When you run into people who have gone to events like Bonnaroo or Lollapalooza, I always ask “What was the most memorable moment for you of the entire festival?”
I have a feeling that if you bump into those who just experienced Coachella, they might tell you that the best live performance was a dead one, an optical illusion, a trick. And it didn’t matter because they just can’t stop talking about it.
In case you missed it, Dr. Dre arranged a reunion of sorts with Tupac Shakur who was resurrected holographically to perform along with Snoop Dogg. The video is below and it’s somewhere between spectacular and mind-boggling.
It is highly unsafe for work, so use headphones or watch it from the privacy of your home. And if you’re offended by profanity, take a pass.
>EMAIL RECIPIENTS: CLICK HERE TO WATCH COACHELLA / TUPAC SHAKUR VIDEO<
This Wall Street Journal video explains the technology that made it possible to bring back a performer who’s been dead for 16 years to a modern-day music festival. It turns out that it isn’t technically a hologram. But beyond the digital magic behind the resurrection of Tupac, there are questions and rumors about whether this could be the beginning of a larger trend to bring back dead superstars.
>EMAIL RECIPIENTS: CLICK HERE TO WATCH WSJ / TUPAC SHAKUR VIDEO<
And it makes you wonder whether we’re entering a period where facsimiles of performances could become a way that we enjoy concerts. We know that millions of people pay to sit in theaters to watch live video transmissions of concerts that are occurring somewhere else around the world.
This virtual form of entertainment is both a little creepy and fascinating, and makes you wonder whether a virtual Clarence Clemons on stage with the E Street Band or Paul McCartney touring with a holographic John Lennon wouldn’t satisfy concertgoers who just don’t care whether they’re watching something digital – they just want to be able to relive a feeling or experience from their past.
There are ethical, moral, and financial questions surrounding this practice. But maybe that story about the organizers of the 2012 Summer Olympics inquiring about the availability of Keith Moon wasn’t as moronic as we all thought. Maybe they knew something.
Love live rock, I guess.
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An Open Plea To The New Years Eve Powers That Be:
Please – No ‘Virtual Dick Clark’ 8 months from now… or ever. Thank You.
Nice application for holography, Ralph. Seriously, why wouldn’t they do this (although Ryan Seacrest would probably NOT be happy)?