Modern music leaves writer singing the blues
By: Nicole Newby
Issue date: 9/29/08 Section: Opinion
YOUuuuu!"
As soon as the song starts, all of the club patrons leap out of their seats and rush to the dance floor. Faint shrieks of "I love this song!" can be heard competing with the bass tones of the Soulja Boy soundtrack. Everyone seems to know all of the lyrics, and they know the moves to the accompanying dance even better. But besides the universal choreography, what can be so great about a song that condones such explicit sexual acts?
Furthermore, Britney Spears has recently been awarded several VMAs for her song "Piece of Me," in which she threatens members of the paparazzi for intruding in her personal life. Do people enjoy this song because they can relate to her experience of being a celebrity?
It seems that today's pop culture music has strayed from its roots. Music lyrics used to reflect emotion and hardship, relay stories and political agendas and identify the social culture of the time period. Whenever the Beatles are played, listeners are instantly reminded of the carefree days of the 1960s. Def Leppard and Guns N' Roses bring back the big hair and stonewashed jeans of the '80s. However, today it seems that most of the pop culture music adheres to themes involving sex, drugs, violence or fame.
What happened to the music that made history? A primary philosophy behind music is that it is poetry and stories put to a melody. It was how the bards told stories about the Greek gods and how the slaves recorded maps to escape containment and express their yearning for freedom. Many Christian religions put Bible verses to music to worship God. No matter the context, music has had meaning for both the performer and the audience.
We listen to some of the same music as our parents. Although it has been nearly half a century since his peak, Elvis Presley still remains a classic artist. "Hound Dog" and "Jailhouse Rock" are still even sung by elementary-age children. He performed songs about love that nearly everyone who had ever been in a relationship could relate to.
As soon as the song starts, all of the club patrons leap out of their seats and rush to the dance floor. Faint shrieks of "I love this song!" can be heard competing with the bass tones of the Soulja Boy soundtrack. Everyone seems to know all of the lyrics, and they know the moves to the accompanying dance even better. But besides the universal choreography, what can be so great about a song that condones such explicit sexual acts?
Furthermore, Britney Spears has recently been awarded several VMAs for her song "Piece of Me," in which she threatens members of the paparazzi for intruding in her personal life. Do people enjoy this song because they can relate to her experience of being a celebrity?
It seems that today's pop culture music has strayed from its roots. Music lyrics used to reflect emotion and hardship, relay stories and political agendas and identify the social culture of the time period. Whenever the Beatles are played, listeners are instantly reminded of the carefree days of the 1960s. Def Leppard and Guns N' Roses bring back the big hair and stonewashed jeans of the '80s. However, today it seems that most of the pop culture music adheres to themes involving sex, drugs, violence or fame.
What happened to the music that made history? A primary philosophy behind music is that it is poetry and stories put to a melody. It was how the bards told stories about the Greek gods and how the slaves recorded maps to escape containment and express their yearning for freedom. Many Christian religions put Bible verses to music to worship God. No matter the context, music has had meaning for both the performer and the audience.
We listen to some of the same music as our parents. Although it has been nearly half a century since his peak, Elvis Presley still remains a classic artist. "Hound Dog" and "Jailhouse Rock" are still even sung by elementary-age children. He performed songs about love that nearly everyone who had ever been in a relationship could relate to.
Viewing Comments 1 - 6 of 6
dj graytape
posted 9/29/08 @ 1:03 PM CST
if ya over 18 doin' that soldier boy STOP!
Andrea Laham
posted 9/29/08 @ 6:35 PM CST
I've been feeling the same way about most mainstream songs. It's a shame that whenever people say that they couldn't care less what the artist was communicating in their songs. (Continued…)
lil' augurey
lil' augurey
posted 9/29/08 @ 6:42 PM CST
I've felt the exact same way about mainstream songs ever since I entered sixth grade. >.<*
It's like whenever I ask someone what the artist is communicating in the song, it's either, "Don't know, don't care" or "What? I can't hear you! The music is too loud!"
'Course, they never bother to turn down the volume. (Continued…)
Al
posted 9/30/08 @ 2:21 PM CST
The real test of whether music is GOOD or not is how it holds up to the test of TIME. Will the song be considered good 75 or more years from now? Will it still be sung or performed? Will anyone even remember it?? Music by trendsetters such as Presley and the Beatles probably will be remembered for quite some time. (Continued…)
Girl
Girl
posted 10/01/08 @ 7:56 PM CST
I am one of those kids that listens to music from like two generations ago. I rarely keep up with todays music bc if I get into a band or an artist, they are out in like two months. (Continued…)
susan
posted 10/03/08 @ 5:12 PM CST
Ah, somethings never change. This letter could have been written in any decade - "old" music is always better. I know - I wrote a letter to the editor about the same thing when I went to SFA - in the 80's. (Continued…)
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