What Happened to LFO?
Life is about the decisions we make. We are the governors of our own futures. We dictate what we say, how we act, and the decisions we make. We, and we alone, have the power to choose how we live and what we fill our lives with.
That being said, some of these decisions we make are easier than others. Choosing my favorite band was one of the easiest decisions I’ve made in the past 17 years (give or take 9 months in the womb.)
My favorite band is LFO. You heard correctly – My favorite band is Rich, Devin, and Brad, the Lyte Funky Ones, the exemplar of pre-new-millennium American Pop.
Some claim that the Lyte Funky Ones were preppy, uneducated, and stuck up. And I’m not going to lie; I see where the critics are coming from. Mentioning “Abercrombie and Fitch” in a song can get anyone erroneously labeled as a “stuck up prep.” In addition, the fact that “Chinese food makes [them] sick” could be interpreted as intolerance of distant cultures, or even blatantly racist. Finally, LFO’s laid-back vocabulary (usage of “ain’t”) has stereotyped them as illiterate.
And now my rebuttal - The truth is, LFO’s greatness is a very arcane gift. Obviously, I have realized the true extent of their musical and lyrical genius. Take into consideration the following phrase - “I’ll steal your honey like I stole your bike.” This single line of music has the potential to be analyzed for decades, much like the poem “The Red Wheelbarrow” has been analyzed longer than Dr. Heinbuck has been living.
As for the accusation of LFO being racist, I present this question; does not liking salsa make me hate Hispanics? Is lactose intolerance synonymous with hate for dairy farmers in Wisconsin? Does finding KFC disgusting make me intolerant of African Americans? No, absolutely not. Food preference is a personal choice, and a person shouldn’t be ridiculed for favoring some foods over others.
And finally, LFO is far from illiterate. Their usage of vernacular language further reiterates the fact that they are just some young men enjoying their summer in a laid back fashion. “But Matt, even if that’s true, why would they use a word like ain’t?” It’s called colloquial language, and it’s the sign of a true genius. Mark Twain wasn’t ridiculed when he pioneered it in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. He was praised. He was given free Red Bull for a year from Pepsi Co.
Freshmen and Sophomores, I’m sorry. This probably has no relevance to you. I don’t think you had even been conceived when LFO had the hit “Summer Girls” back in 1999. Still, I urge you to download it on ITunes and marvel at the true genius and originality of their melodies, assonance, and allusion.
That being said, some of these decisions we make are easier than others. Choosing my favorite band was one of the easiest decisions I’ve made in the past 17 years (give or take 9 months in the womb.)
My favorite band is LFO. You heard correctly – My favorite band is Rich, Devin, and Brad, the Lyte Funky Ones, the exemplar of pre-new-millennium American Pop.
Some claim that the Lyte Funky Ones were preppy, uneducated, and stuck up. And I’m not going to lie; I see where the critics are coming from. Mentioning “Abercrombie and Fitch” in a song can get anyone erroneously labeled as a “stuck up prep.” In addition, the fact that “Chinese food makes [them] sick” could be interpreted as intolerance of distant cultures, or even blatantly racist. Finally, LFO’s laid-back vocabulary (usage of “ain’t”) has stereotyped them as illiterate.
And now my rebuttal - The truth is, LFO’s greatness is a very arcane gift. Obviously, I have realized the true extent of their musical and lyrical genius. Take into consideration the following phrase - “I’ll steal your honey like I stole your bike.” This single line of music has the potential to be analyzed for decades, much like the poem “The Red Wheelbarrow” has been analyzed longer than Dr. Heinbuck has been living.
As for the accusation of LFO being racist, I present this question; does not liking salsa make me hate Hispanics? Is lactose intolerance synonymous with hate for dairy farmers in Wisconsin? Does finding KFC disgusting make me intolerant of African Americans? No, absolutely not. Food preference is a personal choice, and a person shouldn’t be ridiculed for favoring some foods over others.
And finally, LFO is far from illiterate. Their usage of vernacular language further reiterates the fact that they are just some young men enjoying their summer in a laid back fashion. “But Matt, even if that’s true, why would they use a word like ain’t?” It’s called colloquial language, and it’s the sign of a true genius. Mark Twain wasn’t ridiculed when he pioneered it in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. He was praised. He was given free Red Bull for a year from Pepsi Co.
Freshmen and Sophomores, I’m sorry. This probably has no relevance to you. I don’t think you had even been conceived when LFO had the hit “Summer Girls” back in 1999. Still, I urge you to download it on ITunes and marvel at the true genius and originality of their melodies, assonance, and allusion.
posted by Matthew at 12:07 AM
