Hipstamainstream

Last weekend, the Lumineers were the musical group performing on SNL. I mean, not that I saw it because I went to bed by that point (stupid not-live 11:30 showing). But. I was genuinely excited they were performing, and, if they had been on at 10:30 like all my years in Chicago have primed me for, I would have been glued to the TV.

Similarly, a couple of weeks ago SNL had Passion Pit, another band similar to the Lumineers in that they're that weird, semi-hipster-y, sort-of-alt-y kind of music. At this point, they're both relatively mainstream, but described as folk rock and indie. Members wear suspenders and bowler hats. You get the idea. 

Anyway, I was remarking to Jim the other day that oh my God, I've hit that target demographic that SNL must be striving for, at least with their musical acts - semi-indie bands that appeal to middle class white people in the desirable 25-34 advertising range, but not the super hip 18-24 range, because they're all out partying when SNL is on. A few years ago, I was always behind the times on whoever was playing. Now, I'm usually all up into whatever band performs. 

Except.

Just when I go thinking I'm hot shit with my musical appreciation, I Shazam a song that I've heard a few times on the radio. I had previously assumed it was hipster-suspender-folk-loving Mumford and Sons, but no. 

It's Phillip Phillips.

And who is Phillip Phillips, you might ask? Ah, no biggie, he just won the last season of American Idol. In fact, the song I thought was so indie turned out to actually be his "coronation song," the song they pick for the winner to perform when he or she wins the finale, which they produce as a single and populate ev. ery. where. You've probably heard it in a ton of commercials. 

It really doesn't get much more mainstream than that, so, hipster cred = gone. That's OK. I still like Ke$ha songs even though they're terrible and repetitive. The girl's just so dang catchy!