It seems like an ongoing saga.
The Woodstock 50 concert, which is supposed to be the “new Woodstock” for this new generation half a century after the first one took place, has been filled with drama, much like the first one. The difference, however, is what kind of drama.
In 1969, the drama was mostly on the outside, and it helped to inspire what happened at Woodstock that summer. The Vietnam War was raging, there had been prominent domestic political movements, such as the Civil Rights movement, women’s liberation movement, and the youth movement trying to challenge the establishment and conformity. Of course, there was the drugs, as well.
Yes, all of that contributed to the brilliance of those three days (and change, as it turns out) for what turned out to be an incredible, even historical, concert. Some musical performances became the stuff of legend. The spirit of peace and cooperation, even love, among concert goers also seemed to symbolize the very best that the counterculture of the sixties had to offer.
The memory of Woodstock lived on for a long, long time. Still lives on, in fact, clearly. People still remember Woodstock, and the name itself evokes images and sounds from that historic weekend.
No wonder they tried to do it again (in 1994). And again (in 1999). And again, now, in 2019.
Except that the drama surrounding this particular Woodstock concert seems to be preventing it from even getting off the ground.
Part of the problem, I believe, is the fact that there were three Woodstock concerts, although only one of them was truly worthy of the name “Woodstock.” That would be the first one, which was utterly brilliant.
This brilliance actually made the two during the nineties pale by way of comparison. And those were tarnished by the profit motive, as well as some violence that took place in the 1999 Woodstock. Concerns of a repeat of that kind of violence is probably a large part of the reason that the organizers of the new Woodstock are having such an obviously hard time in securing so much as a venue for this new Woodstock concert.
The organizers tried, for a third time, to appeal the decision by Vernon, New York, and finally find a venue for this concert. But again, they were denied. And again, the possibility that this high profile concert will not even take place is starting to look and feel very real now.
I have said it before, and will say it again: there was, and will be, onl one true “Woodstock” worthy of the name. Again, that music festival of the summer of 1969 surpassed all optimistic expectations, I believe. It became one of the best and most hopeful highlights of a tumultuous, unstable decade. In other words, it transcended the times,
Not so for the other two Woodstock concerts which took place in the nineties. And it is not looking very good, frankly, for this new Woodstock, now in 2019. It seems that the whole spirit behind the thing is compromised.
Frankly, it is my belief that they probably should simply give up the name. Organize a music festival, by all means. Hopefully, they can promote something meaningful, as well. It could represent positive things, just like the real Woodstock did half a century ago. Maybe it can promote a more honest approach to environmentalism, to conservation. Or, like the Farm Aid concerts, it can be a mix of cleaner farming technologies with providing exposure for issues involving farmers and farming. Perhaps it can even try to promote world peace, or some kind of stronger enlightenment.
There are no shortages of issues that it could help raise.
Just please, please don’t call it Woodstock anymore. The standards from the original are just too impossibly high, I strongly suspect. Again, those two “Woodstock” concerts of the nineties were largely forgettable, at least in comparison to the real Woodstock. And this one, if it even takes place, will probably pale by way of comparison, as well. Also, it hardly seems to have an obvious message or unifying power. Some of the artists there seem more interested in producing huge profits, than meaningful music, frankly.
By all means, get a concert or music festival going. But just please, please stop trying to push “Woodstock” concerts that prove completely unworthy of the name for that one, true concert that went by that name, and transcended arguably all other concerts in history as symbolic of a whole era and frame of mind and worldview.
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