More on the Lessons of Lordi

As your humble Dragonmaster has been telling you, Rovaniemi, Finnish Lapland's quintet of monstrous freaks, Lordi, unexpectedly took the heavy-metal music world by storm when they became the first Finnish act --- and first heavy-metal band as well --- to triumph at the annual Eurovision Song Contest, held in Athens, Greece, only 2 short weeks ago. Now, I certainly hope that these bizarrely clad freaky folks are enjoying a well-earned weekend off, now that they are, believe it or not, national heroes! Thanks to Lordi's maniacal single, Hard Rock Hallelujah, which will be unleashed upon the world June 6th, Finland will host the next Eurovision Song Contest ---- and, if certain events are permitted to occur, the way may very likely be pav'd for an American Eurovision to be born as well.

What lessons can be taught, I wonder, from the triumph of Lordi at Eurovision? Well, after carefully considering them, I have decided that these are the lessons one can take from this unusual story, not the least of which is, of course, never judge a book by its cover. Or, perchance, a monster by its ferocity. Many of Lordi's fans, I must own, were not expecting a victory on this grand a scale. But perhaps they were waiting to rise up in rebellion and say that no longer would blandness, sameness and boring stuff be tolerated by the Eurovision audiences. Maybe it was time, I think, for Eurovision to finally face the 21st Century.

Nonetheless, the future of music must now be shaped by achievers like Lordi. Having witnessed Taylor Hicks win American Idol, Season 5, I was, frankly, disappointed in what the world considers American popular music. I recall one particular film, director Ralph Bakshi's animated drama American Pop, that followed the saga of four generations of one American family, and how the world of music influenced their lives, loves, tragedies and triumphs. Long before American Idol was ever a part of our specific consciousness, American Pop spoke to its listeners in a way that few animated films have ever done. In doing so, it became a springboard for determining what was, and wasn't, right with the state of music in the world today.

So now, Lordi and his head-bashing crew must be wondering how to top Hard Rock Hallelujah. I would be quick to suggest that the lads not rest on their laurels just yet. Besides, I think I may be cocky enough to request an interview with Lordi himself. (Assuming I'm not torn to teeny, icky shreds first.)

Well, as ever, I wanna know your stand on this, America. Gimme an e-mail at either blackbeardian@yahoo.com or electric_pirates@hotmail.com.

Master Blackwolf