The De-socialization Of Music: Dumbing Down The Fan Base
"Turn that dreadful noise down", I pleaded with my kids as they were listening to
MP3 music through their tinny-sounding mobile phones while sitting in the back seat of the car.
For all the enjoyment and fun they bring, what annoys me about mobile phones and MP3 music is that the younger generation almost exclusively listens to all their music through portable iPods or mobile phones - often through personal headphones. I have a perfectly great sounding CD player and radio in the car, but my music was drowned out by three mobile phones playing over the top of each other.
It seems I can no longer enjoy a leisurely country drive with all of the family listening to the same CD or radio station, even in turns, as I once upon a time could, without each of us competing for our turn. I can no longer share my pleasure and enjoyment for an artist or particular track without feeling like I'm imposing my taste on the kids.
Until the very recent years, I was always able to enjoy sharing my appreciation for certain styles of music with my 17 yo daughter as she was growing up. Often if she liked a piece, she would open a CD cover to read the slip case, learn of the artists history, production team, management, instrumentalists and others included in the credits.
However, with today's technology, I doubt I will get that opportunity with my 7 year old son, unless I can nail his pants to a chair long enough to listen to 10 minutes of Nana Mouskouri, or Mario Lanza to ask him for his opinion. In fact, it is doubtful that, unless he really grows to love his particular artists and their works that he will ever closely follows their careers enough to even to research their story on the internet or buy their hard-copy CD.
Call me a fuddy-duddy, but I just can't imagine listening to Sarah Brightman's Symphony, Andre Rieu's "Forever Vienna", ABC's "Lexicon of Love" or Jac Dalton's "Icarus" on a mobile phone. I doubt the younger generation really understands how much they will actually NOT hear, appreciate or enjoy unless they, at least occasionally, crank up a Hi-Fi, surround-sound stereo and put on a digitally mastered CD, open the cover to read something about the artist and their career.
There is nothing I love more than hearing every lyric, vocal harmony and every note in a classical guitar piece. I want to hear the symbols, French horn and cello and be able to know the difference. I want to be lifted out of my seat as if I am sitting in a concert hall listening to a full philharmonic orchestra or live show.
As advanced as today's sound technology is compared to the days I was listening to noisy audio cassettes, static-riddled mono radio and scratched vinyl records, I knew I could never get enough of hearing the purest sound I could. In fact, I sought it out whenever I could. I can't tell you how many endless hours I spent at the University music studio listening to records and tapes through the latest headphones whilst reading my politics books, because the sound was a hundred times better than what I would hear through AM radio.
Aside from what the artists tweet in 140 characters or less, or post on their video blogs, I wonder how much the younger music consumers will ever really appreciate about the heart and soul our idols actually put into their music.
Perhaps some of the answer lies also in a general observation that, increasingly, even the major labels are putting out CD's without lyrics to music tracks inside the cover. Almost invariably, biographies and comprehensive credits are replaced by four simple pages of glossy photos, five lines of "thank you" and a few logos, such that the incentive to purchase a CD is no longer as appealing as once it was.
by: Matilda Bawden
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