Tired of corporate musical endeavors
Finding new, good music isn’t all that easy
– even though it really should be. But let’s face it: Like
people, companies are lazy and most of them will continue on doing
the same thing if it makes money. Meaning less artistic and musical
credibility and more pop sensations that only care about their
brand.
Tired of corporate musical endeavors
Finding new, good music isn’t all that easy – even though it really should be. But let’s face it: Like people, companies are lazy and most of them will continue on doing the same thing if it makes money. Meaning less artistic and musical credibility and more pop sensations that only care about their brand.
Three of the most popular artists today live off their brand. Lady Gaga, Justin Beiber and Black Eyed Peas – all have very distinctive images and names that are notable throughout the world.
Musically, though, none are impressive. Gaga sells sex and her “crazy” costumes. Bieber sells for the teenyboppers and those that wish they were still 12. But the Black Eyed Peas might be the worst of them all.
The quartet continues to shorten their lyrics, making them incoherent but a singable mess. The music behind the chorus-filled singing is the same simple beat and tempo.
I’ll give them credit, they know their niche and stick with it. Too bad it makes embarrassing selling-to-the-masses music.
The loss of good popular music should be directed at the companies that sell it to us. They are the gatekeepers and what they choose is stuff that sells instead of music and ideals that make us think.
The Beatles were immensely popular back in the 60s but does anyone think they would actually find a place on today’s radio if of course they weren’t the historic Beatles we know them as? I wasn’t born yet, but at the time Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band was considered a gigantic leap in music. The music wasn’t simple and laid out in front of the listener. Instead the big expansive sound was difficult to soak in.
Today what popular music artist continues to push the boundaries of how we listen to music? Bands like Green Day or U2 haven’t expanded their sound in decades. Artist such as Katy Perry and Black Eyed Peas continue to dumb down their sound simply to sell more.
The issue is how we as listeners consume the new music.
And yes I’m pointing the finger at you, MTV. The once prominent television network was a gold mine in finding new and upcoming artists until the last decade when it decided the junk that is reality TV is best.
The reason makes some sense because if it sells it sells but the trickle-down effect to what MTV used to actually stand for – remember Music Television – is that the music is not really about the music anymore.
And the music played is just to build up the “wild” moments that reality TV can bring. Remember that party where the “The situation” was pumping his fist in the air – I want that song. Or the songs are just trying to sell a car or cologne.
In all these cases the musical integrity is gone and with it musical taste. Earlier this year iTunes, the epicenter for downloading music, released its most downloaded songs and the top artists Lady Gaga, Black Eyed Peas, Jason Mraz and Coldpay all have one thing in common: their songs are featured prominently on TV and commercials.
As a country we are lazy when it comes to entertainment. We hardly ever read. The highest grossing films are more about the look instead of the actual stories they tell. On TV we go for the easy laughs as good shows fade off the air. Musically we listen to the radio or the songs chosen for TV soundtracks.
But to find the best of everything we need to look harder. With the Internet there is more music available to all of us than ever – if we know were to look.
Blogs and websites such as Last.fm and pitchfork.com can open the ears to new musical wonders. It’s a tremendous feeling discovering something new and not depending on the radio or Grey’s Anatomy.
The Internet helps drive the indie music world – opening a doorway to every musician. Bands such as Grizzly Bear, Animal Collective and Arcade Fire found their audience by using the Internet.
To borrow a line from the movie (500) Days of Summer, “I hate living in a world where nobody knows who Spoon is.” I’m looking forward to the day when that changes.
