Where did the Music Go?

In the recent years we have seen a shift in the music culture. When I was growing up I remember that to be a star singer, you needed one vital quality and that was a great voice. Everything else was secondary. In fact as far back as I can remember most great singers were not good lookers. They did one thing really well and that was sing. Of course that was a time when visuals were not a big thing. Most people just listened to their favourite artistes via radio or vinyl, cassettes or 8 track cartridges and CDs. (i grew up in the sixties and seventies) Today, most of the music that we listen to are mere back ups to videos. The artiste is an actor in the movie and his or her song tells the story.

I must say though that some artistes have used this tool very well. Some have not diminished their vocal and songwriting ability by depending on catchy video shots. One person in particular is the late and very great Michael Jackson (although there were some moves that I would not agree with :)). MJ was a master at putting a song to a movie. He never discounted either. The movie's quality was unmatched, the song always a hit and his singing beyond category. When this kind of combination exists you see a work of art and you buy that recording for its intrinsic value.

It's sad though, that in the recent years we are seeing more artistes and the music industry itself creating products that sell indulgence rather than art. Some singers and artistes sell not music but sex, soft porn, open promiscuity and license. The truth though is that some of these singers(and I emphasize 'some') don't need any of that. Their songs and videos would sell just by virtue of their great talent. Of course with these additions, their songs would sell more I guess. Porn and sex are huge sellers. Statistics show that 28,258 internet viewers are viewing internet porn every second and a new porn video is being created in the US every 39 minutes. (http://internet-filter-review.toptenreviews.com/internet-pornography-statistics.html)

Hmmm... I wonder what that says about us as a people. Have we come to the place where we would do anything, cross any line to make it? The trail of bodies that we leave along the way in the way of broken lives, twisted values, messed up minds and unrealistic desires seem insignificant to us when placed in comparison to our need for success. Wow! in fact we have become masters at justifying this need and validating immorality in the process. I'm not trying to be puritanical here but the loss of moral absolutes really creates a chaos and opens a Pandora's box that is difficult to restrain.

This is what Jimi Hendrix had to say regarding the influence of music.

Music doesn't lie. If there is something to be changed in this world, then it can only happen through music. Jimi Hendrix [ More Quotes ] - [ e-Card ]

Almost forty years after his death, we see the validity of this statement. Our world has been changed by the music we sing and listen to. In Hendrix's day, he and artistes like him were the rebels who wanted to break from conformity (which were justified in some areas) so they created a sub-culture that promoted that lifestyle. Today, preachers of morality are called bigots and have become in a large way the rebels to our current 'politically correct' culture. The rebel and liberal have not only gained freedom but have become the lawmakers. The sub-culture has become culture.

Add to that the video aspect. We don't only hear it, we see it being acted out before our eyes. Promiscuity is alright, rebellion is accepted as initiative and non conformity, thus being cool. Morality is a thing of the past and associated with backward thinking.

In his book The Philosophy of Civilization, Albert Schweitzer outlined the idea that there are dual opinions within society; one regarding civilization as purely material and another regarding civilization as both ethical and material. He stated that the current world crisis was, then in 1923, due to a humanity having lost the ethical conception of civilization. In this same work, he defined civilization, saying:

It is the sum total of all progress made by man in every sphere of action and from every point of view in so far as the progress helps towards the spiritual perfecting of individuals as the progress of all progress.(Wikipedia, Civilization)



Music and the arts should never be reduced to a catalyst that moves a culture away from its basic values. On the contrary, they are great tools to build a society. From an ethical standpoint, the marketing strategies of today's music industry promote more destructive elements than creative ones. I wonder how many fathers and mothers would say "bring it on, let my child learn those things." If you are a parent, I hope that you are paying attention. If you are not (yet), just remember that you might one day be and what you think is ok for others to do and follow you wouldn't think about your own child. If the world has changed so much and come to such a negatively liberal stage at this point of time, think of what it would be in a another thirty years.

Lets create music that builds and not music that reacts or destroys.

Please feel free to disagree, comment and or discuss this issue. The last time I checked, I was not the Pope :) Cheers...

Goodbye Freddie

Today while reading some of the posts on a trumpet jazz forum, I discovered that one of my earliest inspirations in jazz trumpet passed away on December the 28th 2008. He was the great Freddie Hubbard whom to most people may seem like no one but to the trumpet world was very highly regarded. The first time I heard Freddie Hubbard play was at a friends house. We were listening to a vinyl recording of him and Stanley Turrentine in a live concert. It featured as backup the virtually 'who's who' in jazz. Herbie Hancock on piano, Ron Carter on Bass and Jack DeJehonnette on drums. It was a full recording that only contained two songs.The moment I heard Freddie on the trumpet, I wondered if I should pursue my interest in the instrument or give it up altogether because I couldn't believe that someone could play like that. Subsequently, I started investing in jazz recordings. The first jazz trumpet cassette that I owned was Freddie Hubbard's Red Clay album. Upon receiving my next paycheck I bought Keep Your Soul Together( which is currently out of print). Then I got a hold of Love Connection on vinyl. To date, I have at least ten of his recordings and consider them some of my favourites.

I was hoping to see him live perhaps during MPO's jazz season. O well. Goodbye Freddie, I will miss you but will continue to buy and listen to your CD's.

The links below are wiki's info on Freddie Hubbard and a Youtube video of his performance.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freddie_Hubbard
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3FsJ8ZU414&feature=related