I had forgotten about that. 😂😂😂 I do remember years later when Ian Andersen said that the fans who obsessively analyzed Jethro Tull lyrics didn't get it--the lyrics were just nonsense, and they should get a life.
Oh, totally agree! Ob La Di Ob La Da! I think Andersen was being a dick when he said that, even if it was true the lyrics were nonsense. He could have said it more gently.
I could not be bothered to watch the Grammys. I could not agree with you more. Same people, same self-adoration, redundancy and lack of real imagination. I think the committee is quite happy to help the music die a slow death. Speaking of music, last night I saw finally - finally, because I'm living in a Renaissance town in Florence - not a film town like my former LA, so the selection of cinemas is pitiful. Getting back to what I saw: A Complete Unknown with the actor Timotheè Chalamet. I have ranted against this young 13-year old girl looking guy for a few years but he won me over in the biopic of Dylan. A great film with incredibly meaningful, poetic music. It just hit a chord that reassured me original music like this generation is dead in the USA. Bob Dylan was so far and away unique, original, difficult to get [or even understand his lyrics at times when he mumbled], but it had such depth and purpose, soul, heartbreak and protest messages in his early years. I wanted to get up and sing along to the music. It was a dazzling portrayal with incredible performances by Edward Norton and Elle Fanning and others. I have to say, this kind of music that brought an entire world together either in protestation, love, understanding and worship is sorely missed with today's blazè noise. I know there are some people and groups making some headway = but not very many as they were back in the day - and not all at the same time.
People will no doubt disagree with me - but I'm very grateful I have a good head for music and a good ear to know what is not. Thanks Charles for sharing - these groups are really great.
Hi Charles - I just thought of something: while on hold with Apple support, they played [unfortunately] a selection of “pop music}. I realized that it’s nothing more than what would be text messages given to friends set to synthesized/robotic ghetto background noise - unbelievably horrible stuff.
Explosive is a perfect word to describe that period. It hasn’t happened since except for musicians like Prince, U2, The Clash, and New Order and some other great 80s bands. 60s-70s music found that generation commingling, hanging out and communicating, protesting, feeling hopeful or ready to make a stand. Even if they may have been stoned. 80s was a time to dance and dance late into the night and most often driven by cocaine. After that, we had rap we couldn’t get a grip on nor dance to, nor feel inspired by - just detached watching ghetto dancers and hand gestures, bodies heavy with gold medallions and then along came twerking, nearly nakedness and lots of T&A on stage that turned teenagers into selfie-driven wannabes. That’s how far downhill things have gone.
Thanks for reading and for the thoughts on Dylan. For sure the late 60's/early 70's was a period of explosive creativity that hasn't been matched since. We don't have to hold people up to that standard. Just a sincere effort would be enough. Unfortunately, we may be on the way to obsolescence, so it may all be moot.
I no longer listen to many songs that would be nominated for the Grammys. I am sure some are very good but many just tend to sound like each other. But I am sure that is down to my ignorance. I mean the Oscars or the BAFTAs or whatever don't often turn up with the winners I would have voted for.
So leave me to listen to songs that touch me or make me smile. But giving out awards has for some time been a self serving exercise for a few by a few and it just embarrasses me now.
I am working on an article about the homogenization of music. There are some great writers out there who have applied statistics to song structure and shown that you are not imagining it: song sound more and more alike.
I haven't watched the Grammys or Oscars in many years. Part of it was moving overseas and realizing that it meant nothing anywhere else, but also all the lobbying by the companies involved. It does indeed seem like US industry congratulating itself, rather than a real awards show. Maybe it always has been, but in the past it seemed more open vis-a-vis nominations and was a heck of a lot more fun.
I do have the sense that it was much more relaxed and free-form before, though I did not watch the ceremonies themselves. The financial stakes have become so high, and the share taken home by most artists so small, that does in fact feel like an industry like toothpaste or hardware.
Yes, exactly, it's more like a trade show. People in the industry nominate, vote, and participate. Maybe there are industry stakes, as you say, but it just doesn't seem all that culturally relevant anymore. I don't know one single person who watches or talks about it.
Yeah, the fact that Clams Casino by Cassandra Jenkins wasn't nominated for best rock song - to name but one example - highlights the absurdity of the thing.
The Grammy's jumped the shark in the '80s when Jethro Tull was the first Heavy Metal winner (over Metallica!) - Skibsted
I had forgotten about that. 😂😂😂 I do remember years later when Ian Andersen said that the fans who obsessively analyzed Jethro Tull lyrics didn't get it--the lyrics were just nonsense, and they should get a life.
a lot of songs have lyrics that are nonsense, but nonsense lyrics that doesn't mean the song is bad.
Oh, totally agree! Ob La Di Ob La Da! I think Andersen was being a dick when he said that, even if it was true the lyrics were nonsense. He could have said it more gently.
It's a sad affair, basicly celebrating the tedious and well-known.
I think you just have to follow the money.
I could not be bothered to watch the Grammys. I could not agree with you more. Same people, same self-adoration, redundancy and lack of real imagination. I think the committee is quite happy to help the music die a slow death. Speaking of music, last night I saw finally - finally, because I'm living in a Renaissance town in Florence - not a film town like my former LA, so the selection of cinemas is pitiful. Getting back to what I saw: A Complete Unknown with the actor Timotheè Chalamet. I have ranted against this young 13-year old girl looking guy for a few years but he won me over in the biopic of Dylan. A great film with incredibly meaningful, poetic music. It just hit a chord that reassured me original music like this generation is dead in the USA. Bob Dylan was so far and away unique, original, difficult to get [or even understand his lyrics at times when he mumbled], but it had such depth and purpose, soul, heartbreak and protest messages in his early years. I wanted to get up and sing along to the music. It was a dazzling portrayal with incredible performances by Edward Norton and Elle Fanning and others. I have to say, this kind of music that brought an entire world together either in protestation, love, understanding and worship is sorely missed with today's blazè noise. I know there are some people and groups making some headway = but not very many as they were back in the day - and not all at the same time.
People will no doubt disagree with me - but I'm very grateful I have a good head for music and a good ear to know what is not. Thanks Charles for sharing - these groups are really great.
Hi Charles - I just thought of something: while on hold with Apple support, they played [unfortunately] a selection of “pop music}. I realized that it’s nothing more than what would be text messages given to friends set to synthesized/robotic ghetto background noise - unbelievably horrible stuff.
Maybe. Just overrated IMHO.
Explosive is a perfect word to describe that period. It hasn’t happened since except for musicians like Prince, U2, The Clash, and New Order and some other great 80s bands. 60s-70s music found that generation commingling, hanging out and communicating, protesting, feeling hopeful or ready to make a stand. Even if they may have been stoned. 80s was a time to dance and dance late into the night and most often driven by cocaine. After that, we had rap we couldn’t get a grip on nor dance to, nor feel inspired by - just detached watching ghetto dancers and hand gestures, bodies heavy with gold medallions and then along came twerking, nearly nakedness and lots of T&A on stage that turned teenagers into selfie-driven wannabes. That’s how far downhill things have gone.
Well, I have a lot of friends who think hip-hop is perfectly danceable...😁😁
Thanks for reading and for the thoughts on Dylan. For sure the late 60's/early 70's was a period of explosive creativity that hasn't been matched since. We don't have to hold people up to that standard. Just a sincere effort would be enough. Unfortunately, we may be on the way to obsolescence, so it may all be moot.
I no longer listen to many songs that would be nominated for the Grammys. I am sure some are very good but many just tend to sound like each other. But I am sure that is down to my ignorance. I mean the Oscars or the BAFTAs or whatever don't often turn up with the winners I would have voted for.
So leave me to listen to songs that touch me or make me smile. But giving out awards has for some time been a self serving exercise for a few by a few and it just embarrasses me now.
I am working on an article about the homogenization of music. There are some great writers out there who have applied statistics to song structure and shown that you are not imagining it: song sound more and more alike.
Thanks for the intro to the Sixters.
I haven't watched the Grammys or Oscars in many years. Part of it was moving overseas and realizing that it meant nothing anywhere else, but also all the lobbying by the companies involved. It does indeed seem like US industry congratulating itself, rather than a real awards show. Maybe it always has been, but in the past it seemed more open vis-a-vis nominations and was a heck of a lot more fun.
I do have the sense that it was much more relaxed and free-form before, though I did not watch the ceremonies themselves. The financial stakes have become so high, and the share taken home by most artists so small, that does in fact feel like an industry like toothpaste or hardware.
Yes, exactly, it's more like a trade show. People in the industry nominate, vote, and participate. Maybe there are industry stakes, as you say, but it just doesn't seem all that culturally relevant anymore. I don't know one single person who watches or talks about it.
Yeah, the fact that Clams Casino by Cassandra Jenkins wasn't nominated for best rock song - to name but one example - highlights the absurdity of the thing.