A Rock 'n' Roll Soliloquy
Published December 27, 2006
Music in many ways imitates historical political cleavages in that it, too, can sometimes be fragmented. Or, as it has often been said, it can imitate life. In business economics the motto is location, location, location. We can add niche, niche, niche to that equation. And not just in business, but the arts as well.
There is industry music and there is music for its own sake. There are amateurs and there are professionals — where the unholy alliance of music and business meet. Some are in it for the money and know how to penetrate the snobby walls of the entertainment's version of "Cosa Nostra" while others are purely in for the love.
Once upon a time rules were meant to be broken. Now rules and systems control with an iron fist. Individuals are no longer trusted extensions of the corporation they work for. Need that extra half percent on your mortgage? "I have to clear it with upstairs. Our mutual trust means little to the big boys." Sports went from freewheeling athleticism in a showcase of ultimate franchise and player expression to a stuffy, over-analyzed (notice the word anal in there) and mechanized product. Follow the damn system! Improvisation will summarily be executed. Now the lines are blurred. Rock acts need to be a part of the process of authority. Who knows why?
No wonder corner doo-wop acts are dead. Tight playing is all the rage. Technical sounds soaked in political messages, blatant violence, and cheap sex. All in the name of progress and style. Some modern bands are good but only if they are original. Some knock-offs are talented but are in danger of following the dreaded blueprint. Some of it is solid and some of it downright insulting.
It's hard to find a song to feel good about these days. Cynicism is to the modern hipster what Satanism was to the '60s and '70s cultural rock trends. Life is rough as it is. Hard to tell if it's imitating my life or not.
All I know is that spontaneous acts of momentary purity are usually brought out by music from another time. Only Buddy Holly or Elvis Presley can lead to a dance on a driveway in front of neighbours — as was the case with my mother one early evening. I was washing my car while a couple of friends looked on when my mother insisted we dance. On a stunning summer evening when you're not thinking of anything in particular, what has your fingers popping better than Chuck Berry? Man, it was all about cars, girls, beaches, and the other universal themes we all shared.
These guys knew the secrets of rock 'n' roll. They had the fire. Perhaps it should be found and rekindled. Disjointed many of us are in the modern age, but for one brief collection of mere seconds, a good rock song can unite. It can make your soul move in ways you never thought possible.
- A Rock 'n' Roll Soliloquy
- Published: December 27, 2006
- Type: Opinion
- Section: Music
- Filed Under: Culture: Business and Economics, Culture: Arts, Music: Classic Rock and Oldies, Music: Rock
- Writer: Alessandro Nicolo
- Alessandro Nicolo's BC Writer page
- Alessandro Nicolo's personal site
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Comments on this articleComments
Bravo, Alessandro! Good ole VH isn't alone in thinking that this would be the start of more from you on this subject. I know I'd be interested in reading more of your views on this subject.
Ooo, I dunno tink. Perhaps if someone gave me an advance! Thanks for the kind words. VH, I left a message for Glen but yet to hear form him. Feel free to contact me via my site. Happy New Year all.
That was my first idea, but I get a page not found message. Is that the site you're referring to? (Ach - ended on a preposition - I hate that).
Alessandro,
You probably sent the e-mail to my old addy, which is probably why I didn't get it. I don't think BC will let me publish it here. But there might be a link in my BC profile. Vern should have it. Anyway, I'm not at Comcast anymore, but rather with Earthlink now. Everything else in the addy is the same. Including alkiguy followed by the number "1".
Good article by the way. Not really sure where you were ultimately going with this idea, but I've long been concerned with the way current music trends emphasize delivery ststems like MP3 and cell phones over artists, artistry, and musical talent. Records with any kind of grand sweep to them simply weren't meant to be heard over tinny sounding systems with speakers no larger than a thumbnail in some cases.
You Know...It used to be about the music. Man.
-Glen
Phooey - I can't get it all straight.
Alessandro, try typing in my name at "chaud du post" dot etc & you should find me.
Glen, my apologies for dropping your name - I don't usually do that, but I couldn't think of any other way of passing along my addy without actually publishing it - and then I forgot you changed yours anyways.
Happy New Year all!
Ha - found it! Expect something shortly.
Glen, I agree with your comments about the grand sweep of music lost on computer speakers, but a lot of primitve 50's & even many 60's recordings were recorded & mixed with those little tinny tiny speakers in mind - heck, with them even in the studio. I remember listening to Glen Campbell's version of the Jimmy Webb classic Wichita Linieman on a battery powered transistor radio hidden under my pillow and hearing that string section soar into the night.
But yes indeed, it used to be that the most important word in the phrase "entertainment business" wasn't "business" - it wasn't even "entertainment." It was something intangible about art & craft, and music, and style, and personal freedom, and community.
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Looks like the start of something big, Mr. N -booklength, perhaps? Or maybe just a springboard for random thoughts about the future of r'n'r.
Hmmm... you're the Andy Kim fan around here, right? Is there an email addy where I can send you an mp3 file I'm working on? You might get a kick out of it. Actually, ask Glen Boyd for mine if you would rather get a hold of me instead & keep yours relatively private.
VH,