Their songs have meaning, you know? Like it actually came from somewhere and they experienced it!She said this as if this were a novel concept in the world of music, and that this is what makes them totally unique in the large world of musicians. Funny, I've been listening to lots of music that came from somewhere; is this part of a new wave?
Unfortunately, all we have these days in the way of popular music is the neverending cycle of "Love you so and never wanna let you go" songs. Or those horrid breakup songs which we all know have no emotions behind them, because really, you have to be some kind of douchebag to write a song to your significant other about how you no longer want to date them so that they don't know how you really feel until the song is on the radio. Everyone thinks Miley Cyrus's "The Climb" is just so damn deep, and that "Fall For You" by Secondhand Serenade is just so touching. "The Climb" took a bunch of studio writers to help Ms. Cyrus write, and it was a product of a movie, so it's all fake; and "Fall For You" portrays hardly any emotion, if you listen to it. It's nice, but it's not what people think it is.
I think that music these days has been severely diluted. To find someone like Jason Mraz or John Mayer is almost rare now. To wedge oneself in the music industry is all too easy: look good, sing decently, be very friendly, and you're in. The funny part is that looking good is the most rigorous part. Take a look at Cassie. All looks? I do think so. It's especially a hint when the songs are spelled in text message language.
My favorite is "Soulja Boy"'s song that all the kids dance to and is really freaking disgusting. I won't deny it, I know the dance, and it can be fun. But in the song, "Soulja Boy" is rapping about how pissed he is that his girlfriend didn't give him any last night, and so he's so blue-balled about it that he's going to rub one out and make sure the ensuing fluid lands all over her while she's sleeping. And the kid was 16 when he recorded it. Corruption? I think so. But that's another issue.
The point is that music can be used so well to portray emotion, to touch people, to express what words can't dare to do, to take the artist and listeners to another world where everything is what they want it to be. And yet, it's being further and further reduced into a tool for enjoyment, and a mood enhancer, like a drug. People will play music because they're sad and want to be happy again. In this function, it is no more than an antidepressant. Others will play music so they can dance. In this function, it is no more than Ecstasy. Some will just play it as background noise. In this function... wait, this makes it have no function.
I remember when I was younger, I thought that this was what it was. How when JoJo was 13 years old when her single "Leave (Get Out)" was on the radio, and a bunch of critics went up in arms because, first of all, it's another breakup song, and second of all, she was just too young to sing about such things. How I was her age and thought, It's just a song; who really cares? Because this is what I had gathered that music was. Entertainment. Who cares where it came from? It's just a nice sound.
I have since discovered that music does have genres for nice sounds: Ambience. Techno. Dance.
But then there are those other genres that we primarily use as expression and inspiration for others: Rock. Easy listening. Pop. Rhythm & Blues. Soul. Jazz. Funk.
Maybe I'm getting ahead of myself. I think I'm being a little bit pompous here, since I'm so young and haven't even experienced much in the way of music. But it just frustrates me a great deal to see such a wonderful art be brought down to such a low sometimes.
Haha no one understood why I liked darker music when I was younger - it was because it actually had feeling! Oddly, I first approached music because of the emotions behind it and THEN moved on to simpler, "nice" sounding music.
ReplyDeleteI know this is an old post but I totally agree with you. I think that it is also rare for someone to truly appreciate music though. Most people don’t get it. They, as you say, consider it "background noise" or "just a song". So since the majorities are in this category, that is who the artists make music for. But I wouldn't give up too easily on TRUE artists just yet. They are rare, true. But they are definitely out there. They are just not as popular as the "Soulja Boy's" or "Lady Gaga's". They are hidden in the shadows, but they are there trust me. I've found some. But you've got to search. The thing I think that annoys me the most though is when you do find one and share it with others, they blow it off and don’t truly appreciate it. I love finding song with words that you sit in awe listening to. Songs that you have to play over and over again just to get the full meaning. But most don't. Anyway... those musicians are out there. You just have to look.
ReplyDeleteOh, yeah, I feel the exact same way. What frustrates me exactly is the fact that there are so many artists with meaningful, passionate music, and people just ignore them and listen to the industry people, the moneymakers, when they could be listening to the good stuff, you know? The fact that they think true artists are so rare, when really they're not.
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