IS TODAY'S MUSIC DECADENT ? (NO)

 

 

The moralists are the first to say it : today's music is decadent. But they're not the only ones to think that way, far from it. So, what makes all those people think our society can only produce decadent music ? Several points. 1. The money issue Music is not an art anymore : it's a business. Major record companies want to make money, they don't want to make art. So they produce music which appeals to the lowest common denominator. Not even thinking about sublime feelings, now it's just McMusic®. 2. The way music is made Forget about craftmanship : whereas one century ago, writing a music piece could take up to several months, nowadays songs are written and recorded in one week. How beautiful can be an album written in one week ? 3. Todays's music doesn't last Quickly made, quickly forgotten : #1 in the charts today, but forgotten one year from now. Talk about lasting works... Nothing to do with Mozart, which we still remember two centuries later...

 

When in Rome...   Well, what the moralists say makes sense, but let's see : 1. The money issue It is true that there is a big part of business in today's music, there's no point denying it. But it can be observed that the very successful stars, such as Britney Spears or Madonna, always let out records which are extremely well made, and by the most gifted and experienced professionals. If you know what to listen to in terms of mix and production , these records are often amazing. So, after all, maybe craftmanship sells... 2. The way music is made Albums recorded in one week ? What about Massive Attack records ? Or Nine Inch Nails records ? It sounds more like one year, sometimes two, than one week. 3. Todays's music doesn't last What about Pink Floyd ? The Beatles ? Elvis ?

 

Another useful remark. The music we remember from the past is only a small part from the music that was made at the time. For one Beethoven, how many forgotten composers ? We remember only the most interesting ones - supposedly. So any comparison between what we remember from the past and nowadays music is really unfair. And saying that music from the past lasts, that's also unfair - in short, we say : "music that we remember now is remembered". What about music we forgot ? Did it last ?   Back to main index