Sir Swagalot

9mo

I know this topic has been beaten to death for quite some time now and I know many of you will probably not read this thread because of that in mind, but I honestly don’t care. I need this outlet to express how I feel because I’m tired of holding back my reservations and concerns that I’ve had regarding not just music, but us as consumers.

For the past 100 years, music labels and execs have essentially curated the soundtracks to our lives. Whether it was through the radio, TV, or CDs, we were all tuned in to what’s going on because they were the sole providers of what we listen to and we were forced to consume it (aka MONOCULTURE). While that sounds kinda dystopian like (and in some ways it was im ngl), personally I see it as a way of relatability and community. When we are restricted, we are forced to deal with what we got and make something out of it. It’s through discussion and exchanging of ideas within those confines that ignites that creative spark within us.

However, that spark has been put out thanks to streaming and social media. I’ll be the first to admit that if it weren’t for streaming, I wouldn’t be 1/10th of the music nerd that I am today. I started using Spotify when I was 11 back in 2011, back when you needed a Facebook account to use it. I was playing musical instruments and buying CDs at that point in my life so some sort of musical foundation had already been established in me. Through my young and curious mind, I was able to discover whole new worlds of genres and sounds because I grew tired of hearing the same s*** for the 2000th time. Why limit myself to CDs and a 2GB iPod Shuffle when I have the whole world at my fingertips?

That lack of a limit is what has destroyed the creative mind. When you look back on the music of yesteryear decade by decade, you start to notice a trend of drastically different sounds because PEOPLE got f***ing tired of hearing the same ol s***. Nowadays, society has become more self-absorbed and general discourse regarding anything with substance is trite; the system has taught us that differing opinions in an individualistic world will make people defensive and hostile. Many artists are scared to experiment or go out of their comfort zone because the people can make or break their career with just reactionary tweets. We’re too busy focusing on getting a dopamine rush rather than truly appreciating and digesting the art that has been provided to us.

We live in a world where a peasant can become a prince in a matter of minutes, yet the crown is always being moved from head to head without any sense of direction because we ourselves don’t know what we want. I'm just honestly scared for the future...for the people who didn't know (or just completely forgot) what it was like to listen to music before the streaming age.

blinker fluid

9mo

I ordered some cologne the other day and I finally got it in the mail today. It automatically reminded me of when I used to buy cds. The anticipation of not knowing if it sounds/smells good lmao. Then you end up liking it and it feels like a more intimate connection knowing that YOU selected it. Now I wanna buy more. Kinda miss this sensation with music

springsteen

9mo

great post, i agree on all fronts. also born in 2000 :)

what gives me hope in the future of music is honestly the power of performance. recorded music is truly a fad on a historical scale. yes it has directly enabled an almost light year’s worth of advancements in the composition and production of music, but live performances have always been the bread and butter of the music industry— beethoven never made a vinyl record, kanye hasn’t composed a symphony, elvis never wrote any songs. but all three gave captivating live performances.

its also not the most reliable— 2020 was a bad year to be in the business. but folks are showing out recently like they haven’t in a long time. concerts, raves, live performances will always be the lifeblood of musical development. you either have the chops or you don’t. being charming or engaging with the crowd is just brownie points.

i’m kind of spitballing here lol i’m high as f***. but really appreciated your post and love discussing this kind of stuff anywhere anytime. mainstream cultural criticism is so superficial and click driven—media is everywhere and media literacy is staggeringly low these days—
so it’s always refreshing to hear more nuanced and contextual takes on things.

have a good saturday night 🙏

Sir Swagalot

9mo

@aaron_xx_

aaron xx

9mo

i used to download albums back in the day like i was collecting yugioh cards fr

Tkken

9mo

Because the thinking is like, why sit with the music when you can just play something else if it doesn't resonate immediately

Truly great music needs time to cook but the incentive right now is to put out a twenty pack of mid and hope 2-3 tracks hit off the first twenty seconds of listening and blow up on social media

fiveprestos

9mo

done with this site.

saint dot edumist

9mo

tfw stanning mediocre artists kills a genre :(