Back To Basics

Albert Camus once said, ~Truly fertile music, the only kind that will move us that we shall truly appreciate, will be a music conducive to dream, which banishes all reason and analysis. One must not wish first to understand and then to feel. Art does not tolerate reason.~ Without a doubt, music is something that you oftentimes don't need rhyme or reason to appreciate because you feel it within your heart and soul to the point where it can absolutely move you personally, physically, as well as, emotionally. However, when it comes to the music being created/sung about these days, there is a seemingly ridiculous trend of writing songs that instead of moving you they tend to have you scratching your head. For its the particular popular songs listened to on the radio among kids and adults alike that have you asking this question...what was he/she/they smokin'?

Let me ask you this question, when did a particular food item we've all eaten from time to time, especially during times of sickness suddenly become a hot topic to not only sing about, but also dance to as well? It truly befuddles the mind that the song Chicken Noodle Soup by DJ Webstar w/Young B, has immensely grown in popularity because after listening to it several times and then trying to read the actual lyrics of the song itself you find that they don't make any sense whatsoever. Granted, the beat of the music grabs your ears, so to speak, as the dance that was created for it gives any person the chance to learn it all-the-while physically shaking what your momma gave you, but when you look at the dance and listen to the song as whole it's basically a tweaked version of any country song line dance that is out there.

If you think about it, when it comes to certain beauty products that enhance particular features on a woman, it's undoubtedly praised to the point where word is spread through the proverbial female hotline to purchase said item(s). Now, to metaphorically sing its praises is one thing, but to actually sing praises about it going a bit overboard don't you think? With that being said, it's no surprise that the song Lip Gloss by Lil' Mama has become a smash hit among today's generation of kids, especially to the young female demographic, who personally benefit from using it and I can also add that its sound marketing strategy as well being that while she's singing about it she's also promoting/advertising the product. What's my point? Well, other than helping boost sales in the lip gloss industry that song is pointless and in the whole scheme of things has no relevant value to real music.

For the question can be asked, what comes to your mind when I mention the song titles Peaches and Cream, as well as, Candy Shop? If your answer is that they are both covered in sexual innuendo you are absolutely right and you essentially expect that from artists such as 112 and 50 Cent who tend to convey certain emotional feelings in their music like lust and/or desire. It would be safe to say that an artist such as Young Joc is no stranger to what 112, 50 Cent, or any other hip hop/rap artist sing and whether it's subtle or blatantly out there it's what makes the benjamins. Yet, you can't help but wonder what was going through Young Joc's mind when he wrote Coffee Shop because at first thought it's probably a song of sexual nature, but when you hear it you feel disappointed because its just about a coffee shop making the song itself a complete waste of time to not just watch, but also listen to.

In retrospect, it seems to me and probably for you as well that there are songs on the radio that just don't have any soul to where it personally, physically, and emotionally stays within your heart long after the song is over. It's a sad situation indeed when songs aren't written anymore without any thought/feeling and if it gets some type of reaction it's considered a hit to where writers/producers crank out more knowing that it's all a bunch of meaningless words. Hey, that's just my opinion and it's most certainly a slap in the face, in a manner of speaking, of artists such as Pete Mitchell, Jimmy Cliff, etc. who struggled for years to create hit songs whereas they do it in an instant. In the end, I think the writers/producers who are writing /producing really crappy songs for primarily profit sake should first find the soul of the song and in order to do that they have to get back to basics.