People who listen to Marylin Manson
June 7, 2007Update: Not at all unrelated, an excellent blog post on the FCC’s prerogative to censor media content in the US (by GNOME developer Dom Lachowicz.
There are a number of things I’d rather not talk about. For instance, ‘in real life’, you won’t hear me talking about computers, OSNews, and operating systems. Another example is how I rarely, if ever, proclaim my deep admiration for Marylin Manson. Or, more specifically, the Mechanical Animals album.
Which may very well be the best album of the ’90s.
Everything fell in its place on this album. It’s glamrock, it’s ’70s David Bowie, it’s the duality between Omega & The Mechanical Animals and Alpha, and so much more. As cliche as it might sound, I consider Mechanical Animals to be one of those ‘mine’ albums; there’s always something new to discover, even after having listened to it for the millionth time. The album is a perfect balance between heavily stylised metal and subdued, contained, almost ballad-like rock. And on each song, we hear a different Marylin Manson.
Lyrically, the album tells stories of alienation, substance abuse, love, and religion. However, it never gets boring. It’s never standard. It’s never predictable. You could say it’s Manson’s response to American society, and that is what scared so many American people and politicians back when the album was released (1998).
The packaging did not help in that respect either; it protrays Manson as a unisex creature; no genitals, and nipple-less breasts. The album got pulled from various stores (up until 2003, Wall Mart refused to sell any Marylin Manson record), and angry mobs even ripped the album out of stores to burn it on the streets. The happenings at Columbine Highschool did not help either; the killers listened to Marylin Manson, and of course, as we all know, people who listen to Marylin Manson go on rampages killing people.
These days, it’s hard to listen to Marylin Manson with an unbiased view. I guess it will be especially hard for Americans to look at Marylin Manson without being influenced by the media’s opinion of the artists; which is sad since Mechanical Animals is an album no self-respecting music lover can just discard as “crap”.
It’s right up there with “(What’s The Story) Morning Glory?”, “Jagged Little Pill”, and so on.
Music | 
As far as I’m concerned it was his look that drove people away. I mean it was practically designed to scare parents. They would think, “(s)he’s some kind of androgynous creature with no sexual organs and red hair.” Not to mentioned he’s named after a dead celebrity and a serial killer.
As far as I know, they Columbine killers didn’t even listen to Marylin Manson. They preferred KMFDM and Rammstein who weren’t famous. Marylin Manson was famous AND an easy target because he dressed weird, had an “evil” name, and played “the devil’s music.”
Comment by mikesum32 — June 7, 2007 @ 10:58 am
As smart as he is (hard to deny that), his music is anything but original and his image is contrived. But it works for him so kudos to him for that, he got what he wanted, fame & notoriety.
Comment by Edwin — June 7, 2007 @ 11:18 am
Jealous much ?
Comment by mikesum32 — June 7, 2007 @ 11:24 am
Of what?
Comment by Edwin — June 7, 2007 @ 6:10 pm
>As far as I’m concerned it was his look that drove people away
Agreed. I can’t stand looking at him, he looks like Michael Jackson — only worse.
Comment by Eugenia — June 7, 2007 @ 8:47 pm
What do his looks have to do with his art?
I never got this obsession with taking people’s looks in account when judging their art.
Comment by Administrator — June 7, 2007 @ 8:49 pm
I am afraid that this kind of art goes hand in hand with looks. This is why all artists are so keen on plastic surgery, they recognize the need of their profession to look good.
Look, the guy looks like a ghost, like crap. Why would I ever want to listen to what he has to say? EVEN if he has to say as in full agreement with me. It’s like hearing from a bum in the street how to create a car — even if that bum used to be an engineer at Mercedes in his youth, he’s now a bum. End of story.
Comment by Eugenia — June 7, 2007 @ 10:59 pm
Well, you still listen to Micheal Jackson, and he looks even worse than Marylin Manson…
Comment by Administrator — June 7, 2007 @ 11:06 pm
I don’t listen to Jackson anymore. I used to, in the ’80s and early ’90s. Now, he’s too weird, I snob him.
Comment by Eugenia — June 7, 2007 @ 11:49 pm
Marylin Manson is the Britney Spears of metal music. No substance at all. He was never any good.
If you want something that has value, check out Cradle of Filth. They don’t spend their time trying to shock and awe people for kicks.
Comment by Ronaldst — June 8, 2007 @ 3:18 am
Lol @ Ronaldst! If someone ever was out to shock people, then it was to be Dani Filth!!! Ever seen their merchandise? Damn, even Marilyn Manson ain’t that sick!
Comment by LoeZ — June 8, 2007 @ 3:40 pm
It’s interesting how different perception is in different countries, here in Europe nobody cares much about the “evilness” of Marylin Manson, it’s just another piece of popular music, some people like it, others do not.
At least that’s my impression.
Comment by Richard — June 18, 2007 @ 1:56 pm
MARYLIN MANSON RYLZZZZZZZ !!!
Comment by new_shit — January 13, 2008 @ 12:44 pm
marilyn manson terns me on
Comment by Kayatha16 — February 22, 2008 @ 3:19 pm
Marlyn manson(brian Warner)
Sets his own fashon now he has followers…
Comment by Brittanyv16 — February 22, 2008 @ 3:23 pm
ur rock
Comment by emo — November 24, 2008 @ 3:21 am
I Think Marylin is good but…why all the drugs, the roumers about his ribs and ripping them out and sucking them…it’s sad
shame
Matt
Comment by Matt — November 28, 2008 @ 3:52 pm