Has music become pussified?

~~Soulflower~~ · 03-27-2014, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Black Francis

I don't think musical artists need to be burdened with such a responsibility if they don't want to.

Why do they gotta preach some revolutionary political agenda? just cause this ppl can play a nice tune it doesn't mean they should force their liberal viewpoints on their listeners and it doesn't even mean they'll make a good point, cause again just cause this ppl can make a nice tune it doesn't mean that makes them qualified to give out political advice.

It's a little sick how we put some music artists on a pedestal and force our views on what we think they should do or shouldn't do, can they just be musicians? no, they gotta be political activist too now. as if they gotta role models on top of being a musician.

There are tons of political activist in this world already, if you really care for their cause, YOU WOULD JOIN THEM! not wait at home for some musician to play some "we won't stand for this anymore" song,

is it we don't care about world events until a guy makes a song about it?

No.

But I think the argument could be said the other way around.

Why are these pop stars using their music for bad such as singing about guns, raping, prostitution, etc?

Why is that more acceptable versus a political song that is positive?

I am not asking for these singers to be politicians because it is clear they do not care about social issues or issues that affect the world. They just care about their own money and reputations.

I just think it is sad that some of them use their music to enforce negative themes that are negatively impacting our society.

Music influences more than what people give it credit for

Paul Smeenus · 03-27-2014, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by realtalk92

Everyone just cares about money.

qft

Black Francis · 03-27-2014, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by realtalk92

No.

But I think the argument could be said the other way around.

Why are these pop stars using their music for bad such as singing about guns, raping, prostitution, etc?

Why is that more acceptable versus a political song that is positive?

I am not asking for these singers to be politicians because it is clear they do not care about social issues or issues that affect the world. They just care about their own money and reputations.

I just think it is sad that some of them use their music to enforce negative themes that are negatively impacting our society.

Music influences more than what people give it credit for

Im gonna quote Chris Rock on this,

"White man makes guns? No problem. Black rapper says "guns"? Congressional hearing."

Again, Music artists don't have to be role models, if ppl really cared for a cause they go out and do something about it not project their lazy ass morals to a singer.

A song won't change the world ok? plz name a song that has saved the world.

Paul Smeenus · 03-27-2014, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Black Francis

plz name a song that has saved the world.

Well, arguably

The Batlord · 03-27-2014, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RoxyRollah

I am not so sure that it is music itself becoming more tame, as I think that in general, the youth today, neither has a clear definable voice, nor has any grasp on the issues are at hand.

With era of Lennon, you had a time of massive social unrest and upheaval. The air at the time, pretty much became so filled with volatile vibrations, that I am almost certain were impossible not to pick up on them in some remote way. There are a couple things that were happening at that time, that simply are not happening now. A groundbreaking hallucinogen was becoming accepted as a way to get to the stairway of enlightenment, race had gotten to a boiling over point, and you had three or assassinations happen.

These are things that this generation will never experience, because it was a right time right place deal.

The major problem in my never to be humble opinion, is the lack of comradery, and what's best for group as a whole . This generation is set up for I, me, mine. And that is reflected in the music you hear.You won't hear songs like power to the people anymore, because 'the people' haven't got a clue, about what's best for themselves, let alone the world outside their four walls.

I am going to disagree with you on the Manson. Because he didn't do anything, that Alice Cooper, or Ozzy hadn't done before him, and they did it when it was actually new.

You have to ask yourself, what is popular now a days man. Sign of the times, it is no longer a rebellious culture as a matter of fact it's so same it hurts. Yes the artists you see in or on mainstream media, seem to value vulgarity, sex, money, and power. And to obtain those things one mostly needs to conform to the unholy music industry. And there is nothing wrong with all those things, I dig them, but I don't hold my mainstream artists to the same standards as I would hold, the mainstream artists of the past. I would not, no.

If you are looking for something that speaks in volumes, you should really look into the indie scene. And even there you won't find protest songs, or whatever is you are looking for all the time. But there certainly be more depth then the garbage that's out there now.

I agree with what Urban said about the whole stranglehold that the modern music industry has on the "mainstream". I'd also like to point out that the stranglehold that it has is possible because of all of the money they made from those same fifties/sixties/seventies bands that people are always harping on about.

Back then the music industry wasn't nearly so big. Kids didn't have much money and adults were too busy working to be worrying about music all the damn time. Then America wins the second world war and has an economic boom and all of a sudden we have a massive middle class with millions of middle class kids who have more money than their parents ever had and more free time on their hands seeing as how they didn't have to go work in a factory at the age of thirteen. This was when the entire concept of the teenager came about.

And since they had all this time and money on their hands they spent it on music in a way that no demographic ever had before. Hence why so many mainstream artists were so much more daring and creative than they are these days: because the music industry wasn't yet the soulless, all-consuming, multi-national juggernaut that it is today. And with this new boom came more and more money and soon you have disco, and Duran Duran, and hair metal, and post-grunge, and all of this orchestrated using money they'd made from the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Jimmy Hendrix, etc, etc, etc.

So part of the blame can actually be laid at the feet of the very bands you're comparing these modern artists with.

Black Francis · 03-27-2014, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul Smeenus

Close, very close but unfortunately not everybody is aware of Bob Dylan

Even a great artist like him don't influence everybody, no artist does, they only influence a section of the population which is why i said a song won't save the world and it is also why i think music artist can say whtvr they want in their songs because it's just a song and it doesn't have to be more than that.

That said, the first song i ever heard from him was subterranean home sick blues and honest to god my first thought was "Why bother writing anything" >_>
As a musician and a lyricist myself i was so impressed with his writing i got sad i can't never reach that kinda genius.

But even though i liked the message of the song, it didn't spark me to start a revolution or to live my life according to his message i just saw a wise man with an individual voice that resonates within some ppl.

i say some ppl cause i showed a friend of mine the song and he hated it. lol

Ninetales · 03-27-2014, 03:19 PM

heres a trend line for the relationship between quality of music and themes of social/political issues. Huh what do ya know. No correlation

But yes lets whine about more things in music. There is not enough music nowadays about colors. Back in the good ol days of music there were tons of colors in music. Ever heard of yellow submarine?? Coincidence?? Modern music is sham wake up sheeple.

RoxyRollah · 03-27-2014, 03:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Black Francis

I don't think musical artists need to be burdened with such a responsibility if they don't want to.

Why do they gotta preach some revolutionary political agenda? just cause this ppl can play a nice tune it doesn't mean they should force their liberal viewpoints on their listeners and it doesn't even mean they'll make a good point, cause again just cause this ppl can make a nice tune it doesn't mean that makes them qualified to give out political advice.

It's a little sick how we put some music artists on a pedestal and force our views on what we think they should do or shouldn't do, can they just be musicians? no, they gotta be political activist too now. as if they gotta role models on top of being a musician.

There are tons of political activist in this world already, if you really care for their cause, YOU WOULD JOIN THEM! not wait at home for some musician to play some "we won't stand for this anymore" song,

is it we don't care about world events until a guy makes a song about it?

I really don't think they need to. No but I feel like you are a product of the times and environment around you.Whether you are conscious of it or not.
And if you are naturally a person who is affected by social unrest, and it's a subject that is near and dear to your heart it will be reflective in your music.

Music has the power to unite people. And that power is undeniable. So yes, sometime times artists are more influential then political activists by themselves.

Paul Smeenus · 03-27-2014, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Black Francis

Close, very close but unfortunately not everybody is aware of Bob Dylan

In 2014. But in the 60's that song was the beginning of a massive youth counter-culture, one that the WWII generation simply did not understand. There was no questioning (or at least precious little) of authority prior to that. The question here was whether or not music can affect positive real life change, I would argue that TTTAAC did exactly that. Ask Lyndon Johnson.

RoxyRollah · 03-27-2014, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul Smeenus

In 2014. But in the 60's that song was the beginning of a massive youth counter-culture, one that the WWII generation simply did not understand. There was no questioning (or at least precious little) of authority prior to that. The question here was whether or not music can affect positive real life change, I would argue that TTTAAC did exactly that. Ask Lyndon Johnson.

Thank you father time. I needed someone with input that might at least remember that era. And you pointed out something that I forgot to mention.

03-27-2014, 03:19 PM	#27 (permalink)
Ninetales Music Addict Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: livin wild Posts: 2,179	heres a trend line for the relationship between quality of music and themes of social/political issues. Huh what do ya know. No correlation But yes lets whine about more things in music. There is not enough music nowadays about colors. Back in the good ol days of music there were tons of colors in music. Ever heard of yellow submarine?? Coincidence?? Modern music is sham wake up sheeple.