Quick questions; answer these question in your own opinion.
1. What makes a song mainstream? Is it the song content/topic, the label it originated from or just the fact its on the radio?
2. What is the difference between indie and underground or is it all the same?
3. What do you prefer more industry, indie or underground? and why?
4. If you could run a radio show, how would you make your show the best? More talking, Less talking, more interviews with selecting artist, or the songs played?
I'm curious to hear you answers.
Twitter them to http://www.twitter.com/BangerMGT
or
Facebook them to http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_176824608994955
1. What makes a song mainstream? A song is "mainstream" when it is well known through many genres of music. Not necessarily liked - but recognizable.
ReplyDelete2. What is the difference between indie and underground or is it all the same? Indie artists usually have a
3. What do you prefer more industry, indie or underground? and why? I would say that underground music isn't trying to be found. It just is.
4. If you could run a radio show, how would you make your show the best? More talking, Less talking, more interviews with selecting artist, or the songs played? I would have a huge variety of music so there was something for everyone, but I would NOT play anything I didn't believe in or love myself. I would love to hear more ABOUT the music, and interviews and important/interesting information is always good too.
Gypsy Jewels,
ReplyDeleteI've read your response and I agree with majority of it. I have my views on the topic and most of its based off of response I've received. I'll post it later, but first and for most the radio show is a hard one because not only do you have the radio station trying to get you to play what they want, but also you'll never satisfy the masses. If I spin Brittney Spears someone somewhere will think i sold out. I definitely want to make my show better. I appreciate you input.
In Addition, I'm just curious on really what makes a song mainstream and underground. So if a underground song because well known and played on the radio is it mainstream? and did the artist sell out? I honestly think there is a huge difference in the formula of the songs, and I'm trying to get to the essence of it.
Earlier I said to another person, "I'm getting the vibe that There is a different from indie and underground. Indie is unsigned or signed to a small label but still have a mainstream sound, and Underground is also unsigned or signed to a small label but without a mainstream sound.
But my question is what makes the sound mainstream? Is it the flow, the content or the topic?
Being real is all relative... you know! Is it the topic like shiny rims or is it the fact of talking about shiny 22" rims and you don't have really have them, so basically lying.
I love to talk about real stuff such as "Razorblades", but at the same time I realize that the average listeners likes to listen to commercial shit like "Fast Money" or "WestCoast Riding."
My first album, "NOTEPAD" was more underground than my second one, "Commercial Lies" but i made the first half of album commercial by design, so with that said.... What makes a track underground."
I think it is fairly unpredictable. It is unfortunate that radio stations have become so corporate and DJ's are unable to express their own musical preferences while on the air. I truly believe that the only free radio we have any more is local, viewer supported radio - and it is actually the ONLY radio I listen to anymore.
ReplyDeleteMusic has become like the billboards. We are only given A. B. and C. to look at because "someone" WANTS us to look at it. Not because it actually is the best, or right thing to buy/read/see/whatever. Most people don't even realize that they are only being given these few choices and actually denied all of them. Now, if people want quality music they are going to HAVE to seek it out. It's unfortunate - but kind of fun, too. When I find people who have similar music tastes as mine I feel like we know a secret which bonds us. It's almost like we DON'T want "them" to get a hold of it because they will murder it along with any other song that makes it to "mainstream".
I don't believe a band who is signed has necessarily "sold out". I think that those choices are usually made AFTER they have been signed. What they do with their fame/money is what determines a sell out, IMO. Success is good! If the music speaks for itself either through sound or lyric (or both) and a band gets recognition for it there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. At the same time, it's hard to predict a "mainstream sound" because it really just depends on timing and the right people hearing it. Maybe it gets in a commercial (which happens ALL the time now) or you start hearing it in intercoms while shopping. But, I think anyone is capable of creating this. It's all about what's "hot" in the moment - and that is simply unpredictable. A musicians best bet is to simply make the music THEY WANT to make regardless of whether people are going to "like" it or not. There is no progress without risk. I think when an artist is not true to themselves it shows in the music. I also think that it is easy to hear "hallow" artists (people/bands who are pieced together by the corporate world and then computerized so much that nothing is even real and then shoved down our throats as if they are the "greatest thing ever" and average America is to DUMB to question it).
So, for me, it's a complete package thing. Lying about "sittin' on 20's" definitely NEVER did it for me (well, because I don't even give a shit if your are REALLY sittin' on 20's), and I never understood the people that it did do it for. Our standards for substance have gone FAR down hill. It has become difficult to find songs that talk about anything other than getting fucked up and having sex with someone. Idiocracy, here we come.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteGypsy Jewels,
ReplyDeleteWOW.... I love it! You're responds gets deep. So mainstream is different than Commercial. Its the commercial sound you don't like? Cool
I think the lure of sittin on 20s" is because the person listening to the songs either is or wants to be sitting on 20's". Most people in their lifetime will never see 1,000,000 dollars, but dream about it, so for some reason it moves them to hear about it in a song, but most artist that rap about it are struggling just like the rest of us. The Gold chain in the video is usually rented; however, I'm finding out that the average listener doesn't want to hear the real. they don't want to hear about an artist struggling. They are struggling, so they want to hear something is going good for someone else like there is still hope they can change there situation around.
I believe a great song is something listeners can relate too. What if the artist really lives the lifestyle? When I was apart of Desert Ego, I really lived the party life. I can't only tell my story so many times before I get boring. I wish the mainstream listeners would except the in depth means and stories of underground music.
OK, so what is your view of story tellers? When you read a book and the author writes about a killer... does it piss you off if the he or she never killed anyone? If not, why is it different for music artist to do the same?
Check this out.... DAMN
ReplyDeletehttp://www.worldstarhiphop.com/videos/video.php?v=wshhBtdQvDJLQy55M05q
I actually don't mind the lying - or story telling as I think it actually really is. Telling stories through music is as old as music itself - and there is also nothing wrong with it being inspirational and motivating. I think the problem I (personally) have with *most* songs like this is that they don't aspire to be anything other than rich, drunk and freshly fucked. There is MUCH more to aspire for. Sure, we all need money and we all want to get laid (and occasionally fucked up)....but could that really be IT?! There is just soooooo much more to talk about! The people who don't want to hear about that stuff are not only missing out - but through my life experiences tend to be less "real" themselves - maybe even - dare I say...ignorant.
ReplyDeleteAs an activist and person who takes personal responsibility for not only where I am at in life, but where I am going (as well as my imprint on others and my environment around me), it is hard to see people not have any greater aspirations. Financial struggle might be something that people don't want to write/hear about - but damn - through that experience did they learn anything other than "I need more money"? 90% of the people who DO find success under this mind frame blow their money on dumb shit and their entourage and end up at square one. If they wrote something mainstream enough they will be lucky enough to end up on "where are they now" and get $500 for their next fix.
I do want to say though - there are a LOT of people out there writing good/real stuff too. It's just unfortunate that THAT isn't the majority. There is a time and place for "fun" music that doesn't need to say a lot. It just shouldn't be everything. Don't even get me started on the impression this leaves with the kids....
HAHAA! That video is hilarious. I would go old school on my kids too.
ReplyDeletehere are a few of my favorite hip hops songs that say a LOT more than the stuff we've been talking about...
As a doula I LOVE this one. I couldn't believe there was actually a rap song about home birth and how whack hospital births are. ;)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=116KHMz031M
I absolutely LOVE this and it really encompasses all we've been talking about here -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jNyr6BJZuI&feature=list_related&playnext=1&list=MLGxdCwVVULXeRZ2ho5cxSUr-9G_30NW21
And - just for fun....this isn't "exactly" hip-hop....but it's MY SHIT.
This song talks about Leonard Peltier - a man who is STILL sitting in prison for some bull shit. The feds came on this reservation back in the 70's and there was a shoot out. Some feds and some natives were shot and killed. Peltier was there, but they totally faked a case against him in order to prosecute SOMEONE for it and make them look justified for crossing borders and having a shoot out in the first place. No one really even knows, man. He's STILL there - and he's getting old and he's sick, too. If music talked more about this shit in the "mainstream" 1. do you think they would play it? and 2. don't you think it would eventually incite change? Remember the 60's? That was a TOTAL musical revolution! Everyone had something to say and they were unafraid of screaming it from the rooftops - even if it meant getting arrested. We are still at war - we've just become so subservient and totally numb. Most of us have forgotten and just accept what is in front of us.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqcM5lVoteQ
RATM is the band that I can relate to most with my ideals and feelings on the WHOLE thing. love love love LOVE these guys. Plus the shit flat out fucking rocks.
yea.
There is a lot of capitalized LOVE up in that last post. lol.
ReplyDeleteGypsy Jewels,
ReplyDeleteOk, Well said!!! Oh talking about kids and where we are going with them is a whole nother topic.
So you like a variety of topics!!! So you say there are other topics, what are a few other topics you think are worthy of great music? What inspires you?
Thank you for you input, It was refreshing, KENJO
Check out gypsy Jewels blog @ http://www.gypsyjewels.blogspot.com
Real love and relationships, true empowerment, current events and the reality behind the lies, I love comedy songs, too. Really, I don't even mind talking about getting laid and fucked up - Sublime is my very favorite band. Why? Because it has such a huge variety of things to say, plus a variety of musical styles all mixed together to create their own stylee. They re pure magic to me...and a LOT of their songs are about the little things like getting fucked up, laid, etc. BUT, there are also a lot of songs that are very wise and have a message. It's got balance. ;)
ReplyDeleteOn a side note of that - Bradley (the lead singer for Sublime) decided to do heroin because it was his "great experiment". He wanted to be successful and wrote good music so he did heroin to pull that out of himself. He was a lyrical genius - this guy could write whole songs in minutes and it would blow you away. So, the heroin worked - but it took his life, too. So, in his attempt to find his success, he also found his demise. It's really a very sad story (especially since he was and still is loved SO much), but it goes to show what we will do to reach this bar that mainstream has set up. I think that had he not done the heroin the music would have still been awesome - but I may have never heard it. It's such a double edged sword.
Gypsy Jewels,
ReplyDeleteYou read my mind and beat me to the punch. I'll take a listen to the songs you posted. Thank you for clarifying your point of view and giving us some examples.
You've definitely raised my eye brows to music topics. I'm feeling it. OK, I would definitely play it especially if it has a great sound to the deep message. I love the storytelling and a concept in a song, now i just need to incorporate a purpose. I've always focused on my struggle as a struggling artist. Well I'm going to run off and check out the music you posted.
PS. I said I would keep the bloody briefcase. Why? Because obviously the cops aren't going to return it to it's "rightful" owner or anything.
ReplyDeleteIf your focus has been on how you are struggling and finding your way through it then you've got to go with it. You are an ARTIST. Your only responsibility is to create. You don't owe anyone a damn thing and shouldn't try and create what you think people will like. Good artists never do.
ReplyDeleteCreate like no one is watching/listening.