RE: Musical culture is dead.
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What a well-written post and very astute observations.
I completely agree that the age of decade-defining genres are over. I think it ended in around 2005 after bands like the Arctic Monkeys and Kaiser Chiefs, and even then, there was no specific fashion, art or culture that surrounded them as there had been in the 90s and most definitely the 80s and before. The intrinsic bonds have definitely been broken.
Cause? Perhaps around that time, streaming and downloads started to become the norm, and as x-rain mentions below, the physical music collecting gene had been wiped out. This time also coincides with the rise of the TV 'talent' shows that created a throwaway musical culture where instant success followed by instant obscurity became the norm. Going back to those old links to culture, fashion and art, how many people fashion trends did Hear'Say initiate?
For the elderly like myself, it appears the only musical genre left is bland. I can't remember the last time I heard a new song that made me want to hit 'repeat' but I'm not sure I can blame anyone for this except for younger consumers. If they didn't listen to it or pay for it, it wouldn't exist, but they will continue to do so because the music of the age is linked to lifestyle, and that's all that anyone seems to want to follow these days. Perhaps it's lifestyles that's the Rock'n'Roll of the age!
Thanks for the best post I've read here for quite a while and best wishes to you and your loved ones.
There's is definitely eye opening music of incredible talent all over the place, every day. I think the numbers are: More music is published every single day than in an entire year of the 1980's.
The problem is we don't hear it, they get 'hundreds' of background listens. They don't define or even influence the culture at all. Just a fog in the background. So like you, most people never hear the stuff that really calls to them even though in principle they should because it's easier than ever to search for what you want.
One current musician I massively respect is Jacob Collier. He seems to have broken down the concept of genre, but made a voice for himself by being a harmonically genius musician. Over the years he's refined it to be easier on the ears than the cacophony that he used to make and become surprisingly mainstream (he performs live with and writes music for Coldplay, writes movies with Hans Zimmer, performs with Herbie Hancock, collaborates with Steve Vai - all from vastly different musical worlds). It's truly impressive the wholesome, relationships-based career he's built.
Highly recommend a listen to this!
Thank you, I know this guy, He is very original in his performances, and his audience participations are legendary. He is most definitely of a new generation but in certain respects, it's sad that he has to be so multi-faceted to appeal to as big an audience as possible. We live in an attention culture.
I guess it doesn't help being here in Thailand so my listening habits have changed as I search out 'unknowns' on YouTube where I do find some incredible musicians (it's where I discovered Jacob Collier), not necessarily writing new material but playing classics. That's not so bad as I simply love to watch talented people play where the subject becomes secondary to the musicianship on show.
Exactly, yes. Not many can pull it off, and in most cases it's just not worth the life investment. But, happy you know the guy! I'd recommend Snarky Puppy next probably, in the same kind of circles.
Latching onto old classics is again sad but still great to hear. Even my students here in China, teenagers, are listening to the music of the 90's over modern stuff. Radiohead, Nirvana, etc.