Big In Japan

I often find myself preaching (mainly to myself) the value of creation for its own sake. The enjoyment to be found in the simple act of creating. Just making a mark that says “I woz here”.

And the unimportance of a big audience.

But Pop and the desire to be popular is popular for a reason. Because there can be that feeling, when you’re singing a song, or doing anything for an audience, of needing to “sell” the goods. Simply because the listeners haven’t heard it before.

Doing this repeatedly, as most performers of original songs need to do, can become a bit jading. A bit “here we go again”.

So to walk in front of a crowd that knows your songs, and might even sing along to all the hooky bits is, of course, a lovely idea. The few moments when I have had people singing along to one of my songs was very up-lifting. Likewise, when other people have sung my songs.

So there is value in being popular. It isn’t meaningless. It says something positive about what we have created. And it might well be something to aspire to.

But there are no guarantees, even if we were to relentlessly pursue popularity as an end in itself.

And no point, either, in wearing our unpopularity as a badge of honour.

Also, Big In Japan (mainly because I like it)