Why It Sucks That the White Stripes Broke Up

So the White Stripes announced today that they will no longer be making any new music or playing live together. They haven't really done much over the past three years or so, but this still really sucks. In a time where awful, shitty hip-hop, rap, and pop music took over the airwaves, the White Stripes were one of the few bands who stuck to real rock/alternative roots and wanted to be an actual band. Jack and Meg White gave kids like me new music to listen to, and good music at that, during this time where all my friends in middle school would give me shit for not listening to rap superstars like Chingy, that felon T.I., and 50 Cent, who has done oh so much over the past five years.

I liked the White Stripes because they were sorta weird when they first came out. They had that mystery about them if they were brother/sister, husband/wife, neither, father/daughter, no one really knew. Having that mystery can be refreshing to have for a band. Look at the Kings of Leon today. They may have good music and all, but they're boring. They just look miserable and seem bland, while complain about how Glee sucks. Thats entertaining. Jack White especially made things interesting when he got arrested for kicking the crap out of the lead singer from The Von Bondies (remember that song C'mon C'mon? Yeah those guys) right before a show after he said something about Meg. It turned out that Jack and Meg were actually married and divorced, which makes it even more interesting that they could remain friends and bandmates and still be a success. It was also cool that they only wore red, white and black, another little niche that made them stand out compared to other bands.

When the White Stripes started getting big, they came out during an interesting time in music. Most people can recall that burst of bands starting with "The" that all came out at the same time in the early 00's. You had The White Stripes, The Hives, The Vines, The Killers, and The Strokes, and The White Stripes seemed to be the one who was the most impressive with their future albums. The Strokes kind of got weird then took a long break (thank God they're back) and the Killers also got more popular, but all of their stuff sort of sounds the same. The Vines and The Hives kind of fell off the face of the planet, but everyone knew The White Stripes the best it seemed. I'm not going to say that the beat to Seven Nation Army is the most catchiest song ever, but you have to rank it up there. It's so simple but so good. All their songs seemed to have some meaning, althought a lot of them were kind of obscure and sometimes got very weird and experimental, but there were very few of their songs that I didn't like. Also, towards the very end of the MTV-actually-showing-music-videos-era, the White Stripes had some good ones, like The Hardest Button to Button, Fell In Love With a Girl, and Seven Nation Army.

Now, I know for a fact that we will be hearing plenty from Jack White in the future. He has some good side projects going for him like The Raconteurs, The Dead Weather, and working with people like Alicia Keys, Wanda Jackson, Loretta Lynn and even Conan O'Brien, so he'll be fine. Meg White on the other hand I feel like is more of a recluse, not that its bad, but its a shame that they won't be playing live anymore. I will always remember being furious that I had to miss seeing The White Stripes playing in Providence my junior year of high school due to a hockey game, and I always vowed to myself I'd see them next time they came around. Unfortunately for me, I never was able to see them live. Now I'm really kicking myself for that.

Anyways, it sucks that The White Stripes are no more. They were their own breed, and did it at a time where rock and alternative music was slipping. The best thing from Detroit that isn't the Red Wings is no more, and it's a damn shame. So everyone, take a moment to listen to Seven Nation Army, and mourn with me.

All the words are gonna bleed from me

And I will sing no more

And the stains coming from my blood

Tell me go back home

I'll be posting another blog this week. This was just one of those things that really shocked me when I first saw it. Shoutout contests will be up soon.

Until next time,

Jimothy