So I'm at a point where I am VERY irritated with the music today. Almost none of it has any serious meaning, almost none of the artists right their own music, and almost all of them are only where they are because of popularity. I bet I could ask any musician, or a well music educated person who was better, John Mayer? or Daughtry? And I bet everyone of them will say John Mayer.
I say almost because of the simple fact that there are AMAZING artists out there. They are just not getting the recognition that they deserve. John Mayer for example, yes he is well known, and almost everyone loves him. But more people are going to rock out to Daughtry on the radio rather than him, because they think that everyone else likes Daughtry better, or maybe they do actually think Daughtry is better. I don't know. But it's my opinion, that I straight up don't like Daughtry, never have, never will. He can sing, he has a voice, but it's too similar to everything else.
The music scene for the last ten years has been the exact same thing: Punk Rock, Hip-Hop, and... and... I can't even think of anything else. Country has made a HUGE expansion, and I love it! I used to dislike country quite a bit, but I've gotten into it more, for the simple fact that... well, when the artists sing the song, they sing it from the heart. Ten years is a long time, I'm not saying that the world should change, but as John Mayer said, we are waiting for it aren't we? Not just music, but the economy, the lifestyle, the drama and so much more. Music is just a proportion of it, and it effects everything else.
The common quote goes, "If it's not broken, don't fix it." And I'm assuming that's what all the producers, including Clive Davis, are thinking about the music scene. "People want the same sound! They'll get it!" But how many artists through the past have made a change and it brought the most extraordinary sound to our ears? They took a risk and said, they either like it or they don't. My favorite example of this is Ray Charles. I speak only from what I know, and I know Ray Charles. Not literally, but I know his music. He took a chance out in the world, him and his producers, they made a change, and I'll be damned! The people actually liked it!
The change doesn't need to happen. It's already happened. It's been happening, but it's gone unnoticed. John Mayer, Alicia Keys, Jack Johnson, John Legend, Norah Jones, Corrine Bailey Rae, Macy Gray's latest, and even our own Taylor Hicks could be put in this category if his self-titled album wasn't so over produced. I love the songs, don't get me wrong, but I can hear in each individual song details and possible things that could be changed to make it more "soulful." All the artists I listed are just part of what is known as great music. They are artists. And for a moment, lets look and see the definition of artist:
art·ist [ahr-tist] –noun
tɪst| 1. | a person who produces works in any of the arts that are primarily subject to aesthetic criteria. |
An example of aesthetic criteria? Music: The writing of the words, expression, melody, mood, the swing, beat and rhythm, the heart, the feelings, and the soul. At least that's my definition of music. Now here's the dictionary's:
mu·sic [myoo-zik] –noun
| 1. | an art of sound in time that expresses ideas and emotions in significant forms through the elements of rhythm, melody, harmony, and color. |
An art of sound. Ideas and Emotions. Last time I checked Fergie only spelled her music. And even her latest song, "Big Girls Don't Cry" I still don't like. It's fake and doesn't come from the heart.
This is my opinion only. And it's something that bothers me everyday. Musicians are artists, people who work towards their dream with their heart and emotions. They sing from the heart everyday, and know the meaning of the words that THEY wrote down. Original music is a beautiful thing, too bad today's society has yet to realize it. And I know that there are people out there that know exactly what I'm talking about. People who look up to those artists, and the artists that look up to the classic legends. So... what's your take on this? Agree or disagree?
My final words on this: A musician that can barely put gas in the tank of their car/tourbus/home can be a greater than the so called artist who sits on the couch watching MTV while a hired lyricist writes their next hit single.
7 comments:
Don't knock the Daughtry, man. His album is good, and I am not easily pleased. Give him another try.
I'm with you Julie, I do like Chris.. just not as well as Taylor.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone, I hope you have a wonderful day with family and/or friends!! Cheers
I never liked Daughtry and it's not because of Taylor. D's vibrato drives me bananas.
Kenzie you're so right. It's sad that gifted musicians have to give it up because they can't make a living at it.
I'm not particularly knocking down Daughtry, I'm only using him as an example. I just don't like him that much.
But in other news!! HAPPY TURKEY DAY!!
Using Daughtry as an example of "everthing that's wrong with the music industry today" certainly sounds like knocking down to me. And since you admire John Mayer, you might be interested to hear his opinion on popular music today (from his recent blog):
http://www.johnmayer.com/blog
POP ROCKS
Those of you who've known me for a while are probably familiar with my firm defensive stance when it comes to the state of pop music. I don't hate things because they have a large audience, and often times I think they have a large audience because they're really good. Like any entertainment landscape, some moments in time are better than others, but I think pop music is on a hot streak right now. Sure, I downloaded the newly-released Miles Davis Quintet live album, and it's wonderful, but I love current events more than I do history.
In defense of the state of pop music being exciting these days, I present to you my 5 favorite tracks of RIGHT NOW.
They're great. Not "actually" great, as in "I expected them to suck and I'm reluctantly giving it up" great. Just stand-out pop music of today.
PARAMORE - Misery Business
Lovestoned/I Think She Knows (Interlude) - Justin Timberlake - Not so much for the "Lovestoned" part, but for the 45 seconds of ultimate sonic bliss that is "I Think She Knows. It's JT's breakthrough moment as an artist; a novel mix of Coldplay guitar lines, hip hop beats and a vocal approach somewhere in between. When that track comes on I spend the first 3:30 preparing for the awesomeness to come. Then I yell at the speakers, "Make this 4 minutes long and put it on the next disc!"
Tattoo - JORDIN SPARKS - I don't really know who Jordin Sparks is as an artist, but the song is great. All people want is a melody and some words they believe are actually coming from the heart of the singer, and even though I'm sure it's not self-penned, I buy it. It gets me. Mission accomplished.
Love Song - Sara Barieillesings release...
Over You - DAUGHTRY - AMA well deserved. High five.
I actually blogged about a similar topic, only sadly it used my then-boyfriend as an example of an unheard and unknown talented musician. In reality he is a bastard.
But go read it anyway...just pretend it's about someone who REALLY deserves it.
http://ciaomanhattanbaby.blogspot.com/2007/11/this-is-blog-entry-from-back-over.html
And I know you weren't slamming Daughtry. I just have to stick up for him, because seriously that is the only album I play here at my house on a regular basis.
Cindi, I wanted to go into more explanation, but I ran out of time. I didn't get to fully explain all of opinions. As I did say... There are exceptions. Justin Timberlake is one of them. I love his new ablum, as well of most of his other ones. I haven't had the chance to hear Jordin's new release yet as it doesn't have radio play where I live yet. And I only posted this to my extent of saying that there are a lot of artists who don't get the recognition they deserve. Not just to bash today's music. I love the old classics and that's my style. My biggest problem is that the songs from the past are just examples of music that come from the heart of the person who sings it. Not too many of today's artists are that way. I came off harsh and brutal, but I've had a tough week and just before my post I got into an arguement with someone who listen to absolutely nothing but Rap, and they think that all other music is worthless. It's people like that, that annoy me. I like the people who at least know who sings "American Pie," and are aware of where music originally came from. I'm done with the arguement, there's too much opinion and it's impossible to create facts out of something like this. What's yours is yours, what's mine is mine. :)
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