Sell Out of the Day: Gwen Stefani

I am not one who uses the term sell-out very liberally. I think anyone who believes that pursuing money for one's art makes that artist less devoted to his art is either independently wealthy or pretentiously misguided. While I do not believe in overly compromising ones art work and I never believe in compromising ones beliefs, I do believe that, as in relationships, one must often give a little and take a little in regards to making their art "presentable" to others. And besides...who isn't a sell out? What greater joy can there be than to make a living doing what one loves best? And who am I to judge if someone's style changes as they get older? I certainly don't dress the same way that I did when I was 16. I don't like to think that I've sold out my fashion taste...but I do believe that my style of dress has changed with my age and with the times.

This brings me to Gwen Stefani. When Rock Steady came out, I was one of the few of my friends who didn't hang her head in despair. I thought it was a fun record. I like dance music, so why isn't a band I like also allowed to like it and even *gasp* make it?! Even if it was not their usual style? (Don't you like to play dress up sometimes?) And even when Gwen's solo album came out, I just shrugged my shoulders. I didn't like it so much, but she was having fun. I just prayed that she didn't get caught up in the glamor and money that comes with going solo, killing No Doubt (just as Justin Timberlake killed 'N Sync and Beyonce killed Destiny's Child...hahahaha).

No, no. I lost all hope when flipping through November's Vanity Fair. The ad caught my eye before I even realized what it was for. Now, I would like to believe that the ad is supposed to be ironic, poking fun at the double-entendres, sex-sells copy prevalent in most advertisement. But...it just seems too sincere in its efforts to be playfully sexy. But it's not sexy!! It's just sad!!