I have recently been listening to some music that I have long since ignored. I have heard these songs all of my life. Yes that is 33 years of it for some smart alecks out there. It just got me thinking about my taste in music in general. It seems to me that these “ older “ songs seem to have more feeling and soul. I don’t know if this is just a thirty-ish man’s perspective or if there is some validity to my theory. I have a real hard time really connecting with some newer music. I can look back on some of my favorite songs and really “feel” something when listening to them. Ever since I was a young boy music has been more than background noise to simply help the mood. Music is supposed to feed you, embrace you, and take you into the world that is being represented with the context proposed.
A classic example is American Pie by Don McLean. If you have not heard this song, shame on you. Don’t read anymore, visit I tunes or your CD store, and buy it NOW! Besides having a good beat, this is a prime example of having a glimpse into not just one person’s world, but an entire generation. If you don’t know the meaning of this song, it is telling (through some fantastic imagery) how the death of iconic John Lennon affected the world. Don McLean claims that this is the “day that music died”. To many that is just the case. If you really get into this song, how can you not, at least, well up a little as people are losing their innocence and perspective childhood.
I Guess That’s Why They Call It the Blues is another real tear jerker as well. Elton John (now with a Sir in front of his name) plays out a world where two lovers are at wits end and just trying to get a reconnection with their relationship.
If you want some personal insight with many war heroes simply listen to Johnny Horton. The man sings of the sadness of The Battle of Little Bighorn through Comanche. He then continues his stories of Civil War times with such songs as Johnny Reb.
Indian Reservation by Paul Revere and the Raiders tells us the story of the Trail of Tears and how the Indians were forever changed by their entire race being taken from their homelands. Their trades were copied and stolen and their children forced into “white man” assimilation. They end the song with the promise that “the Cherokee nation will return”.
Who could forget the royalty of Soul music: James Brown, Aretha Franklin, Fats Domino, etc. These people pushed the boundary for modern music. Without such influences the King would never have found his voice. It was said that when Sun Records was looking for their next big singer, they were looking for a white man that could sing like a black man. Thus a Memphis man answered the call and Elvis changed our lives forever.
Don’t get me wrong I enjoy a some modern music, but I just don’t “feel” what I feel when listening to these older songs. I fear that music is so “made” nowadays that we have lost what it is supposed to be about. It is an art form of telling a story. It is not a recipe of creating a band of four good looking guys and putting an enjoyable beat behind some massive voice adjustments and lip syncing.
Ask yourself, when going through hard times do you look to The Backstreet Boys for support or find a classic that seems to really know what is happening with you. I found some of my roughest experiences were eased by Air Supply. I don’t listen to them often, but when the mood is right they really will pull out that catharsis that you need. Incidentally, I have found the group called Bread to be SO romantic that it is nothing short of musical poetry. For you guys that just can’t seem to put those words into motion, take a page from their book. If you want to relate to unrequited love listen to their Diary song. Good stuff.
I am kinda concentrating on the slower more passionate songs right now but will follow this up other fields that also fit into my main theme. Just some food for thought. Has music lost its soul or have I lost my youthful perspective?