Fans should not criticize change in artistic direction

The moment a musical artist releases a new album, the first response, from many fans, is generally along the lines of, “I like it but it’s not as good as his old stuff.”

As musical artist grow and create, they learn more about the music they truly want to make. Just as musical interests change as a child grows up, musical artists change the dynamic of the music that they want to make. Fans complain about the direction that and artist is taking, but truthfully, they have no say in the matter.

            The scenario plays out every time. I’ll be discussing thoughts of a new album with my friends, and sooner or later someone will say, “It’s too different from their other albums,” or “It’s no where near as good as their other albums.” (Oftentimes it’s me.)

            The problem with this is that fans always expect more of the same music they loved – or something better – from bands, so artists are never allowed to grow artistically or adapt to their situations and moods.

            Most musicians begin making music for themselves. They are not out to prove anything or gain the acceptance of fans. Once fans start to gravitate toward a particular band, these fans suddenly believe that they also have the right to criticize the art.

             That’s not to say fans have to love everything that a band puts out, but they do not have to right to criticize a particular direction a band is taking. Not liking something is different than not allowing a band to grow.

            I know he’s been used as an example in my articles many times in the past, but musician/producer Butch Walker provides deep insight into this situation.

            At the time Walker began his solo career, he had experienced success in the hair-metal band, South Gang, and the alternative rock band, The Marvelous 3. He left both of these bands due to the fact that he wanted to explore different types of music.

            Walker felt trapped, and once he went solo, he knew that he would be making something completely different. Instantly, Walker received widespread criticism for his change dynamics. He lost many fans, and even today, every album is drastically different from the previous one.

            Walker does this because he makes music for himself and his own personal satisfaction. He’s not out to please anyone but himself.

            Fans do not have to love everything an artist they like releases, but criticizing music because it’s, “too different,” or “not as good as,” their old music is an unfair assessment that fans should steer away from. We are being unfair and rather narcissistic when we expect bands to never change just so we can keep liking and listening to the same sounds and messages one album after another.  

Music allows for escape and comfort

I'm in the car with my friends. The music is loud, and we're all enjoying the song. As the track nears the chorus, or drop, depending on the genre currently playing, a rush of anticipation flows through us all.

When the chorus finally hits, the feeling of euphoria, excitement and satisfaction cannot be contained, and I only have one thought in my head: this is why I love music. 

            Music has the power to alter moods and connect with the listener. There is always a song to match how I feel, or change it. Music is beautiful, and it goes far beyond being sensed by the ears. It is felt and understood. Good music is comforting and engaging. Music can define a moment and create memories.

            Music is an art form, and just like a painting or a movie, it can express an idea and provoke thought. It’s a form of expression that is powerful to both the musician and the listener. 

If I'm stressing out about school work, or life gets the best of me, I can always throw on relaxing music like Band of Horses or Counting Crows, and connect with sound. If I’m energized and excited, I can listen to artists like Zedd or The Shins.

Music exists for every personality type and emotion, which allows nearly everyone to make a personal connection with it.

Along with the emotion that music stir, the message and motivation behind a song can be just as powerful as the sounds themselves.

A song can be thought provoking and discuss a serious topic. This idea led to the music and cultural revolution in Greenwich Village in the 1960s, and this facilitated the change of the mentality of an entire nation.

Artists such as Bob Dylan sought to change the minds of people and challenge thoughts about society’s standards though his music and lyrics. His poetic lyrics added to and helped people connect with Dylan’s music. Even through today, Dylan’s music is stilled widely loved, but not for his charming voice or advanced musicianship. It’s because of the power of his words.

All of these aspects together create an art form unlike anything else. Music can be appreciated anywhere at any time. It tells a story and takes the listener on a journey. 

Music is used to supply comfort and connect to the listener. Its artistic value has been used to challenge society and provoke thought. Music is a form of expression and can define a generation.        

How cameras are ruining concerts

     As the lights dim, the crowd rushes toward the stage, ecstatic to see their favorite musical artist perform before their own eyes. They’ve all been waiting for this moment. They are seeing a live performance from their idols. The music begins to play and the performer enters the stage and into the spotlight. The crowd cheers, and what do they do? They all take out their cameras.

     This is the case at every concert I attend. Fans take pictures and videotape the entire performance. Everyone just ends up watching the show behind a tiny screen. They might as well just be at home.

     Not many people savor the moment and live in the present. They’re too caught up in saving the show for later, and to show their friends, rather than really enjoying what is live and right in front of their faces.

     Granted, I do take pictures at concerts. However, it’s generally not many. When I look around the crowd, I see a sea of light created by phones and flashes throughout the entire show. What’s the point of seeing a concert, if taking pictures is the only thing on people’s minds?

     This phenomenon is due to our technological age and our culture. Everyone has access to a camera, and social networking has given people in my generation a constant need to share everything they’re doing. Of course, I often fall into this state of mind, but it is important to take a step back and seize the moment.

     Concerts, for many people, are once in a lifetime experiences, and wanting to savor the moment makes perfect sense. But there is something to be said for really enjoying and taking in the moment.

     Memories will last forever, but pictures may be forgotten. I often take pictures of events or places with the idea that I’ll reminisce on a later date. Most of the time, I never even look at the pictures again.

     Enjoying shows and living in the moment will create memories that will last a lifetime. Concerts are meant to be an opportunity to see a favorite artist live, not through a tiny screen.  So unplug, and enjoy the show.  

             

Why we need to stop glorifying celebrities

BY DREW DANIELS

     All over the entertainment world, from films, to music and to sports, celebrities are displayed as the epitome of beauty, class and elegance. People look up to these celebrities and view them as role models. 

     Everything about them is viewed as being in a state perfection. They have the best clothes, the best cars and the best friends. However, many celebrities that our society puts on a grand pedestal are poor influences and not people who members of society should be looking up to.

     Granted, many celebrities use their fame to better the world and are fantastic human beings. They contribute to society and are positive role models. People such as Bono and Ellen DeGeneres fight to make the world a better place. They give to others and use their influence to inspire hope.

     However, there are some stars that people, especially young adults, look up to and probably shouldn’t. Many stars today are “famous for being famous,” and contribute nothing to society. Often these celebrities have been arrested or have been involved in scandals.

     People such as Kim Kardashian and Nicole "Snookie" Polizzi continue to receive media coverage boosting their popularity. By feeding celebrities’ egos when they get into trouble furthers the problem. It is as if the more a celebrity fails as a human being, the more famous he or she becomes.

     The stars are not entirely at fault however. The public continues to admire these people. Did everyone just forget that Chris Brown beat up Rihanna? It is appalling to see that his album sales are still at the top of the charts, and he is still performing sold out shows.

     We live in a materialistic society that bases success on how many nice things someone owns. We look up to stars because they’re rich and pretty, and it is further corrupting the way we think. Instead of vilifying convicted felons, we give them attention and welcome them into our popular culture.

     As a whole, we need to completely redefine the way we view celebrities, and stars need to understand their influence. I believe it is a duty of those who possess fame to contribute positively to society. The media and the public need to change how they think. Everyone, including me, needs to shift the way celebrities are viewed if we want to continue to be a productive society.

The Art of Sampling (and the right ways to use it)

BY DREW DANIELS

         Taking previously recorded music and using it in another piece is hardly a new idea. Sampling tracks, instruments or parts or recordings has been around since disk jockeying and electronic music became popular in the 1970s and ‘80s.

         Even though legal issues and arguments about artistic integrity have arisen due to the increasing popularity of sampling, I believe that, when used properly, sampling adds to the originality of the song.

         When does a sampled track cease to be original music? Is sampling a song in another track still considered an original work of art? Many old-school musicians view sampling as a form of cheating and a lack of creativity. Instead of creating an original beat or rhythm, artists use someone else's.

         Others view sampling as innovative and revolutionary. Most hip-hop and electronic tracks use samples and producers such as Kanye West and 9th Wonder use samples to boost their artistic expression, either by taking their own spin on a popular beat or using only small parts of a track to give their song an influential flair.

         While using samples does take other artists’ recorded tracks, I have seen it used in imaginative ways that give the music a signature and memorable sound.

           Kanye West’s song “Power” is completely based around the King Crimson song “21^st Century Schizoid Man” as well as many other minor samples that West makes work together. The result is an original, creative piece that helped West realize the emotion of his song.

         Many artists misuse sampling and it has caused serious criticism. In the late ‘90s, parody newspaper The Onion published an article titled, “New rap song samples ‘Billy Jean’ in its entirety, adds nothing.”

         Producer and Grammy winner 9th Wonder discussed the “art of sampling,” in a video interview on YouTube and how he uses sampling to enhance his music. He describes the talent and creativity needed to properly use samples creatively, and I agree. Taking samples from a song and completely reimagining it into an original work of art is a talent that very few people possess.

            Rapper Mac Miller is currently being sued by legendary rapper Lord Finesse over Miller’s song “Kool Aid and Frozen Pizza.”

According to Rolling Stone the lawsuit reads: "This is a case about a teenage rapper – Mac Miller – copying the music from a song written, produced and performed by Lord Finesse, a hip-hop legend, changing the title and then distributing it under his own name in order to launch his music career."

         Sampling is not about cheating or stealing other artist’s music. It’s about reimagining it into something creative and completely new. Unfortunately, many artists miss this purpose.

         The legality of sampling is another issue throughout the music industry. Even with today’s regulations, new copyright laws and intellectual property laws, the argument on the legality of sampling and the proper ways to gain clearance are highly debated.

          Since clearing a sample generally involves paying a large sum of money to the rights holders, many artists simply bypass clearance. Though today most professionals clear samples, many lawsuits have been filed in recent years.

         Artists such as Biggie Smalls, Danger Mouse and the Beastie Boys have been sued over the use of samples in their music. Though the courts have ruled that the use of some samples that haven’t been cleared is legal, a large dispute still exists on both sides.

         Finding a fair balance between using sampling and creating original material is imperative when keeping musical integrity. It is very easy to overuse sampling and lose the originality in a song; however, the use and increasing popularity of sampling is an original form of musical expression and inspiration.

Album Review: Lightning

BY DREW DANIELS
     Sometimes music is created just for the purpose of partying to it, and that is exactly what alternative dance/ indie rock duo Matt and Kim have created in their most recent album, Lightning. Fun and upbeat throughout, Matt and Kim have moved into a more dance genre without compromising their classic sound.

     The biggest difference in the sound of Lightning is the apparent use of computerized sounds rather than more acoustic piano sounds. Songs such as “Now” and “Overexposed” are pure dance songs (with a recognizable Matt and Kim flair.) Matt and Kim’s mix of old and new sounds is what makes Lightning such a memorable album.

     Many songs such as “Let’s Go” and “It’s Alright” have sing-a-long choruses, that sound like anthems. With these new songs, Matt and Kim’s concerts are sure to be even more of a party than before.

     Not everything takes influence of Matt and Kim’s new sound. Many tracks like “Not That Bad” and “Ten Dollars I Found” go back to the roots of Matt and Kim’s music, pulling influences from “Good Ol’ Fashion Nightmare” and “Lessons Learned.”  

While recording Lightning, Matt and Kim went back to their home studio. This DYI approach to their music is what Matt and Kim is known for, and it shows off in their music. Lighting is real, and created exactly how the artists intended.  

     Lighting is just an album about having a party. The use of swells and electronic sounds mix well Matt and Kim’s classic sounds creating a fun, memorable album expected of the duo.   

Opinion: Frank Ocean breaks down homophobic barriers in the music community

BY DREW DANIELS

          A radical culture shift on the topic of gay tolerance is taking place throughout the country and the hip-hop community is, unexpectedly, supporting this change in the status quo. The hip-hop community has generally been a homophobic one, but recently the rap game has become more accepting.

         On July 4, R&B artist Frank Ocean posted a letter on his Tumblr publicly stating his homosexuality. Ocean is the first artist to come out in the modern hip-hop scene, and the support among his peers has been overwhelmingly positive. Russell Simmons, a business magnate in hip-hop even wrote an article in Global Grind, an entertainment publication, praising Ocean.

         "Today is a big day for hip-hop. It is a day that will define who we really are,” Simmons said in the article. “Your decision to go public about your sexual orientation gives hope and light to so many young people still living in fear.”

         Ten years ago, careers were ruined if an artist in the hip-hop community was discovered, or rumored, to be gay. Support has been coming from inside the community and out. Artists such as Jay-Z, Beyonce, and Tyler, The Creator have posted their support of Ocean publicly.

         The results of how this will affect Ocean’s career will not be known until he has gained more popularity from his debut album, Channel Orange, which was released July 10, just days after his announcement. However, the positive uproar his post has sparked is definitely a strong step forward for the gay community to find acceptance in hip-hop, and the music industry as a whole.

         Unfortunately, not everyone has been accepting of Ocean. According to The New York Times, Ocean has received death threats over social networks, and artists including Nicki Minaj and Lil Wayne have remained silent on the topic. Stevie Wonder, during an interview, stated a seemingly homophobic comment. However, he quickly apologized in support of Ocean. Most spiteful comments are being drowned out by the support of a majority of hip-hop artists and fans.

         The issue of gay marriage and gay acceptance has been a growing controversy, especially with President Obama’s support of gay marriage and Chick-Fil-A’s activism against it. I praise Ocean for helping the effort of the gay community, and I believe that his announcement will help move this issue in the direction of acceptance.

         Hopefully, this will encourage other artists, in every genre, to be accepting of others’ sexuality, and continue to support quality music regardless of the artist’s sexual preference. Tolerance can easily be reached through the power of music and support of artists from every background and orientation.