"Can you feel it, can you feel it, CAN YOU FEEL IT?!", once sprang from stereo systems worldwide via the Jackson 5. The quick answer to that today would be...no. If I could change one thing about music today, I'd like to feel again. There are a lot of great artists out there, a lot of genius lyrics. But that inexplicable feeling you get about a song is not as present as it used to be. I’m talking about the songs that were the soundtrack to whatever was going on in your life at the moment – love, loss, pain, anger, milestones – you name it. Done are the days of Teena Marie, Teddy Pendergrass, Queen, Ambrosia, Marvin Gaye, Chicago, Linda Jones, Sananda Maitreya (f/k/a Terence Trent D’Arby). The list could go on and on. You’ve got legendary bands like Earth, Wind & Fire who are releasing new material and still managing to tour pretty successfully. But that’s a rarity.
Many of today’s songs, while they rise to the top of the charts at lightning speed, lack the power and sustenance to become classics 10 or 20 years later. Some of these songs will become imports you’ll have to buy from other countries if you really want them. We, as humans, are emotional creatures at our core. We respond to and from our emotions. Today’s creations can get us on our feet, make us sing along, and give us a general sense of pleasure. However, they don’t’ seem to connect with us down the line. We simply move on to the next big thing.
One artist who successfully made a change when one was needed is Alicia Keys. At such a young age, she embodied that incredible ability to move people, and such a broad audience of music lovers embraced her for that – young and old. What’s even more intriguing is that she hasn’t changed one bit. It is atypical behavior in the industry.
Alicia Keys
Make no mistake – I like today’s music, its originality and its ability to push the envelope at times. I just believe today’s artists are more than capable of writing and giving you a performance that is an experience - where you come in one way and leave another. And you never forget… I miss that. But money is the name of the game in this business and whatever is hot at the moment...well...sells. Forget longevity. Artists have to work extra hard and extra long to keep the paychecks rolling in. If more timeless music was created, artists and songwriters could live comfortably for many years to come without killing themselves in the process. I would like to challenge the entertainers, the writers (and I am no exception), and the music industry as a whole to make us feel something again.