Jimmy,
Music always adjusts to the audience listening to it. Rock lyrics for decades have been not much more than just something to dance to, or in the last 30 years something to vent frustration at life, the older generation, revolution, breaking rules, etc. That is sort of what rock was based upon. Rap, hip hop, are mostly dissatisfaction with life, and bringing things down to a very base level. Alternative and roots are where the poetry and folk aspects ended up and more of the thought provoking lyrics would be there.
Country always had somewhat of a story line. But of course as the audience has youthened, the subject matter (bro country) and "dumbed down" lyrics have permeated the landscape. Bands like Fla. Ga. Line and LoCash, don't really say too much on the landscape, but "are good to dance and grind to." It reminds me a lot of the old "DICK CLARK BANDSTAND" days when they would say "I give it an 85 with a good beat!" Music was MOSTLY about dancing to it.
So in ways, that has come back around.
But we are dealing with a younger audience that pretty much defies description at how unprepared or even aware they are. Yesterday I met with four people, a 16 and 17 year old Duo from the Boston area and their mothers, and a 20 year old girl from Fla, and her boyfriend. All are in town trying to check out the music scene, they are all trying to be writers and performers, all pretty much the same dreams and levels. I didn't listen to a song, (was just doing the meetings as favors to people) but I could tell you they sound almost the same. They are completely clueless. The male version of the duo (the 16 year old) spent most of our lunch meeting texting on his phone, instead of asking questions or even participating in the discussion. And HE is the brains behind everything.
I saw many the other day at the Music Starts Here event and of course see unending groups of them coming in every day on writers nights, events, etc. And the level of music is diminishing greatly. I'd say "you ain't seen nothing yet."
Having said that, there is still good music out there. Kacey Musgraves, Chris Stapelton, Maren Morris, (My favorite song out there is MY CHURCH), there is still plenty to listen to. So are "lyrics going away?" Probably not. But the "mainstream" is probably going to continue to be a place you don't particularly care about. That is kind of normal.
So much of this is generational, and we are always talking about this "DAMN KIDS!!!" And talk about how goofy and stupid they are. They are. And we were too. I just think most of us had a little more levels of interest and questionaing nature when it came to finding out what we needed to do.
We are in the "FACEBOOK/TWITTER" generation. it is all about the "ME ME ME" stuff. The 80's were called the "Me" generation, but I think the 80's had NOTHING on what there is now. When you can write whatever you want, whatever you want to say, record it on a camera phone, put it on YOU TUBE, and start getting "likes/dislikes" or conversation, that is truly the DO IT YOURSELF generation. And when the culture itself gets more course, more divisive, more attitudinal, then people start tuning out other people, only listening to themselves. And I'd say that is the reflecting part in music.
Fortunately, the "OTHER SIDE" of the Internet is that there is BILLIONS and billions of songs, and millions and millions of artists out there. People find the ones they like, and tune out those they don't. I think the future are going to be thousands and hundreds of thousands or even millions of "smaller stars" that find their own niches, promote themselves and some will end up breaking out in to the huge mainstream. You can look at artists like ED SHEERAN, who was really just an Irish (or English, I don't know which) folk singer, that has built a huge career, winning awards, and huge fan base, BEFORE he got his record deal. Now he is everywhere. Again, not really my cup of tea, but he is doing well. Groups like Matt C's favorite, Alabama Shakes, have been tearing up the Independent scene until they became mainstream. That is actually HOW the Internet can HELP build careers. It can extend the reach of an artist. but it can't do all the work.
On a side note, yesterday I attended an Interview show at Douglas corner. It is called THE PRODUCERS CHAIR, and is a talk show format hosted by my friend James Rae. The guest yesterday was TREY FANJOY, who is one of the top video directors and producers in town. Has one over 150 awards and done hundreds upon hundreds of videos for Keith Urban, Taylor Swift, George Strait and others. Yesterday she unveiled two new videos, one for Jennifer Nettles, of Sugarland and one for the new single of Miranda Lambert. Both are amazing videos and unbelievable songs. Miranda's is called "FASTEST GIRL ALIVE" and features a "THELMA AND LOUISE" type senario with two hot chicks stealing a car and running from guys and the law. The "other girl" driving the getaway car? DANICA PATRICK!!!, the NASCAR driver. Man that is a monster mini movie!!!
Right now I'm watching Trace Atkins on Fox playing live in New York. Pretty good song, called "LIT." Really like that guy. Scared the crap out of me the first time I met him. We literally bumped into each other going into a restroom at a show. And when you run into Trace, YOU RUN INTO TRACE! That guy is built like a football player. But very nice.
Right now I'm watching Trace Atkins on Fox playing live in New York. Pretty good song, called "LIT." Really like that guy. Scared the crap out of me the first time I met him. We literally bumped into each other going into a restroom at a show. And when you run into Trace, YOU RUN INTO TRACE! That guy is built like a football player. But very nice.
Good for him.
So yes, the language, music and overall culture decline. What else is new? But that doesn't have to affect YOUR MUSIC. And that is kind of my thing to you and all people trying to do this. Just because their is a lot of garbage out there doesn't mean you have to emulate it. Don't go for the lower common denominator. It's what has always bothered me about the "All music out there SUCKS" crowd!!!! Yeah, a lot of it does. WHAT DOES THAT HAVE TO DO WITH YOUR MUSIC?
If you are trying to figure out the market, don't. It's always going to be weird. And always has. Any of you remember the 50's? All the doo wop groups Rama Lama Ding Donging!!!!? The 60's, when EVERY group was a Beatles Rip off, with the hair cuts and wanting to hold each other's hand, foot, face, leg, spleen? The DISCO ERA of the 70's? Boom, boom...boom...boom.. four on the floor beat and DANCE....DANCE....DANCE....!!!! 80's "Hair Band of the Week?' "
"GIRLS...GIRLS...GIRLS!!!!" Strap Tawny Kittain on the hood of a car and you got a rock video!!!!! 90's? Seattle Grunge? "I'm in the Darrrkkkk Depressionnnnn of my minnnnnnddddddd???" 2000's rap and hip hop? "Yo..yo...yo...Get Da B***TCH in the CAR!!!!YO YO YO!!!!!"
"GIRLS...GIRLS...GIRLS!!!!" Strap Tawny Kittain on the hood of a car and you got a rock video!!!!! 90's? Seattle Grunge? "I'm in the Darrrkkkk Depressionnnnn of my minnnnnnddddddd???" 2000's rap and hip hop? "Yo..yo...yo...Get Da B***TCH in the CAR!!!!YO YO YO!!!!!"
Yeah, it's always kind of inane. Don't worry about it. Should have nothing to do with you. Go write something that makes sense and people like. TRY NOT TO SUCK!!!
MAB
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