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Steve Miller Band Hits Sour Note With Some Students

September 11, 2008 10:51 AM

Nm_steve_miller_band_080911_blogUniversity of Florida officials announced this past weekend that the Steve Miller Band will be performing at Gator Growl, the largest student-run pep rally in the world. They're following last year's Lynyrd Skynyrd performance. I've noticed students here in Gainesville have been reacting in three different ways:

1) Awesome! I love them! "I'm a joker... I'm a smoker... I'm a midnight toker..."

2) What?! They had their heyday before we were even born!

3) Wait ... who's the Steve Miller Band?

One upset student wrote this letter to the editor of The Independent Florida Alligator, our campus newspaper:

"The largest student–run pep rally has once again failed to deliver a show for students. Instead, it will feature the Steve Miller Band playing their greatest hits for alumni. I understand that alumni are financially important to the success of Gator Growl and want to enjoy it as well, but then it should be called the Student Pep Rally for Alumni. No one between the ages of 18 and 25 cares about that band. Vanderbilt University has Lil Wayne this year and had Kanye West the year before. Maybe in 20 years we can, too."

To get the other side of the issue, I called an expert on older music (and older stuff, in general): my 49-year-old dad. He was a fan of the band when HE was in college.

"You college kids are being very selective about these old fogey bands that everybody loves and are still going strong," he said over the phone.

I could hear my mom singing "Fly Like an Eagle" in the background.

He added, "A little bit of culture doesn't hurt."

-- Miles Doran

September 11, 2008 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (6)

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Part of the college experience is learning to adapt to other cultures and even appreciating the art of other cultures, whether it's old art or new art.

Intolerance doesn't come from intelligence. It comes from ignorance.

Leonardo Da Vinci's painting of the Mona Lisa is very old too. However, even though the artist himself grew old and died, the painting always lives on. It's the same with ALL art. Art does not go out of style. It lives forever.

Posted by: ivan12356 | Sep 11, 2008 11:36:46 AM

I told my kids that I knew they were adults the day they realized that new isn't necessarily better. They were amazed at the great b/w movies and admired old Beatles songs. But still, if it's an event for students, I can see their point. Hire the bands they love!

Posted by: obamamama | Sep 11, 2008 11:42:59 AM

Ivan is totally wrong. College should never be about "adapting" to other cultures or others' ideas. College is about learning to think for yourself and, if necessary, deeming some other cultures unsuitable for yourself. If these kids don't want to hear ancient music from my generation, so be it.

Posted by: les franks | Sep 11, 2008 12:05:54 PM

It's a "student pep rally" FOR "ALUMNI" !!! Key words there.

Posted by: RENEE | Sep 11, 2008 12:32:40 PM

there are plenty of better options from that same time period then the steve miller band

Posted by: chris | Sep 11, 2008 12:33:31 PM

At least my son did not refer to me as an old fogey - thanks! There is one thing that I have noticed over the years is that until recently, very few bands been able to produce music that is anywhere near close to the heart of rock and roll tunes cranked out in the 60's and 70's. All I can say is to enjoy the live performances while the classic old fogey bands can still shake a leg. Just think that the alternatives we had back in our hey days were Frank Sinatra - how's that for an option!

Posted by: dad | Sep 11, 2008 3:53:33 PM

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