Topic: Today's Modern Music Condition

before i say anything, i want to make it clear that this is NOT A MUSIC SHARING THREAD(just in case this thread is locked by admins ), though if you feel the need to share your song to prove your point, feel free. ALSO, make sure you don't take anything in here too seriously. i don't want anyone getting offended over their personal music, so thanks

in the title, when i say "modern music condition", i mean we discuss the horrible disease that people voluntarily recieve (and i ain't talking about STDs, i'm talking about music). however, a lot of people would think that i'm one of those people that says "all modern music is crap", which is a complete lie. there's lots of good modern music out there, but it's hidden behind everything we always end up hearing.
most average joes only care about what a song sounds like, which is one reason why modern pop-singers get popular. take Taylor Swift for example; she almost always songs about Break-ups. EVERY. TIME. and she is still popular because people who listen to her only care about how each of her songs sound. another example? Like a G6, by Far East Movement. it's a song about getting drunk, yet so many people, many not even 13 yet, listen to this song.

(i'm going to use the Gorillaz as an example of a band that writes songs with real lyrics, though they are an old band.) the Gorillaz for example, are a quite amazing band. not only are their songs meaningful, their lyrics are poetic, not bland like most music today. the only way for you to understand what the song is about is to listen to it with your full attention, and when you do, you're put to tears (or at least i am). most songs tell you exactly what they're about, but the the gorillaz!
i could go on, but i wanted to give a mini interpretation of how i see the condition of modern music. right now, it's late, and i want to go to bed, i just wanted to finish this thread.

I'm 15, and I can't stand any of the music (well, like you said, there is some good stuff) of the 21st century. All of the music I enjoy is from the 1950's to the 1990's, and that's because my Dad is a real music aficionado, and I grew up listening to music of that time period. I don't understand why other kids of my age like any of it. They just don't make music like the 70's or 80's anymore.

While I'll agree that's its worse than usual...this is nothing new, and there are plenty of good modern music out there, with thoughtful, well-written lyrics out there, and it's easier to come by thanks to Youtube and iTunes. I'm listening to Human (by The Killers) as I write this. You could write a college paper on the lyrics alone. It's really freakin' good. Trust me, I've been turned off by modern music before, but if you look hard, avoid most popular-in-America bands (because infectious beats seems to be all thats required for something to get popular here), and branch out, you're bound to find plenty of good music out there.

Really, in this day and age, it requires effort to find anything worthwhile instead of being spoonfed everything and hope you don't have to spit it out. And IMO, it's a major improvement.

That stuff you mentioned isn't music

I'm a bit odd.

I like 80's rock, video game soundtracks, modern country, J-pop, & J-rock (with the occasional random song).

Your rant just looks like this. "Taylor Swift sings about real things, but she sucks. Gorilla sings about real things. They're awesome."

A song is more than just lyrics. It's a combination of everything you hear when you play the music, when you listen to the words being spoken.

And gaga.

/thread

I'm a teen who loves 60s rock (mostly psychedelic), 90s rock (you know what that signifies) and the rest is mostly electronica.

There IS good music today. Just screw the top 40 stations. You need to do a bit of searching, but it's there.

I know people who can listen to the worst-sounding songs ever, just because it has good lyrics. They are a big part of a vocal song, IMO, though how big definitely comes down to taste. I know for me crappy lyrics can easily kill an otherwise good song.

Take Lady Gaga, for example. Most of here songs are indeed generally good, but I find most of her lyrics genuinely creepy. They often offend me on a deep, subconcious level, and therefore I cannot tolerate most of her songs for more than a minute.

I don't think this is a new problem. Ever since "Top X" charts have been around (and probably before that) there have been people making music simply to sell records. Perhaps the only thing that's different is that it's now down to a science, but music written specifically to sell records has been around for a long, long time.

It doesn't mean that there is less 'meaningful' music around - I'd argue that, in the era of home recording and digital distribution, it's easier to find than ever. I think you're just looking in the wrong places.

I believe it's all a matter of opinion. I too do not have too many favourites in the popular scene but some are still there.
However you are talking about a certain artist singing constantly about break-ups... Or a certain subject. Which is true, but this is nothing new. Some artists stick to what they are good at... lol

Yeah... I'm gonna hafta go ahead and completely agree with you there.
No matter the era of music, though, the crap floats and the solid stuff with substance goes down deep. I listen to good music that dates back to the first half of the last century! It's where everything modern originated...
Anyways, my point is that true artists that have genuine expressions will never cease to put out good music. The record labels, on the other hand, are all about the bottom line: money. Radio stations receive money to play the trash we hear... Mass mentality oppresses us with Gangam Style and the like... It doesn't end. My advice: search for that good music. Go beyond your time era, listen to independent bands, go on Bandcamp.com and discover new, FREE, awesome stuff! The good stuff is out there.
Do not support Gagagarbage! Oh, Me.

What you're saying is nothing knew, really. Anyone remember the hit "Boogie" back in the 70's? It's repetitive and slightly pleasant...but that's it. Yeah, the popular stuff is bad nowadays but it's not like this is the only generation guilty of that. Besides, once in a while something actually good becomes a popular hit. You just got to look for the good stuff. It's there. Then there are songs that ARE good but are just so misunderstood. Gaga prime example. Seriously, it saddens me how many people hate Judas just because they think it's offense. It's a metaphor and a dang good one that makes sense and holds a valid point. Plus fun beat. Far East movement made up for dumb G6 with Rocketer which I thought was a decent relaxing-ish not too forced love song.
I mostly listen to old and foreign stuff now, but there is good modern English music. Steve Miller Band's Jungle Love and Journey - Don't Stop Believeing are forevaaaaa though.

I think that might be one of the few Gaga songs I like, though I'd have to check. Really, I'm more offended by stuff like Monster, Bad Romance, and Poker Face...

EDIT: I didn't even get to the actual lyrics. That was the worst Gaga song I've heard yet, at least for reasons outside the lyrics. I hated the overbearing beat and vocals.

Marry The Night, however, is pretty alright, surprisingly enough.

As the absolute king of complaining about popular music...5-6 years ago, let me just say.

You are being spoiled by good popular music nowadays. The biggest pop star in the world is Adele. Mainstream rock is becoming a thing again beyond Nickelback and Coldplay. A Korean joke song has become huge thanks to the internet. Most of the generic dance music/modern R&B is on the decline. (modern popular R&B is pretty atrocious) Almost every artist to get a hit for the first time this year has been great (One Direction and to a bit of a lesser extent Carly Rae aside). Bruno Mars just released a song that sounds like the Police.

I just want to enjoy this while I can.

"Everyone knows rock attained perfection in 1974. It's a scientific fact." — Homer Simpson

"Just take those old records off the shelf
I sit 'n listen to 'em by mahself....
Today's music ain't got the same soul
I like that old time' rock'n'roll"

-Bob Seger

Meh, I like it.
Marry the Night is good though. How does Poker Face come off as offensive to you btw?

Gaga = Life.
Fact.
_Lawyered.

That's what Nashville's problem has been. The only difference between now and the old days was that in the old days you had artists that challenged the system with successful results (the most successful example probably being the outlaws like Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson in the seventies). What Nashville really needs right now is a good punch in the you know what, if that happens maybe then I'll buy new country records. This crap nowadays is almost as bad as when you had pop singers having country hits in the seventies.

I love Taylor Swift, She's the only one who understands my tortured teenage young adult soul! Yes a majority of her music is about relationships, but it's what she knows best, and it gives her songs real meaning.

Like others have said, there is all kinds of great music out there, you just have to keep your ears open.