Sympathy for the Band Graphic Tee
Image Courtesy: Instagram
The vintage graphic tee has made its return, and I could not be happier. Whether cropped or oversized, graphic tees are a cute way to elevate a look above a basic, blank t-shirt. Now, band and musician tees hearken back to the past as artifacts. The most popular being adorned with popular artists like Led Zeppelin and Prince, they evoke nostalgia for artists from decades ago. As opposed to just a blank t-shirt, a band tee gives people a window into who you are and what you like—or at least so I thought. I’ve begun to notice that many people who wear these band graphic tees may not know any of the songs of the very artists on their shirts.
Now, I am not the old man who stops you at the store and asks you to name every song that the artist on your shirt has ever written. I am simply a girl who loves band tees and good music, and I can’t help but think that there is a little bit of validity behind the ask of the old man. I don’t believe that you need to know every song, but it wouldn’t hurt to know at least one. I mean, without knowing the songs, you are using the artist to look fashionable and cute. While there is nothing wrong with this, why not be introduced to some new music at the same time? I love band tees, and I love that people are wearing them. As someone who grew up listening to alternative rock, I consider my Kurt Cobain graphic tee to be one of my favorite items of clothing, and I am prepared to name at least ten Nirvana songs if questioned. Granted, I don’t think that this is a prerequisite for wearing the shirt, but it is important to recognize that these shirts are so popular because of the talent that these bands have reached.
Consider The Rolling Stones, who happen to be the inspiration behind the title of this article. Their iconic graphic tee is probably in every store and is well recognized for the bright red tongue and lips on the shirt. However, The Rolling Stones are not just some band that your parents loved with a logo that coincidentally makes for a cute graphic tee. They did not win three Grammys and sell 240 million albums worldwide because of their cute logo. They are a great band with a lot of good songs, and if you plan on donning their tee, you should give them a listen. There is no quota of songs you need to know, but you should branch out and listen to at least one.
Image Courtesy: Instagram
What’s great about band graphic tees is that they introduce a new generation to these artists, allowing us to rediscover and listen to music that may be new to us but are considered classics by many. How would you feel if, roughly 60 years from now, you see someone wearing a Taylor Swift graphic tee, and they didn’t even know one song? So, before you put on that graphic tee of the band you don’t know, pull out your phone and queue one of their songs. It would mean the world to me, but hey, “You Can’t Always Get What You Want,” and if you don’t get that reference, look it up.
Strike Out,
Writer: Isabelle Grassel
Editors: Natalie Daskal, Will Kennedy, Kimani Krienke, Mary Clare Cameron
Writing Director: David Kramer
Blog Director: Helenna Xu
Notre Dame
