JPF Home Page Forums General Messages Songwriter Message Forum Let's talk about instrumentals.

Hi Mark

Yes it is way better with the New York accent and the hands moving all over the place.
lol

Hi Marc

I agree whole heartedly,education plays a big roll in the situation. But the media plays a much much bigger roll. It is WAY cooler to most kids to be like Paris Hilton or whoever else they see on TV and in the tabs than to be like Joni Mitchell. Or someone like Joni today. it's hard to think of someone off the top of head in 2009 that I can mention with Joni Mitchell

It's ALL about the media... and being HOT Paris Hilton makes $100,000 in one night for showing up at a club to drink and prance around for 45 minutes. She is HOT! She is great!
Sally Fields feeds thousands of starving kids a year and countless amounts in her lifetime and people call her a fat pig.

It is WAY WAY WAY cooler in the minds of the young to be a hip rapper with hot chicks,chicks is a nice word, fancy cars and bling then it is to be a serious musician. Serious musicians have to practice very very hard. Most pop stars today don't have to do that.
Lets see if I was 10 years old now would I idolize Lil Wayne or George Benson?
Hmm well I would NEVER get to see or hear George Benson so it's Lil Wayne
Lets count how many stars on the top 10 of the charts right now even play instruments period.

And when I say charts it's the Hot 100 the main chart not the separated ones.
Some people may be mistaken into thinking Country music occupies that top ten alot and it hardly ever does anymore. Unless we wanna call Taylor Swift Country, and we know she ain't. She's pop an Avril Lavine with an occasional fiddle or pedal steel.
Hip Hop dominates the planet in popular music that is a pure fact.

When I was 12 I saw George Benson on the only music program on TV at night.
He played the instrumental "Breezin" I was mesmerized. I saw Roy Clark on TV constantly he was outstanding!!! Guess what he was doing? See what the kids are watching and listening to today. Forget mentioning the internet, the search engines are all looking for Lil Wayne and Kayne West and whoever else... The kids can't get enough of there party loving idols.

I couldn't get enough of my party loving idols either only mine could play and sing and write flat out.

As far as music being understood technically .
When I was little 4 of my cousins took piano lessons and one took guitar. They would perform at family gatherings. I was not there equal in any regard. They could flat out, out play me. They took lessons and I didn't. They ALL quit! They were forced to play because parents made piano lessons a chore like dance classes.No one ever had to tell me to sit and practice I was never seen without a guitar in my hands.

Everyone I saw when I was little were great guitar players,drummers,singers bassists and such..
I learned 100% from the music scene. Hearing Jimmy Page, Clapton, Beck,Yes and Steve Howe, Queen, Stevie Wonder,Miles,Motown, Earth Wind And Fire (monster musicians,Carol king. Stones, Who. Genesis Floyd, Beatles, Eagles. and countless countless others one as great as the other.... Paul McCartney is not only the greatest pop song writer of an entire century he's like the greatest bass player as well lol
He revolutionized the BAss guitar popular and rock music.

Chicago was a HUGE pop band they were all great musicians.
The guys in Tull, Boston Fleetwood Mac, Elton Billy Joel these are POP starts Eric Carmen, Doobie Brothers, Allman Brothers HITS on the radio every single minute of the day.... All exceptional musical stuff going on and instruments in hand leading the way.

So after hearing great playing even in the poppiest songs like "Still The One" or Fool Around And fell In Love" etc...It's no wonder i would find my way to a Return To Forever " Concert and countless other great shows I've seen.

Also as far as music being understood technically here's the thing. It wasn't very technical in the 1950's on the pop music scene. Great songs great singers and some GREAT melodies but the industry was pushing the teen pop songs like they always have been and always will do. There were great instrumentals in the decade but the most important thing was there was BALANCE. Just like the 60's and 70's

The whole lack of exposure.... is the industry's fault and demise. I blame the artists just a tad Guys like Brad Paisely...

But I hear ya bro, I know all about the No guitar solos. Heck they don't even have them in ROCK pop songs anymore. How insane is that. But I understand the game very very well.

Nope the only factor is the big boys won't let it happen, they aren't even thinking about it. Expose great stuff to kids the way you expose nonsense and do it for a few years straight despite how much money you'll lose and see what happens. But that ain't happening not in the land of "Greedom"

PS- Marc you're insight into your music scene is extraordinary and very accurate.
And also very helpful especially if someone was trying to go for it and could stick to the game plans. If I were healthy I would join up for your tour for sure!! But then again I'd have a big list of things I would have to do first.

What sooo many people don't understand is talent and the love of it, are two things.
Perseverance, BUSINESS and the pursuit of a dream is another three things.


Good thread guys and gals!