NEW MUSIC
WHAT'S WITH THIS NEW MUSIC??!!
Rihanna performing at the 2018 Grammys
I'M SO FAR OUT OF THE LOOP
regarding popular culture, it's sad. Tammy and I watched the Grammys
the other night; and besides not even knowing the names of any of the
new artists, I found myself pathetically at a loss in being able to
appreciate most of the performances.
The hip hop culture and rap music genre in particular bewilder this white, Midwestern musician raised on Elvis and the Beatles.
I try to keep an open mind regarding new and emerging music genres – I even came to appreciate punk rock during my years of recording alternative rock bands in my studio. But the inner city African-American experience which spawned the hip hop culture in the '70s is such a foreign concept to me that I struggle to "get" the aesthetic.
Let me give you an example . . .
“Wild Thoughts,” one of the opening numbers at the Grammys, featured Rihanna, DJ Khaled and Bryson Tiller alternately loping around the stage accompanied by backup dancers employing wide, sweeping arm movements and exaggerated hip thrusts.
DJ Khaled, a portly yet undeniably-successful music producer, repeatedly implored the audience to:
“Put your hands up! Put your hands up. Throw your hands up. Keep your hands up! Let’s go!” while Rihanna, a sultry, platinum-selling singer, howled:
“When I’m ‘wid’ you, all I get is wild thoughts, wild, wild, wild. When I’m ‘wid' you, all I get is wild thoughts.”
Now in all fairness, I’ve watched this performance on YouTube several times trying to figure out what I'm missing; and I must admit it is a bit infectious. And I do appreciate the technical and artistic aspects of the production number. But still . . . I really don't get it.
Occasionally a song or an artist debuts on the pop charts that really grabs my attention. 32-year-old Bruno Mars is a perfect example. I think just about everybody likes (or at least has caught themselves tapping their feet to) “Uptown Funk.”
The hip hop culture and rap music genre in particular bewilder this white, Midwestern musician raised on Elvis and the Beatles.
I try to keep an open mind regarding new and emerging music genres – I even came to appreciate punk rock during my years of recording alternative rock bands in my studio. But the inner city African-American experience which spawned the hip hop culture in the '70s is such a foreign concept to me that I struggle to "get" the aesthetic.
Let me give you an example . . .
“Wild Thoughts,” one of the opening numbers at the Grammys, featured Rihanna, DJ Khaled and Bryson Tiller alternately loping around the stage accompanied by backup dancers employing wide, sweeping arm movements and exaggerated hip thrusts.
DJ Khaled, a portly yet undeniably-successful music producer, repeatedly implored the audience to:
“Put your hands up! Put your hands up. Throw your hands up. Keep your hands up! Let’s go!” while Rihanna, a sultry, platinum-selling singer, howled:
“When I’m ‘wid’ you, all I get is wild thoughts, wild, wild, wild. When I’m ‘wid' you, all I get is wild thoughts.”
Now in all fairness, I’ve watched this performance on YouTube several times trying to figure out what I'm missing; and I must admit it is a bit infectious. And I do appreciate the technical and artistic aspects of the production number. But still . . . I really don't get it.
Occasionally a song or an artist debuts on the pop charts that really grabs my attention. 32-year-old Bruno Mars is a perfect example. I think just about everybody likes (or at least has caught themselves tapping their feet to) “Uptown Funk.”
But through the lens of contemporary pop culture, Mars has sometimes been criticized as being too much of a throwback to the ‘70s. Maybe that’s
why he might appeal to some of us of the older generation.
So, what am I missing here? Is it an "age" thing?! Maybe some of you folks can help me out. I’m curious as to what your take is on what the kids are listening to today. Click here to take a listen to “Wild Thoughts.”
Email me your thoughts, and I’ll share them in the Friends Who Like the Memory Brothers Facebook group: click
(If the above email link doesn't work for your browser, send comments to: doug.koempel@gmail.com)
So, what am I missing here? Is it an "age" thing?! Maybe some of you folks can help me out. I’m curious as to what your take is on what the kids are listening to today. Click here to take a listen to “Wild Thoughts.”
Email me your thoughts, and I’ll share them in the Friends Who Like the Memory Brothers Facebook group: click
(If the above email link doesn't work for your browser, send comments to: doug.koempel@gmail.com)
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