Something Appropriate

'pretentious'

Is being 'pretentious' something that is set at one place or is it relative? If we set the bar at rock bottom, lets say Britney Spears or Hannah Montana Bublegum pop, would that make bands like Radiohead or Wilco 'pretentious' for taking themselves seriously? What about even more obscure artists? How can Saul Williams possibly cover "Sunday Bloody Sunday?" But wait, didn't U2 sell-out back with Rattle and Hum? Now that we think about we can't really take their early stuff seriously can we... "In the Name of Love?" "October?" anyway, it keeps going like that. For the record, U2 is awesome. But it mostly comes up with indie bands vs. mainstream bands. Modest Mouse for example. They were a huge underground band until "Float On" brought them success. But now, do young hipster who just found about them consider there old work 'pretentious' even though a slightly older hipster wouldn't even entertain the thought? The balance is between 'pretentious' and 'I don't really see where they are coming from.' My Chemical Romance's last album made stadium-style songs appeal to youths that think their lives are much more important than they will think about them later. But, they weren't fooling themselves, they new exactly what they were doing. Can you be 'pretentious' if you are trying to be 'pretentious?' Anyway, I hate that word. It's a crutch. I try to go with like/dislike more than trying to disect motives and if people are reaching past their comfort area in their lyrics. I am more interested on if its clever or not i guess. If someone has an overinflated sense of self-worth, that's their own problem.