Music fans (and those who pay attention to Twitter’s trending topics) undoubtedly caught wind of The White Stripes’ official breakup announcement last week.

Originally, I read about the breakup over at Rolling Stone.

However, the article included excerpts so intriguing I had to head to the duo’s website and read the thing in its entirety for myself.

Which was, (maybe) unexpectedly, profound.

Overall, The White Stripes’ breakup letter was pretty standard. You know, the whole “Yes, we’re getting along. No, we’re not sick or dying. Yes, we thank our fans so much” song and dance.

The profound part came in at the end:

The White Stripes do not belong to Meg and Jack anymore. The White Stripes belong to you now and you can do with it whatever you want. The beauty of art and music is that it can last forever if people want it to. Thank you for sharing this experience. Your involvement will never be lost on us and we are truly grateful. (www.thirdmanrecords.com)

Music (and any other kind of artistic creation or performance – writing, acting, painting, dancing, etc. and so forth) can leave a lasting impression on those who listen to (or view) it. It can change how we feel, think, and act (in general or in relation to a particular situation). It can prompt us to make changes, in our own lives or the lives of others, and it can turn a sad mood into a happy one, or an aggressive one into a peaceful one.

I think the dual nature of The White Stripes breakup announcement is the reason it had such an impact on me.

On the one hand, there’s a sense of finality. Jack White and Meg White will no longer make music as The White Stripes. It’s over.

On the other hand, there’s a sense of infinity. As the duo point out, The White Stripes discography will forever be available to listeners. Everything their music has been able to do for the fans, it will forever continue to be able to do.

The lasting and future effects of the art aren’t gone just because the artists have called it quits.

It’s common sense, I know. I mean, Starry Night didn’t vanish when Van Gogh died. (Actually, Starry Night didn’t even sell until after Van Gogh’s death, so that could be an excellent example, depending on how you look at it.)

Yet, sometimes we don’t pause to think about it that way – in terms of others’ art, or our own.

What songs or other forms of art do you continue to draw inspiration, hope, or happiness from, even though the artist is no longer around, or no longer makes art? What long-gone singers and bands who still impact you today do you recommend to your children, or grandchildren?

Image Source: Wikipedia Commons/Michael Morel

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    Last reviewed: 7 Feb 2011