The Politics of Music

Social commentary has been at the heart of music – whether directly or indirectly – since Thomas Edison invented the phonograph. Leadbelly sang “Jim Crow,” Billie Holiday “Strange Fruit,” Woody Guthrie “Dust Bowl Ballads,” Bob Dylan “Masters of War,” XTC “Generals and Majors,” U2 “Sunday Bloody Sunday,” Pearl Jam “World Wide Suicide.” The list goes on and on. However, I feel that the essence of commentary has waned the last decade or so. I remember being at South By Southwest last year, and marching in an anti-war protest through Austin – including the main strip of the Festival, 6th Street. Very few – if any – musicians joined the march.

Now, I am not saying that musicians should automatically join a protest without cause. Rather, I encourage musicians to reflect the society in which they live. In other words, do NOT be afraid of your opinions and social outlook just for the sake of not ‘offending’ your audience. After all, John Lennon was once famously (mis)quoted as stating that the Beatles were much “bigger than Jesus Christ.” After that, everyone predicted the end of the Beatles. However, they are just as relevant today. Basically, standing up for something – and taking a risk - is better than standing next to something, and hoping that the ‘revolution’ will fix it in the mix.

See ya' on the open road!

- gypsy george.

An Iowan Drive

Between the Quad Cities (collectively Rock Island, Moline, Davenport, and Bettendorf) and Dubuque unfolds an exquisite stretch of highway. Actually, there are two highways, U.S. State Highways 67 and 52 respectively, serving the same purpose – to cradle and compliment the picturesque and historic shores of the Mighty Mississippi River. Painted with bucolic scenes of rolling prairies, unique homes and cottages, mom and pop diners and gas stations, this is one of the most peaceful and affordable trips one can take to simply “get away from it all.”

One of the most amazing attributes of this drive is the openness. That is to say, there are numerous hidden treasures that one can just pick and choose, at random, where to stop. This is definitely the type of drive the more adventurous, non-planning road tripper should venture in order to get the full experience.

For instance, as Highway 52 merges into 67 (essentially, Green Island to Clinton), there is plenty of scenic river front spots to take photos, stare at Illinois across the way, have a picnic, strum a guitar, or watch the train roll by – the tracks run right along the river’s edge. One can feel the history, the paths, the explorers, the slide guitars, harmonicas and whistles, which have, time and time again, traveled these roads.

Some quaint towns dot this drive. Places like Clinton, Le Claire and Camanche offer distinctive character to this region, especially when encountering some of the locals. However, my personal favorite is Bellevue. With a population of just under 2,500, this town is situated on a rolling cliff overlooking the Mississippi River. There are great bed and breakfasts, local inns, shops, and restaurants. One of the town’s most famous destinations is Potter’s Mill, which is a former flour mill built in 1845 converted into a restaurant and bed and breakfast. The people are very warm and friendly as well. In fact, one of my trips there, I came across a sign, which said: “Come see our new born baby.” There was an open house for anyone to come in, and, well...see their baby! Suffice to say, I elected not to go in (maybe my city roots got the best of me?).

Next time you are bored, want to get away, and happen to be pursing the heartland, travel along the Mississippi River between the Dubuque and the Quad Cities. Allow the freedom, sensibility, and uniqueness of this area to channel through your urban soul. It is quite an amazing experience to be able to stroll in the backyard of America...

One more note: If you find yourself enjoying the drive, try crossing the border at Dubuque into Wisconsin. There is a great, old ‘Cheesetown’ called Schullsburg along State Highway 11!

Below is a list of some recommended music to take along with this road trip:

Albums

Workingman’s Dead – Grateful Dead
Greatest Hits – Johnny Cash
Elvis Presley – Elvis Presley
Let It Bleed – Rolling Stones
The Great Twenty-Eight – Chuck Berry
Rumors – Fleetwood Mac
Led Zeppelin IV – Led Zeppelin
Harvest – Neil Young
Green River – Creedence Clearwater Revival
Pearl – Janis Joplin
John Wesley Harding – Bob Dylan
RCA Country Legends – Dolly Parton
Headhunters – Herbie Hancock
Born Under A Bad Sign – Albert King
The Real Folk Blues – Muddy Waters
The Band – The Band
Dust Bowl Ballads – Woody Guthrie

Songs

“Get Back” – Beatles
“Going Up The Country” – Canned Heat
“Midnight Rider” – Willie Nelson
“Roadhouse Blues” – Doors
“Green Onions” – Booker T. and the MG’s
“Melissa” – Allman Brothers
“Small Town” – John Mellencamp
“Black Water” – Doobie Brothers
“Can’t Find My Way Home” – Blind Faith
“Lola” – Kinks
“Your Own Sweet Way” – Notting Hillbillies
“End of the Line” – Traveling Wilburies
“Running Down A Dream” – Tom Petty
“Everybody’s Talking” – Harry Nilsson
“Ooh La La” – Faces
“Angel of Harlem” – U2
“Daughter” – Pearl Jam
“Alice’s Restaurant” – Arlo Guthrie
“Low Rider” – War
“Smoke on the Water” – Deep Purple
“Streamline Woman” – Muddy Waters
“Hear My Train A-Comin’” – Jimi Hendrix
“Sweet Jane” – Cowboy Junkies

Catch ya' on the open road!

- gypsy george.

It’s the End of Music As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)

The general consensus is that music, as we know it, has died. The major record companies are telling their consumers (and, subsequently, their stock holders) that no one buys music anymore. Furthermore, consumers themselves are being accused of ‘illegally’ downloading music, file sharing, etc., which is - according to industry reports - affecting its overall profitability. Finally, the Internet has led to a revolution, whereby artists have endless possibilities to launch a career without the aide of a label.

New developments throughout the music industry have been implemented in order to boost sales and profitability. First, record labels have structured “360 deals” to sign new artists. In these deals, an artist signs with a label in exchange for percentage shares from touring, publishing, merchandise, etc. Second, touring has become more crucial then ever before in creating revenue streams for an artist. Third, licensing music for commercials, TV, film, and video games has evolved into a bona fide platform for both income and exposure. Finally, independently controlling one’s material has become a staple for both up and coming artists, as well as established acts such as Radiohead and White Stripes.

According to Rolling Stone Magazine (Issue 405, February 7, 2008) “[a]lbum sales are down 36 percent since their peak in 2000,” whereby album sales in 2000 were 785.1 million versus 500.5 million for 2007. However, touring excelled with revenues surging “eight percent, to $3.9 billion – thanks to massive reunion tours by the Police, Van Halen and Genesis.” Additionally, this issue features an article on how Radiohead has managed to top the charts without the help of a record label releasing In Rainbows as a download on their Web site. Fans were free to pay whatever they desired for the album. According to the article, there were 1.2 million visitors in October to the Web site (the month the album was released). An online survey group, comScore “claims only two out of five downloaders paid anything at all, [with] the payers [averaging] $6 per album – which, factoring in the freeloaders, works out to about $2.26 per album, more than Radiohead would have made in a traditional record deal.” When the CD version was released on January 1st, it debuted at Number One in both the U.S. and Britain.

These changes to the music industry, however, do not quite explain the reasons for overall sales being down. I propose an alternate explanation as to why music sales, particularly CDs, have declined since the year 2000: Quality. Music, in the mainstream, has evolved into a turnover commodity based upon corporate structures, quarterly reports, and overall numbers. Shows like “American Idol” and “Nashville Star” have replaced A&R scouts. Furthermore, record labels became greedy after the pop music boom of the year 2000, featuring such artists such as N’ Sync, Backstreet Boys, Britney Spears, and Christina Aguilera, without much planning for the future.

When one glances over pop history to see who conquered the charts, one finds Elvis Presley, the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, U2, Michael Jackson, Prince, and Madonna. The irony with all these artists is that they are still relevant. In fact, each artist’s respective back catalog sells extremely well. With the exception of Christina Aguilera (who actually can sing), none of the pop artists from 2000 are significant in today’s music world (my apologies to Britney; however, tabloid news does not make one’s music career relevant). Furthermore, tour revenue has succeeded primarily on the strength from older, established acts (Police, Van Halen), rather than up-and-coming artists. Even in the case of Radiohead, their success is based upon a pre-existing fan base, whereby publicity is not an issue.

If the music industry becomes patient again, and supports quality over quantity, then sales may increase, stabilize, and inspire consumers to purchase new music. Technology will continue to evolve and enhance how we listen and obtain music. However, it should not be the culprit – or excuse – as to why music isn’t selling.

Catch ya' on the open road!

- gypsy george.

Money, America & Hyphenated Americans

The world of a Hyphenated American is one filled with definitions, anecdotes, stereotypes, identity, race, religion, politics, psychology, philosophy, myth, and creed. The experience is unique to that culture, whether it is African, Latino, Jewish, or Greek. However, at the end of it all, these people are, at best, a secondary category to the status quo. They are the ‘Other’ to American.

Fundamentally, I believe most Americans could care less about another person’s cultural origin or background. The American edict is about where one is headed, how he or she got there, and how much money one made along the way. Obviously, there is racism and sexism in this country. However, it is a minority viewpoint, which government and the media exploit for power and gain. There is only one ideology, which dominates the American psyche: Money.

The guise, which has been at the forefront for many generations, is to define the foreign faces of America. This is a useful tool in suppressing lower income groups. Tapping into fears and anxieties, Americans are able to keep Hyphenated Americans downtrodden. Sure, a few have squeezed through the system. However, everyone is playing with the House’s Money. And, as everyone who has ever gambled knows, the House always wins.

The irony is that our nation was built on the hands and intellect of Hyphenated Americans. Simply travel the country. Every town, state and county name is borrowed by another culture: New York, Ypsilanti, Illinois, Los Angeles, Chicago, Lafayette, Utah, New Ulm. Henry Ford, the inventor of the assembly line, had roots in Ireland (his father) and Belgium (his mother). Television shows such as Three’s Company and The Office have their creative origin rooted in England. Hamburger has its origins in Germany, while Apple Pie claims its roots from England and the Dutch.

Of course, America and its citizens have taken from all aspects of the globe to create the utmost, post-modern existence. In fact, this cultural variety is what makes America unique, fruitful and hopeful. However, the Hyphenated American is one, who should be embraced, not victimized. During an election year, where race, sex and religion have become hot topic issues, one needs to be reminded about America – her meaning, intent, and purpose – rather than oppression, which has served to destroy her from within.

Catch ya' on the open road!

- gypsy george.

Blogging Launch Party!

It's 12:33 am on the left coast. I'm attempting to finish some work before heading into quasi-sleep. U2's "Rattle and Hum" airs in the background on VH1 Classic. Now that I have set up this 'slice-of-life' pathetic moment, I will venture into a brief existential overview as to why I have decided to officially enter the world of blogging.

Fortunately, technology allows for such a communicative platform to reflect, debate and discuss. Unfortunately for most, you may be a victim of my rants. However, there is a greater point. Recently, I have felt like there is something larger than myself brewing in the universe - as if the ether of the cosmos is reflecting its massive mirror to get our attention.

I've been wandering. I've been wondering. I've attempted to seek and understand. In the end, though, I find myself questioning, criticizing, partying, questioning, then somewhere in the middle, I'm back to nowhere. So...I hope that this experiment of blogging will not only find answers to some of my inquiries, but...I may find some deeper purpose, contribute in a selfless way, and, well, also find an occasional good party...for that, I officially launch my blogging career!

Catch ya' on the open road!

- gypsy george.