Now before I get into a typical old person rant about music not being what it used to be, I believe music has been a bit shit throughout the ages with crappy lyrics and musicianship in every decade so this post is not one of those. Whilst the impact of the Beatles to the music industry is undeniable, I am not a fan, (saying that Yesterday is one of my favourite songs).
Being a part of this thing called the music industry for most of my life, I realise that not everyone can be a freedom fighter, of stand up for some righteous cause, be a voice of the people or whatever, but gheez the commercialism and blatant nothingness that exists in the almost vacuous music scene today is a bit depressing.
For me there are a few new artists, shining lights that save me from musical suicide. I am getting older but for me “music” is timeless, I stress music, the arrangement of NOTES and RHYTHMS not just offensive noises some try to pass off as music.
Back in the day you had Bob Marley, Marvin Gaye (although he started in quite a different place, musically) John Lennon, Bruce Springsteen and countless others who ctually said something, who filled their music with themes that benefited mankind. When I say benefited, I am not solely speaking about fighting poverty, ending wars and stuff like that, but also how to treat each other as humans, simple everyday stuff, not the endless drivel of “I’m getting mine” “Your ass is so fine””You’s a HATER” (intentionally spelt like that) “I got money” etc. Even Madonna, who most saw as a sex crazed dominatrix had a definite message of empowerment for women, be it heavily disguised in ….mmmm SEX!
Listen, everything has its place, I wrote a less than PC track called FREAK about a girl who was less than faithful and was a bit sexually warped. You could say I was adding to the problem, but at the same time I wrote songs about issues surrounding skin colour and the love of self.
Now I am a man and I am not going to say I do not appreciate a beautiful woman on my screen, Rihanna for me musically can be jarring, but occasionally she comes out with a good tune and looks at times stunning, but I guess what I am ranting on about is balance. There is just too much crap.[pullquote]For me there are a few new artists, shining lights that save me from musical suicide. I am getting older but for me “music” is timeless, I stress music, the arrangement of NOTES and RHYTHMS not just offensive noises some try to pass off as music.[/pullquote]
I have always said that a person is intelligent, people are stupid. If there is only shit to eat, then people will eat shit until something better comes along.
So please artists, start making something better. PLEAAAAASE!
There is the pressure to just appeal to peoples base desires to achieve shock value or quick attention, but you cannot use shock as a long term strategy, and those looking to have a long term career in this business need to have a cause even if it is ok to be different (a la Gaga) but even Gaga’s shock strategy is past boring to many.
So I guess, I am hoping to see some more artists out there looking to contribute rather than solely try to get rich from the music business.
Albert Pine said this:
“WHAT WE DO FOR OURSELVES DIES WITH US. WHAT WE DO FOR OTHERS AND THE WORLD REMAINS IS IMMORTAL.”
this applies to musicians too.
Trev’s own website is well worth a visit http://www.trevorisher.com and if you are going to insist on being a pop star then you need his essential guide The Pospstars Handbook available here.
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