Wednesday, January 16, 2008
What a wonderful world...
I remember a time, long ago, when I first heard the refrain to this song "What a wonderful world" in a commercial - Arun Ice-creams if I remember correctly, but I'm not a 100% sure. Of course, I couldn't have known about the original, sung by the legendary Louis Armstrong and I think the song was re-rendered by some Desi with the typical 'faux-upperclass' desi English accent specifically for the commercial.
I used to love that commercial mainly because of the song but have forgotten about it ever since, until now. Been dabbling about in the world of Jazz for a while now and only recently started listening to Louis Armstrong, Ray Charles and the likes and voila - there it was. The first time I listened to the original, it seemed like I was hit by a tidal wave of emotion. I was overwhelmed to say the least. The lyrics are so simple and the musical accompaniment minimal but when it all comes together - oh boy, that's a sucker punch of a pop....er..Jazz.
This got me thinking - why aren't songs like this more popular? Or is it just me not having enough exposure to different kinds of music growing up? Why is musical content involving pain, suffering,various mental disorders, labels indicative of an antagonist's supposed relationship with his mother, blatant use of pharmaceutical products & derivatives, protagonist's lady friend, protagonist's bodily fluids, protagonist's reproductive organs and protagonist's lady friend's ability to effectively use hers, so popular? Does music have to be loud, brash, complicated and twisted to be appreciated?
Come to think of it- this is not my first brush with jazz. There was a computer game that we played a lot growing up. Transport Tycoon. The game basically involves you starting out at $0 in a certain city or area with a lot of cities around and building your transport company by servicing local needs for transport of passengers, cargo and other goods. It was pretty addictive at that time (Remember this was when computers were still magical boxes that returned the favor every time you turned them on). Anyway the background music consisted entirely of jazz musical pieces and I must have embraced it subconsciously. Even now I think I like Jazz because it gives me an instant boost. Its like drinking Red Bull around 4 a.m :).
However I wonder if people would want to listen to uplifting music when down and try to alleviate their situation or listen to music that they might 'identify' with and revel in the fact that their mental state is possibly shared by the singer/band or themes being explored in the song.
After all, who can listen to "Satisfaction" and keep still? (you can try...and you can try....)
# posted by FSN 2.4 : 1:21 PM
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In relation to this:” Does music have to be loud, brash, complicated and twisted to be appreciated?”
Well...the complicated aspect has spread amongst people like wild fire. Even if life proves to be simple, the majority of it is being made complex and twisted by them. This is either due to their own interpersonal/intrapersonal conflicts. Such 'complication' probably manifests itself into whatever they do...whether its art/music...etc. And hence the composition of twisted melodies that come into being or the words that is a manifestation of their 'soulful' or sorrowful experiences.
This is especially exhibited by the double stance of individuals in various instances….e.g. with regard to listening to music itself. Many pretend to like a certain kind of band/genre only because it’s considered as an ‘in’ thing and will not make them feel ‘out’ of place in any social gathering. It’s only when they are by themselves their authenticity surfaces like water gushing out of a dam. What they actually like may perhaps be classic numbers which are soft on the ears which are not the ‘in thing again. A sort of a ‘Dr.Jekyll and Mr. Hyde scenario’ portraying their dual personality. H(y)iding their real selves by ‘killing’ their genuineness along with the ‘spirit’ of melodious music. And pretending to be in an up’beat’ mood when they are probably feeling just the opposite. Simplicity and straightforwardness seems to be eclipsed by complexity and the dreaded ‘fitting in ‘syndrome.
Your post ‘A wonderful world’ ironically has made me ‘wonder’ about the ‘fullness’ of integrity, sincerity and ‘originality’ in this world.
Anyway… on a lighter ‘note’-Do enjoy your musical trip!!!
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Well...the complicated aspect has spread amongst people like wild fire. Even if life proves to be simple, the majority of it is being made complex and twisted by them. This is either due to their own interpersonal/intrapersonal conflicts. Such 'complication' probably manifests itself into whatever they do...whether its art/music...etc. And hence the composition of twisted melodies that come into being or the words that is a manifestation of their 'soulful' or sorrowful experiences.
This is especially exhibited by the double stance of individuals in various instances….e.g. with regard to listening to music itself. Many pretend to like a certain kind of band/genre only because it’s considered as an ‘in’ thing and will not make them feel ‘out’ of place in any social gathering. It’s only when they are by themselves their authenticity surfaces like water gushing out of a dam. What they actually like may perhaps be classic numbers which are soft on the ears which are not the ‘in thing again. A sort of a ‘Dr.Jekyll and Mr. Hyde scenario’ portraying their dual personality. H(y)iding their real selves by ‘killing’ their genuineness along with the ‘spirit’ of melodious music. And pretending to be in an up’beat’ mood when they are probably feeling just the opposite. Simplicity and straightforwardness seems to be eclipsed by complexity and the dreaded ‘fitting in ‘syndrome.
Your post ‘A wonderful world’ ironically has made me ‘wonder’ about the ‘fullness’ of integrity, sincerity and ‘originality’ in this world.
Anyway… on a lighter ‘note’-Do enjoy your musical trip!!!
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