by E. B. Smith

Created on: January 06, 2011   Last Updated: January 07, 2011

Whatever happened to the great songs of our time. I was scanning music videos the other day and stumbled onto music from Phil Collins, Queen, Rick James,Naughty By Nature and Prince. Who can forget "Purple Rain" and the wonderful creation and revolutionary songs that was song by Prince and the Power generation? Songs like "1999" seems archaic to many in the new generation. A cross between rock, funk, and Rhythm and blues. The lyrics made us sing along, the music persuaded us to dance and restart the "record" or "tape" player and start it all over again.

Now we are bombarded with lyrics with incomplete thoughts and music that sounds like a redo of Trans Europe Express. The young people think "It's the bomb", "This Joint Is Hot". Give me a break! Often times the radio repeats the song so that they could get the listener used to it. It used  to be, within the first few bars of a song people would stop what they were doing, run to the radio, and turn up the volume, and began a karaoke style mimicking with an accompanied dance. Song likes "Another One Bites The Dust", by Queen or Marvin Gaye's, "Let's Get It On" would spark a reaction that would ignite the entire room.

Why is that?, What has happened to the music?. Perhaps it was because the artist who made many of these great songs put in a lot of work before and after the song was introduced to the public. Many of them talk about all night recording and practice sessions and long and exhaustive tours. This energy and commitment is lacking in this generation that likes instant gratification. Their work habits dominance in the culture has made us expect less from the music and its impact. In interviews the pop stars complain that practice and recording sessions are too long. They tour with no live band and multiple acts as oppose to one main act because they don't have enough hits to keep the crowd motivated.

Thank You "old school". Prince, Rick James, Marvin Gaye, Sting, Rod Stewart, Queen, ZZ Top, John Cougar, Michael Jackson, Beastie Boys, Naughty By Nature, Cyprus Hill, Stevie Wonder, Boy George, Pattie Labelle, Tina Turner, Queen Latifah, Gladys knight and the Pips, Temptations, Sly and the Family Stone, and James Brown to name a few. You have given us music to cherish. My advice is to find their fan clubs and join them. Tell them how much appreciate their contribution to music.

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