If you strive to please everybody and be everybody's friend, chances are you're not making an artistic difference. During our parent’s era “the baby boomer era,” being different was considered honorable. But in the Gen X era where you get trophies just for participating, they are afraid to stand out, its about their network of friends, not wanting to be ostracized, being a carbon copy of everyone around them. And that's one of the reasons music is so formula.
Music is best when it's individualized, when the artist lets or insists on making his/her voice heard, and not catering to the “suits” who believe they know best. Take the Beatles for instance, they refused to do another's material, insisting on doing their own and "Please Please Me" went to number one. They weren't afraid to go their own way.
Its not about believing you know better, like a child who thinks he knows more than his dad. Its about questioning authority. Today artist seem to be afraid of losing Facebook “friends” and Twitter “followers”. Today’s artists seem afraid to stand out, afraid of criticism, they don’t seem to want to be seen as different.
Music is best when it's individualized, when the artist lets or insists on making his/her voice heard, and not catering to the “suits” who believe they know best. Take the Beatles for instance, they refused to do another's material, insisting on doing their own and "Please Please Me" went to number one. They weren't afraid to go their own way.
Its not about believing you know better, like a child who thinks he knows more than his dad. Its about questioning authority. Today artist seem to be afraid of losing Facebook “friends” and Twitter “followers”. Today’s artists seem afraid to stand out, afraid of criticism, they don’t seem to want to be seen as different.
The “suits” pretend to be looking for the new and the different. There are artists that have people dropping their jaws, chances are they're not going to last very long. Just because some don't like your music and art, that doesn't mean you're on the wrong path. The key is to be different AND marketable. Look at Steely Dan, they put a twist to their music, and they were embraced by a public that believed it hated the jazz influences Steely Dan was selling.
As an artist you're ahead of the game, expect to be censored and criticized. If you're not experiencing resistance, if you don't find people trying to rein you in, chances are you're not shooting high enough. Dare to be unpopular. Because that's where the germ of true popularity begins. Just saying …..
As an artist you're ahead of the game, expect to be censored and criticized. If you're not experiencing resistance, if you don't find people trying to rein you in, chances are you're not shooting high enough. Dare to be unpopular. Because that's where the germ of true popularity begins. Just saying …..
Everything must change …. Nothing stays the same …. Times, they are ah changin !!
Have a jazzy and beautiful day !!
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