Sunday, February 24, 2008

Musicale

While I was writing about missing simpler times the other day, I was reminded of something else I miss.

I miss music. Good, solid, creative music. Music that required genuine musical talent to produce. Music created by people so rich with talent that hearing them performing live was nearly as perfect an experience as listening to the recorded material.

I miss the days when an artist's entire album was all on the same level creatively. Each song was better than the last. These albums (later CD's of course) were months, if not years in the making, and they were unbelievable expressions of talent. I remember waiting years between the releases of some artists.

The market came to the music. The music wasn't aimed at the market. If you appreciated incredible music, your place in the demographic was unimportant. You bought the music, you listened to the music.

I was never one to have taste specific to one genre. I loved so many different kinds of music, because I appreciated artistic expression, but I adored creativity that was the product and expression of talent. People spent years honing their craft, developing skills, polishing their writing abilities.

For the serious, talented musicians, the concerts, the performances were all accessories to the music. The stars got into the spotlight because of the music they produced, not by the size of their entourages, or frequencies of covers on People magazine.

I miss music. I miss music that sounds as though it took longer than 15 minutes to create. I miss music with lyrics that are the product of educated minds, that aren't considered "lyrics" simply because the last word of each line rhymes. And I miss music that was enhanced by the studio magicians, not created by them.

Give me back my music, please?

11 comments:

  1. While I love a lot of today's tunes, there's a lot where I scratch my head and say "huh?" Sometimes I wonder who in their right mind signed these artists and made the gibberish they produce (but I guess if there's a market....)

    I too love a variety of genres, although I have to admit I steer clear of country. Not my cup of tea. I totally listen to nostalgic music, like stuff from the 80s and 90s.

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  2. Boy, do I hear you with this post. Jonie Mitchell, Nick Drake, Phil Ochs, to name a few, were incredible writers as well as performers, and I just don't know who's comparable today...

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  3. I wrote an entry based on that....I would give anything to just "hear" music again. It's the one thing I miss the most with my deafness.....(Hugs) Indigo
    http://journals.aol.com/rdautumnsage/ravens-lament/

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  4. I too am on a similar quest...to find the music. My Dh got me an Andy Williams CD for Christmas, I was blown away at the technical level of some of the songs on the CD....as far as tempo, timing and syncopation...it was nice.

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  5. Anonymous6:55 PM

    I like to listen to some of the 40's and 50's music even though I grew up on the 60's and 70's stuff. I enjoy Rosemary Cloony and Etta James' "At Last" is just one of the best pieces ever recorded!

    Jackie

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  6. You would probably get along with my oldest son! He is passionate about music. Do you like the Beatles? ;)

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  7. I take it you're not familiar with an artist named Kelly Clarkson?

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  8. Anonymous3:15 PM

    its funny because where i listen to "music" now
    i listened to a lot from my parents days growing up which was way different than what tony heard since my parents are a lot older.
    funny huh?
    ly

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  9. I love good music too. In fact I long for the days of Disco-Duck, Put Another Log on the Fire, I Shot the Sheriff and lest we forget, Yellow Submarine. Where have all the great lyricists gone?

    ::::Sigh:::::

    In all seriousness, I love to listen to swing, torch and big band sounds of my grandmother's day. No one croons like Frank Sinatra.....

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  10. Anonymous9:45 PM

    I love all kinds of music but I have really been into more independent bands as they have that "real music" quality about it!!!
    Love ya babe!!

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