Crackle TV Documentary: Before the Music Dies
Before I became a Stager & opened Fluff My House! Home Staging Inc. I was always a vocalist, & sometimes musician, in various bands. So I have my opinions on the current music industry & it's quality (or lack thereof).
Apparently I am not alone in my opinions & found myself given hope by this documentary I found on Crackle TV.
Apparently I am not alone in my opinions & found myself given hope by this documentary I found on Crackle TV.
Before the Music Dies has interviews with some industry greats as well as some up & comers, plus people who play for the pure joy of making music.
Also; interviews with fans, critics & how the music industry has changed with the invention of MTV & video plus; how beauty has become a huge factor instead of talent.
In the documentary there was an experiment that was conducted; using a 45 year old songwriter to write a song for a young & beautiful girl to create a pop star who had no talent, but did have 'the look'. The studio musicians, who can play, created music tracks & the equipment (auto tune) corrected the poor vocals digitally to create a hit song. Then they shot a video with provocative shots of the beautiful girl lip syncing to a song she would never be able to perform live. (At one point in the video she's actually 'singing' with a mouthful of food)
And then there the are stories, footage & interviews of real musicians, playing in little clubs, earning little but perfecting their chops & either getting discovered or not.
Industry legends like Eric Clapton & Branford Marsalis explain how formula music is accepted but will never stand the test of time & how, historically, innovative music is not accepted for a period of time & then, once people get used to it, rockets in popularity.
This documentary was made before the current wave of TV 'Idol/Voice/Got Talent' programs. Having said that they do mention; MySpace, purevolume.com & YouTube that are introducing the public to the grassroots movement of real people, playing real music, without the aid of an industry A&R person, who is more concerned with their job, than adding real talent to the current music gene pool.
Before the Music Dies also addresses the delusion of fame/talent/success that the current generation has & how rarely any of them want to work for that fame or success.
Near the end of the film Dave Matthews said: "...there's a lot of dumbing down going on, but I don't think we need to panic, I think we just need to teach our children well."
Do take a look at Before the Music Dies & see what you think! The music alone is worth it!
If you are tired of the cookie cutter music that is produced today check out your local NPR, college radio or CKUA.com you won't regret it & you will certainly hear something new & refreshing.
Comments(2)