The Rhythm, The Rebel

One of the most interesting collective goals of our culture is the old and long-lasting pursuit of "cool". Reaching the status of cool is considered by many to be one of the most distinguished designations that can be attained, yet this status is not permanent and what was once considered cool can quickly become "last year". Some people may argue that maintaining cool is even more difficult than attaining it. So how do things maintain their coolness? And what exactly is "cool"?


The short answer to the first question is that they don't. Think about it - how many people still wear bell-bottom jeans with platform shoes? Or cheer for the Vancouver Grizzlies? Or still think Nickelback is really great? No one really does. But then if you think about it some more, wouldn't people who wear these things, cheer for these teams, and like this music be kind of cool, since cool is a kind of rebellion against the mainstream? And if you think about that some more, didn't all of these things use to be the mainstream?

The essence of cool, and the main reason so much time is spent chasing it, is its representation of both individualism and belonging. When a person has something that is cool, they are both elevated from others who don't have it, and included into the group who do. In a musical context, people who understand The Rhythm can make sense of the rest of the music and can share this experience with others who also get it; those who don't understand it can't experience it the same way. The Rhythm is both mainstream and independent, conservative and radical.


The Rhythm is the Rebel is about things we like that used to be cool at some point or another. While we recognize that liking something that nobody else likes is cool in its independent way, we also recognize that these things used to be liked, and we may not be as cool as we thought. Whatever it is, whether it be some past-its-prime musical act, obscure athlete, or something else that used to be cool, it'll probably be given another (usually undeserved) moment under the spotlight.

There might also be some basketball talk and other stuff occasionally.