Putting the Muse Back in Music

There is software available to modern day music makers that takes the collective data of hundreds of hits and suggests arrangements that follow these trends.  For people without an ounce of creativity or skill, this can seem like a real Godsend; however, anyone with a natural affinity for songwriting is surely having nightmares! The reaction is valid since using this kind of software is akin to stealing, a kind of spiritual plagiarism.  While one could argue that the music created is a new incarnation of a popular style, one can also say that the act of using this type of software cheat is like absconding with an individual’s muse and using it for oneself. Can we envision for example, someone creeping into Jim Morrison’s dreams and taking what they see there to write their own songs?  While physically impossible, one could say that taking the rhythms and ideals of the artist who preceded them is a very similar act and can leave a new musician truly soulless and devoid of his or her own personal inspirations.

Artistic endeavors should come from the personal reflections and experiences of the person who is creating.  When we use cheats we rob the world of unique and interesting perspectives that can aid us in evolving as a race. Now, some would argue that pop tunes do not have the same kind of importance as revolutionary music and can be given some leeway.  To an extent we agree. There is a time and a place for fun music, especially when the world is at its bleakest, darkest moments.  However, a fun and lively muse can form this melodic art and doesn’t necessarily have to come from a “can” so to speak. What is the solution? To cultivate a real love for actual songwriting—to encourage those with promise to write from the heart and be honest about how they see the world. If we can do this we restore the muse to her rightful place in songwriting realms. Although technology is a good thing, there are certain areas that it should never touch.  In regards to equipment that makes the recording process easier, innovations are always welcome, but when it comes to the very soul of what makes music powerful and human, technology should leave this aspect of the muse alone.

Blue_sky

Such inspiring thoughts. I have observed that the new generation of today's new and young artists lack originality in their material. Just as long as they can make music, life goes well but that is wrong. The problem is they don't have discipline. Music should be authentic and songwriting takes a lot of a writer's genes, veins, heart and head to create a beautiful song.

Hayden

Lovely article. It is really frustrating to know that downloadable softwares are existing these days in order to make room for artists making music with less creativity and short timeframe. It prevents them from exploring their music in some areas other than that. I missed those old artists who spend time in songwriting and creating great and unique melodies.

panthera27

This is a great article. As what Blue_sky mentioned, songwriting involves heart and soul. Inspiring artists should follow what other great artists do, that is, having goals in writing original craft and keeping in mind the guiding principles of making quality music. A good tune is a good tune, one that is to last the test of time.

flint

Like many others, I appreciate what is written from this blog. Beatles, U2 and a few artists gives inspiration the artist we've known today. They should follow the steps of how these legends write and make music, other than relying to software that makes them robbers and unoriginal. Artists are not measured by the amount of music they make, but how they create their craft well.

Aphrodite_gee

I definitely agree on this one. Artists who are trying hard and copycats will do what it takes to become successful in the music industry and earn money in an easy manner by using the innovations that are currently popular. It's very important that music makers should learn to explore the original roots of creating great music rather than they depend from the technology.

logan

Canned music is undeniably notable today and people are slowly embracing it, which is quite disappointing. I'm disturbed by a deterioration in the quality of music-making and in young artists' ability to interpret the expressive contents of music. These kind of music is becoming mere technical show without expressiveness. Their music is too immature, vulgar or unruly for my taste.

FrauFrau

I think the problem why musicians are getting unoriginal is because young performers were found to suffer most from the lack of adequate insight into the expression of the crafts they were studying. Yeah, their music had become superficial and mechanical and that artists no longer exhibited any depth of expression. I suggest they stay away from too much technology in making music.

Katie P

I'm pleased you brought up this topic. My biggest complaint is that the public and professional music world alike had lost their aesthetic values, although musical performance levels still had far to go, no one was interested in doing better things. It's sad that the audience no longer hear such exquisite music since they are already blinded by coarse music.

stranger

Yeah, the musical values are somewhat declining due to poor taste of recording. The loss of expressivity in the music scene can be found directly to the failure of sound systems to reproduce the dynamic subtleties of recordings. These recent developments in sound-reproduction have made it very clear that the original expressive content is simply absent.

Sassy_Gal

I am in total agreement with many of the posters here! But I wonder if the trend is generational. Meaningful music stemmed from meaningful times when wars or revolution was in the air. Perhaps it is the shallow ideology of today's society is reflected in its shallow exploration of music?

MiSS_Anthropy

Sorry to rain on anybody's parade here, but I think this is only the beginning--I will agree that not everything new out there is gold, but some bands are just as good as those who graced the airways in the 70's...nostalgia is good--ignorance is not.

Sassy_Gal

The good new bands are few and far between and barely get any airplay. I will pit bands like the Beatles against any of the newer bands out there today!

Lilitu2000

why do people feel the need to put down new or popular groups? Just because a band gets popular doesn't mean they are bad. Weren't some of the bands mentioned popular at some point too?

Cleopatra

Indeed, only a few new bands are to be considered as 'original' and can produce quality music, the rest are just second rate. A great band is not only authentic to its material, but also makes the band 'standout' to other bands. A band must have its own identity and can truly bring good music without being tagged by popular bands.

Isaac_john

While everybody is entitled to express his opinion, the point of music is to express something and create an experience, emotional or otherwise, in the listener. I can't blame why many artists today become victims of the sink of music with great quality and they suffered from poor recorded sound. Record labels are another factor why they finish their recorded album in a short period of time.

anastacia

In my perception, the general audience as well as professional musicians are accustomed to accepting low-quality, distorted, expressively degraded and changed sound to the point where they now expect their music to sound that way. Thus, sound-reproducing equipment is necessary since it affect the ability of the sound-system to reproduce the finest nuances that are the expressive content of the performance.

OJ Summers

I wonder why artists turn out unnatural sounding and insufficient melodic songs. It seems to me that songs today are boring and all sound alike. I missed hearing genuine tunes like the ones in the early 70s. I thought that British artists are really original, but like their American counterparts, lately they've grown stale too and the music is bland.

Moises214

The original music is still out there, it's just difficult to find since the artists fill the airwaves with all this crappy music. I also agree with the post. The music industry is falling apart when the internet started to become famous and people are becoming less concern with the originality and find solace in dowloadable softwares instead.

Sorpio raver

I think a lot of it has to do with what people accept nowadays--I have a niece who really got into some of the older music -- and while she still listens to the music she concedes that there is something "cool" and "different" about older music--she even asked em to send links to some of my fave bands from the past--and she is 13.

I Dunno

I am in my thirties and I like older music but I do like some of the newer bands too--thing is the really good ones hardly get any airplay. Don't blame bands--most of them are doing what they think they have to to get noticed or survive--blame the industry that forces them to make a chose between their soul and getting a deal.

Christy P

I knew this brilliant all girl rock band in the nineties--they well all black, and the lead singer had a voice like Joplin--an critiques said the guitarist played like Hendrix. They signed a deal with A&M records and they tried to turn them into an all girl R&B group. They sat out their contract and refused--if all bands did this maybe the industry would take notice.

MiSS_Anthropy

What is with all the whining? Bands don't need the labels--they need to try to get there on their own! If they banded together they could maybe run the big labels out on their ear...

Christy P

Easier said than done -- how can a grass root band compete with a company that can play the same crappy songs over and over again on the radio and on TV? If you have some ideas I'd be glad to hear them!

I Dunno

I think MiSS Anthropy may have a good point--why don't indies band together to get rid of the majors?

Christy P

It's hard--musicians invest a lot of time and money into their craft but when they art out people don't want to support by paying for downloads and stuff. How can they make money to pursue their dreams if no one will give their financial support--that is why so many run to labels because they feel they will be given the money so they can concentrate on their craft.

Recording Nobody

Problem is the artists don't understand that the labels do not help them--they use them. every cent they get is just a loan that has to be paid back in record sales--that is how a person can have a hit and still end up in the poor house--Labels nickel and dime them until they have nothing. Unless you are a ten year veteran you do not make money even with a "deal".

Danielle P

You got it right, Christy. Most fresh rock bands became famous overnight because of the labels' financial aid. Although the bands have the right promotion and catchy tunes, their music were recorded quickly and less original due to the labels' management decision. They are bands who gain attention easily because they have been stereotyped to this generation of accepted genres.

grey007

Exactly. There is a notable deterioration of the quality of music and I'm not talking about the interpretation. For both audiences and musicians, every new advance in their own sound-systems is a revelation. These "advanced" performers are not only unaware of the finer musical subtleties, they are also unaware of the true possibilities of their own music-making.

Josh Foley

People should know that music is an art that has been preserved and passed on by means of traditions, which were fostered and conveyed with the same care and high moral sense as any of the great religious teachings, which is why the thought of using dowloadable software that is related to stealing, is a kind of spiritual plagiarism as what the article has stated.

Dalrymple

If these so-called traditions and heritage of recorded treasures in the vaults of the record industries are to be saved, then I think the situation in music is no less crucial. Nevertheless, musical scene has expanded to such large proportions that it is impossible now to personally impart enough of traditions to save the situation.

I agree with Recording Nobody. These innocent bands are enjoying what the labels has to offer to them, but little do they know that the labels are using them and they have been banded as one of the labels' cookie-cutter artists. That's the reason why many bands today are going independent because they have the freedom to do everything they want.

zachary

I have no qualms about new artists trying hard to earn a name in the music industry. Just as long as they make feel-good music, there's no problems with me whether they produced quality music or crappy songs. I like the fact that bands are usually becoming "techie" these days since the new generation of bands are more advanced and innovative.

Joan of Ark

I'm not a huge fan for new bands that has existed from nowhere. I'm more of an indie and independent type of person. Too bad that the music industry doesn't know what to do with itself at the moment so it's falling back on it's old, pre-fab manufactured music method and folks just aren't going for it as they used to.

KiNg ArThUr

The article is totally awakening message and musicians should pay close attention to this. Mainstream bands are getting on my nerves. For me, they are pushing it a little far and desperate. I've seen a lot of performers in concerts and I can identify or label them which one is original or too mainstream. I find more wonderful music by digging a bit outside the mainstream.

the psalmist

You are quite spot on there. With this age of the internet I do think you have much more in the way of choice. If the general public want to keep to swallow whatever these outlets like to force down their collective throat then so be it. The good thing is that their are great music to keep to ourselves.

sapphire

What makes artists' music becoming less and less original? Well, I guess because of the pressure from the record labels and even from the fans. Sometimes, I also blame popular culture and political correctness. Music has been unoriginal for ages now but I don't mind. Nothing's going to happen if people are busy whining about it rather than going out and supporting the good musicians.

angelina

I wholeheartedly agree with sapphire! I mean, the record labels are only trying to make a buck and who can blame them--they are floundering. It is OUR job to show them what we really want. When a crappy band makes millions while a brilliant one wastes away on the Internet and we cry about supporting them by paying for downloads--whose fault is that?

Mouse House

I dunno--I get so tired of all modern bands getting lumped into the same group--there are many new bands that are mainstream and also good--they are just drowned out by the contrived music. I once had a friend who was in a good band but this agent told them they had to have an image because modern music was ten percent talent and 90 percent image...

Sassy_gal

There are many great points being made here but I have no idea what the solution is. I have heard so many gifted and talented artists online and in local bars who are barely able to pay for their equipment--what is the world coming to when music is processed like a product and not as expression?

MiSS_Anthropy

The solution is simple--some of the old veterans who belong to an era when music meant something should get together and start a label that helps indies who have real talents--y'know, write their own songs--play their own instruments.

JADE Stone

I hear yah MiSS, however, I don't think it is quite that simple. Who knows right? There has to be a way to get people with power who want to see music change in the room with real talent that needs a voice. Suggestions?

Straw Man

As a student of music I have to say that those of us who actually study the art and craft of music as opposed to buying books on how to cheat ( no disrespect to garage bands) feel as if the actual true music is dying and being replaced by showmanship and synthetic props. Sad thing is, this probably won't change.

Friciton_Fiction

Is it just me, or does anyone here think that games where people can pretend to be rock stars is what is causing the problem? Almost anyone thinks they can learn how to play an instrument by plugging in their Wii…kinda takes us down a notch don't you think?

Bullet

Nah, I give people a lot more credit than that. I will say though that there has been a loss of respect for what musicians go through and what we do. I have no idea how that started but it hasn’t been good for us in the long run.

Pegasus Rider

OMG friction fiction I have been wondering the same things myself! While music is fun it isn’t a game and it takes years to hone this specialized skill. We do it because it is in us to do, but at the same time, it is work. I think games like that demean the industry.

Cecil Bee Delighted

I have a cousin who loves that Band game and the other day he was like "I don't know bands get all upset and stuff, running a band is easy." I told him that being in a band in real life is way different than in a game and he wouldn't hear it. Yeah -- I think it is hurting and not helping....

Bullet

Cecil, I would be curious to learn the age of your cousin. Most people I know understand it is just a game…Maturity will have a lot to do with it.

Cecil Bee Delighted

He is sixteen and you may just be right about that--most of the kids who want to be rock stars only look at the glamour side--they have no idea of the dedication it takes to reach such a goal.

vampyre Heart

OMG what a lively discussion--well let me just say that I am 18 years old and I love the classics and bands that have a retro style because I think more meaningful music was writing from that time. I think a lot of people my age feel that way.

MudWings

I agree—I am 17 and I hate a lot of the new stuff on the radio—My mom listens to golden oldies and I love that stuff. If the labels don’t watch out they will only have kids in kindergarten listening to their crap.

Puss in Boots

The labels are dying out because of their greed and the need to control their artists. I think in time ALL music will be downloaded and accessed straight from the artist websites--eliminate the middle man and support the artist--not Label CEO's.

JADE Stone

When the record industry goes down in flames I will bring the weenies and marshmallows. I am so tired of the over processed crap they are putting out now. If I have to hear the same five songs on the radio everyday I am gonna scream.

Scooter

Hear, hear! I work in an office where music is piped in and the rotation is all this contemporary soft music. It would be okay if it was oldies but this crap drives me nuts because the same tunes play all day! Who do I write to in protest?

Laureli

Send in care of all the radio stations and labels in America. Maybe if enough of us say something we can take real music back from the brink of extinction...

earnest

As what the legend Abba said, "Thank you for the music". I respect those new artists who made drastic decisions just to get a name in the music industry. I don't care how their music was made because I don't know how much hardwork and effort they put before they land on the spotlight. They deserve to have a place in music like anybody else.

May Baby

I am with yah Earnest. Every generation thinks the following generation's music is bad--which is kinda scary come to think of it. Does this mean we will look back in retrospect and think Britney Spears was the height of musical showmanship? Nah!

Sasha

Oh, say it isn't so! LOL...I am in the middle on this topic. While some people do work hard to get to where they are, there are so many artist who do not get a chance just because they don't fit into a neat box. I hate to use the term sell-out but it fits...

Pariah

But you are implying they sold out to get to where they needed to go. Not every artist has to do that, in fact, what people think of is selling out is really just a band's natural evolution--musicians grow and change over time!

May baby

The whole sell argument gets on my nerves too--if they stay the same I would say that is a formula. As we grow and learn our perspectives change--so do musicians and it will be reflected in their craft.

Sasha

I want to agree here--but there are times hen bands sell out--like doing something they do not want to do to make money. If you want to change do it cause you want to not to make a label more money...

Absinthe Of Mind

Unfortunately, we live in a world where individuals have to sell their souls on a daily basis to get ahead. In a idealized world, we could very well work, sing and play with little interference--but when money becomes involved everything is corrupted.

The Maverick

It's true. Even in the world of dating we have begun to teach the idea that playing games is the way to win hearts -- and we wonder how our marriages becoem superficial and end in divorce. We are trading flash for substance and in the end, we get what we deserve.

Blue Visage

The sad thing is when people stop being fake and be more real they will pull reality to them. When I got tired of dating games I found my soul mate, who felt the same way. We have been happily married for years. Being plastic only ends up with more fakery and we need less, not more, of that.

Sea Bunny

A hearty hear hear to that one. I am so tired of the excuse that bands are doing what they need to do to get ahead -- why can't they carve out their own niche--develop their own following? If they develop their own market they can write their own ticket!

Stop Motion

I was reading an article about how some music mogul was talkign about how the internet has hurt the music business. I wish I could have written to him directly. I would have to him that the Internet has actually offered the chance for musicians to own their own music and pave their own way towards their artistic destiny!

Penny

The fat cats at the labels are just mad that they no longer have the ability to rape both the artist and the customer base. For years they wrote the rules and we had to jump to their tune. I've met some of those industry types and they are the most arrogant people on earth.

Moto Moto

I've met some of the music moguls too and they don't care what the people want. They actually have a "beat the dead horse" take on music. One of them even told me that they could take anyone of the street and make them a star and that talent didn't matter any more. I am glad they are losing their grip on music and art.

jadaluvsmusic

Ever since modern music became an issue -- verging on the political and reflecting on society's ills -- government and industry. Today's music made an enormous change. It is used to attract the existing fanbase to idolize recurrent themes rather than reaching out to an unestablished fanbase and engaging in a new set of ideals. It is less concerned with the truth and more concerned with illusion.

Fuzion

Amen to that jadaluvsmusic! That si why I was happy to see someone like Susan Boyle make it a bit. Sure she may not be the prettiest thing out there but she has talent and that counts. I am also to see groups like Ylotana pushing the envelope and forcing people to look at music in a new and different way.

Lemon Lyme

Unfortunately I do not see the trend stopping. People do not know what is real anymore, in fact, I think they prefer illusion over substance. Maybe it is an escape hatch for their everyday lives. Or maybe they just don't believe in seeking out things of depth--I dunno -- I have grown cynical in my old age.

Sad_Gyrl

I think just the opposite is happening. I know 14 year olds who listen to oldies because they are tired of the pop crap. I think it is only matter of time before music shifts back. Remember, music reflects the trends of an era--and in time, people want artistic mediums to show where they are in time.

Hazy Shade

See, that is why I am so glad I came across this site. Art, music, a lively blogs! That's what I am talking about! And I agree--music has fallen but it is getting back up...least, I think so. It's only a amtetr of time.

claudette-dane

People enjoying a type of music will look for other bands with the same sound. To gain a huge public, a band will take all the elements of a scene and sum it up to their band, killing originality, but in this way they gain more chances of having listeners, because people will be searching for other bands with the same sticker on it.

portia

I concur, claudette. Music isn't about music anymore. It's about being famous with hit singles, and winning money. There's a big difference between a cd being sold as a unit of profit, and a cd being sold as an honest work of creativity. You got to wonder how much of the new music coming out these days is forced upon the bands by the record firms.

Danielle P

Sums up what my thoughts are on the music industry. Don't get me wrong but I think new sound became stagnant for the last ten years. A lot has changed since boybands and pop princesses are popping up. There are some great artists out there but it's like a garage sale, you have to look through the garbage to get to the good stuff.

Monkey Business

Danielle you summed it perfectly. There are so many wonderful bands out there but they get swallowed up by the mediocre. I mean--how many hit songs can we have that are about sex or bad relationships? Where are the songs that talk about the complete human experience.

Here Kitty Kitty

well - think about it. People are so money conscience that for them, it doesn't matter how they obtain it or who gets hurt in the process to get it. If an entire music loving generation suffers, who cares right? At this juncture in my life, I rarely even buy mainstream music anymore.

Hunny Bunny

Me neither -- and I make sure to pay fro downloads and merchandise. If we support good musicians financially maybe they can come out and start drowning out all the corporate bands. If record labels see folks are tired of their crap maybe they will change change their tactics.

MiSS_Anthropy

I doubt it. All they will try to do is shut down the competition so they can maintain a monopoly. They are done with trying to be innovative. All they want now is to dominate the airwaves and stamp out any opposing voices and forces.

Laureli

Hate to say this but once again I concur with Miss_Anthropy (what is that, two for two?). Look at what happened when mp3's came out--instead of trying to figure out how to sue the technology tot heir advantage all they did was try to stop it. Short sighted and silly is the modern record label.

justin_kyle

The wonder of magic. Today, we have studio technology that allows you to edit computer even if the instrument or vocals are out of tune and can correct the any guitar timing flaws. The problem is that artists think that everything can be fixed in the Mix. They may sound good in the record but in live concert? hmmm... I think it's going to be tough.

Blue-Eyes

Absolutely right! To find interesting music seems to be a job which has to be managed by yourself. These new wave of kids does not care about substance. Their lyrics are about superficiality and materialism. I love to hear bands with more creative than drums, bass, guitar, or looped beat. Do you have any recommendations? I count Ylotana for sure.

Phil Smith

There are a lot of independent bands that I find more interesting than the mainstream bands. Sometimes, I'm totally sick of hearing boring and unoriginal sounds from radio stations. Thanks to internet, I can find a lot of undiscovered artists from blogs and myspace, who have a lot of potentials with their music sounds compared with the canned musicians.

annie

There are a bunch of artists who falls trap with signing contracts with music record bigwigs and they were commercially used. I remember Kelly Clarkson when she decided to take 100% full control of her record and wanted to take a different direction but her label went out of their way in not to promote her record. That is so unfortunate.

Chapman

I think record labels are just being careful in picking new artists. They want to sell huge records that's why the artists' contracts are so lopsided that even if the record breaks even, the artist walks away with literally nothing. Based on the standards, if a new artist does not sell close to gold most likely that artist will get cut.

Oscar F

For whatever reason, I recently overanalyze that when a new artist starts a commercialized, debut album, lyrics must be about something that everyone relates to and must not use complicated words, express it and use cliched themes as the first few singles. Think Jonas Brothers and Miley Cyrus. Aaaarghhh! Sorry guys, I just can't stand their crap music.

Leopold

Hey, get your hands off to Jonas. Lol! Seriously though, the problem is that of what majority of the youth thinks is cool these days. Let's face it, a big population belongs to youth and they look up to the repetitive styles, trends, lyrics and others. Adults need to start educating these generation before they are fully blinded by today's music.

Sue27

It fraustrates me that these commercialized artists are teaching the youth to disrespect women and the works. As a result, most youths are in the toilet. I usually pick an artist that is creative and passionate. Someone who can speak boldly about things and not and just a vehicle for arrogance or product placement.

Rose

Personally I think that masses don't value the lyrics anymore. It means nothing to them as long as the sound is hip and cool. Music is starting to suck these days and the real issue is the technology available to us. Good thing that good bands are still getting together and still find away into peoples lives.

poker face

We are on the verge of something new with this whole internet stuff and in some ways technology has played a large role in the advent of continually bad music. Music has been the same for centuries. We have been using the same basic notations to envoke certain feelings. I don't think music sucks nowadays. You just need to dig deeper to find the good stuff.

michaelangelo08

Yeah, we've got the internet. Forget the radio. Go search and share those undiscovered artists. I have no doubt that there's plenty of amazingly talented bands and artists out there making great music in relative obscurity, so I strongly disagree that there is no good music anymore... though you're certainly not going to find it easily on the radio or television.

zachary

My friend can truly relate to this. She's seven-month pregnant and enjoys listening to very classical slow kind of music with little sound. She said that she felt that her baby inside is behave like little active. She added that her baby is moving up and down a little when she listen and truly enjoy the music. Sounds cool to me.

veronica

Just because something is the first of its kind doesn't make it original. Again, music is "unoriginal" because that is how people think and feel. It's impossible for music to be completely original, as every artist builds on the work of others. Mainstream music are being run like major firms. It doesn't matter how good something is, tt's just a matter of production costs.

Laureli

Unfortunately, people are so used to fluff they may not want the deeper stuff anymore. If you are used to eating junk food, would you want to try to eat healthy? I think society will have to change first and then things like music will follow suit cause the world will demand it.

Army of One

I agree--music is just about sex, dancing and being in the club--no meat to it at all--just "hot beats" which are really being ripped off from someone else. But I think men are starting to be dissed too--how many girl power songs about telling a man off do we really need. what happened to love songs?

Hunny Bunny

I was just thinking about that the other day. I used to love songs about people coming together or about the complex hot/cold, bittersweet aspects of love. Now it is just sex or anger and love songs have no real bite or reality to them anymore. where are songs that unify and not divide.

Vampyre Heart

People are more jaded than they used to be. When times were more innocent we loved to hear about people holding hands or about lovers lane. We also liked to look more deeply at why were are here and what life means. Nowadays, people just want to get laid and get paid--sorry but that is where we are at. Great huh.

MiSS_Anthropy

Sorry to say but I don't think mankind ever had an innocent stage--just ask the villagers of the dark ages or the so called Salem Witches...man just tried to be a bit more communal back then is all. Now we are more independent so that makes us more self serving and the music reflects this.

Laureli

Pretty insightful. But the culprit could be over population. We have fewer resources so it makes us more prone to take a survival of the fittest attitude, whereas we used to depend on each other. And once again art and music reflects this new more callous attitude.

marigold

Well, whatever the reason for it, I just want music to be honest. I mean, if an artist truly has a bubble gum soul and that is who they are fine--but so many artist have so much more to say but push it aside to get famous (not rich cause they seldom make real money) Sad..sad...

The Muses Muse

I may be in the minority here but I think there is no wrong way to express yourself, especially if it comes from the soul. Not everyone had deep thoughts--some just want to spread joy and happiness and may have the talent to do so--make people dance or smile--what is wrong with that?

Laureli

Nothing is wrong with it is this who the person really is--but if everyone is as bubble gum as modern music paints it--then the future is in trouble. We need the deep thinkers to pave the way towards mans evolution--not the bubble gum hip hoppers.

The Muses Muse

But these people have always been in the minority. I once read a girl's signature on her email and it said " A PBS mind in an MTV World" I laughed real hard--sad to say the deep thinkers are the PBS minds and the rest just wants to shake their groove thing. Nothing wrong with that. People should just do what they do best and leave one another alone.

Kayaker

All things come in fads, including art and music. We are at a shallow phase and when we grow up a bit we are going to want something with a bit realism more to it. It won't take long either--we are about due for a change...

Chad

well for me that change cannot happened soon enough. I wanted the end of this current music climate like yesterday--but it is being hijacked by the major labels and radio stations. My God when will it end!

Surfer Dude

When the consumers stand up and say enough is enough with their dollars. Unfortunately when the Hannah Montana's are making a gazillion dollars an album we cannot expect any real change until the public gets tired of it-- it doens't look as if they are.

Glass Chalice

I have a home studio and I make beats on my computer--no band, just me. I think there is a certain artistry that comes from what I do although purist don't think so. I think electronic music is great and technology is only going to make it better and better. One man trash is another man's treasure I suppose...

Pomm Pomm

I don't think any one here has a real problem with electronica per se. I mean, Ylotana use awesome electronic beats and ambient sounds that only enhance the live instrumentation. I think most people do'nt like how artificial music is becoming with technology. Like, how fair is it that some chick who cannot sing has her vocals doctored while true talent goes unnoticed for stupid reasons, like age or race.

MiSS_Anthropy

What does race have to do with it? Last I checked the music industry was pretty mixed...?

Pomm Pomm

yes, it is mixed and hyper categorized. I know many black rockers who could get a deal if only they would do R&B or jazz. Also know a beautiful Jewish woman with a voice like Aretha Franklin who can't get arrested by a major label. Sucks...

poker face

Yeah--my brother is in a band that is having the same kind of trouble. They have a SEVENDUST kind of feel but the lead singer is West Indian--they have a follwing but the labels keep trying to get the band to get a more generic front man. The guys are saying no way and I am glad but it is so stupid how these guys think.

Laureli

Poker face, please tell your brother to stand his ground--that's' what is wrong with music now is that everyone acts and looks the same in each genre --not enough true diversity -- the same image for the same kind of music. puleeze--give me diversity or give me death!

Sir Wilbur

In my opinion, mainstream pop music has gone down hill since the good old days. Although it has minor production improvement and a bigger budget, yet it is pack of vapid and false. A slicker production, catchy lingo and that's about it. In conclusion, the old music is way better than today's music. There were many successful singers and songwriters.

Liam

There's tons of great music being made today, it's just that people are not buying into it. The younger generation usually prefers crappy music. They've grown up to follow the latest trends and haven't discovered the good stuff yet. And then when you try to get them into it, they find it more old and boring.

MaryMary

I definitely agree that most of these new bands are crap but if you just have to dig deeper, there are some great bands these days. You just have to realize that the thing that makes music a masterpiece is emotion and originality. Gone are the days of beatles and whatnot getting tons of attention. Industries have taken over and the quality stuff.

Mars2000

What is wrong with you people? Whether you like it or not music has always been in a state of evolution. Let's just say that the present is different than the past. For me, the best music was made by the old masters and that is what I always listen to but I don't mind people trying to surpass it.

Richie D

I think people just have to deal with it. Everything changes! There's no need to complain about modern day music. 50 years ago, people were probably saying the same things about their "Modern Music" as we are now. We were just born in the wrong time period. I would not want to be born back then though.

Jean_Paul

Music is supposed to be art, and it's supposed to be about life. These new music makers don't know anything about life. There are some instances that I listen to the radio when I got off from work. I must admit it doesn't all sound as bad as I thought, some of it sounds nice, but the lyrics and the messages? Give me a break.

chris

You're right, Jean. At least, I agree with you. Music should allow people to see different view points, it should empower indiviudals when they have similar viewpoints, it should allow people to see the plights of some. Music like art should give us hope. Not simply propogate bad morality and encourage vices in which everyone suffers.

nicole

Music is meaningless nowadays. If there is then I feel sorry for the people that devote their lives to the meaning of "my lipgloss is poppin" and stuff like that... And now, they're taking old music back with remixes because they ran out of ideas. They're using the old music so that people will tend to like and buy their music. sigh.

libertyx

I am in favor that some of today's music has meaning. Music gives a voice to the plight of life and has much to reflect about our lives and some universal truths, trials, and triumphs. It's just sad that there are music with bad lyrics. It influences people. Maybe that would explain the increasing amounts of people with no common sense these days.

Hayden

Personally, I think that today's artists just throw some stuff onto a CD hoping to make it big so they can buy a house and a hot car. However, I also believe that there are some people that genuinely love and respect the art of music, and their songs are filled with meaning and emotion. I'm talking about Alicia Keys.

amor

There is no excuse that music nowadays are becoming less awesome as compared to the 60's, 70's, 80's and even early 90's. Each generation has its musical influences and looks down on the next as being inferior and there is no way you can convince today’s kids that they are listening to garbage.

DiCarpio

You are not alone in your disdain for current music. I’d rather listen to my music collection or go to a specific site where I can get good stuff. Still I am also shocked how low the quality of hit music has gone now... maybe its the endless repetition or bombardment via radio that creates familiarity, tolerance, and eventual passable enjoyment in one’s mind.

FrauFrau

I feel the same way. Mainstream music artists like rappers 50 cent and others really sucks these days. Talking about meaningless lyrics and materialistic. The music does not related to everyday real life issues like it used too, now its just all about garbage like some rims or a chain that cost more than a month's salary for most people.

Lollipop

Mars2000 wouldn't surpassing music imply it is better Some of the music, while fun or good in some ways has not surpassed the old stuff--if anything music is devolving--at least that is how I feel and more people I know are starting to feel that way--even young people.

MiSS_Anthropy

here, here Jean Paul. Music is supposed to reflect life and life is more than sex and looking hot in a nightclub. I am all for fun music but why is it no one wants to hear about the things that make us fundamentally human? These ideals bring us together but the message is so shallow nowadays.

Kitty

amor, that is because they come from a more privileged era. They do not understand the things that shape us as human beings because their struggles are different. Maybe they just can't relate to anything of greater depth...?

felicity

I think there should be balance. I don't mind fun music--but for the love of all that is holy can we please get some stuff that has meaning too. We have moods and only one mood is being taken care of right now. When I am depressed, I don't want to hear about lip gloss...

Aura

What I find most interesting about this post is the passion it inspires. People feel such a strong connection to music. I have had people argue with me about this fact but it is true. Music is so very personal and we certainly can't deny that! This blog is proof!

Trinity

That is so true.I remember arguing with this girl in a chat room about that very thing. She kept insulting other peoples taste in music then wondering why she was getting attacked. I told her that a personal "taste" in music is an expression of who they are, and that is why they take it personal. She just didn't get it--she was eventually banned.

MiSS_Anthropy

I knwo way too many people exactly like that. I call them musical elitist. Don't get me wrong, I am just as opinionated as the next person and I know what I hate, but if you like Britney Spears I am not going to brow beat a person over it. I just wish music was more pure--but people have a right to like what they like, who am I to judge.

Winged Flight

I just think people love to feel above it all, or better than others. If we put down something someone likes, it makes us feel superior. I mean, I ain't gonna lie, I think pop stuff is crap right, but if someone likes it, I don't think it makes me better. I just feel they have bad taste. LOL

Musyk

well, some people just have a knee jerk reaction to anythign popular. Not everything that is popular sucks--unfortunately it gets drowned out sometimes when something cheesy and mediocre comes along...

Nirmala

Yeah, their music had become superficial and mechanical and that artists no longer exhibited any depth of expression. I suggest they stay away from too much technology in making music.