My hubby and I often find ourselves engaging in heated discussions about random topics. We are both highly opinionated individuals so sometimes these discussions do not end well, mainly because one of us (usually me) takes something personal and leaves the discussion angry.
But, last night, on our way home from a concert, we had a discussion about something that we actually agree upon. While discussing the show I mentioned that the older songs from the artist were much better, more "pure" in nature, and not over produced. The songs did not have a bunch of unnecessary instruments crowding the message or hooky choruses that can be easily remembered. They were, for lack of a better word, clean. There was none of the extra "stuff" that costs a pretty penny to insert into an album. On the other hand, the new music, created after popularity ensued, seemed mindless, "poppy," and definitely over-produced. Quality lyrics were replaced with hooky choruses, and background singers drowned out the gritty (and pleasant) voice of the lead.
Hubby says the music has become "corporatized" (a word he made up) - and I felt that this was an excellent way to explain the phenomenon.
So, I started thinking. Which of my favorite artists have fallen prey to making money over making quality music. Here are some of the ones that I decided upon:
Jack Johnson
Ray LaMontagne
System of a Down
Metallica
Aerosmith
Citizen Cope
And the sad thing is that I can go on and on.
Are the artists that we hail - in all art forms - letting us down?
31 comments:
I totally feel you on this subject. I love older music; rarely do I like new music as much as the older ones. When artist come out I think they have to bring their best and their situations are still in raw form. Once they make it big their motivation is more money. If more people wanted the message and the raw music then I think it would be good again. Corporate America corrupts every aspect of life and anything they can make money off. It's a shame. Music needs to be resurrected.
Yes. It's that simple. Every band starts out with a love for the music and with a need of sending a message through their songs. But once a mayor label gets their hands on the band things get ugly.
I know for a fact that music label companies bribe bands with money. They say "change to our style and we'll give you this amount by your first 100 CD sales." Everyone is greedy and no matter how much the music matters to you they all end up taking the deal and the money and changing their ways, forgetting the reason they started making music in the first place.
Many genre's of music have gone through the same thing. From country, to rock, to electronica and rap.
It's money that changes people and the chance at getting insane amounts of money makes bands changer their style.
I actually couldnt agree with you more. I'm more into rap than im into rock, but rap artists are also getting "corporatized". Rap used to be about freestyling, and crazy lyrics, but now if the song is not called "The candy shop", or "Lollipop" its about girls with big "booty". Im not saying that I dislike big "booty", but I want it to keep away from my music. Today most rap songs repeat the same line about 20 times. Rap should be more about rapping, not singing.Its been a while since I put a new song on my ipod.
This is very true now a days. Many artists are just making albums to make money instead of pursuing after the audience. I believe that some bands already have been selling out and been going after the money. Then again, who isn't going after money? It is what most people say "makes the world go round."
Well Mrs. S I think that is a very interesting question...I do believe that you are right about today's artists all trying to make just a little bit more money than their competition. But I am not 100% sure if by doing so they are diluting the music. And does it really matter in the end? people are buying the music which means they must like it and if they like it then aren't the artists doing their job? As I said I'm not exactly sure but I did enjoy reading a little about what teachers do in the real world=p.
I would have to agree with that statement, since if you compare two Metallica CD's for example say Master Of Puppets and their new CD Death Magnetic, Death Magnetic feels and sounds like their creativity has gone down the toilet, for example the music isn't what it used to be their is no way of comparing any older song from Metallica, by older I mean from Reload all the way back to Kill Them All since no real Metallica fan can call Sr. Anger a real album, they have always had a "crunch" behind their music, now its more of a sissy tone in my perspective. Another band that has lost it's touch is AC/DC, I saw them live on December and it wasn't what they used to be, I understand that their old but at least try and come out with that bang you used to have. Listening to their new album I actually felt like going back to Best Buy and getting my money back.
Artist should just stick to the good old times when they used to rock for the crowd not for their fortunes.
I agree with you completely! Lately, most of the songs I've been putting on my ipod are songs from when my parents were my age, these songs are over 30 years old! So much of the music now is just the same kind of message being pushed across. Its getting to the point where I plug my in ipod in the car rather than listening to stations such as y100 who play all the new music.
Whoa Whoa Ms.Stoklosa, citizen cope is in no way corporized. If he was he would not be playing in the Culture Room, he would be playing at the bank Atlantic Center. The only thing he needs money for are drugs. If he was corperized he would be on MTV every thirty seconds and on Y-100 every other song. Most of my friends don't even know who Citizen Cope is so he cant be corperized.
I would agree with you in regards to other bands though. They have become more and more interested in money rather than the music they are producing. Like everything in life, music is a business, these artist are just looking out for them self's.
I'm not the biggest music buff, but I can see what you mean. When I listen to my dads music they have a guitar, drums, a singer, and maybe one extra instrument. They use raw passion and there real talent to sell. There is not much electronic distortion of their voices, and if so, it is done with class.
I wouldn't necessarily list System of a Down primarily because they're on a hiatus now, and they haven't produced any new music recently since their last album, Hypnotize from 2005, which was a great album as much as any of their albums from before. As for Aerosmith, they are mostly seen as a tribute band today, only their old stuff is taken serious. Metallica has had some improvements with the release of their last album "Death Magnetic" which was a lot better than the one released before which was a joke. But we still have to accept that some bands like Metallica are not likely to make as good songs today as they did back in their early days, primarily because they let the record label companies meddle with their work too much in exchange for a bundle of cash, thus the term "corporatized”. I definitely have to agree with you that most of the bands on that list have fallen victims to making songs just for the sake of making some money with no regard for quality in their work, or just for the heck of it because they can't accept the fact that every band dies at one point. Instead, they decide to throw their mainstream crap in the market and ruin the dignity of the band itself. They don't consider their legacy and how it will be seen by the future generations. As an example, I point out the refusal of Led Zeppelin to make new music or have a tour if they're not ready or serious about it in the first place. Zeppelin Singer Robert plant explained in an interview, “I think the thing about it really, is that to visit old ground and work on new material, it's a very incredibly delicate thing to do, and the disappointment that could be there once you commit to that and the comparisons to something that was basically fired by youth and a different kind of exuberance to now, it’s very hard to go back and meet that head on and do it justice." For all the Sell-out bands out there who care more about money than their own music, learn from Zeppelin!
I don't know if I totally agree with the statement that bands become more "corporatized." The reason that the older songs seem to be the best is because they are the first good songs that the band produces. Many bands will spend years and years writing songs before one will make it big. While this band might seem new to everyone it could have been around for years producing music. Where I trying to get with this is that bands are only recognized after they have made a great song. Few bands can comtinually come out with great hits.
i agree with you a lot. My brother and I always talk about back in the day music and compare it to today's music. The rap songs today could not compare to back then rap songs. Like Tupac and Biggie who are still being listened to today! That is an example of how good the music used to be. A lot of people like the Beatles. I didn't really listen to them but they were good. I guarantee if one of the artist from back then came and sang again today they would take over because the artist from back then knew how to make good music.
I couldent agree with you more beacauseto me i like rap more then rock but actually latley ive been listenting to more techno beats now but anyways rap is now bad beacuse its about the same thjing everysong and i think all music should be inspected like food does because some is just thast bad lol.
I think Metallica is sticking up to its self with its eight minute songs still. There new album is great I love it. Also System of a Down is still doing there normal System of a Down songs. But I feel what you mean about now it seems most bands do it all for the money now and not cause they love to sing. I think they need to remember what it was like when they were younger and they dreamed of what it was like to rock out in front of millions of people.
My favorite bands are actually Linkin park and System of a Down. Back in the day when both bands first started they were amazing and their music was great. Now I get ok music from them. All they want is money and they have become capitalist. Everyone in the music industry is a one hit wonder. After they get their first check over seven figures they want to keep making that so they just put anything together and publicize it to put money in their pockets. So in fact every artist will let down their fans.
That is why I love getting the acoustic version of songs because it just removes all the unnecessary instrumentals and allows for the easy listen of the lyrics and melody. Sometimes a song can feel too crowded with the "extras".
Music used to be a form of poetry, an expression of the musicians thoughts. Now it's what is the catchiest tone. Music today is losing its originality, its soul, all to become a catchy tune.
I agree with you I love older music you can understand the words and they have true meaning to them. Its not about nonsense. Though I do admit I like the music we have today as well but then again I like just about any type of music, different artists and genres that I can relate with my current mood at the time. But it has changed alot and it is more about making money rather then actually making good songs for the love of it.
I don't think that Metallica is doing this just because of money. They have been successful ever since they started the band. Metallica is my favorite band and I don't think the have done anything to let their fans down.
well im not a bi music kind of person. i dont listen to the radio frequently and listen to the newest Lil Wayne song and all that stuff it just dosent intrest me. it used to a long time ago like 5 years ago or so but things chage. im more of a youtune guyi love going there and listening to journey and edwin starr and ol classical music. its what i enjoy but the truth is that you and your hubby are correct the artisits we hail are "corporatized".
I completely agree with you. But if you think about it, the artist that can sit there and tell you they play music only for the love of music are the ones on the streets who’s only income is received through their guitar case. It comes down to the fact that this is their job. They need make a living somehow and, like everybody else in the world, they strive for success in their lives. Success these days are mostly weighted not with the amount of talent somebody has but more the portliness of their wallet.
Music has definitely been affected by money. The quality of music now is not what it has been in the past. Artists seem eager to put out more music of lesser quality in order to make more money. I still see some quality artists today but I am generally disappointed. I feel artists like Kanye West and Jay-Z are still putting out quality music, but rap as a whole has suffered (I know that's your favorite genre).
I do agree with you on this subject but as times change so does the style of music. Personally I like a lot of the new usic being created it all depends on your tase in music. I will admit that Jack johnson has let me down a little bit.... I loved his older songs but his new stuff sounds too different like someone else messed with it to sound more idk like everyone elses. I wish older musicians would keep their old style of music dispite the money because they are disappointing a lot of loyal fans.
It's not that older music is better and the new one sucks but its new music of older artist suck. Artist just get carried away. They start a band for the love of what they play but then as they get money they start changing their ways in order to get more money, but they just ruin their music.
I agree this the majority of the people above me. Rockbands mostly starts out with the love and compassion for their lyrics and sound. But some how Record deals tend to swirl everything around, so its can sounds better and catch the audiences attention. Like we discussed in class, money is one of the most debatable and most wanting thing in mankind. Without money there's nothing.
I'm personally really eclectic when it comes to musical taste, so I'm always looking for/finding new bands that have in them still that naive sense of honesty and purity in their songs, those who still want to write music for the love of music.
However there are always artists that will be immortal in their innovation and that never cease to amaze me no matter what. One such artist is DJ Shadow. I would love to add Cut Chemist too, but I can't... because they go hand in hand. After they released the Hard Sell Tour DVD I think I went crazy. They had not been this original and inspiring since DJ Shadows Private Press (2nd Album) and Cut Chemists debut album, or dare I say... when he was still with Jurassic 5.
I love that kind of Artist. They disregard producers, etc etc, and just do what they think is right. Sometimes it works, sometimes it fails miserably, such as the Outsider from DJ Shadow. It is a good album, but it doesn't feel much like a DJ Shadow album, but he came back full force with his conjoined Hard Sell tour with Cut Chemist, which kicked BUTT!
Sadly, there are also those artists who... do not excel in the trade.
I've no time to name them, or patience, but It is true, there are too many to name. Therefore screw them.
I agree with you on this subject. Artists back in the day made songs to express their feelings and show their point of view on a subject. Now artists make music because they are greedy and want more money.
Just like many, many, many other things in this world, its all about the money. Bands can go a few different routes. But the most common is this:
They start in a garage just for fun. Need a little bit of money for a new guitar so they play at aunt Susan's wedding. They like the way the money tastes. They play more gigs, make more albums. But 3 million isn't enough yet so they change it up and all of the sudden their music is completely and all of their old listeners buy that new album because they always make quality. But it sounds different. It appeals to a new crowd, and they just doubled their sales because that other crowd likes the new music.
I believe that the older music has more talent. Now a days artists can get away with having plain voices that are easy to shape and edit. Many artists and into the new technology of editing and using the computer to change a voice. This makes the sounds "catchier." Many producers and editors feel editing is the main source of money making. By conforming to "what's in" makes the people supposedly like the music, which makes money. Older music didn't have the technology to edit it and even when they did producers didn't edit nearly as much as they do today.
I feel the "corporatized" describes it perfectly. Labels and producers get involved to confrom the music to sound like everything esle that's out there. Do new artists have as much talent as back in the day if so much editing is happening?
I think I can agree with you here. I actually had to think about it and why I couldn't agree at first because I listened all of the artists I listen to currently still remain intriguing and enthralling. I tend to listen to music for the lyrics and if they have a catchy tune to it then thats just icing on the cake.
I realized that the reason why I couldn't agree to this 'corporatized' way of thinking was because I still listen to a lot of the old stuff that the artists I listen to have made.
As for the artists you previously named, I can agree... Majority of the reason I dont listen to them anymore, actually. :-/
I completley agree with most of the argument. A lot of great artist have fallen from being "corporatized" I rarely like it when an artist brings out a new album because I'm afraid it will be different. However sometimes its for the better. There have been some cases where "corporization" has helped an artist. It really just depends on the listener.
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