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WHAT THE F… IS GOING ON WITH MUSIC TODAY?

I’m about to get real here so excuse me if I piss you off.  I don’t care.  It’s my opinion.

This question is huge and it has no clear answer. Well not really.
We all listen to music. Each of us have our favorite and our preferred genre, maybe even a few. But if we don’t listen to all that is out there, can we really speak for the whole? Can we really say a certain music is bad?

Well I listen to just about everything. Yes I have my favorites but I love music and what it represents to all people and I’ve listened to a whole lot of it. So I’m gonna step up and say yes I think I can somewhat speak on a broad scope. Don’t like what I have to say, well I’m perfectly fine with that. I welcome your comments at the end.

There are many ways to look at this beast. You can say music is culture. It changes with time .
The 1960s had a different style / culture and they had different music. Music changes each generation 60’s 70’s 80’s 90’s 20′ 21’s.  Anyone can listen and hear the difference.

Of course with most music there is some kind of standard. Each genre has it’s criteria of what makes a song fit. Beyond that, it’s up to the musicians to effectively create and the listener to either like it or not. But in most top end genre’s (rock, blues, jazz, R&B, classical) you can’t fake the music. You either know how to create it, play it and sustain it or you don’t.

Todays Pop Artists

Notice how I didn’t mention Pop music. Well, I don’t really think of it as a genre.

Pop is a mix bag of all the artists who couldn’t find a specific genre and be good at it. A pile of artists who take what little they know of other genres, try to combine and mix them so they sound like something new and hip, Usually created by the younger generation (hence the immaturity level of the music). There. I said it. What a bunch of garbage people are selling and we are buying. The music is pointless, nonsensical and talentless.

People who make this music, will make millions because the youth of today is all ‘wow this is cool’. And then proceed to listen to the same crap over and over again. You’ll hear that song at home, at work, in the store, in the restaurant, blaring from the passing car. Come on? Personally, I welcome today’s availability of so much music and different kinds of it. I can escape all that repetitious crap.

Ok I won’t condemn them all because in all that mess there are a few very talented artists who probably don’t deserve my wrath.  But there are so many artists (strike that) individuals who’s personality is mistaken for talent.  Who don’t give a rats buttocks about the music.  What they want is the fame and money that comes with it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNfdUHyx9N8&feature=share

But there is another side to this music thing. Which has nothing to do with the music at all. It’s all that crap about who said what, who dissed who, who’s wearing what, who’s sleeping with who, who’s video is more revealing or taboo. Seriously, who gives a f–k.  But that stuff believe it or not influences who’s music gets sold.  How about that?  To the point where you could (and we do) have artists out there who have no talent at all but cause enough media fanfare and social murmur that people buy their music or go to their concerts just to see what other crap they can come up with, or mess they can get into.

What about the music? It’s not even at the forefront anymore. It’s way back behind the antics, the dancers, the videos.  You can’t sell a song anymore or get anyone to even consider listening to your music nowadays if you don’t have a compelling video.  Translation… the music doesn’t mean shit if you don’t have a video and a good one.  WTF?

Concerts aren’t about the music anymore.  For example. Go to a pop concert, listen to the headliner sing. First, is he or she really singing? If so, is it any good? Can you see any of the back up musicians? After all they are the ones playing the music, right? Maybe not. Maybe there are no musicians.  Can you even hear the music/singing behind all the other crap going on on the stage and elsewhere.

And music award shows?…don’t even get me started.

Today’s pop music is repetitive and unoriginal.  So much so that you can take a hit from the past, change it slightly, call it a remix and somehow that becomes original material.  It’s become more about personality than talent.  And that personality better be bad.  Cause you know where they say good guys end up….  I find that the Justin Bieber, One Direction, Miley Cirus, Taylor Swift, most of what is coming out of rap (sorry bros) and a lot of the EDM music of today is garbage.

So who’s fault is this?  Is it the music industry trying to make big money off the backs of their clients or is it the result of greedy, immature no talent artists (slash that) individuals?  Or is it our fault for buying into the media crazed, sensationalized, cookie cutter pre-packaged fake product we are constantly subjected to everywhere we go?

Most of the contemporary hits heard on the radio follow the same four-chord progression, or at least variations of this progression.

Short video of the evolution of musical tastes from 1961 through 2011. It suggests constantly changing trends in musical taste, such as an increase in demand for songs with more danceability and loudness, are reasons for why certain music is popular in the present day.

Tell me what you think. Drop me a comment.

CJ BERRY – MONSTER GUITARIST

It was 3 years ago when I had first started posting my music on a site called Fandalism.  This is a site for musicians of all levels, genres and from all corners of the wold to put their music out for any and everyone who wants to listen.  I came across a guitarist name CJ who stunned me with his technical, melodic and creative abilities.  I thought to myself, he plays the type of music I like to listen to and create.  It would be amazing if I could get him to play on one of my tunes.

CJ Berry

Back then I don’t know if it was a thing to contact other Fandalism artists directly and ask to collaborate on new music but I did it anyway.  Our first track “Crawl” was the beginning of an fantastic journey of musical creation, experimentation and learning (at least for me).

CJ and I created some incredible music over the years.  Many of which you can still hear on Fandalism and SoundCloud.  I am truly thankful and grateful to have had the opportunity to create music alongside this giant with an axe.

His artistry is deserving of the same accolades and attention given to the best and most popular guitarists on the world stage today.  He is that good.  I felt it was high time someone stood on the mountaintop and shouted his name.  Ok, that may be a little corny but seriously wait till your hear this guy.

Here is CJ Berry

CB- 1/My brother Mike, he was really into delta blues and really old blues and jazz and rock n roll stuff.
2/Jimi Hendrix (because of his unearthly sound and approach) ,
3/Carlos Santana ( because of his intensity and melodic and utterly fantastic approach to Latino percussion and rhythm ,
4/Sly and the family stone ( for pure groove and soulful vocals and the horn lines),
5/Marvin Gaye (soothing grooves and vocals and outstanding arrangements)
6/Deep Purple (Richie Blackmore was an outstanding guitar soloist)
7/John Mclaughlin ( for his indian influence and his otherworldly technique and style)
8/FRANK ZAPPA ( for his genius and his clear cut cynical and humorous approach to music and stage craft).

CB. Being a musician in England has always been like ”that’s nice but what do you do to make your money?”.  People are open-minded ‘generally’ about genre and style but there is a long history of Pop music dominating the scene.  I always felt that the music scene in England was inventive and lively if not at times innovative.

CR. What is the jazz scene like in England?

CB. Pretty miserable….LOL…over here most good players still look to the USA and Sweden, France, Germany, Austria for their influences and their GIGS.

CR. What bands if any did you play in.

CB. For over 30 years I have been a professional session musician. I have performed live on stage and in the recording studio with many artists including Tori Amos, Everything But The Girl, Indigo Girls, The Pixies, Lush, Brendon Perry, Narada Michael Walden, Jaki Graham and my own sister Heidi Berry when she was signed to 4AD/Warner Bros and before that to Creation records.

Banned In China

CR. What was that experience like.

CB. The experience of live gigs and studio recording is the best experience any musician who wants to call themselves a professional can have. Going from fear of large audiences or fear of messing it up in the studio to actually coming alive and playing better with an audience or when the tape is rolling..THAT is the most life-fulfilling and game changing element about being a musician.

CR. What was your choice of genre and why?
CB. I never actually chose a choice of genre..I think I float between the Jazz feel I gained from using Jazz theory to learn my musical language and the blues and rock and Soul roots which I heard on the way toward being an actual player and composer.

CR. What musical projects are you working on or would like to do?
CB. I am forever working on my CHEMICAL COMPOSITIONS ..http://cjberryguitarist1.wixsite.com/cjberry/projects  A project I set myself to write a musical composition for every element in the periodic table.

I am working with a colleague, Harry Thompson, on a music production project called

SECOND LEVEL MUSIC PRODUCTIONS www.youtube.com SLMP’s Finished Music & Video Productions which aims to polish other people’s original musical compositions lift to a higher standard of production and arrangement.

I am rehearsing (as a bass player) for a local project to do gigs (for money) around the seaside town where i now live.

I would like to work on musical soundtrack for motion pictures, have done some student films in the past and some other art-house projects more recently.

CR. Pick a couple of your favorite uploads and tell me why they stand out for you.

KATHY SHORTT – I CALL HER THE VOICE

This is a voice that has such an instantly recognizable tone, softness and character. Kathy is a much sought after artist who lends beauty and grace to any track. But don’t let that softness fool you. Her voice can be quite powerful and her range makes her a versatile option for many genres.

Kathy Shortt

This Canadian artist has been singing since the age of nine and has performed in bands and as a solo artist for many years. Kathy has recorded two albums, PAINTED DREAMS in 1999 at Emac in London, Ontario and WILD DAISES in 2013 at DNA in Sarnia, Ontario.

She has opened up for acts like Wide mouth Mason, See Spot Run, Emm Gryner and Christen Campbell. She has shared the stage with Chris Hadfield, Charlie Achord & Matt Anderson.

Currently she lends her voice to countless projects and collaborative efforts with musicians across the globe.

I had the chance to work with Kathy on a song called Jazzy Love Songs. I wrote the music and the lyrics were written by Danl’B Young. Though the jazz genre was new to her, Kathy easily adapted to give the track that worm sensual tone it needed.

You can purchase Kathy’s music at www.cheekymonkeysarnia.ca ,spotify and itunes.
Also you can find her on YouTube, Fandalism, soundcloud and Reverbnation.
and Facebook

Below you will find samples from this phenomenal singer.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7qfSLYxwdzE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mU432kFp-MY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jr5NPLAO9ys

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ctTwiEBxtBY

ARTISTS ARE MAKING OVER A MILLION DOLLARS PER PERFORMANCE

Is this not why we aspire to become rock stars? Is this not what every aspiring musician dreams about. We all want it, but when we see the numbers we think, wow, is that person really worth that? Somehow we never think about this even when we are paying those $100+ for tickets until we see the headlines.

Rihanna

There are two factors I see that would justify such a number and they cannot be separated in my opinion.

1. Musical/visual performance –
A performer must be an exceptional artist in their craft, whether its an individual or band. Whether they are a vocal or instrumental performer. They should be damn good at what they do. In this day and age too many musicians are famous but not very good musicians. Pop culture relies more on image, social media saturation and even (dare I say) notoriety. Their show should be entertaining. The visual and artistic value of the performance should be exceptional.

2. Headline power and ticket sales –
Some artists by the nature of their star power will generate more ticket sales than others. This can be influenced by many factors, new releases, popularity in social media, chart performance, previous performances and music videos just to name a few. Venue and event organizers rely on the artist’s popularity to generate ticket sales. So if the sales are in the millions the artists should get a proportional amount of that pie.

Bruce Springsteen

Taylor Swift

Another reason why the amount is so high is a result of what organizers, sponsors marketers will pay just to have these performers make an appearance (not even perform). For example Rihanna earns up to $100,000 just to attend parties and runway shows. The Rihanna brand is so valuable, fashion houses want photos taken of her in their front row, and they are willing to pay big for that association. Why do you think so many artists are branding their names on fragrance, clothing and whatever you’ll dish out your hard working money on. It not only make more money for them on the side but it also increases their money clout for performances.

Justin Timberlake

Madonna

Here (via Priceonomics) is a leaked list of what some performers made per performance. There are a few things to keep in mind when looking at this list. These are only the asking price. Many will go down after negotiations. The amounts are also before expense. That can increase the price. There are many artists making money in this range that are not on this list. Also on this list are artists that are not musicians.

What’s your favorite artist making?

Justin Bieber

Dave Matthews

MUSIC MATTERS TO BLACK LIVES

There is no doubt that with the recent issues that have come to light as a result of the much publicized shootings and beatings on minorities (and yes I dare say black people) in the states have unearthed a big open sore that just won’t heal.  This issue isn’t new and isn’t going away anytime soon.

So what do we do about it?  That question has powerful urgencies and importance at all levels of society.  From the highest reaches of government, political hierarchy and corporate empires right down to the starving children living on some of the poorest streets.  And this issue is by no means confined to the United States of America or just black people.  Take a quick look at what’s happening around the world racially and politically and you will see the question is bigger than us (and I include Canada in the mix).

I wish I could say that I have an answer to it all but I don’t.  And though I sympathize and stand with those who need my support, I also believe we all have a part to play. We all have a responsibility not only to each other but to the people who serve and protect us.  Let me say it now.  Not all police officers are bad.  Not all judicial systems are bad or corrupt.  Let’s not lose sight of that and start spiraling  into anarchy. 

Having said that, this blog is about music and this post is about the music that has been surfacing as a result of that ‘Question’.  Now, I sincerely hope that all of these offerings are truly genuine, heartfelt reactions, protests and concerns for the lives of not only those being oppressed but those who are subjected to it’s aftermath. In this day and age of fast everything, social networks, light speed information and video everywhere, there is always the lure to make a quick buck or take advantage and jump on the publicity bandwagon.  Let’s hope this is not the case.

So without further ado or verbal diatribe from me, here are some of the music coming out of this important issue.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HRSag8y38Yg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=53&v=9VzpCmRtCL0

ARTISAN ANGELO MARINOSCI … SONGSTER, POET AND PHOTOGRAPHER

Normally I would write the article on the people I find fascinating and worth promoting but in this artist’s case I can’t do justice to his story. This singer, songwriter, poet and photographer has over 1300 songs alone on Fandalism and Youtube and he keeps spinning them out with no sign of slowing down. You probably wouldn’t believe all the things I would tell you about this gentleman. So I’ll let it come from the man himself. Here is Angelo ‘Papa’ Marinosci.

Angelo ‘Papa’ Marinosci

“I was born in 1947 so I’ll soon to be a thousand years old. I began making music, much like everyone, in my early teens on a cheap little folk guitar. My early experiences with making music were a mixed bag of Country-Western, and Bluegrass, and a touch of Folk… while I was still dancing to Rock & Roll and listening to progressive Jazz. I am unstudied in music but hold a number of degrees in Art and Art Education. I worked and traveled in (Photo) Journalism and other different areas of Photography throughout my life and exhibited Painting (Metaphysical-Surrealism) and Photography (Street Candids) as well as playing out as a Musician (solo folk performer).

As with many self-taught musicians, I lusted after most experiences in music. I liked sitting in on, or creating, Jam-sessions. I liked concerts, festivals, bars, coffee houses, open mics…you name it. That changed as I began writing/creating more original materials when I started seeking out true listening audiences. As with my other art forms and activities, I never wanted to be mainstream, but was always looking for my audience. Most of my painting is probably of little or no interest to most people, and the same can be said of my photography…and for my music as well. I have no interest in a commercial success, but rather, finding my audience that can enjoy what I do. I claim either very few influences but I know that probably every sound I’ve ever heard has had some sort of effect on my relationship to every sound I make. Personally, I enjoy most art and photography and music.

At Common Fence Point Concert

I believe that Art, all art, is like a mirror…. People see or hear what they want or need to see or hear in what they expose themselves to. I like to think that my work is universal in some meaningful and honest way. What I make or show or sing; renders me open and vulnerable…it exposes me completely. It’s truly a universal language… it’s not about fame or fortune or stardom… it’s about meaningful self expression.

My photography has mostly been about the world out there, my painting has mostly expressed my inner world, and my music has been the sum total of my philosophical glue, my religion, that holds it all together. It’s not about mixture of colors, or chord progressions or choice of lenses (that’s just nuts and bolts) …its about the inherent aesthetic that I hope to have “woven” throughout my life and have tried to present it in some meaningful and honest way.

Children of Nicaragua – 1987 Angelo on location with children of war

When I sing and play, I like to have small receptive audiences so that I can sing from the heart and play to my best ability… not to impress, but to share and hopefully be shared.
Most of my songs have been created spontaneously and straight from the heart without filter or scrutiny; with out overworking and wearing down the texture of the original idea.
A good piece of art should ask more questions that it answers. I use some of my experiences or even borrowed experiences, or lucid dreams, to feed my process. In the end I am only one small voice that I hope will be heard.

A few years ago I was invited to join a music site and began contributing my musical posts on-line and was thankfully well received. As my age stood out on this youth oriented new media, I soon affectionately acquired the nick-name “Papa”…which then caught on as “Papa Angelo.” I was honoured… having only just become a father a few years earlier, and having called my own father “Papa” …which means father in Italian and whose name was Angelo…I felt well prepared to use my new label.

Papa and Arca at NYC-2012

I’ve earned and learned the value of nicknames and titles in life. When I was a youngster I was called “Junior” by my friends and family, not to be confused with my father… later I was Sergeant Marinosci during my military service… and then Professor Marinosci in the classroom when I taught college, and even “Uncle Jay” when I was hosting on radio for several years. I’m sure I’ve been called worst by some folks but “Papa Angelo” is an honorary title and I use it proudly.

Today, my brand of music is considered Americana-folk-blues and I proudly make it and hope it is worthy of the traditions it represents. In my own estimation, I have a fair voice, some ability on guitar and related instruments and I write pretty good songs. I hope my honest delivery is what people enjoy the most…enough to share it as I have.”

Below are just a few examples of Angelos’s work.  You can find more here and here