In search of a story I was searching Pitchfork when this headline caught my eye: “The Black Keys Share New Single “Turn Blue”.” What does share mean in that line. What is it, some cakey and they are giving you a slice. How exactly are they sharing. It was the Black Keys but gosh darn it they wanna share with you.
I get the same thing from Ticketmaster and PR companies who want to invite me to a show by letting me buy ticket. What sort of an invitation is that? Indeed, how does it constitute an invitation at all.
It is the new touchy feelie “make good choices” happy speak we are family social media of pop and roll. It’s the new rock and roll double speak bullshit. The Black Keys wanna share their new album and after they’re finished sharing their new album, they wanna invite you to their concert. Because in 2014, Black keys are your Facebook friendly twitter following buddies. They aren’t druggie, ethnic stealing blues guys, they are the guy you went to school with. Tell em a joke and get a like.
That’s what’s about the bottom of “share” speak –the insinuation of a relationship that simply does not exist. The Black keys, not just them, I am picking on them because they’re in my way, are offering up not just record and a concert, but a relationship, a friendship. Something deeper than fandom, something other than support your local rock band but, share with, indeed, be your local rock band.
It is the wearying lie at the heart of popular music in 2014, the insipid punk belief that we are all in it together when, in fact, we are in it together and Black Keys don’t wanna share a damn thing with us.
