[dropcap size=big]T[/dropcap]his time around on “Everyone has something to say about ‘insert artist/band here'”, we’re going a little bit darker and more controversial than the Red Hot Chili Peppers. And of course, I once again took to the streets (lol, nah, I just asked my friends on Facebook to sound off again) to uncover what people really think about none other than Marilyn Manson.
Whether you like Marilyn Manson or not, and there’s certainly a decent amount of people on both sides of the fence, there’s no denying that he’s an iconic figure.
A rock god, if you will.
Facebook friend, Kim, put it another way:
“…he’s an artistic genius…”
An artistic genius that many of us years ago thoroughly believed was purposefully missing a rib for a…let’s say, interesting reason. I believe that rumor has been debunked now, but it’s still highly entertaining.
Some are disgusted by him, others are confused by him, and some simply just can’t get enough.
Not for the faint of he(art)
And then there are the people that are straight up scared of Marilyn Manson.
A musical act that’s no stranger to warnings about extreme violence and all-around “not for kids (or anyone who is easily offended/squeamish)” content, I can certainly understand why some are too weirded out by the visual aspects to venture into the ****’ed-up yet fascinating world that Marilyn Manson has created.
The discomfort and contempt aroused by Manson’s music videos only further solidifies the fact that his music is not for the faint of heart, but still proves that there is complexity and a depth of emotion to be found within that is truly significant.
“I have never been a huge fan, but he needed to exist.”
My friend Stratton provided me with that nugget of truth (thanks, Stratton!), so all y’all haters (or dislike-rs, if your opinion isn’t quite so strong) need to consider said nugget for a minute.
Underneath all of the heavy makeup and fake blood, there’s a bonafide and revolutionary artist. More so than any other artist out there, he’s an artist first and a musician second, therefore he embraces the notion of individuality and self-expression wholeheartedly.
Believe me, if you’ve ever seen a Marilyn Manson video, you’re more than aware of this fact (and if you think there’s someone out there that’s more obscene than Manson, PLEASE let me know).
Even more than promoting being true to one’s creative self, Marilyn Manson has influenced and therefore paved the way for an unthinkable number of bands and artists, some you probably wouldn’t even imagine.
A necessary evil
Like it or not, Marilyn Manson is here to stay for the foreseeable future, and he’s still making waves in the music world.
While he seems to be a bit tamer nowadays compared to previous eras, those who appreciate him as an artist (myself included) have faith that he’ll never lose that special something.
Besides, don’t we need some darkness every once in a while to counter all of that pop garbage on the radio?
