Interesting question Wally. I can say by virtue of parental experience that
kids today are if anything totally unaffected by any of the music of the 60's
or Jonis generation. but it depends which group of kids. Theres a small
miniscule minority that appreciates music and its history and evolution of
which there are some.
But only a few. Or the great majority of kids to whom music is only
acceptable as an aural vibrator simply stimulating the reptilian part of the
brain. Kids today completely dismiss things that require a million hours of
practice and or a million tons of tallent is exchange they go wild over
simple anarchy. Produciton values regardless of their absolute creative
genius arent even achieved awareness of the listener. Someone throwing up on
stage on purpose is valid, someone sounding like they are producing an
orchestra from their fingertips is ignored or mocked and dismissed. I dont
relish saying this but its true.
Theres an interesting commericial on TV that shows a guy using a CD Burner to
make a custon tape for his dinner date. Shes a beauty naturally and as they
sit down to dinner he puts on the CD called "love music" and out comes
something that can best be described as Freddy from the Nightmare Dream
movies verbalizing the most banal lyrics "Duh I luv U". Needless to say the
kids totally dig this "music" and they dance at their dinner table. Really
enjoying this unbelieveably bad music. Thats classic here and now.
Then again this "music" is to actual music what totally radical modern art is
to real art. Hey a nail in a can alone on a stark white piece of
aluminum....wow man its endless suffering....cool. How much did Monet affect
Dada.
Now how does Jonis music relate to this trash music-less music? I cant see
any way she or any other great song crafter in history would be responsible
for any of its missing qualities., We are going through a real nihilist, Dada
esque period in music. We'll get through it eventualy and after we do I would
look for Joni to begin to affect writers and artists more 50 years from now
than now. In fact Im waiting for the next ultra phenomenon as I write this.
Not necessarily in Rock or Pop but in classical. Im waiting for the Tiger
Woods of Violin Soloists. Someone so incredible no one can believe it.
Someone who makes the Zuchermans and the Yo Yo Mas go "woah". Absolutely
bound to happen.
It could but probably wont in rock music because music is so much part of
youth that it caters to the needs and desires of the young. Thats another
thing that makes Joni so special to me. Shes still evolving, still growing,
still advancing, still vital. Still every bit as competitive as she ever was.
Thats no small task after youve done your 23rd album. Thas why I think music
industry sucks today. they have abandoned art for the pavlovian. The WCW
Smakdown is needed just to get the audiences attention. Dont even show up if
you wont be rude, crude or lewd Dude. The appreciation for subtle nuances as
a factor in art is totally missing.
Sure some could say the same thing about Hendrix and the Stones back then but
Hendrix could actually play amazing creative things. Elvis could really sing.
Towenshend, Beck, and Gilmore actually invented things. None of that is
happening today. So it means that it may be that way BECAUSE Joni isnt
effecting the modern artist. Brittany Spears or Eminem ever paint? Marcel
Deste
