Last night through no fault of my own I found myself in the most despicable position among concert goers: the old person in VIP seats who doesn't care about the band. As a devout concert-goer who pays for my tickets through the sweat of my brow, I hate these people. They don't deserve to be there. Why should they get good seats, free drinks, and complimentary food? It's not fair. What's even less fair is that the only time I will ever get this special treatment will be at a crappy Vanilla Ice/MC Hammer concert. By the hammer of Thor! My husband got these tickets from his work. I can only assume this is how the old people sitting in VIP seats at REM, U2, Sting, Neil Diamond, and other good concerts get there. Well, bully for them.
As I ate my free pork salad in reserved seating and surveyed the crowds (overstatement) below, I marveled at the enthusiastic kids dressed in [their version of] 80s regalia. I have to say, I don't really get it. I admit that I was never much of a Vanilla Ice or MC Hammer fan. Be that as it may, I think I can objectively say that neither of them was very good. Right? So I couldn't figure out if these teenagers were joking, or serious. Are they genuine fans? Or do they just like the idea of it? Did they grow up listening to MC Hammer and yearning for the 80s in the same way I grew up listening to the Beatles and thinking the 60s were rad? That doesn't sound right.
Anyway, you know those inflatable ghouls with a skeleton head and hands and a black cloak that people buy at Big Lots to put over their entries on Halloween? Vanilla Ice had one of those decorating his stage. I'm not saying he had, like, a really big version of one of those Halloween things on the stage. It was standard sized, just like the one you'd walk through to trick or treat at your neighbor's house. And everyone was dancing around and getting into it just like it was normal. This tells me that people are very accepting. It's really quite beautiful when you think about it. Me? I'd probably be too embarrassed to use one of those to decorate my stage.
And it went on and on from there and then I went home. Is this post kind of anti-climactic for you? Good. It's just like you were there.
PS Vanilla Ice seems nice.
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I heard the same report from Ken and Cami last night. So funny. My favorite part was hearing about all the girls dressed up like Madonna in the early 80's. Didn't they do any research? At least you got a pork salad.
ReplyDeleteI really don't feel bad for missing it, and the three songs I know. Four, if he played the Ninja Turtle song.
ReplyDeleteI will be frank. I was born in 1984, and yes, I love laughing about and discussing the 80s with people my age, although not in the same way I long for the Beatles. It has to be more of an ironic appreciation for things I THOUGHT were cool as a child. Also, I wanted to go to that show, more for bragging rights than anything, but it was too pricey to justify.
ReplyDeleteThe only thing that actually had its heyday in the 80s was cartoons, in my humble opinion.
That makes sense, Elisa. What I want to know is if Vanilla Ice gets that people like him ironically. Is that really sad? Or is it wonderful? Is he in on the joke? Or is there no joke?
ReplyDeleteHannah, his set was literally 4 songs long.
I don't believe there are any (2)legit (to quit) Vanilla Ice or MC Hammer fans left anywhere in the world, let alone in Orem, UT. I think they get that it's ironic.
ReplyDeleteIf you think Vanilla Ice seems nice, you should watch his VH1 Behind the Music special. His plight had me crying! But tell me more about this pork salad....
ReplyDeleteSo tell me this - What makes you part of the 80s? Is it being born during that decade or being in high school/college - the time in your life when you're really paying attention to pop culture?
ReplyDeleteJust something I've been wondering.
Ironic concerts... I guess it is a little humiliating for the performers. But I'm guessing that they're doing it for the money - not the fans.
ReplyDeleteFunny you should mention that because we went out to dinner with a couple this week and the husband went to high school with Vanilla Ice when he was a mere mortal in Texas.
ReplyDeleteWeren't they famous in the 90's? Whenever I think of 80's it is dominated by Duran Duran and Thompson Twins.
ReplyDeleteI have to admit I disappointed that you have no footage of the concert to share with us. Because I am having a hard time picturing the Halloween decor.
OK I am an occasional blog stalker of yours and I am fascinated with your dog fostering, however I had to read this post twice to see if you were totally serious or just pulling my leg on the whole Vanilla Ice/MC Hammer thing. Are these guys still out there? There was really a concert? I believe they had to give away tickets, but they really performed and everything? I am not sure I can mentally function the rest of the day.
ReplyDeleteYou DIDN'T really say Neil Diamond, did you?
ReplyDeleteOk, I thought not---whew, that was a close one.
I have to admit I am a little jealous that you got to watch the concert because I was a pretty big fan when Vanilla Ice was at his peak - I was 11 years old and in 5th grade. And although I am truly over my little 'tween crush from 1991 (so yes - it was the 90's), I can still recite all the words to "Ice Ice Baby," and I can't resist bobbing my head up and down when I hear it played. Makes me think that in another 20 years we might see Miley Cyrus and the Jonas Brothers playing at the McKay Events center among a bunch of college kids making fun of the clothing from the "00's"
ReplyDeletevanilla ice's "ice ice baby" was the first cd i bought. i was in the first grade. i remember picking it out b/c he looked really "cool." i loved his stand-up-ie hair. oh geeze!
ReplyDelete