When Music Had Messages

I was over at Just a Lark reading his blog about his musical tastes. Funny thing is Dawn and I were just talking about my eclectic music taste as well. I used to mostly listen to Urban music (Rap, Hip Hop, R&B) with some Pop, some Alternative, and some Rock thrown in. Basically anything that was playing on MTV. Lately though I haven’t been as into the music scene as I used to be, at least the current music scene. I feel like music has lost something lately.

Now sadly enough I do get my music from video games the way Lark used to. The only difference is that he would listen to the video game music created by the composer whereas I’m getting my music in the form of soundtracks to games like Karaoke Revolution and Rock Band. The variety of songs on the soundtracks expose me to artists that I really wouldn’t listen to. After singing and playing along to the songs in the game, I’m searching through the back catalog of classics; being a Vegas lounge lizard with Sinatra, dancing with the Jackson 5 and rocking out with Queen and the Police.

I’ve also noticed that I prefer songs that have a message. Some of my favorite songs in Rock Band are “Run for the Hills” by Iron Maiden, “Gimme Shelter” by the Rolling Stones, and “Won’t Get Fooled Again” by the Who. Those songs have meaning, they spoke out about issues. I miss when music had a message; when it had a purpose that was more than just selling records or making music videos. Are you listening RIAA? You want to know why people aren’t buying music? The “music” you put out now has no heart, no soul, no substance.

~ by Master Phu on March 31, 2008.