Rather obviously, Totally Guitars lessons are focused on artists and tunes from the 60's and 70's. There are certainly enough of us who think that was a "golden" era in popular music to make that a very popular genre overall.

We have seen Punk, Pop, trance, techno, Rap and it's sometimes disturbing permutations and the like.

I wonder where music will go? I know that my young boys listen to what I listen to, because it's my car and they have no choice! But the fact is my kids know the words to Neil Young, Beatles, Cat Stevens etc, etc and they honestly enjoy that music.

I remember it used to be very uncool to dig what your parents dug (probably still is) but I see a lot of young people looking back rather than forward for musical enjoyment.

What do you think?

Thanks for the question Tony, you make us think. Socrates must be related to you.

Music will evolve and will always be appreciated by the teenagers of that generation having no other reference but what their friends like, as it did for us. Older generations can either adapt or complain, what ever is easier...

Marc

I think we must first define "Popular" music. Is it what the masses are buying? Is it what the mainstream Radio Stations are playing? Is it bands that are critically acclaimed, even called 'the best of today' (Wilco and Radiohead come to mind)yet never get airtime or mainstream acclaim because they refuse to play within the "System" of the industry itself?

Problem with most 'popular' (not to be confused with 'Pop' music, in the genre sense) music today is it is driven by greed. The artist wants to see himself, for whatever reason, reach the mainstream. The recording companies, the media companies, and so on want to make a dollar. With things like iTunes, YouTube, and other download sites, it's too easy today to rob the artist blind. It's also opened our eyes and ears to things in ways never before available. Back in the old days, we had those big 'ol LPs and we had to have a turntable to play them on, then the 8track, cassette, CDs, now mp3 and Ipods/pads/computers, even our cellular phones! Loaded to the gills with our favorite (or sometime just something you might want to listen to, who the hell needs 4 or 8 gig of music on a portable device? I mean, really?).

The industry within itself has to change.

unclewalt wrote:
Iron and Wine (whom I bet a lot of people here would love)

You piqued my curiosity Walt so I went to Youtube and checked out the tune "Naked as we came". Very nice. It was worth starting the thread to find a band I will explore further but had previously not heard of. Thanks.

tovo wrote:
I remember it used to be very uncool to dig what your parents dug (probably still is) but I see a lot of young people looking back rather than forward for musical enjoyment.

What do you think?[/quote]

I think you right there and the shop is very filled,,what i would like to here is music out our time in a new coat,,i heard yesterday ''wild world'' by someone(don't know who?)on the radio and loved it,,it was a kind of diffrent but nicely,,i love to watch ''idols'' or some thing like that where young people get out of there corner and show us there skills..I would love also to hear some songs from this time you like,,,on the moment i do not know one,, well i like ''soul sister'''by train.

Going by what my adult kids and now my grandkids, it seems to be the country music the listen to. Alot of country music I see is almost rock, or at least crossover. So maybe it's not that far from what they grew up listening to in the back seat.

I nominate Tony for the official title of Forum Quiz Master (until someone else earns this prestigious title). Well at least he should hold the record for the greatest number of interesting threads. Anyone want to second my recommendation?

michelew wrote:
I nominate Tony for the official title of Forum Quiz Master (until someone else earns this prestigious title). Well at least he should hold the record for the greatest number of interesting threads. Anyone want to second my recommendation?

HE is the biggest!!! TONY,TONY,TONY,TONY!! and a filosoof i think.

[b]i]Uncle Walt wrote:[/b][/i]
Classic rock was uncool for only one generation: Generation X.

Uncle Walt wrote:

Classic rock was uncool for only one generation: Generation X.

Perhaps it was the part of the country I grew up in (I seem to remember you saying you are from Chicago, and I'm from the east coast) but in my experience, this statement is completely untrue. I'm solidly a Generation Xer (I was born in 1972) and as a teenager I listened predominantly to classic rock, as did pretty much everyone I knew. Yes, hair metal bands were hugely popular at that time, but so many of them were influenced by and defined by classic rock, and we all looked at classic rock as a sort of "canon." You listened to White Snake AND you listened to Led Zeppelin.

I sure agreed with a lot of what Wiley and Walt had to say, the 60's in particular was a golden era and to think that 40 odd years later so much of that music is still popular and relevant reinforces that assertion I think.

Ah Willem...I just figured out what a "filosoof" is! lol. Thanks mate but hardly. Just someone with too much time on my hands.

I no longer follow "popular" music. The big music industry and huge radio stations seem to force such a limited selection of music down our/my throats. And the "oldies" stations seem to play a VERY limited number of the old songs - I got SO tired of hearing "Philadelphia Freedom" and "Riders on the Storm" I stopped listening to the oldies stations too. I love surfing YouTube for exceptional covers (or even originals) from amateur musicians. There's just so much music out there to be discovered!

ffsooo3 wrote:
[ i love YouTube for exceptional covers (or even originals) from amateur musicians. There's just so much music out there to be discovered![/quote]

You got me on this one,,i love that to,,so nice for example the songs that you work on and then find a someone that does great in your own opnion,,and its nice to see and hear people are busy with there!! music..

ffsooo3 wrote:
I no longer follow "popular" music. The big music industry and huge radio stations seem to force such a limited selection of music down our/my throats. And the "oldies" stations seem to play a VERY limited number of the old songs - I got SO tired of hearing "Philadelphia Freedom" and "Riders on the Storm" I stopped listening to the oldies stations too. I love surfing YouTube for exceptional covers (or even originals) from amateur musicians. There's just so much music out there to be discovered!


I hear that.Thats why they put CD player and a place to plug in a MP3 player in cars now day.What a great thing.My two boys listen to different kinds of music.My twenty three yr. old goes to all these big out door festivals.Hes big into a guy,Killer Williams,Kind of a one man band.My younger boy 19,listen to a lot of country music.Its kind of strange,he has a Chevy Blazer,And hes got those great big bass speakers in the back.So you can only imagine him pulling up in the driveway with Miranda Lambert or some of these other new country folks just a thumping.Yes,makes me want to do a little THUMPING myself.Just kidding,Kid will be kids.

Kevin

A huge number of 'new' bands and artist have become 'smarter' than their elder statesmen. The largest hurdle the 'bigboys' face is how these artist respond to recording contracts and the like. Acts like "Toby Keith" who, after years of going along, left his label and formed his own. Or "Taylor Swift" who built her own deal (Her Dad was an exec with Merril/Lynch) with a start up company.

There are, really, a lot of today's acts that are hugely talented, musically and literally (in the songwriting sense). A lot of them are multi-instrumentalist either directly, or members of the band are. One of my favorites, what they call "Acoustic Rock" nowdays is "Boyce Avenue". Recently signed to Universal Republic just before releasing their second album (on their own label, paid for by themselves). I have no clue as to their 'deal' with Universal, but I do know the eldest brother (the band consist of three brothers)had returned from Law school (Harvard) with a degree and decided to become the third member in '04.

Then, the band Suzi brought up, "the Decemberist" has a following. To say they are 'different' is cutting it a bit short. Most of their songs are 'story telling' pieces, some based on Gothic Tales, some on reality, some dark, some bright. They were introduced to myself largely due to the fact my son-in-law introduced them to my granddaughter who took a big interest in them. That same Son-in-law is, and has been a Jeff Tweedy fan since Jeff's "Uncle Tupelo" days. He's seen Wilco four times now.

Then there's "Death Cab for Cutie", gaining recognition and popularity. "Colbie Caillat", her dad was the producer for Fleetwood Mac's "Tusk" and many others. So, she knows the business inside and out. "Priscilla Ahn", writing and playing all of her own instruments.

Then, we have the "Reality" shows, "American Idol". "America's Got Talent", "Britain's Got Talent", and "X Factor" and the like. These shows have branched off into every country imaginable. Talent that never before would have had a showcase now has one. A big one at that. Sure, most of these shows pull the same old 'pull from under the rug' attitude of the existing recording companies. *America's Got Talent pays out that million dollars in two ways, either over a forty year payout or, a one time payment (undisclosed) that is figured on what the initial investment at the time would be to earn a million over those forty years. American Idol pays $300k for the first album, $500k for the second (if you get to do one) and, if all is really, really good with the first two, they have a bonus clause that might pay $1mill for the third one. Of course, there's all kinds of cute little twist and exceptions put in those contracts, Put simply, I know of a little girl who made Idol twice, The second time she backed out, never showing in California. Instead she signed a contract with an "Artist Development" group. Seems once you hit the door in California, that "American Idol" tag is locked in for a year.

The industry has a problem. With all the sources for artist today, technology that was never around or dreamed of, We, the People, get to tell them what we like. At least we are starting to. There's a War going on. The Industry Giants still want to shove certain artist and music down our throats, like they always have, that's where the profit's at. That old "Sign With Us or Else" attitude is fading away, artist themselves are figuring out the sources out there are endless. The artist are moving away from caring about massive sales, unlike any other time in recent history.

The next step, already taking place, may just be the artist themselves selling their own productions, downloaded from their own sites. The technology is in place. As another example, say Suzi finds some group that performs only locally, in her area. She wants to 'share' that group, a 'click' and it's done. That group now has exposure from the East Coast (where Suzi lives) to the West Coast, where her friend she sent the link to lives. Instant Nation Wide exposure!(Kinda).

There was a response here about how the '60s and '70s were so 'great' due to advancements in technology and such. I personally think we are 'ripe' for that here and now to happen again. How many (and readily) available the "Home Recording" studio has become! Audacity, Garage Band, Pro Tools is easily "Home Computer" based. It only takes a few square feet to build a square of sound proof area to record in, and we don't really even need that! Web Cams and microphones (Most Laptops come with this now), and the like and an internet connection, a bit of technological aptitude, and POOF!! Instant stardom!!

Hell guys, just look around at any Wal-Mart, anyone notice how the "Music" department, that place where you buy the newest release is sold, has been shrinking? All we need do now is go online, look up the artist (single or album) buy that download, and we all have a CD burner built in to our PCs! Even the "CD" may be on it's way out! I don't know how many of us have it, all I need do is take the iPod and 'plug' it into the car. The 'middle man' is on his way out, or at least having a big chunk cut out of his piece of the pie.

Which brings about another story, how much of the 'royalty' package are artist being dupped out of nowdays with this same technology? And, going forward, how are they, the artist, going to get their 'rightful' cut?

Then there's the Radio Station, the 'airwaves'. In my youth, that was a huge way we got our music. I still remember 'jogging' as my "Walkman" bounced against my leg, tuned into my favorite radio station (the CDs just plainly bounced around too much to give a good listen). Disc Jockeys became celebrity's in their own right. Sure, they will probably be around for a long time, they offer many other services (weather, traffic, interviews and such). Yet, right now, as I type this, I'm listening to Priscilla Ahn on her website. Any of us can do so with a huge, and growing number of artist.

Michelle, I second, third, and fourth that motion. In fact, I think the motion passed. Congrats Tony, you are now in charge of TGs "Thought Provoking Thread" department!!

suziko wrote:
Uncle Walt wrote:

Classic rock was uncool for only one generation: Generation X.

Perhaps it was the part of the country I grew up in (I seem to remember you saying you are from Chicago, and I'm from the east coast) but in my experience, this statement is completely untrue. I'm solidly a Generation Xer (I was born in 1972) and as a teenager I listened predominantly to classic rock, as did pretty much everyone I knew. Yes, hair metal bands were hugely popular at that time, but so many of them were influenced by and defined by classic rock, and we all looked at classic rock as a sort of "canon." You listened to White Snake AND you listened to Led Zeppelin.

I wholeheartedly agree with this. I was born in 1969 (the day Neil Armstrong landed on the moon for those who remember that) and grew up in NH. My parents were constantly playing music on those records and 8 tracks. Beatles, Stones, Fleetwood Mac, Steve Miller Band, etc.... That is what I grew up with. However my friends and I gravitated from there to Zeppelin, CSN&Y, Simon and Garfunkel, Aerosmith. Of course we listened to Whitesnake, AC/DC (huge back then), Dokken and the hair band of the day. With all that said most of the gen Xers that I know and grew up with have our feet firmly planted in the classic rock world.

Today I mostly listen to Sports radio on the car and when I want music I'll put on the satalite radio stations like classic vinyl, classic rewind, Deep tracks, coffee house, and the 60's, 70's and 80's stations. Of course the ipod helps out there as well.


MarkM

Ah Willem...I just figured out what a "filosoof" is! lol. Thanks mate but hardly. Just someone with too much time on my hands.

Join the ranks of the great Aussie Philosophers Tony ...