R.I.P. Good Music…
Think of any musician from 20 to 60 years ago: Ray Charles, The Rolling Stones, Beatles, Bob Dylan, Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, Queen, etc. The list has no end to it. Now think of present time; think of the musicians that really stick out. Coldplay? Maybe the Killers? The folk-song Shins? At one point, Britney Spears? I cannot think of anyone that poignant, that special, that unique. Even rap has changed. We’ve gone from Run DMC to Lil’ Wayne. So what the hell happened in between?
The key to good music is to keep it simple. The way to get a person’s attention is to produce something they want to, but more importantly can, sing along with. The Beatles exemplified this theory. Hey Jude, With a Little Help from My Friends, and Eleanor Rigby are just a few of their hits that anyone can sing to. John Lennon was the philosopher. His lyrics made his songs something to sing with. Paul McCartney was a new generation musician. A close look at a song like “I Will” shows the complexity, but sweetness of his vocals.
The Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin revolutionized music in the sense that the head vocalists were not exactly an Aretha Franklin or Ella Fitzgerald. Yet their music was still catchy to the ear, and easy to sing along with. I think of “Satisfaction” and “Stairway to Heaven” as the main examples. Rolling Stones were rock and rock-and-roll, for the most part. Led Zeppelin was everything: blues, rock, soul, and even folk, a “unique combination”.
You can even look at rap from as little as ten years ago. There is no longer a Rakim, a KRS-One, or a Biggie Smalls that dominates the scene. Rap, in terms of its message, and its style, has dramatically changed. Look at Nas 14 years ago. Illmatic features him spitting lyrics across any bar with no rhythm being the exact same flow. Jay-Z would change his speed up and down to fit the bar, such is “Hardknock Life”. The message was much different as well. It was about the somewhat typical “thug life”, one filled with poverty, misery, and a drive for success.
Eminem was quite different. By far one of the most controversial figures in the history of music, he spoke of his personal troubles, and his incessant need to cruely yet comically insult gays, other rappers, and eventually government. The Slim Shady LP is his most raw, most old school record, while the Marshall Mathers LP is the most powerful, most heart-stopping and serious record. By his next record, the old Eminem was gone, and it seemed as though music was going with it.
Ok, maybe not at that moment. Blink-182 was around before the Marshall Mathers LP. Look at “All the Small Things”. It’s simple, but too simple. Blink-182 helped bring in “modern” rock, exemplified by, essentially, guitar strumming or bass strumming. Also, vocals were no longer powerful. They became more faint, weak, and even whiny. Look at Paramore, which is one of the more popular rock bands in current music. In “Misery Business”, it’s still strumming found in the guitar progressions, with a fast tempo typical of modern rock, and it’s still a voice that’s not especially unique. It still has a whiny tone. Haylee Williams is not that special.
Going back to rap, the main stars are Kanye West, Lil’ Wayne, Young Jeezy, and even 50 Cent. All of them have tried to sing, Mr. West and Lil’ Wayne being the most obvious examples. “808s & Heartbreak” is one of the most horrendous albums I’ve ever come across. Mr. West and Lil’ Wayne use Auto-Tune for a reason… they were never meant to sing. Mr. West’s new album has somewhat catchy songs in “Say you Will” and “Coldest Winter”. He just shouldn’t be singing them. In “Heartless”, there is very little complexity. Again, just too simple. His verses stick to one note with a whiny characteristic that makes his voice go up and down. Someone like John Lennon could at least stick to one note, typical of his style, and provide powerful and moving lyrics to compensate for it. Such was not the case for Kanye. It is clear to see that Mr. West has endured quite a lot of pain based off of this album, but surely he could have used his old approach, and bring out another classic like “Gold Digger” , “Diamonds from Sierra Lone”, or even “Stronger”.
Lil’ Wayne is “killing” hip-hop. His lyrics are abysmal. He is not funny, interesting, or clever. He is unique because of his nasally voice that sounds like an asthma attack. Nonetheless, his lyrics aren’t particularly spectacular. Take “A Milli”:
“Ima Millionaire,
Im a Young Money Millie in aire, tougher than Nigerian hair,
My criteria compared to your career just isnt fair,
Ima venereal disease like a menstrual bleed..”
Compare this to an Eminem track, such as “Bad Meets Evil”:
I don’t speak, I float in the air wrapped in a sheet
I’m not a real person, I’m a ghost trapped in a beat
I translate when my voice is read through a sismograph
And a noise is bred, picked up and transmitted through Royce’s head (AAHHH)
There’s just no comparison… but it’s still being made.
Coldplay seems to be the one band that truly does stick out like a sore thumb. Viva La Vida was one of the few albums of recent time with unique and catchy songs. “Lost” and “Viva la Vida” were especially impressive, with melodies that were easy to remember.
On the other hand, there is the pop sensation, Britney Spears, coming out with her new album, Circus. Despite Britney Spears’ massive popularity, she is not going to be remembered for her voice; it will be for her personal life. Fans say she is a true perfomer. This is just false. When dances are so robotically choreographed like hers are, that’s not performing. That’s just memorizing a routine. When talking about true performers, Michael Jackson must be the first mentioned. He has unfortunately lost his popularity because of his popular, but his moves and his songs are immortal. The King of Pop needs no queen.
There should no comparison to current and old music. Old music will always be better, unless someone revives modern music. Mr. West claimed he would… clearly that didn’t work out.
Until then, perhaps society can try to look back at the “good ol’ times”, or they won’t last forever.
Please comment; I want to hear YOUR opinion.
i don’t think music is dead, i just think that most of the time once a band hits fame they start to produce worse and worse music. i’m assuming this is because they feel that their hard earned fans will buy their songs just because of the name.
i also disagree that you need to be able to sing along to good music.
i listen to quite a few bands where the words are completely intelligible but the way they are arranged with the instruments make me feel alive.
Music will never be “dead”. It’s foolish to even think in terms of “alive” or “dead”. From a certain point of view, music has become more alive than ever nowadays because it is soo widely respected and proliferated thanks to iPods, mp3, and all that junk. In essence, the only time music could ever be considered dead would be when humans no longer have the ability to make sound pleasurable.
I totally agree. Music sucks. I hate modern music!!!
Music is dead. But at least we can remember it with the new Biggie movie that coming out. Have you guys seen the trailer?
Ran into your post from a link posted by your sister on facebook. Very well-written post! I’ve written a partial response on my blog (http://vivin.net/journal/12/25/2008/).
Sunil,
Music is not completely dead. Yes, it was good back in such decades such as the 80s and 90s. Some of my personal favorites were during that time. Today, music is merely evolving. It’s probably a phase, like the grunge era. So this is the crappy music with basic chord progression period. If we wait about 10 years, maybe something special will happen. That’s my opinion.
-Jeremy
wow…I’m not the only country music fan?
Seriously though,
I don’t see music being dead. I think it has changed, but it hasn’t died. We’re going to have good musicians and we’re going to have bad musicians. But, we will always have some good music to listen to.
I honestly think the internet is making our species dumber. The record companies are now able to shell out more crap and it continues to sell, so they keep doing it. I think when people lived less of a virtual life, the sales model these companies followed was more aligned with putting out “good music.” Not so much anymore. “Good music” doesn’t seem to be a requirement with music videos, semi-nude women, flashy clothes, sex, and youtube streaming it all on repeat.
I actually don’t know if I believe the above paragraph at all (therefore having completely lied by saying “honestly”) but it’s a fun idea.
Actually, Country Music Fan, would you really compare these musicians to Johnny Cash or Ray Charles? (Yes, Ray Charles was country… he was everything.)
… I don’t think so.
Wow… I’m going to try and rebuke this bit by bit.
“First of all, there is genius behind 808s and Heartbreak. Yes there is the constant argument that “Kanye can’t sing” however, the imperfections are what make it so mesmerizing. Think about it, this is the first thing Kanye released after his mother’s death and his divorce. The imperfect voice and minimalist drum machines and synths emphasize the misery from these two tragic events. Even with the negative feedback, West took a daring step away from his traditional music and for that it’s revolutionary. In a way, 808s and Heartbreak is the new Kid A (Radiohead).”
I believe there is more pain than there is genius, though it can sprout from pain. The imperfections don’t necessarily add to whatever credibility is in the album, that seems like a bit of an overanalyzation. Kanye used Auto-Tune for one reason, and it probably wasn’t to exemplify his sorrow. Kanye West’s traditional music was somewhat revolutionary, because there had never been so much soul in rap before, with Late Registration being the best example of this. Mr. West has simply changed his style, for better or for worse, and not for the sake of musical revolution. It was a new substance for him that he was and is willing to work with.
“Speaking of Radiohead, if you want to look at an artist that has revolutionized and experimented with music, look no further than those guys. When they could’ve easily just mimiced their sounds from the 90s and ass kissed the music biz. They completely did the opposite by composing records that experimented like no other, grasping influences from electronic music, free form jazz and minimalism starting in 2000 with the masterpiece Kid A. Last year, they changed the way we purchase music by letting the consumer name the price for their last album In Rainbows.”
I actually started listening to Radiohead as soon as I read this. They are unique because of the style, but not the music. It’s eccentric, but interesting. “Creep” was a blend of 90s and their actual style, while something like “National Anthem” or “Karma Police” seems to be what they “really” are. However, underneath their eccentric style, if you will, lies music that is not particularly mesmerizing. It seems to be based off of a prominent bassline, with grunge rock drums, compelling sound effects and a voice unlike anything I’ve heard in a while in Thom Yorke.
“And I have yet to begin on the artists of our generation that are making something new and unique. Battles, LCD Soundsystem, M.I.A. (not just Paper Planes), Arcade Fire, TV on the Radio, Los Campesinos, Architecture In Helsinki, Hercules and Love Affair are just a few of them. I could go on for days about how these and many other bands are creating something different but instead I encourage you to listen to each one of them and when your done just try to tell me that modern music is dead.”
Battles and LCD Soundsystem seem to fit under techno if I’m not mistaken. It’s fast and heavily synthesized. I’ve heard M.I.A, she’s part Indian, which is what drew me to her. Clearly her Indian heritage has an effect on her music, “World Town” being a pretty good example. The “trumpet” sounds Indian in that song. Clearly her instrumentals are adding to her popularity. With a bass like that, who wouldn’t listen to her?
I promise I will listen to the rest of the bands you mentioned.
“Music is not dead. The music industry is. Because they’ve been comfortable for spoon-feeding us the same five bands for the past 30 years. Think about it. Ever wondered why there are five classic rock stations in our metro area alone? And any of the new rock bands that are break out, merely remind us of a band from the past. So, no we should definitely not “look back at the good ol’ times” because when we have a band that tries to “bring back” the rocking sounds of AC/DC and Guns and Roses we get shit like Buckcherry or Nickelback. Music is supposed to evolve, not just remind us of another time period of music. What do you think would’ve happened if The Beatles made a doo-wop record instead of create the masterpiece that is Sgt. Pepper’s. “Classic Rock” is on life support and the music biz has been content with sucking bands dry because “we’ll never get music with that much soul again”. Well we have and when people stop getting music credentials from The Grammy Awards, so will they.”
Music is dead. The industry’s a business, and business is, well, business. Whatever works is what will be put out. That’s the only reason Green Day and Fall Out Boy are good. It’s what’s commercial, what’s available. Though I don’t know of anything specifically, anything underground is probably better. Regarding the death of music, It’s not because we don’t have bands that sound exactly like the Beatles. It’s about how catchy are the songs. When it comes to rock, instrumentals are important, but vocals usually solidify whether the band is in or not. Now think of every band that’s been mentioned so far. The vocalist is obviously the most popular. When you have every member of the band well known, then you know the band has gone “commercial”, if you will… Beatles, Queen, and Led Zeppelin. Oh and the Beatles were good because they were unique, but they were adding a catchy-ness to music no one had ever done before, i.e. they weren’t exactly the Beach Boys. Rock-and-roll was based off of guitar strumming too, if you think about it, but had guitar solos and excellent vocalists like Chuck Berry and Elvis Presley to make rock-and-roll immortal. Also, Led Zeppelin was especially unique, what with Robert Plant, Jimmy Page’s godly fingers, and John Bonham’s astounding drumming, which is why they became legends of rock as well. When it came to hip-hop, it was about a message, a solid message that rang through our ears based off of vocal rhythms and rhyme schemes or rhymes within the verse (Eminem). Such is not the case. Hip hop and rap are blending with pop. Is that necessarily a bad thing? No. But it takes pure skill to switch from those two genres. And there is no artist, especially a Lil’ Wayne, and yes, Kanye West, that can do it with class unless they use Auto-Tune. Music hasn’t evolved, it’s declined. If you really want to expand that concept, the Beatles aren’t close to the composers of the 1600s and 1700s… need I even mention their names? Cough cough Beethoven and Mozart cough cough. It’s been on a slow decline for centuries. However, in this century, it’s never been as noticeable as it is now. The dying that is.
Have an amazing day and holidays, Phil.
You are right of course about the music you are stating. It sucks. However, country music is only getting better! Taylor Swift, Bon Jovi’s most recent album, Rascal Flatts, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, Big & Rich…country music is not only becoming more main stream it is also discovering amazing beats and vocalists.
So, Rap may be dead but Country is Alive and Kickin’
So come down and rock it out in Nashville!!
Okay. So being one of the biggest music elitists I know I have to say, respectfully of course, that you are wrong.
First of all, there is genius behind 808s and Heartbreak. Yes there is the constant argument that “Kanye can’t sing” however, the imperfections are what make it so mesmerizing. Think about it, this is the first thing Kanye released after his mother’s death and his divorce. The imperfect voice and minimalist drum machines and synths emphasize the misery from these two tragic events. Even with the negative feedback, West took a daring step away from his traditional music and for that it’s revolutionary. In a way, 808s and Heartbreak is the new Kid A (Radiohead).
Speaking of Radiohead, if you want to look at an artist that has revolutionized and experimented with music, look no further than those guys. When they could’ve easily just mimiced their sounds from the 90s and ass kissed the music biz. They completely did the opposite by composing records that experimented like no other, grasping influences from electronic music, free form jazz and minimalism starting in 2000 with the masterpiece Kid A. Last year, they changed the way we purchase music by letting the consumer name the price for their last album In Rainbows.
And I have yet to begin on the artists of our generation that are making something new and unique. Battles, LCD Soundsystem, M.I.A. (not just Paper Planes), Arcade Fire, TV on the Radio, Los Campesinos, Architecture In Helsinki, Hercules and Love Affair are just a few of them. I could go on for days about how these and many other bands are creating something different but instead I encourage you to listen to each one of them and when your done just try to tell me that modern music is dead.
Music is not dead. The music industry is. Because they’ve been comfortable for spoon-feeding us the same five bands for the past 30 years. Think about it. Ever wondered why there are five classic rock stations in our metro area alone? And any of the new rock bands that are break out, merely remind us of a band from the past. So, no we should definitely not “look back at the good ol’ times” because when we have a band that tries to “bring back” the rocking sounds of AC/DC and Guns and Roses we get shit like Buckcherry or Nickelback. Music is supposed to evolve, not just remind us of another time period of music. What do you think would’ve happened if The Beatles made a doo-wop record instead of create the masterpiece that is Sgt. Pepper’s. “Classic Rock” is on life support and the music biz has been content with sucking bands dry because “we’ll never get music with that much soul again”. Well we have and when people stop getting music credentials from The Grammy Awards, so will they.
Have a good day Sunil
Amen.