Quick Book Review: “Your Favorite Band is Killing Me: What Pop Music Rivalries Reveal About the Meaning of Life” by Steven Hyden

"Your Favorite Band is Killing Me: What Pop Music Rivalries Reveal About the Meaning of Life" by Steven Hyden

This is really a book about pop culture, and the author has made a pretty good career as a writer on the topic.  Addressing pop culture through these music rivalries was very entertaining.  As a fan of classic rock and alternative music, I really enjoyed the chapters on Oasis vs. Blur, Nirvana vs. Pearl Jam, Eric Clapton vs. Jimmy Hendrix, Smashing Pumpkins vs. Pavement, Neil Young vs. Lynyrd Skynyrd, and of course, the Beatles vs. Stones.  Some of the rivalries are real, and some are merely fan-created, but they’re all interesting.  The author’s analysis of the rivalries in terms of how it influenced pop culture at the time made the book compelling, even if the rivalries involved performers I had little interest in (for example, Biggie vs. Tupac, Taylor Swift vs. Kanye West, Britney Spears vs. Christina Aguilera). The book was lighthearted, amusing, thought provoking, and a lot of fun.  I definitely recommend it.  

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