At what point is enough, considered enough already? When do we, the buyers and listeners of the music industry revolt against record companies and let them know that we want to hear something real come through our speakers for a change. Not this fabricated, cookie-cutter, un-original stuff that you’re likely to hear on the radio nowadays. Just because a song has a good beat, doesn’t necessarily make it a good song. Remember that. In Spanish, the term, “Viva la Revolucion” means “To start a revolution and begin to fight against an establishment.” I don’t know about anyone else, but I’m ready for a music revolution. After all, I think we’re way past due for one.
It’s sickening to hear the same thing, one after another come on the radio, or the video channels. I seem to remember a time that in order to make it in the music industry, you had to develop your own sound and image in order to stand out from the rest. For the most part, that is not the case anymore. Even so, those who do stand out, tend to do so “ad-nauseum.” For instance, take artists like Lady Gaga and Nicki Minaj….both of which, if you listen to them are extremely talented in their own right- but it is their over-the-top image, not their talent, that sells records. I came across an article yesterday that was titled, “Pop Artists Before They Became Stars.” It was essentially videos of some of today’s biggest acts, but before they made it to the big time. Both Gaga and Nicki were included in the article, as well; both looking like surprisingly normal people. What I heard was actually rather refreshing…..It was raw talent; it was the desire, to not only become famous, but more importantly, to get their voices heard. That hunger is what drives an artist to constantly be on their grind. It’s in that mindset, in that place, that some of the best music tends to come from. But somewhere between obscurity and popularity, that somehow gets lost in the shuffle for a lot of artists. Suddenly, it becomes more about how outlandish you can be in public, and not about how well you can be your craft.
On the other hand, you have the “manufactured” artists. The ones who do their best to sound like what’s popular in music today. You know what I’m talking about….. the legions of Beyonce “clones,” the Lil Wayne minions, the rappers who all want to sound like Biggie in his prime. They all have one thing in common- they have not put in the work necessary to even find, nonetheless, develop their own sound. That might be ok for making a little bit of money now- existing off of ringtone sales and single downloads, but it says nothing for longevity in the industry as a whole. As an artist, you should want to make your mark on not only the industry, but the world. You should want people to remember who you are for what YOU sound like, not some carbon copy of someone else. In the end, it is the acts that have found their voice, and have mastered their niche, that we’ll still be talking about 30, 40 years from now, just as we have done with those before us.
When I talk about those who have “found their voice,” I’m referring to those artists who have clearly defined their sound/message and want to express it with the world. Think for just a second about the amount of power and influence that music really has….and how it can be used to bring about social and political change. Think about the revolutionaries of their time: Dylan, Lennon, Marley, etc- and how they used their voice as an instrument to get their message of peace out to the masses. Now, in the same respect, think about what people are rapping and singing about today: “makin paper,” “getting b**tchs,” “partying it up in the club.” Can you imagine listening to the same 3 themes for about 10-12 songs on an album? But artists are doing it nowadays.
Where do you stand on this issue? Do you think that the music industry is in dire need of a musical revolution, or is it just fine as it….