A question about music.

I will admit that I am a bit long in the tooth and I guess many of us that can remember when entertainment was a Sunday drive and when color TV first came on the market; we may have a bit of a different take on what is considered good music.

I was listening to an album of Michael Bublé’s and though I think he has a very pleasant voice I kept wondering when he was going to sing something that belonged to him. This got me to thinking about a lot of the singers and musician’s today. Where are the Gershwin’s, Bacharach’s, the Hal David’s?

I know that I am going to anger a lot of the young folk here and God knows that music is a personal preference but I still think that today’s music lacks a lot of originality. There can be a lot of reasons for this. I think it is mostly greed. I think the record producers are less likely to take a chance on something or someone new when they can sell a remake of something that has already proven to be a moneymaker for them. While this may put money in their pocket I think that it prevents a lot of potential musicians from ever knowing their true talent.

Of, course this is just my viewpoint but I am interested in hearing what others may think.

I think the record producers are less likely to take a chance on something or someone new when they can sell a remake of something that has already proven to be a moneymaker for them. While this may put money in their pocket I think that it prevents a lot of potential musicians from ever knowing their true talent.


You got it right there.

There aren't less people making good music it's just that people don't take the time to look for it.

In the past many people didn't sing songs that were thiers, per-se, but they still put themselves into it. Billie Holiday, Ella, Sinatra, Crosby, ect. all sung other people's songs but nobody touches the soul they put into those songs.

Most popular music today lacks that. Many singers don't incorporate soul into music.

Don't get me started on how far down the crapper rock has gone in the last 15 years. If rock isn't dead, it has cancer.

reply to post by SpiritoftheNightSky


I'm probably a generation younger and I completely understand your question.
One reason is because the music business is a business. They put out PRODUCT. They go with the lowest common denominator, hence the Britneys.

I like to ask the current (or previous) generation where their Led Zeppelin is

reply to post by leftystrat


We don't really have one. Our favorite bands are bands like Nickleback, they play the same song over and over and over again because it's a formula that works.

Being a musician myself I realize the sheer lack of musicality so prevalant in most of "this generation's" music.

I'm reminded of this

isnickelbacktheworstbandever.com...








I, ashamedly, kinda like that last song. But it's nothing compared to the greatness of:




I'll take that video as a chance to say I can honestly see how the lady wouldn't appeal to your ears. Her voice is rough and jagged. But her voice bears her entire history, a very rough and jagged one. Who can say that today?

anyway, continuing,



and the last of the greats




Of course, there are good bands still around. I'll just link to avoid too much space taken up

www.youtube.com...
www.youtube.com...
This band here is spectacular live, one of the best john bonham schooled drummers i've seen ever.
www.youtube.com...
www.youtube.com...


Of course, these wont all be to your tastes but I think we can generally agree they're better than anything hinder or theory of a deadman could ever be, given the jurisdiction of studios and record labels.

I would agree that mainstream music in the vast majority of cases is horrendously unoriginal. Not only that, it is also soul-less, boring, creatively lazy, and of no cultural value. This is largely becasue the major labels choose to operate under the business model of a fast food chain. That is, they manufacture something as inexpensively as possible (an artist and their repertoire), completely homogonise it, then sell it to as many people as possible by creating a ubiquitous brand through saturation of radio/media via industry connections.
It's a lot easier and less expensive employ some factory workers and McStaff to manufacture and shift a million cheap big-macs, than to employ some chefs to hand-make and sell a million steak and creamed horseradish sandwiches.

However, all is not lost, becasue - to continue the analogy - for every Mcdonalds that forces itself into your attention, their is a small cafe, just round the corner down a side street, that sells handmade steak and horseradish sandwiches.

There is plenty of fantastic, original, creative music out there, for every taste. But - just as you're not gonna get a gormet sandwich from Mcd's - you're not gonna get it from the mainstream music industry, you have to spend some time discovering what else is out there, and there's plenty to discover.

[edit on 11-2-2010 by Paul]

reply to post by Mr Headshot


The old greats like Billie Holiday, Sinatra and Cash sang not just about life they poured out the pain, joy and passion of the spirit.

Billie's voice carried the angst that was so present in her life so it made her music even more genuine.

reply to post by SpiritoftheNightSky


That's exactly it, major label mainstream music is almost completely devoid of meaning now. It's easy to follow a formula and write about a girl who likes to party (again see like 1049 Nickelback songs, something in your mouth is a shining example of this formula at work; by shining I mean it makes me want to gouge my eardrums out). Here though, as paul said, not all is lost.

Here's probably one of the most soulful new songs I've heard:


she's not the best singer but holy crap

and as far as classics go here's Pink Martini's version of Amado Mio (that's from Gilda with Rita Hayworth, yum)

reply to post by SpiritoftheNightSky


You don't find good stuff where "products" are sold; like Lefty said.

I'll bet you will be astonished at what you can find on the www.

Like this....www.soundclick.com...

sorry for the unabashed plug, but check out the other artists. You should find something that interests you. Thanks to the web, we are experiencing a Renaissance in the world of original music.





[edit on 12-2-2010 by whaaa]

I love soundclick

line?

Originally posted by Mr Headshot
I love soundclick

line?

What did you think of our stuff? Be honest!!

reply to post by whaaa


I would like to hear your music with less competition between the music and the vocals. I liked the band and the songs are great instrumentals but when the vocals start I am torn between what I am supposed to be listening to. The vocals are being cloaked.

reply to post by SpiritoftheNightSky


You are partially right about the producers. We are in a time when A&R guys are told not to even try signing anyone over 25. IF they sign anyone period and the album fails to reach gold they will most likely lose their job. Lose your job with a major label and nearly no one will hire you.

A music producer that isn't turning out records that go gold is probably barely feeding his (or her) family.

IF you look hard enough you will find great stuff. Then again sometimes it just falls in to your lap. Tonight I stumbled across two Jazz composers/musicians that I am really loving. I found theem by simply turning on my ISP's streaming Jazz chanel.

It is out there you just have to look past the bright lights and sales pitches.