In Praise of A Changing Musical Landscape

  Since the turn of the new millennium, mainstream music has witnessed its fair share of changes in musical genres—all influenced by the preference of everyday people just like you.  As a result, the variety of the music we hear on the radio tends to be centered on the same formula of creation: a catchy beat, provocative lyrics, and a repetitive chorus. That is why, generally speaking, the music that you might find peaking at the top of the charts would be classified as “pop” and sadly, nothing else. So wouldn’t you think after nearly a decade of the same cycle, people everywhere would’ve grown restless to the same idea of music? We have some takers.

  “If I have to listen to one more lame song by Britney Spears when I get dropped off at school, I might just have to cut my ears off with a knife,” says Emily Moreno,  a sixteen year old junior who centers the majority of her day around her iPod. Like many unknown radio dissenters, Emily explains that it is not the artist herself that necessarily “drives me crazy,” but rather the decision of using such an overused agenda of partying, seduction, and superficial drama. “Nowadays it seems like artists only care about what sounds ‘up-to date’ and not what really makes the most sense to them,” mentions Kenny Roscoe, a high school senior who aspires to one day become a successful music producer. “My music career goal is to shine a little light on artists that try so hard to get noticed, but no one ever bothers to take a second look at them. That is why if you ever need to hear some real music than I recommend more underground stuff.”

  So what might be this genre of underground music be characterized as? In a word: invisible. Blue October, Spoon, The Devil Wears Prada, Ice Cube, Silversun Pick-Ups, E-40, Tiger Army—to the common listener of music, little to none of these selected artists/bands  may  be recognizable. However, in the most recent months of 2011, there appears to be a light at the end of the tunnel for the musically neglected.  Alternative rock rookies, Foster the People, have lately battled their way into the ears of radio listeners across the nation with their signature hit, “Pumped up Kicks.” In response to the success of this used-to-be underground band, Robert Atkinson, another local music-fanatic of the Turlock area says, “It’s about time! I honestly can’t think of the last time I heard music like this on even the most popular radio stations, [KHOP] and I’m just glad that the mainstream is once again realizing what music should really be about.” According to the most current results of Billboard.com, the humble band was ranked third in overall radio airplay and album sales—a crowning achievement for the newest contenders of the radio industry.

  But there is more! Seasoned rapper, the Game, debuts today at the 100^th spot with his introductory single, “Martians vs. Goblins”; and Christina Perri and Adele, both rising female vocalists, exposed fellow listeners to their newest singles– “Arms” and “Rolling in the Deep,”–both song are presently glistening in the glares of fame.

  So due to these ever-so changing likenesses of the public’s music, artists much like Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Justin Bieber, Pitbull, and more have an impact on the general masses of radio listeners. Yet, there is recent evidence that a variety of people have taken preference to a more “alternative” choice of music. So will these passionate artists and bands ever conquer the bitter wall known mainstream?  The answer depends solely on the sluggish element of time. It is only with hope that the ears of the world may one day find their way below our feet and hear the never-ending noises vibrating from the underground.