It is now a widely known fact that Michael Lang, one of the original founders of Woodstock 1969, will be putting on another three-day festival this August. While all intentions are pure, the festival simply cannot recreate the magic of the original Woodstock - nothing could.
in no way am I revealing any distaste or a lack of excitement pertaining to Woodstock 50. I am more than excited, like a music festival fanatic. But, after doing a history research paper on Woodstock '69, it is exceedingly apparent that the original Woodstock was a product of its time that encapsulated the counterculture emotions rather than a deliberately planned event with specific intentions.
Woodstock '69 was a festival that arose from the despair and violence plaguing the world at the time along with the defeat of the subculture's dissent. After trying everything, this group of youth decided to remove themselves rather than conform and join together at this specific time, in Bethel Woods, New York and celebrate their own values, beliefs, and culture - one of peace.
This was something unique. Something special. Something that could not ever be replicated.
This year, we will gather in Upstate New York again and celebrate the legacy of the Woodstock Music and Arts Festival. Except for this year, the tickets will be hundreds of dollars, if it is anything like Woodstock '99, some violence will arise, and peace will not be the main focus. This year, it isn't about the counterculture celebrating themselves and collectively recognizing their values that resist the establishment, but more about the Instagram pictures, the money, and being able to say you saw Jay-Z in concert.
Woodstock 1969 was what it was because of those who attended, the climate in which it arose, those who performed, and the free love, wildly peaceful vibes it promoted. We can try to replicate it, but it simply cannot be done. This was the perfect storm that formed and could only be sustained by a specific population.
All of this aside, Woodstock 50 will still be an amazing experience with amazing performers. However, we cannot be fooled into thinking Woodstock '69 wasn't a once in a lifetime thing.
