2008 Woodie Awards
The lost art of music
Bring back the sounds of yesteryear
Andrea Robertson
Issue date: 4/10/08 Section: Opinion
What has happened to music? It saddens me to know that when I'm a grandparent, my grandchildren will come across an oldies station and hear the musical content that is now popular. I was fortunate enough to grow up in a musical household, and to be exposed to many different musical genres, my favorite being the rock 'n roll of the late '60s and early '70s.
It isn't so much the different styles that I find the most appalling; I enjoy everything from death metal to rap. I find the lyrics to be horrific for the most part. The majority of popular songs that we find ourselves singing in the car are blatantly about sex, drugs, and violence. Very few lyricists seem to write songs that have any true meaning behind them, and it seems that those who do are overlooked. Bands such as Norma Jean, known primarily for their hard music and heavy screaming, are not recognized for what they are when first listened to - a Christian band. Most people will hear the screaming and automatically assume that this band is Satanic or singing about something evil. Even rappers like Kanye West probably don't get the true amount of consideration they deserve for the quality and meaning of their lyrics.
The best time for music was in the late 1960s and early 1970s. During this time, music was in a very experimental stage. Heavily influenced by the Vietnam War and the emergence of the drug culture, music was changing considerably from that of the 1950s. The changes, however, were definitely advancement for music. Lyrics went from being easy-going and carefree to politically spurred works of art. Neil Young was writing songs like "Ohio," a song about the Kent State shooting, instead of songs like "This Magic Moment," as performed by the Drifters.
I'm fully aware that music from this time period was, like popular music is now, mostly about violence and drug usage, however, the time and consideration that went into writing the lyrics was considerably different in the past. Unlike lyricists today, those writing the songs back then didn't come out and say that they were going to do drugs; they stated it in a more poetic way. For example, the song "Horse with No Name" by America, released in 1972, was about heroin. America, however, didn't feel it necessary to spell it out. You can hardly listen to a song today without hearing obscene phrases.
Music doesn't seem to be as much of an art form as it was years ago. Songs such as "Touch My Body" by Mariah Carey or "She Wants It" by 50 Cent don't compare lyrically to "Strawberry Fields Forever" by the Beatles, or "Wish You Were Here" by Pink Floyd. Even though we are in a time of political unrest, a time surrounded in controversy, lyricists don't seem to want to take the time to write lyrics that might be a little deeper than sex [no pun intended]. It's an unfortunate turn that popular music has taken, and I am fearful that we might not find our way back.
This writer can be contacted at opinion@theeastcarolinian.com
It isn't so much the different styles that I find the most appalling; I enjoy everything from death metal to rap. I find the lyrics to be horrific for the most part. The majority of popular songs that we find ourselves singing in the car are blatantly about sex, drugs, and violence. Very few lyricists seem to write songs that have any true meaning behind them, and it seems that those who do are overlooked. Bands such as Norma Jean, known primarily for their hard music and heavy screaming, are not recognized for what they are when first listened to - a Christian band. Most people will hear the screaming and automatically assume that this band is Satanic or singing about something evil. Even rappers like Kanye West probably don't get the true amount of consideration they deserve for the quality and meaning of their lyrics.
The best time for music was in the late 1960s and early 1970s. During this time, music was in a very experimental stage. Heavily influenced by the Vietnam War and the emergence of the drug culture, music was changing considerably from that of the 1950s. The changes, however, were definitely advancement for music. Lyrics went from being easy-going and carefree to politically spurred works of art. Neil Young was writing songs like "Ohio," a song about the Kent State shooting, instead of songs like "This Magic Moment," as performed by the Drifters.
I'm fully aware that music from this time period was, like popular music is now, mostly about violence and drug usage, however, the time and consideration that went into writing the lyrics was considerably different in the past. Unlike lyricists today, those writing the songs back then didn't come out and say that they were going to do drugs; they stated it in a more poetic way. For example, the song "Horse with No Name" by America, released in 1972, was about heroin. America, however, didn't feel it necessary to spell it out. You can hardly listen to a song today without hearing obscene phrases.
Music doesn't seem to be as much of an art form as it was years ago. Songs such as "Touch My Body" by Mariah Carey or "She Wants It" by 50 Cent don't compare lyrically to "Strawberry Fields Forever" by the Beatles, or "Wish You Were Here" by Pink Floyd. Even though we are in a time of political unrest, a time surrounded in controversy, lyricists don't seem to want to take the time to write lyrics that might be a little deeper than sex [no pun intended]. It's an unfortunate turn that popular music has taken, and I am fearful that we might not find our way back.
This writer can be contacted at opinion@theeastcarolinian.com
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 4
Sinjun
posted 4/11/08 @ 10:05 AM EST
many of the reasons why i stick to the Jazz or to the Classical sections of music. It's kind of funny in a way when you think about it. When Sanatra was singing i'd imagine they had similar things to say, just as even when Mozart was originally composing his works i'd imagine they said the same things, especially considering the way he lived ;)
the same is true cross genre as well when you consider that during say Shakespere's time the plays he wrote were considered common and blow the notice of the nobility, so much so it's one of the reasons many speculate the real writer of many of Shakespere's plays was actually nobility that couldn't afford to have it known that he wrote them. (Continued…)
Stephen
posted 4/13/08 @ 7:27 PM EST
I used to be like the author of this article. However, I've opened my eyes. One, music is not nearly as bad today as people think it is. Two, there was just as much lousy music (if not more) back in the 60's and 70's as there is today. (Continued…)
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