Now, we are on to music. This is another field of entertainment that causes me a great amount of grief. The music industry in this country has gone the way of the mythical cities of Sodom and Gomorra. The sheer levels of ignorance and debauchery that the record industry have devolved to could only have been achieved in this country. What with all the child-friendly whiny-assed liberalism that abounds in America it really shouldn't surprise me that our listening standards have fallen so far. I remember a time when a song was written because it meant something to the band that performed it, and thankfully there are still some bands who abide by this tradition. Nowadays, songs are written on the sole reason that the masses, or at least a specific target group, will be completely enthralled by it to ensure record sales. The ultimate result of this practice is that all of the albums coming out now sound almost identical. Basically, the industry found a formula to sell records so now every song has to fit that formula.
The sorry excuse for performers that the industry assaults (or should that be insults?) us with are also a part of this same formula. Talent is no longer a prerequisite for being a musical performer. It has now become more important to look good or fill a stereotype so as to visually hypnotize the ignorant masses. There are a whole slew of worthless boy/girl bands that fit this bill. They play no instruments and rarely even sing any songs. The music is either digitally rendered or composed and performed by a "house" band and the "performers" just dance around like fools and lip synch to prerecorded tracks. Then there is the idea of sampling, to take music that has already been published and use it to make other pieces of music. This is outright theft, whether permission is granted or not, of another artists thoughts and talents. It is a vile and undignified practice and ultimately proves the lack of talent that these groups have.
Because of these circumstances, bands with any real artistic merit are being forced to go overseas to find followers. Likewise, those of us that are seeking truly talented artists have to extend our sights to other shores to fulfill our hunger for entertainment. Thankfully, the pursuit of these needs is easily undertaken through various online auctions and several fan sites devoted to music of all kinds. This is ultimately the only thing that keeps people like myself from going on violent rampages fueled by a lack of musical entertainment. So, for those of you who feel as I and many others do, try looking to Europe and the Netherlands to find some wonderful new music. It could be a real eye opener.
This whole culture has resulted in a complete and utter lack of substance in modern "pop" music. Music itself has become nothing more than an overused and badly abused corporate whore. There is no heart, soul, or truth in popular music in this country. Every "new" idea is nothing more than a dried, desiccated husk of something that was revolutionary in its time. The music industry has forgotten that the fans are the most important factor in the equation. All they care about are dollars and cents, with no thought to what the fans truly want. This has lead to an increase in unsatisfied fans and a decrease in faith in the labels and bands.
I know that there will always be poor, blind fools who will give up their hearts and souls to latch onto whatever the record labels regurgitate for them. Thereby giving credence to the industry belief that they will always make more money, but there must ultimately be a point at which people wake up and realize that they have been played like well tuned instruments. Then maybe they will see that a change is not only necessary but demanded. At that point we may start seeing a difference in what we are served up to listen to.
In the sixties and seventies there were revolutions being started to change popular music. The result of these "wars" on what was allowed lead to the creation of rock and heavy metal music, and the two reigned supreme until the nineties when it all went to shit again. Now, in a new millennium, it is time for a new army of fans to revolt against pop music and reestablish all the lords of rock and metal to their rightful place of dominance in the music industry. We need to speak out now or we just may lose our right to do so, then we will surely lose all hope of changing music for the better.
We must all stand and be counted, fight the good fight and demand to be fulfilled by our music! If you feel the same as I, it is your job to do something to help change things. Call your radio stations, demand that your favorite bands be carried in your local music store, and ultimately send the message that we want real music again, no more of this soulless drivel we are forced to endure. To quote the metal band Hammerfall: "Let your voice speak for the revolution, all join forces with all the power that you feel!" LONG LIVE ROCK AND METAL!!!!
So says Silvermane, Minister of Retribution.