Faking It: The Quest for Authenticity in Popular Music

Nonfiction, Entertainment, Music, Pop & Rock, Rock, Music Styles
Cover of the book Faking It: The Quest for Authenticity in Popular Music by Hugh Barker, Yuval Taylor, W. W. Norton & Company
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Hugh Barker, Yuval Taylor ISBN: 9780393089172
Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company Publication: February 17, 2007
Imprint: W. W. Norton & Company Language: English
Author: Hugh Barker, Yuval Taylor
ISBN: 9780393089172
Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company
Publication: February 17, 2007
Imprint: W. W. Norton & Company
Language: English

Musicians strive to “keep it real”; listeners condemn “fakes”; ... but does great music really need to be authentic?

Did Elvis sing from the heart, or was he just acting? Were the Sex Pistols more real than disco? Why do so many musicians base their approach on being authentic, and why do music buffs fall for it every time? By investigating this obsession in the last century through the stories of John Lennon, Kurt Cobain, Jimmie Rodgers, Donna Summer, Leadbelly, Neil Young, Moby, and others, Faking It rethinks what makes popular music work. Along the way, the authors discuss the segregation of music in the South, investigate the predominance of self-absorption in modern pop, reassess the rebellious ridiculousness of rockabilly and disco, and delineate how the quest for authenticity has not only made some music great and some music terrible but also shaped in a fundamental way the development of popular music in our time.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

Musicians strive to “keep it real”; listeners condemn “fakes”; ... but does great music really need to be authentic?

Did Elvis sing from the heart, or was he just acting? Were the Sex Pistols more real than disco? Why do so many musicians base their approach on being authentic, and why do music buffs fall for it every time? By investigating this obsession in the last century through the stories of John Lennon, Kurt Cobain, Jimmie Rodgers, Donna Summer, Leadbelly, Neil Young, Moby, and others, Faking It rethinks what makes popular music work. Along the way, the authors discuss the segregation of music in the South, investigate the predominance of self-absorption in modern pop, reassess the rebellious ridiculousness of rockabilly and disco, and delineate how the quest for authenticity has not only made some music great and some music terrible but also shaped in a fundamental way the development of popular music in our time.

More books from W. W. Norton & Company

Cover of the book Inventing Human Rights: A History by Hugh Barker, Yuval Taylor
Cover of the book The Stoic Challenge: A Philosopher's Guide to Becoming Tougher, Calmer, and More Resilient by Hugh Barker, Yuval Taylor
Cover of the book The History of Love: A Novel by Hugh Barker, Yuval Taylor
Cover of the book Avalanche: A Love Story by Hugh Barker, Yuval Taylor
Cover of the book The Perfect Vehicle: What It Is About Motorcycles by Hugh Barker, Yuval Taylor
Cover of the book Talking to Families about Mental Illness: What Clinicians Need to Know by Hugh Barker, Yuval Taylor
Cover of the book Oceans Ventured: Winning the Cold War at Sea by Hugh Barker, Yuval Taylor
Cover of the book Saving Italy: The Race to Rescue a Nation's Treasures from the Nazis by Hugh Barker, Yuval Taylor
Cover of the book Dolce Vita Confidential: Fellini, Loren, Pucci, Paparazzi, and the Swinging High Life of 1950s Rome by Hugh Barker, Yuval Taylor
Cover of the book Law and Disorder: Absurdly Funny Moments from the Courts by Hugh Barker, Yuval Taylor
Cover of the book The Violin: A Social History of the World's Most Versatile Instrument by Hugh Barker, Yuval Taylor
Cover of the book Inheritance: A Novel by Hugh Barker, Yuval Taylor
Cover of the book Not a Scientist: How Politicians Mistake, Misrepresent, and Utterly Mangle Science by Hugh Barker, Yuval Taylor
Cover of the book The Complete Plays by Hugh Barker, Yuval Taylor
Cover of the book Worried?: Science investigates some of life's common concerns by Hugh Barker, Yuval Taylor
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy