Songs of Passion
It used to be a tool for the expression of feelings. Love, loneliness, friendship, wanting were all feelings expressed in the songs of old as ballads, rock, pop, etc. Oldies we call them now, music of the old generation. However, in this generation, music has moved into new territories.
Mainstream music now consists of mostly rap and hip-hop. Of significant concern is the evolution of rap music. At its early conception, rap was used as fillers in hip-hop. Rap was and still is ancillary to mainstream hip-hop. Rap evolved into its own genre, to the extent that some artists, with the likes of Eminem, 50 cent, and Nelly dedicate themselves to it. The rap phenomena has grown since its conception by Kool Herc and the Herculoids, growing roots in todays less mainstream genres.
But why rap? I, for one can never grasp a solid understanding of what the song is about. One can barely hear the lyrics over the loud bass and sound effects, not to mention the high velocity recitation of the lyrics, making it impossible to process for the untrained ear. It is no secret that todays rap music concentrates on the human desires of sex, lust, greed, fast cars, and 'bling'. These are popular topics with the youth of today and quite possibly the reason why rap is so popular today. One thing is for sure, you don't have to be able to sing to join the rap industry.
An untapped music resource with high potential is Asian music. Undoubtly Chinese, Japanese, Korean music are the three most prominent music industries in Asia. Artists like Jay Chou, BoA, and Utada Hikaru have long breached cultural gaps, grasping fanbases from China, Japan, South Korea and other Asian countries. Unrealised by many is the fact that this completely separate industry is also acquiring a firm hold all over the world, especially in the USA and Canada.
The Asian genre not only adopts American mainstream styles, but often delves into experimental combinations leading to some interesting creations. I believe Asian artists aspire higher than those in the US, by actively promoting and expand their horizons all over Asia while at the same time bridging gaps caused by international disputes such as wars and political disagreements. Though this process is slow, it is surely happening. Artists like BoA have long closed, to some extent, the torrentius gap between Koreans and the Japanese while at the same time gaining fans in surrounding countries. American artists have it easier since the American culture is spread all over the world via television screens, cinemas, and the internet.
Not to go unmentioned are the musical stylings of the international 'World' genre, consisting of music from all over the world including Norwegian, German, Italian, etc. Through my own personal experiences, I find that this genre is interesting and worth giving a listening to. The masterful combination of classical, ballad and rock is unmatched by any genre on its own.
The next time you are in a music store, turn your gazes away, even if for a moment, from the Top 10 Charts and poke around the International section. If your local music store is poorly stocked with these less popular genres, try searching for some online. Remember, you can always sample first before buying!
Mainstream music now consists of mostly rap and hip-hop. Of significant concern is the evolution of rap music. At its early conception, rap was used as fillers in hip-hop. Rap was and still is ancillary to mainstream hip-hop. Rap evolved into its own genre, to the extent that some artists, with the likes of Eminem, 50 cent, and Nelly dedicate themselves to it. The rap phenomena has grown since its conception by Kool Herc and the Herculoids, growing roots in todays less mainstream genres.
But why rap? I, for one can never grasp a solid understanding of what the song is about. One can barely hear the lyrics over the loud bass and sound effects, not to mention the high velocity recitation of the lyrics, making it impossible to process for the untrained ear. It is no secret that todays rap music concentrates on the human desires of sex, lust, greed, fast cars, and 'bling'. These are popular topics with the youth of today and quite possibly the reason why rap is so popular today. One thing is for sure, you don't have to be able to sing to join the rap industry.
An untapped music resource with high potential is Asian music. Undoubtly Chinese, Japanese, Korean music are the three most prominent music industries in Asia. Artists like Jay Chou, BoA, and Utada Hikaru have long breached cultural gaps, grasping fanbases from China, Japan, South Korea and other Asian countries. Unrealised by many is the fact that this completely separate industry is also acquiring a firm hold all over the world, especially in the USA and Canada.
The Asian genre not only adopts American mainstream styles, but often delves into experimental combinations leading to some interesting creations. I believe Asian artists aspire higher than those in the US, by actively promoting and expand their horizons all over Asia while at the same time bridging gaps caused by international disputes such as wars and political disagreements. Though this process is slow, it is surely happening. Artists like BoA have long closed, to some extent, the torrentius gap between Koreans and the Japanese while at the same time gaining fans in surrounding countries. American artists have it easier since the American culture is spread all over the world via television screens, cinemas, and the internet.
Not to go unmentioned are the musical stylings of the international 'World' genre, consisting of music from all over the world including Norwegian, German, Italian, etc. Through my own personal experiences, I find that this genre is interesting and worth giving a listening to. The masterful combination of classical, ballad and rock is unmatched by any genre on its own.
The next time you are in a music store, turn your gazes away, even if for a moment, from the Top 10 Charts and poke around the International section. If your local music store is poorly stocked with these less popular genres, try searching for some online. Remember, you can always sample first before buying!
posted by bloo at 12:34 pm
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