The Lost Passion of Music

I'm not alone in my quest for inspired music. It seems that there are a large number of people who don't buy into the oh so shallow genre that is pop music. These individuals strive to find artists and music which have been born from the heart and not the wallet. (So to speak.)

Excerpted from google.com, the first definition of the word "music":

The art or science of combining vocal or instrumental sounds (or both) to produce beauty of form, harmony, and expression of emotion. Although what is "beauty" and the "expression of emotion" may possibly be up for debate, I feel that there is a certain sense of agreement universally or just a universal definition of what sounds beautiful. Every single person may not enjoy typically pleasing sounds, just as there may be different types of music that shouldn't be considered pleasing to the ear, but they are. I have talked with many of my friends, both those who are musicians, and those who consider themselves heavy listeners, and never have I heard so much agreement with the statement that the passion and true beauty in music is slipping away, pop artist by pop artist. (Or however we as people can agree things are changing. I consider it to mostly be by way of pop/Top 40 music. This piece is not something I am writing to attack writers of pop music, performers, or anyone involved.) Sadly, if you listen to the lyrics, or even the music itself, which has been poked fun at by Axis of Awesome's 4-chord compilation (see below), which includes quite a bit of music that can be considered or was at some time top 40.  The originality and true feeling that seemed to have once once inspired and brought music alive have been squashed by a combination of things including, but not limited to: the media, pressure of record labels, managers, publicists, and likely even fan's negative opinions of some of the more original work. This is likely not a true reflection of the quality, but a reflection of some fans being influenced by the media themselves. Artists are pressured to create music that will sell, instead of the music they are proud of and want to see put out into the world to touch lives, with the attitude that "if it sells, that would be wonderful." Instead of writing a song based on their inspired scribblings or a life experience, they're basing their music off research done on what's popular and what will fans eat up like hot cakes.  I know it's a tough world out there to make money and to balance your reputation. But in my eyes, a true musician is someone who is proud of the music he puts out there and proud of himself when all is done with. Do what you love, and hopefully you will someday (whether it takes 1 day or 10 years) be recognized for the true, wonderful artist that you are.

Video: Axis of Awesome: 4 Chords Song