While cleaning the house yesterday, I turned on Songza (great free streaming music app) and switched on the Pitchfork 500 playlist for 1977-1979. I wasn't specifically writing a list of the artists, but I noted the following musicians: Iggy Pop, Elvis Costello and the Attractions, David Bowie, Patti Smyth, Lou Reed, The Ramones, Kraftwerk, Throbbing Gristle, Talking Heads, The Cure, Cheap Trick, and Joy Division. Every track was memorable, even the stuff that wasn't on my like list. For example, when the playlist descended into disco, I heard "I Feel Love" by Donna Summer. Now, I know that the late 1970's were musically magical, but I couldn't help running a comparison against popular music today.
I'm not being the classical old guy thinking his times were better when I say that today's music is falling short. Don't believe me? Listen to Iggy Pop's "The Passenger", then the Elvis Costello and the Attractions' "Radio Radio". Brilliant tracks! Iggy Pop is singing about the outsider nomadic punk lifestyle and Elvis Costello is singing a protest song against the commercialization of radio. Both of these tracks were charted singles, so I'm not pulling out anything that people at that time would think were obscure. Now listen to Robin Thicke's "Blurred Lines". It probably started looping through your cranium as soon as you read the name of the song. I apologize for that. Catchy? Sure. Message? Distinctively rapey. Memorability? It should be wiped from your consciousness soon, but Playlist has awarded "Blurred Lines" the title of song of the year. If I told you how many copies "Blurred Lines" has sold, you'd get terribly angry. "Blurred Lines" defines the state of music in 2013.
I think I just puked in my mouth. Just a little bit, but it still happened. Where has all the talent gone? I believe the talent is still out there. The next generation's Lou Reed is tuning a guitar in some dive bar, and the next David Bowie is dressing up in his sister's clothes. This isn't a rant about today's kids and their terrible taste in music. We all know that people consume whatever they are given to eat up. This rant is about the music industry that is pushing this drivel onto society.
Music shouldn't be disposable and forgettable. Past years gave us anthems and memories because the guys in the industry sought out David Bowie, The Ramones, and Queen. Stop being lazy and following the easy path. The industry is making it hard for me to continue loving current music. I shouldn't have to delve back decades to find icons and superstars. Give the public good music and good music will become profitable.
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