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Thread started 03/16/05 5:21pm

DMSR

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Why has music got so bad, even from my old heroes?

I was listening to Stevie Wonder's "Golden Lady" today and it dawned on me... even Stevie can't make inspiring music anymore.. Music is so bad these days, but even the artists I grew up worshipping cant come close to the quality of work they used to put out. why is this? Has the industry sucked their inspiration out of them?

I grew up on Prince, MJ, Stevie, the Police, Bowie, and the list goes on and on.. the few acts that are still putting out albums aren't even coming close to the quality of music they used to put out, and funny enough they used to put out less music (only about 10 songs per album). Maybe they've run out of ideas, but its so sad because no new artists can even come close to replacing them..
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Reply #1 posted 03/16/05 5:55pm

lilgish

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Recording Methods.

Dylan said it and I agree..the music doesn't sound organic anymore. Even heavily engineered stuff like Floyd sounds natural compared to shit I hear people cut up on pro tools. Musicology sounds way to slick for a simple funk/rock record, I wish P would remaster 1999 the same way.
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Reply #2 posted 03/16/05 8:10pm

CherrieMoonKis
ses

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Music always reflects society and in some ways, society is extremely different than how it was 30 years and even 20 or 10 years ago.
It is unfortunate that spectacular artists such as Stevie, Ron Isley, etc. can come no where close to the music they originally came out with.

It sux...alot. sigh

"Siiiiiggnnn...OftheTimes....Time..."
peace & wildsign
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Reply #3 posted 03/17/05 12:15am

DavidEye

DMSR said:

I was listening to Stevie Wonder's "Golden Lady" today and it dawned on me... even Stevie can't make inspiring music anymore.. Music is so bad these days, but even the artists I grew up worshipping cant come close to the quality of work they used to put out. why is this? Has the industry sucked their inspiration out of them?

I grew up on Prince, MJ, Stevie, the Police, Bowie, and the list goes on and on.. the few acts that are still putting out albums aren't even coming close to the quality of music they used to put out, and funny enough they used to put out less music (only about 10 songs per album). Maybe they've run out of ideas, but its so sad because no new artists can even come close to replacing them..



Hey Danny....what do you think of Stevie's new song "So What The Fuss"? I think it's the funkiest jam he's done in a long time.
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Reply #4 posted 03/17/05 1:36am

vainandy

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Because rap, hip hop, and ballads dominate music today and major corporations like Clear Channel own so many radio stations that they can control what is played and what stays in style.

Old groups like Cameo, The Barkays, and War released albums in the 1990s, that continued in the tradition of funk. These albums received absolutely no airplay because they did not have the hip hop sound that dominated radio. War didn't release another one afterwards but Cameo and The Barkays did. This time, they gave in and sold out to the hip hop sound. Their albums still didn't sell and this time, I'm glad they didn't. The younger generation doesn't want to hear music from an old group and the older crowd doesn't want to see their favorites sell out to such bullshit.

Teena Marie is doing well with her new album, which is strictly ballads. Teena had tons of funk back in the day but she was also known for her great ballads. Some of her new ballads are great but it's a damn shame that she can't do something funky anymore because radio, over the years, has created an entire generation of rythmless kids that can't get into anything faster than midtempo.

The Isley Brothers used to be the absolute shit on a stick. They were bad as hell. Their new stuff now is a fucking joke and embarrassment. They have completely sold out. It just goes to show what can happen to great artists once the younger crowd starts recognizing them and the artist tries to fit in with them.

Prince is the only one that can still do funk and sell it. The only reason he can is because he has a large fan base that has stuck with him for years and this base is going to loyally buy every album he releases. Radio has not played Prince for years, until recently, so Prince has relied strictly on his loyal fans. Even Prince has sold out to hip hop from time to time with rediculous songs like "Illusion, Coma, Pimp, and Circumstance".
[Edited 3/17/05 1:46am]
Andy is a four letter word.
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Reply #5 posted 03/17/05 1:52am

vivid

DMSR said:

I was listening to Stevie Wonder's "Golden Lady" today and it dawned on me... even Stevie can't make inspiring music anymore.. Music is so bad these days, but even the artists I grew up worshipping cant come close to the quality of work they used to put out. why is this? Has the industry sucked their inspiration out of them?

I grew up on Prince, MJ, Stevie, the Police, Bowie, and the list goes on and on.. the few acts that are still putting out albums aren't even coming close to the quality of music they used to put out, and funny enough they used to put out less music (only about 10 songs per album). Maybe they've run out of ideas, but its so sad because no new artists can even come close to replacing them..


Just a case of you getting older, and your 'heroes' getting older still. Happens to each generation.
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Reply #6 posted 03/17/05 3:42am

calldapplwonde
ry83

vivid said:

DMSR said:

I was listening to Stevie Wonder's "Golden Lady" today and it dawned on me... even Stevie can't make inspiring music anymore.. Music is so bad these days, but even the artists I grew up worshipping cant come close to the quality of work they used to put out. why is this? Has the industry sucked their inspiration out of them?

I grew up on Prince, MJ, Stevie, the Police, Bowie, and the list goes on and on.. the few acts that are still putting out albums aren't even coming close to the quality of music they used to put out, and funny enough they used to put out less music (only about 10 songs per album). Maybe they've run out of ideas, but its so sad because no new artists can even come close to replacing them..


Just a case of you getting older, and your 'heroes' getting older still. Happens to each generation.



Right on. And it isn't even that bad, they're still doing good stuff.
And the comment about "no new artists can even come close to replacing them" really is just you being older, I think.
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Reply #7 posted 03/17/05 7:43am

Heiress

It means you're getting old. razz
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Reply #8 posted 03/17/05 9:10am

JoeKelley

vainandy said:

Because rap, hip hop, and ballads dominate music today and major corporations like Clear Channel own so many radio stations that they can control what is played and what stays in style.

Old groups like Cameo, The Barkays, and War released albums in the 1990s, that continued in the tradition of funk. These albums received absolutely no airplay because they did not have the hip hop sound that dominated radio. War didn't release another one afterwards but Cameo and The Barkays did. This time, they gave in and sold out to the hip hop sound. Their albums still didn't sell and this time, I'm glad they didn't. The younger generation doesn't want to hear music from an old group and the older crowd doesn't want to see their favorites sell out to such bullshit.

Teena Marie is doing well with her new album, which is strictly ballads. Teena had tons of funk back in the day but she was also known for her great ballads. Some of her new ballads are great but it's a damn shame that she can't do something funky anymore because radio, over the years, has created an entire generation of rythmless kids that can't get into anything faster than midtempo.

The Isley Brothers used to be the absolute shit on a stick. They were bad as hell. Their new stuff now is a fucking joke and embarrassment. They have completely sold out. It just goes to show what can happen to great artists once the younger crowd starts recognizing them and the artist tries to fit in with them.

Prince is the only one that can still do funk and sell it. The only reason he can is because he has a large fan base that has stuck with him for years and this base is going to loyally buy every album he releases. Radio has not played Prince for years, until recently, so Prince has relied strictly on his loyal fans. Even Prince has sold out to hip hop from time to time with rediculous songs like "Illusion, Coma, Pimp, and Circumstance".
[Edited 3/17/05 1:46am]


Pure genius what you have written. I totally agree with you. Only exception is I dig "Illusion, Coma, Pimp and Circumstance" but that is just a matter of personal taste. You have some great insight into funkdom.

Peace
Joe
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"Upper Room with Joe Kelley & Gi Dussault"
Interviews, Radio Shows, Minneapolis Music
www.upperroomwithjoekelley.com

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LIVE Mondays 6pm-8pm NYC Time
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Reply #9 posted 03/17/05 9:10am

Novabreaker

You're getting old.
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Reply #10 posted 03/17/05 9:19am

MetroArea

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vainandy said:

Because rap, hip hop, and ballads dominate music today and major corporations like Clear Channel own so many radio stations that they can control what is played and what stays in style.

Old groups like Cameo, The Barkays, and War released albums in the 1990s, that continued in the tradition of funk. These albums received absolutely no airplay because they did not have the hip hop sound that dominated radio. War didn't release another one afterwards but Cameo and The Barkays did. This time, they gave in and sold out to the hip hop sound. Their albums still didn't sell and this time, I'm glad they didn't. The younger generation doesn't want to hear music from an old group and the older crowd doesn't want to see their favorites sell out to such bullshit.

Teena Marie is doing well with her new album, which is strictly ballads. Teena had tons of funk back in the day but she was also known for her great ballads. Some of her new ballads are great but it's a damn shame that she can't do something funky anymore because radio, over the years, has created an entire generation of rythmless kids that can't get into anything faster than midtempo.

The Isley Brothers used to be the absolute shit on a stick. They were bad as hell. Their new stuff now is a fucking joke and embarrassment. They have completely sold out. It just goes to show what can happen to great artists once the younger crowd starts recognizing them and the artist tries to fit in with them.

Prince is the only one that can still do funk and sell it. The only reason he can is because he has a large fan base that has stuck with him for years and this base is going to loyally buy every album he releases. Radio has not played Prince for years, until recently, so Prince has relied strictly on his loyal fans. Even Prince has sold out to hip hop from time to time with rediculous songs like "Illusion, Coma, Pimp, and Circumstance".
[Edited 3/17/05 1:46am]



clapping
Don't worry, I can't get pregnant - my ovaries are diseased......
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Reply #11 posted 03/17/05 9:30am

liltalkm

"Don't ya miss the feeling music gave ya...Back in the day?"


I do



Later
Cause tomorrow is taking too long
and yesterday's too far away
and the reality that you believe in begins to bind.
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Reply #12 posted 03/17/05 10:29am

guitarslinger4
4

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calldapplwondery83 said:

vivid said:



Just a case of you getting older, and your 'heroes' getting older still. Happens to each generation.



Right on. And it isn't even that bad, they're still doing good stuff.
And the comment about "no new artists can even come close to replacing them" really is just you being older, I think.


I'm 25 and I totally agree with that statement. I'll take Bowie, Prince, & The POlice over The Killers, Modest Mouse, & Bright Eyes anyday.
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Reply #13 posted 03/17/05 11:29am

DMSR

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calldapplwondery83 said:

vivid said:



Just a case of you getting older, and your 'heroes' getting older still. Happens to each generation.



Right on. And it isn't even that bad, they're still doing good stuff.
And the comment about "no new artists can even come close to replacing them" really is just you being older, I think.



I really don't think that's it at all.. I listen to new stuff and appreciate it for what it is, but theres nothing even close to any of Stevie's 70's albums or Prince's 80's work.. I mean not even close..
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Reply #14 posted 03/17/05 11:31am

DMSR

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DavidEye said:

DMSR said:

I was listening to Stevie Wonder's "Golden Lady" today and it dawned on me... even Stevie can't make inspiring music anymore.. Music is so bad these days, but even the artists I grew up worshipping cant come close to the quality of work they used to put out. why is this? Has the industry sucked their inspiration out of them?

I grew up on Prince, MJ, Stevie, the Police, Bowie, and the list goes on and on.. the few acts that are still putting out albums aren't even coming close to the quality of music they used to put out, and funny enough they used to put out less music (only about 10 songs per album). Maybe they've run out of ideas, but its so sad because no new artists can even come close to replacing them..



Hey Danny....what do you think of Stevie's new song "So What The Fuss"? I think it's the funkiest jam he's done in a long time.


I think it's definitely his best in years, reminds me of "skeletons" which I liked, but it doesnt really go anywhere.. his old stuff used to take many listens to hear all the parts, and I'm still not sick of alot of his stuff, I think alot has to do with having a live band with some improvs and some real jazz musicians.. A computer is on time to a fault and there's no surprises in the high hat or the bass, etc..
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Reply #15 posted 03/17/05 11:38am

thekidsgirl

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Novabreaker said:

You're getting old.


agreed nod
people grow, people change, you do, Prince does, Stevie does,
it can't be helped neutral

their music my not be the same, but do you think that you still listen
to music with the same ears you did when you were 10?
If you will, so will I
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Reply #16 posted 03/17/05 11:55am

Axchi696

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Your old heroes aren't young and hungry anymore. Artists get older and get satisfied with their accomplishments. Music isn't the main priority in their lives anymore; family becomes their number one. Not that there's anything wrong with that, it just happens.
I'm the first mammal to wear pants.
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Reply #17 posted 03/17/05 12:07pm

prinssi

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DMSR said:

I was listening to Stevie Wonder's "Golden Lady" today and it dawned on me... even Stevie can't make inspiring music anymore.. Music is so bad these days, but even the artists I grew up worshipping cant come close to the quality of work they used to put out. why is this? Has the industry sucked their inspiration out of them


You just gotta find new heroes. They're all over...
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Phantom, rough on roughnecks... Old Jungle Saying
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Reply #18 posted 03/17/05 3:32pm

mrdespues

atrophy of the universe over time.

and a very unorganic sound that is in vogue these days.
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