View Full Version : Where are the musicians?
Copernicus
04-30-2010, 02:58 PM
We live in some of the most troublesome times (economically and politically speaking) since teh 1960's, yet I don't hear any musicians making songs about this! In the 60's it seemed artists would create songs that delved in the psyche and hearts of people - railing against the establishment.. singing what was on everyone's minds - Buffalo Springfield, the Stones and many others.
What is different about today that no one is writing such songs? Apathy? Lack of touch with politics?
Anyone?
Severina
04-30-2010, 04:11 PM
The musicians, songs and lyrics exist but only on the gig circuit and by musicians that aren't mainstrean. Nor do l think they will be with the likes of Simon Cowell and stupid talent shows. lt's all about image nowadays ... nothing more.
Stormcrow
04-30-2010, 04:50 PM
Sev speaks the truth. I've been to such concerts.
Another reason I've noticed for the lack of such topical music, is that this generation of musicians seems to have realized that the anarchic path that sixties artist sang of was a fools dream...as have most of the fools who dreamed it back then I might add. In fact, most of the old crowd who believed in "The Cause" have become that which they rallied against.
Those who don't learn from history and all of that.
Copernicus
04-30-2010, 05:03 PM
I think there was a certain element.. maybe Cobain and the original grunge who would have qualified as talented enough to have been topical and relevant.
Nowadays, its just Rock or Rap and its all about being commercial. The hardcore rock is just about anarchy for the sake of appearing different and non-mainstream - yet they aren't relevant
Stormcrow
04-30-2010, 05:12 PM
I think there was a certain element.. maybe Cobain and the original grunge who would have qualified as talented enough to have been topical and relevant.
Nowadays, its just Rock or Rap and its all about being commercial. The hardcore rock is just about anarchy for the sake of appearing different and non-mainstream - yet they aren't relevant
These days you have to dig deeper. Non-Radio stuff. Check out some of the groups in the so called "Jam Community".
Severina
04-30-2010, 07:36 PM
Sev speaks the truth. I've been to such concerts.
Another reason I've noticed for the lack of such topical music, is that this generation of musicians seems to have realized that the anarchic path that sixties artist sang of was a fools dream...as have most of the fools who dreamed it back then I might add. In fact, most of the old crowd who believed in "The Cause" have become that which they rallied against.
Those who don't learn from history and all of that.
Thankfully not all sold out ... Rory Gallagher comes to mind.
Copernicus
04-30-2010, 07:45 PM
Yet, in the 60[s teh musicians "angst" was so bad, they forced themselves on the mainstream. Dylan, for one.. There really is no one comparable today, imho.
Edit: Come to think about it, part of the reason might be due to the advent of television. Think about it.. the younger generation back in the 60's was able to voice their opinions on college campuses and at demonstrations and through their music. But, today, the political stuff is all over the TV.. Bill Maher, all the news orgs, etc., so maybe there's simply no
"need"?
Severina
04-30-2010, 08:16 PM
"Keep you doped with religion and sex and TV,
And you think you're so clever and classless and free,
But you're still fucking peasants as far as I can see
A working class hero is something to be"
Stormcrow
04-30-2010, 08:30 PM
Yet, in the 60[s teh musicians "angst" was so bad, they forced themselves on the mainstream. Dylan, for one.. There really is no one comparable today, imho.
Edit: Come to think about it, part of the reason might be due to the advent of television. Think about it.. the younger generation back in the 60's was able to voice their opinions on college campuses and at demonstrations and through their music. But, today, the political stuff is all over the TV.. Bill Maher, all the news orgs, etc., so maybe there's simply no
"need"?
The outlet for today's youth is right here. The World Wide Web.
Copernicus
04-30-2010, 10:23 PM
And yet, while millions do this.. musicians do what musicians do.. so why not political songs? Why isn't "Rage against the machine" more commonplace?
Because Rage against the machine not only sucks major ass, but they are about the biggest two-faced sack of shit out there. I think the local paper put it best
"A corporate band on a major record label, selling ticket's through ticketmaster for a concert at a venue owned by a bank, singing songs about the evils of capitalism"
Sev did hit the nail on the head though, about what people meant when they would say "MTV will ruin music."
It did. That was how we ended up with horrible commercial pieces of shit like the boy bands, & Britney's, and squeezed out brilliant bands like Blue Oyster Cult.
All of the crappy new bands & rappers have a hard time selling out Irvine meadows with all of em on the same bill, where as AC/DC can't even play a venue that small. And when the Scorpions played there in the early 80's, they did something like 6-7 nights in a row. On top of milking LA & Dago too.
Look at the chicks you see on MTV now, and Compare it to the incredibly talented babe that headlined their first New Years Show.
And notice the musicians, except for the guitarplayer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P35Z30OiZD8
As I usually point out, Playboy has never had a "Women of the Philharmonic" issue.
You can be the best musician in the world, but unfortunately, ugly will hold you back.
Take these two for example, they're old, one is bald, and they're both ugly.
But they fucking Rawk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_5uCKz7eCLU
Severina
05-04-2010, 08:20 PM
Too true TOAO but great vids. Your 1st vid reminded me of Meatloaf on the Old Grey Whistle Test live .... with Karla. They seem to have edited out the part where Meatloaf gets his hands in Karla's top and grabs her ass. Great performance and love the end where he screams 'Fuck you!' ... and 'l can't take this anymore'. Pity it wasn't on the studio album version.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0OA6ZLGb8U
Buschman
05-05-2010, 09:50 AM
What "change" did the bands of the old days bring about with their songs?....nothing.
What change would new bands bring if they mainstreamed songs like that again?...nothing.
That's why I don't get that involved in political stuff, and laugh my ass off when folks debate it on forums and stuff. Because in the end, there is not fuck all you can do about it. You're better off to talk about the weather. Although nobody can change that as well, at least it's more predictable and accurate.
As human beings, it's part of our inbred instinct just to bitch about something for the sake of bitching about it. Not that it ever changes much of anything. We just feel better because we vented and had our "say."
You know,.."so take that,...damn straight!"
Karla wasn't on the studio version, it was Ellen Foley.
Here's a song about it from 20 years ago or so.
Unfortunately, all the things he's whining about are still going on
Laying It On The Line on Yahoo! Video
Since I was looking at those type songs, I couldn't help but notice, they usually only happen when their is a Republican president.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oepXF2B5NK4
What makes it worse, is when the people doing the whining are from another Country.
This wasn't so much a protest, as a social commentary. Probably doesn't mean much to the younger people, but for those of uf old enough to remember the cold war, it was actually pretty cool.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RTOQUnvI3CA
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