"You live in a plastic dream through a plastic card
But reality you don't disregard
You know that it's true
You got a plastic goal in a plastic life
Gotta search your soul gotta make it right
And here's what you do-do-do"
On this occasion of Miss Alanis Morissette's birthday, I dedicate these lyrics to all the big-time music producers out there.
There was once a time when the start of my day would be marked by the cock-a-doodle-doo of my ancient Boombox and I would fall asleep to the crooning of some late night shows on the radio. Never thought I’d see the day when I’d be reluctant to turn this same Boombox on thanks to the “music” that these radio stations play. Thrice, today itself, did I shut it off, disappointed by what I heard.
It is the age of evolution in music business. The trade off between real art and real money has made life very easy for artists and producers. Since creativity and artistic individuality have bowed their way off stage and EDM and associated Pop have danced their way in, getting a platinum selling song is a feat easily achievable. A basic rhythm, a rap artist speaking some clichéd words (usually about a drunk night), a hot-on-the-charts pop artist featuring in the chorus. Couple it with a hot controversial music video that has nothing to do with the song whatsoever, but includes excellent graphics that earn it a million views on youtube. There! You have yourself a smash hit! Now sit back and enjoy as you wipe off all the MTV awards next year. And don’t worry, the year after that, everybody will forget the song so you can start all over again and roll in money. So what if the lesser mortals, like me, find themselves incapable of distinguishing one song from the other? It’s not like we will miss out on some important message or lyrics that will inspire a major change in our lives.
If this technique fails, God forbid that day, then there is always Plan B. Get hold of Justin Beiber and Taylor Swift (The JaTS). Or some other teenage sensation that goes around singing timeless love song or another party anthem. The lyrics, and not to forget the accompanying video, will warm your heart with their pureness and innocence. Itne uch vichaar hain inke! Jai Ma Nicki Minaj!
Meanwhile, us mere mortals, are unable to escape this sound of modernity. These songs are like the chewing gum that gets stuck to the sole of your shoe. No matter how hard you try to shake it off, it follows you relentlessly till the time you give up and accept it as a part of your life.
We can only console ourselves with our old collections while sitting on our rocking chairs and reflecting on those songs which had lyrics with actual meaning, with actual melody, produced by actual instruments and vocals given by actual artists performed live in front of actual fans. However, it is most likely that we’ll fail. This is because, without the assistance of an eye-opening video or an elaborate dance routine on the stage, our minds drift away to become one with that of the artist seeing the world which they through their music wanted to show. And more often than not, by the end of the song, we’ll find ourselves smiling with our eyes closed at the memory of a moment when that song had managed to stir the perfect emotion in us in a situation in the distant past. The moment when that song became a part of our lives.
There are others. Those who refuse to bow down to what is believed to be popular demand. Those who refuse to sell out or play by the terms of the boss. Also there are those, who through their rap or even electronic music get stuck to the soul of the people. However, success (as it is usually recognized) evades them quite often. Only the exceptions make up the 10 ear friendly songs among the top 100.
Perhaps there will come a day when the uniformly plastic looking people listening to uniformly plastic music will do some soul searching and make good the wrong they did by supporting those who do what they do. There was a time when boy bands made music that defined generations, dance music gave us songs that till day make us groove, love songs gave us love stories that inspired us, and soulful music that made our eyes fill up with emotion. Perhaps there will come a day when music producers will be able to incorporate the essence and life of these in their products. Perhaps not.
Those who love music and not just songs, will find their refuge in the strings of some stranger whose heart is filled with sounds that pierce another impassive heart into action, even though their stomachs might remain empty. And maybe the voice of a solitary reaper in their heart they'll bear, till the time it is heard everywhere,
But reality you don't disregard
You know that it's true
You got a plastic goal in a plastic life
Gotta search your soul gotta make it right
And here's what you do-do-do"
On this occasion of Miss Alanis Morissette's birthday, I dedicate these lyrics to all the big-time music producers out there.
There was once a time when the start of my day would be marked by the cock-a-doodle-doo of my ancient Boombox and I would fall asleep to the crooning of some late night shows on the radio. Never thought I’d see the day when I’d be reluctant to turn this same Boombox on thanks to the “music” that these radio stations play. Thrice, today itself, did I shut it off, disappointed by what I heard.
It is the age of evolution in music business. The trade off between real art and real money has made life very easy for artists and producers. Since creativity and artistic individuality have bowed their way off stage and EDM and associated Pop have danced their way in, getting a platinum selling song is a feat easily achievable. A basic rhythm, a rap artist speaking some clichéd words (usually about a drunk night), a hot-on-the-charts pop artist featuring in the chorus. Couple it with a hot controversial music video that has nothing to do with the song whatsoever, but includes excellent graphics that earn it a million views on youtube. There! You have yourself a smash hit! Now sit back and enjoy as you wipe off all the MTV awards next year. And don’t worry, the year after that, everybody will forget the song so you can start all over again and roll in money. So what if the lesser mortals, like me, find themselves incapable of distinguishing one song from the other? It’s not like we will miss out on some important message or lyrics that will inspire a major change in our lives.
If this technique fails, God forbid that day, then there is always Plan B. Get hold of Justin Beiber and Taylor Swift (The JaTS). Or some other teenage sensation that goes around singing timeless love song or another party anthem. The lyrics, and not to forget the accompanying video, will warm your heart with their pureness and innocence. Itne uch vichaar hain inke! Jai Ma Nicki Minaj!
Meanwhile, us mere mortals, are unable to escape this sound of modernity. These songs are like the chewing gum that gets stuck to the sole of your shoe. No matter how hard you try to shake it off, it follows you relentlessly till the time you give up and accept it as a part of your life.
We can only console ourselves with our old collections while sitting on our rocking chairs and reflecting on those songs which had lyrics with actual meaning, with actual melody, produced by actual instruments and vocals given by actual artists performed live in front of actual fans. However, it is most likely that we’ll fail. This is because, without the assistance of an eye-opening video or an elaborate dance routine on the stage, our minds drift away to become one with that of the artist seeing the world which they through their music wanted to show. And more often than not, by the end of the song, we’ll find ourselves smiling with our eyes closed at the memory of a moment when that song had managed to stir the perfect emotion in us in a situation in the distant past. The moment when that song became a part of our lives.
There are others. Those who refuse to bow down to what is believed to be popular demand. Those who refuse to sell out or play by the terms of the boss. Also there are those, who through their rap or even electronic music get stuck to the soul of the people. However, success (as it is usually recognized) evades them quite often. Only the exceptions make up the 10 ear friendly songs among the top 100.
Perhaps there will come a day when the uniformly plastic looking people listening to uniformly plastic music will do some soul searching and make good the wrong they did by supporting those who do what they do. There was a time when boy bands made music that defined generations, dance music gave us songs that till day make us groove, love songs gave us love stories that inspired us, and soulful music that made our eyes fill up with emotion. Perhaps there will come a day when music producers will be able to incorporate the essence and life of these in their products. Perhaps not.
Those who love music and not just songs, will find their refuge in the strings of some stranger whose heart is filled with sounds that pierce another impassive heart into action, even though their stomachs might remain empty. And maybe the voice of a solitary reaper in their heart they'll bear, till the time it is heard everywhere,
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