Am I becoming my dad?

[ponchi101]

Ok, I still don't drink scotch whiskey, and if I die being half the good man my dad was, it would not be bad. But I am getting this feeling that I am becoming him, simply because of my relation with the "new generation" that is coming of age.
It is about originality. For the last few months, I turn around and I see that this new generation can not do anything original. Or is it that I can't find it? Are they making things that are truly new and original, or have we reached the point of the song in which we say "there is nothing new under the sun".
It makes me wonder if my dad was right: "Music/Films/Art (take your pick) was much better when I was young".
I am writing this rant because all I see is remakes and little silly pre-fabricated music stars making "covers" of music from my days (now, is there a better euphemism for "plagiarism" than calling it a "cover"? Please let me know, because I am getting the feeling I simply can not appreciate the art thess kids are making). But I will select three examples just to see if I have a point or, as I say, I am simply becoming my dad:
1. We are the world. Hey, I am all for helping Haiti. Charity has to become a standard practice in this world or we are doomed. But in 1985 when M. Jackson and L. Ritchie decided to help those in Africa, at least they sat down and WROTE something new. I hated the song, but the motives behind were exemplary. Geldof and others started the BAND AID tours, and it was all original. So now they decide they want to help Haiti and they can't even write ONE SINGLE SONG? Not one? And they call themselves singers and songwriters?
2. Fame. Yes, Fame the film. Remember it? Well, if you don't, don't worry because they are going to make a new one. Saw the previews. They suck. But even if it is only my taste, why is it that this generation can only make, well, covers?
3. Every time I go to Yahoo! I am getting an ad about an idiot called Will. I. Am. "covering" The Who. Can you write something from scratch, Mr. Will. U. R. Not? Can you?
I forget who was the guy that plagiarized Led Zeppelin's Kashmir for the soundtrack of Godzilla. I am not impressed by the Twilight saga and their refresh of the old, old story of young beauty falls for really bad, bad boy (in this case a vampire). It got to the point that a while back I was with my nephew, a really cool 20 year old kid that I love and have a great time with him, and we were comparing the music in our laptops and he ended up copying ALL my music (I got a couple of albums from him, two of which were from the 80's and which I didn't have).
So I worry. Am I just so old now that I can't see the quality stuff out there? Am I stuck with Duran Duran, Pink Floyd, Kubrick and Fellini, Philip Roth and John Updike? Am I my dad, finally?
Because if he was right, and the sage collective voice of TAT can help me to decide, I should go out there and get hammered with a bottle of Chivas. Just to honor him.

[Charlie02123]

That does kind of sound like a disgruntled old man rant.

Mainstream anything can be nauseating. Listening to pop radio or watching a blockbuster makes me question this country as well, and I'm 20.

If you'd like some bands to listen to or movies to watch that are new and artistic, I'm sure we can give you some tips. If you just felt like a good rant, then rant away!

[suliso]

Why are you talking only about music and movies? Since when is that the only human endeavor requiring some creativity?

[Charlie02123]

Am I becoming my father? There are some similarities, but I'm not too worried. I think in his 20s he was getting a teaching degree, becoming really involved in religion, and settling in a town of around 30,000 (the population of his towns only went down from there). I'm kind of moving in the opposite direction from all of those things. Plus I "believe" in global warming.

[Charlie02123]

Why are you talking only about music and movies? Since when is that the only human endeavor requiring some creativity?

I normally get prickly if someone questions the creativity/respect/originality of my generation, but I wasn't bother by this. I think it all depends on your exposure level. The amount of pop culture that's unavoidable would be music blasting in stores and blockbusters and rom-coms being previewed during every commercial break. I think a number of those "mass audience" types of entertainments can seem unoriginal, because they're supposed to be formulaic.

Anyhoo, I'm not overly bothered by my generation being questioned every now and then. I absolutely do it to older generations, so I can't complain.

[craighickman]

Minus the big hair and bell bottoms, this era reminds me a bit of the 70s.

[Charlie02123]

ponchi, here are some current (for the most part) songs that I would consider unique, or at least worth listening to. Most of them are popular artists, some of the songs are the 2nd or 3rd single of the album. I tried to come up with a list that covered a variety of genres (Disregard the music videos, I haven't seen most of them).

Friendly Fires ‘Jump In The Pool’
http://www.youtube.com/view_play_lis...3F69F0AE27F0D8

Kris Allen ‘Alright With Me’
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6D3ICLriBo

Adele ‘Hometown Glory’
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BW9Fzwuf43c

Paramore ‘Misery Business’
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCyGvGEtOwc

Vampire Weekend ‘Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa’
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9wHl9qRsMzw

Lady Gaga ‘Fever’
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4AqSxcoqzM
Or ‘Poke Face’ (live acoustic)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CUYvWTd6oA

Fantasia ‘Hood Boy’
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5jvO...eature=related

Sugarland ‘Stay’
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPG1n1B0Ydw

[ponchi101]

You see? I knew I could count on my fellow TAT'ers.
To Charlie: sounds LIKE and old man's rant? It IS an old man's rant! Don't you sugar coat me now, sonnie!
Yes, please. Do suggest some music, and maybe even movies. I have seen some really good stuff lately (ONCE, 500 days of summer, The Secret of her Eyes (Argentinean)) but music wise I need guidance. Don't get me wrong. There has got to be some good stuff out there (Zero 7, Thievery Corporation, Chris Botti) but I need some more guidance.
Suliso: I only mentioned those because they are what is more visible. Mathematically we are going places (solving Poincarre's conjecture was brilliant), physics may get a boost with the LHC, and architectonally we are doing wonders (The Burj Khalifa and other structures). But in the arts... well, I rant. But I worry.
And to Craig: yes, it reminds me of the 70`s too. But where is Donna Summer, faking 17 orgasms in one song? That is the sort of thing I miss, because Beyonce would NEVER dare to do something like that.
Where is Jessie? The LL is closed, but I am definitely ordering that scotch. Now.

[Charlie02123]

You see? I knew I could count on my fellow TAT'ers.
To Charlie: sounds LIKE and old man's rant? It IS an old man's rant! Don't you sugar coat me now, sonnie!
Yes, please. Do suggest some music, and maybe even movies. I have seen some really good stuff lately (ONCE, 500 days of summer, The Secret of her Eyes (Argentinean)) but music wise I need guidance. Don't get me wrong. There has got to be some good stuff out there (Zero 7, Thievery Corporation, Chris Botti) but I need some more guidance.

Check out 30 seconds of the songs that I posted, and let me know what you think of them. We'll move on from there!

[rabbit]

Harry Potter?

[missinandre]

ponchi...

LOL @ you calling a twenty year old a "kid"

Also...just want to say that Will. i. am IS very..to an extent...original. He used to be with the Fugees....and trust me...they were very original....and then...they broke up. Some people are better in groups in a "collective" creative circle than they are on their own.

But don't underestimate the creativity of Will

And...everyone has one type or another of generation issues. Doesn't mean it is or has to be a negative thing...it is just that...you'll notice things.

And that really was an old man rant

[craighickman]

Charlie, thanks for those videos.

Not because I liked any of them, but because you've just crystallized my feeling that music today is crap.

I'm fond of a bit of the work of the few of the singers you chose, but what music primarily lacks today are ageless songs with poetic lyrics and simple but resonant melodies.

Someone with Fantasia's gifts, for instance, should be encouraged to take more risks. I understand lots of folks don't like her voice, but her music IQ is high. Her understanding of a good lyric and ability to turn a phrase like one of the greats of old goes to waste in the vapid material she's put out since winning American Idol.

I can't comment on film because I haven't seen a new movie in months. But none of the trailers or clips of any of the films up for Oscars has compelled me to see any of them.

And literary fiction among the newest crop of writers is pretty much dead on arrival. Where will the next James Baldwin, Toni Morrison, Alice Walker, Henry James or William Faulkner come from?

I say have a drink, ponchi. I'll join you with a batch of margaritas.

[evil_juju]

ponchi...

LOL @ you calling a twenty year old a "kid"

Also...just want to say that Will. i. am IS very..to an extent...original. He used to be with the Fugees....and trust me...they were very original....and then...they broke up. Some people are better in groups in a "collective" creative circle than they are on their own.

But don't underestimate the creativity of Will

And...everyone has one type or another of generation issues. Doesn't mean it is or has to be a negative thing...it is just that...you'll notice things.

And that really was an old man rant

Will.i.am was not in the Fugee's. and he's not so creative, I mean every Black Eye Peas song I have heard has sampled someone else's music. Once if fine to do that but more than that I don't know.....

[missinandre]

Will.i.am was not in the Fugee's. and he's not so creative, I mean every Black Eye Peas song I have heard has sampled someone else's music. Once if fine to do that but more than that I don't know.....

You are right mr evil juju Black Eyed Peas, my bad.

I think...even so..there is a bit of originality to the Black Eyed Peas...compared to...the Britney bunch...they have a bit of originality. Fergie is certaining more original than a whole bunch of people out there singing today and...there songs are worth listening to. Can't say the same for a lot of singers.

Will.i.am got quite a bit of attention for his work during Obama's campaign. He came up with "Yes, We Can", and then "It's a New Day" to celebrate Obama's win. He speaks out on issues on Anderson Cooper, Bill Maher and Oprah Winfrey's show. He has his own clothing labels and besides being a founder and frontman to the Black Eyed Peas, he also dressed them.

He's a songwriter, entertainer, actor, designer...and a whole host of things that he is personally involved in behind the scenes. As someone who started rapping professionally at 16, there IS quite a bit of "distinctiveness" about Will.i.am which can be translated in originality. He doesn't just "copy" stuff. He does his own stuff. ALL hip-hop artists tend to have a lot of things in common....

[missinandre]

Will.i.am was not in the Fugee's. and he's not so creative, I mean every Black Eye Peas song I have heard has sampled someone else's music. Once if fine to do that but more than that I don't know.....

Have you read the other thread Moose started? The one about the valentine's songs?

Quite a few songs that were mentioned were nothing but plays on Mtume's "Juicy Fruit". Funny that Juicy Fruit wasn't on that list.

BUT...that doesn't mean that...there wasn't anything different, distinct or even a bit original about them...