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When I was younger, I didn’t know the difference between The Beatles or The Beach Boys. I made an assumption that The Beach Boys were better than The Beatles. I was dead wrong, but of course the only boy bands I had on my mind were The Backstreet Boys and N’Sync. Those were the days of the ’90s. I still remember owning my first CD player and cassette tape. I’m not even that old, but now that iPods and MP3 players have taken over, listening to CDs and tape cassettes seem well beyond ancient. I remember walking down aisles in Target, Shopko and any store where I could browse through music. Nowadays, we have the internet where iTunes and any digital music is available at the click of a button. I miss having to physically find CDs for browsing and purchasing. Only when I’m in London and Paris, at Virgin Music or HMV do I relive those feelings in the ’90s, per se in a more modern context.
Back to the point I was trying to wrap around, is everything on the radio circa 2000 and beyond disposable music? Nobody in the future will remember the Top 40s of popular music today. Most notably, music from the ’60s through well into the ’90s will still be remembered and listened to. They are the classic, timeless tunes of mile marking decades. Right now, I’m discovering classic rock as one of my favourite genres of all time. When I recently discovered classic rock, I thought to myself, how did I miss this and live my entire life without these sounds? I’m also starting to listen to the oldies, music my parents listen to. I have found that I really do like Simon & Garfunkel. It wasn’t until later in my life and even presently today, where experiences I’ve had with International Children’s Choir, show choir, college courses in film and jazz and guitar lessons where I was exposed to a fine range and genres of music. Finally, I learned that The Beach Boys have nothing over The Beatles and hardly any artists today are original. Many covers have already been done and are now being performed. I had no idea that Jimi Hendrix composed Bold As Love. I always thought it was John Mayer. All the music legends are from the past and nobody can recreate a Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, Elvis Presley, The Beatles or Michael Jackson. The list goes on and on. Everything has already been done before.
But why is it that everything today will be long and forgotten, probably tomorrow? Has the digital age of music created this gap? Has the move between time eras changed this? Less outstanding musicians? Or is it the simplistically composed and produced sounds of today just mere entertainment and have no meaning for anyone except younger generations and for a short time period only? As a music enthusiast, I keep wondering. Why am I playing an instrument? Why do I attempt writing songs and go deeply into a songwriting process? If the music today has no meaning, why are we listening to this music? One can hardly argue that music brings joy to everyone. Whether it’s today’s music or any genre of music, praiseworthy of attention and restoration, music is our source of culture and life.
Maybe popular music isn’t as disposable as it sounds. I won’t deny that listening to Michelle Branch sparked my interest to pick up a guitar many years ago or the fact Vanessa Carlton inspired me to practice the piano more often. Daft Punk, Ladytron and Calvin Harris moved me towards the direction of disco and electronica. Jason Mraz’s “I’m Yours” and Ingrid Michaelson’s tunes got my ukulele happy. What is disposable to the world might not be disposable to us as individuals. Let’s face it, in ten years, nobody will remember Lady Gaga’s “Alejandro” or Katy Perry’s “California Gurls” (just a few random one hit wonders in pop music to name). But maybe a few people will remember these songs as a life changing moment or a marked passage in time. These songs will mean something to someone. For instance, I have a list of songs that remind me of summer 2009 and summers before then. Maybe today’s music will never be considered timeless, but at least today’s music will never be entirely disposable. Nothing is ever lost. Musicians and listeners alike can learn from, appreciate music from the present and past, as well as what might come in the future, which is why we continue playing the songs from our rhythmically beating, soul searching, harmonious hearts.
Tags: Calvin Harris, classic rock, Daft Punk, Elvis Presley, guitar, HMV, Ingrid Michaelson, iPods, iTunes, Jason Mraz, Jimi Hendrix, Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, Ladytron, Led Zeppelin, London, Michael Jackson, Michelle Branch, N'Sync, oldies, Paris, piano, Simon and Garfunkel, The Backstreet Boys, The Beach Boys, The Beatles, Vanessa Carlton, Virgin Music
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