by JustDanny

Created on: July 18, 2008

I offer my sincere apologies now to the Ushers, Chris Browns, and Ne-Yos of the world. In the scope of this article, your time, my friends, is up.

I, like most Sydney commuters, have an iPod. Hardly startling, really. However, unlike most which I have the opportune misfortune of "over" hearing on the train each day, my iPod is filled with a mix of tunes from Johnny Cash to Jay Z; Roy Orbison to Roger Sanchez. This diversity gives me an insight into the progression popular music has made over time. In a lyrical nutshell: from magic to mush.

When Dylan sung Like A Rolling Song, a comment was made. The definition of music was changed. It evoked emotion. When Presely sings If I Can Dream, goose bumps are as abundant as teenagers at the local shopping centre on a Thursday night. When Madonna and JT deliver the lyrical brilliance of "grab a boy", (and wait for it), "grab a girl", the only thing abundant is the Yum Cha I had for lunch reemerging in disgust.

I can hear the Triple J fanatics, and underground music fans scoffing in disgust. Please, a deep breath. I get it; there is genuine talent out there listed in places other then the Pop section. Kids, put your hands down, settle.

The question I pose is this: The Beatles and Presley moved the world with Pop music. They made girls scream, gave record labels hot flushes of excitement, and defined an era through simple, emotive music. Today's world of sex selling, money hungry record companies has drowned this creativity. Or so it seems. Someone prove me wrong.

Lennon, Hendrix and Clapton defined eras. A large cross section of today's top 40 defines an ear ache.

It's obvious what now dictates music. Money and profit margins are the sole, driving force behind music creativity, and therefore starve the market of defining statements. Sex, the marketing tool everyone's product looks good in, fulfills the core values of the majority of today's lyrics. Although a powerful concept, which has always played a part in musical popularity, complete domination with use of the sexual concept has washed out the creative waves which once highlighted musical statements. It's all yesterday's news, I'm afraid.

Perhaps it's boredom with the more then over worn themes explored by today's music which has led to my "70s Playlist" also sharing the title of "Most Played".

50 Cent can smoke what he likes, and stick whatever he wants, wherever he wants. I just want a new Guns & Roses to move me like Axle used to.

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