Yesterday’s Artists V Today’s Artists!
September 23, 2008 by admin
Filed under Your Opinions Do Matter
Are the Soul and R&B Artists of the 60’s, 70’s & 80’s better than those of the new millennium and if so why? You hear this phrase time and time again….”They just don’t make music like they use to”. Is this really true or do we just automatically assume that music from yesteryear is always better than music of the present? We’ll be having debates like this every week and we would love to get your opinion on these matters. So please feel free to leave a comment – because your opinion DOES matter!
I grew up listening to oldies tunes and in fact, whenever I can, I listen to doo wop, folk rock, songs by Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Wonder, and plenty others from the past generations. The songs bring me back to the old days when I was in highschool and everything had seemed easier somehow. I’ve noticed though that music has been revolutionized over the past several decades. I can hear the influence to this current generation of musicians. I think that paying a tribute is a good thing.
The songs of yesteryears relax me. They sooth my soul and leave me refreshed to take on another day of chaos at the office. On the other hand, today’s songs are lacking real emotion and if they do talk of feelings, it comes out pretentious and self-serving. And must they play them so loud? Haha, I am not old at 38 but are these people deaf? Can they not sense that it’s too loud when objects fall off the wall?
When new artists cover the old songs, there’s a possibility that they may not turn out great. In some cases, they don’t get the message of the song and it gets twisted into this angst-filled cringe-inspiring disaster. They kind of kill the magic. I like the originals. Very few remakes get my nod. Cats in the Cradle was originally by Cat Stevens and was given a second shot at fame by Ugly Kid Joe. 10,000 Maniacs’ version of Because the NIght originally by Patty Smythe was spot on.
More often than not, these new “artists” distort the original. I’m not saying that all music producers should put a stop to remakes. Maybe they should establish stricter standards and wait for a true artist of more or less the same level to have the honor to do the remake.
”They just don’t make music like they use to.” <– Absolutely right. There’s no competition. In fact, it’s a non-issue. Decades ago, emotion ruled the songs and the voice is the main instrument. Currently, it’s all flashy and this electronic sound is just ruining everything.
I like the 90’s and everything else before that. For me, music has gone downhill beginning in 2000. I hate to generalize; there are a few current artists that I happen to love like Janet Jackson, Kylie Minogue, Maroon 5, John Legend, Corinne Bailey, and a few others like them.
Music today is whiny. It reflects a hopelessly spoiled generation who turn to music to express their anxieties for leading relatively comfortable lives. I go for soothing music that aims to inspire rather than provoke.
It’s a very good topic to discuss. The TASTE is changing with the growth. Every music has its own styles. One cannot really distinguish between yester years music and today’s - good or bad! If you say that artists from 90’s are bad than the 70’s or 80’s, it will be partiality. MUSIC IS HEALING when you are stressed out, whether you want to hear Stevie wonder or Britney Spears, depending on your mood. With the change in music, there is a cold revolution which is heating up. Remake of “Sound of Music” rather than the original will sound different but in the end it does convey the message what it has to give!
And don’t forget that there are millions of artists out there now - to download, to collect, to follow (if they play live). Old artists have their place - great nostalgic tunes, but you can’t go see ‘em live, now can you? Plus music goes in cycles - who knows whats coming next - we may hate it or love it - but either way it will be a sign of the times.
Of course we don’t make music like we used to - we have better production and recording, tours are mammoth events with huge budgets, you can be a star and not even play or write your own music, artists have to score in the download charts as well as CD sales, more music than ever is on the ever-expanding amount of music channels, video budgets have spiralled beyond belief, and yet a few acts still strum a guitar and record live tracks. Its a whole new world out there.
Music captures the sound of a generation so it makes sense that we all love the music that we grew up with. Young people today will remember the music now and this will make them feel nostalgic in years to come. This way, there is something for everyone as long as people keep making music.
Yes, but Carlygirl you gotta remember that all music is todays music - when we hear it. There’s no competition in my mind because with digital music it sounds as fresh on the 100th listen as on the first. So, if you have never heard an artist before, and ignoring trends and styles in music for the moment, the first time you check out Nina Simone or Marvin Gaye you could be forgiven for thinking these guys are current. Or if a current artist covers their work, what is that? New or old?
Music is anything that sounds melodic, so it matters little whether that is new or old, recorded or live, black or white. It’s something uplifting for your soul! Thats why we call it soul music!
Youth influence everything from what we eat to what we listen to so thats pretty much the answer apart from what people personally think.
These days you can listen to a song on the radio with all types of profanity, this is a point that i think has cast a shadow that could easily be taken away but probably wont, aint that a shame lol.
Thats were the classic stuff is unforgetable, when do you turn up at your Mothers house and start blasting some Snoop Dogg (not often but sometimes i can get away with it hehe).
Usually I turn up and some Marvin Gaye is Jamming!!!!! something you can wash the dish’s too!!!