In response to my post :
Please chose your favourite songs from the list below that you’d like me to perform live on Ustream: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/civilizedtears I’ll play the most popular choice.
All Along the Watchtower – Dylan
Black Hole Sun – Soundgarden
The Drugs Don’t Work – The Verve
Heroes – Bowie
Hurt – Johhny Cash ( written by T Reznor)
Just – Radiohead
Love Will Tear us Apart – Joy Division
Praying for Time – George Michael
She Sells Sanctuary – The Cult
Silence is Easy – Starsailor
After reading the comments and threads in regards to this post,
I find it very interesting that many friends and the social collective I’m part of here on-line and the groups I’m attracted to intellectually and emotionally and vice -versa, chose songs of depth and songs that show willingness to face life’s challenges and pain in all it’s murkiness and glory.
These people seem incredibly excited to face and share that unavoidable transient confusion and suffering of our existence in a genuine brother-sisterhood fashion.It’s seems it’s what they live for and sometimes die for.
The artists of the above songs, their supporters and empathisers are prepared to endure a fully fledged immersion into life’s dangerous waters.Whereas today’s popular music on radio/tv/internet & digital media etc would seem to suggest that the majority of people would rather listen to exaggerated superficiality, violence and overtly cheapened sexually charged music and imagery, where it seems that everything is rooted in escapism and physical / sexual idealism.
I guess my main question is: Is this what most people want or is there a misconception portrayed by the conglomerates and governing powers i.e. those who tell us what people will listen to and view?
If the latter is the case, then it is probably safe to say that this strategy is based upon data pulled from focus groups providing information for the self-serving advertisers , hence the conglomerates and corps. And if this is true then how do they chose these focus groups and which demographics do these groups really represent?
The other option is that most people, on the whole, do want to escape the drudgery of life and immerse themselves into escapism and sexual fantasy ?
My feeling is that it’s a bit of both.
I’d like to also clarify that I’m not opposed to artists who portray more sexually explicit and superficial music. I understand that everyone, their stories and their styles have a place.
I suppose my only gripe is that I feel that our world is over-saturated with the latter across all forms of communication and advertising.
Footnote: Personally I consider all the songs in the list above to represent the former musical description.
In addition I feel that these two photos attached represent the polar opposites of the so-called artist and their message and image.
