the joke: you get to pretend you are inside a much beloved computer or MMORP game. Add some rabid co-splay, and then… well, it’s just like those people who go to renaissance fairs, right?
Well, now you made me go click on it and she’s got one more view. I wonder why they didn’t computer generate the drummer and guitarist, too? Pretty amazing technology. Maybe this will replace big screens at concerts, a giant 3-d image of the band could be projected, that would be pretty cool.
PS-Yes, Betty Rubble was hot, but not as hot as Jane Jetson.