Let us first define some parameters of this ongoing discussion. We’re focusing specifically on the 2000’s. If music was created on or within January 1, 2000 – present day, it’s welcome in this platform. That’s pretty much where the limit ends. There’s no need to restrict ourselves to any other rules or guidelines because I feel (and hope) that this debate will rage on and branch into territories that weren’t even considered at first.
In initial conversations with friends and music lovers, sub-topics like the media, the internet, changing social trends, world events and money have all come into play, so let’s start simple and see where this goes…
I like to think of myself as the average music fan. I have no one distinguishable style of music that I lean towards. I just enjoy music with prejudice. Rap, rock, country, techno, pop, and metal – if it’s good, it’s good!
I’ve only been around for two and a half decades, so I cannot consider myself the foremost authority when it comes to the history of music and how it represented generations past, but I have done my research, and I have spoken to a lot of people who have lived longer than I have.
It takes a very special artist to make the entire world sit up and take notice. These artists don’t necessarily have everyone rushing out to buy their albums or purchase tickets to their shows. But they do something so remarkable, so unique and so special that you can’t help but know who they are and what they do.
Generally speaking, when you think of music from the 1950’s, you would think of artists like Elvis Presley. Elvis tore on to the music scene in 1956 like a bat out of hell and very quickly became the reason for living for most young girls, the envy of young boys and the devil to most uptight American parents. Whether Elvis was “a hack” and a thief, as proclaimed by some is not the debate. It doesn’t matter if you like Elvis or not - you know him, recognize his music and can categorize him to a very specific decade musical sound.
The 60’s had the British Invasion, led by the Beatles. The 70’s left us Led Zeppelin, Jim Hendrix, The Rolling Stones and Disco. The 80’s had Run DMC, Madonna, Michael Jackson and Hair Bands. The 90’s: Nirvana and Pearl Jam led the grunge fad and manufactured pop bands like the Backstreet Boys and the Spice Girls drew world-wide attention. (I know that I’m over-simplifying these decades, but I hope you get my point)
What legacy will the 2000’s leave behind?
There has been a ton of great music produced in the past ten years, but who – or what – has been big enough to make the mass population stand up and take notice? What will this era be remembered for in 20 years for now? What will we tell our kids we listened to? Will there be radio stations devoted entirely to today’s music? Or is it too early to tell?
All the biggest bands, artists and music personalities of today were not products of the 2000’s. Green Day, The Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Eminem, Britney Spears and Coldplay (for a lack of a better list) were all exposed to us in the 1990’s or earlier and have lived on until now.
Is Jack White our savior? Will the Kings Of Leon be a valid representation of us in 2020? Does Lil’ Wayne have the longevity to sustain well into the next decade?
A lot of questions are being asked of me, I know, but a lot of hesitation and concern is also swirling about my head.
So how about you, who do you think is the “voice” of our decade? Who stands out to you as being the global standard of who we are and what we listen to?
We are not baby boomers, we're not hippies or stoners, we aren't generation x'ers. Are we nothing more than Generation... meh?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Jack White and all his projects, in particular, The White Stripes, in my opinion is the voice or artist for the 2000s. Like some of the other artists you mentioned that have carried on since the 90s, Radiohead is the band that will be remembered most.
ReplyDeleteI would be shocked and emotionally hurt if bands like Nickelback have any significance once their playing days are over.
The problem I have is that most bands in the mainstream of music today are just not good enough to be our generations voice or have any long lasting influence on music. The music scene is due for some sort of movement and I hope it happens soon before the mass appeal listener gets even more brainwashed to think average music is better then it really is. This is not to say there are not any solid bands that will at least be remembered but for me most those bands are not filling the radio with their songs (unfortunatley).
The day of the true artist or band seems to be slowly,or to some, quickly fading away as more and more bands are becoming puppets on a string. Music is a business but its more of a business then its ever been which is part of the reason for the demise of true artist at least in the mainstream world. Studio technology also plays a major role in the musicianship of singers and players of any instrument.
Ok I will shut up now (for now)
music is fine and well today, you just gotta look for it now. mainstream music has been shite since the 80s so it's time people stop complaining about it and start exploring alternative avenues for finding music. the internet has helped.
ReplyDeleteas for our voice, each generation is always defined by the following ones. so we won't know who we'll remember until enough time has passed for the shit to fade. that happens every decade.
everyone should listen to animal collective.
animal collective is the worst
ReplyDeleteyou're a coward, anonymous.
ReplyDelete