EDC 2012: Calvin Harris Plays CDs of Himself Singing

...But at least they're not the ones singing on their own tracks. (They collaborate with guest vocalists.) They have some excuse for why the music isn't being performed, or at least aided, by live vocals.

But all Calvin Harris needed was a microphone.

If dance culture -- and not just the outsiders here, but organizers of EDC, DJ agents, and labels -- continues to pursue this greatest-hits style of pop-star DJing, we're going to lose a generation of kids who should be experiencing the journey and eclecticism of DJ culture.

It cheapens the music. Remember 1979? Dolly Parton did disco -- along with everyone else. This time the gatekeepers should keep it real. Put real DJs on the decks. Let pop stars perform with microphones and bands. Yeah?

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Dennis Romero is a staff writer for LA Weekly and is covering Electric Daisy Carnival 2012 for Village Voice Media. [@dennisjromero / djromero@laweekly.com]