CREATIVITY VS. THE MONEY TREE
Sep 1, 2007 12:00 PM, Kylee Swenson Remix Editor
Sometimes I have to totally check out from the media that's being blasted at me. I'm bored to tears hearing about Lindsay Lohan, Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie's past, present and future problems with the law, yet I find myself reading about it. Little girls everywhere probably think they have to drive drunk and go to jail in order to be cool now. But that's the last sentence I'll waste on stupid celebrity dish. I find myself avoiding real news, too. Just a quick glance at the headlines today, and words such as “bombers,” “hostages,” “Agent Orange,” “high blood pressure” and “insider trading” make me want to crawl back into my shell. The only headline I paid attention to this morning was the story about a bread recall because, well, I guess I don't want to buy any bread that may have metal shrapnel in it.
Sometimes when I pay too much attention to the outside world, I get grossed out…or depressed. I get that feeling when I think too much about the commerce of “creative arts.” There are obviously a lot of people only in it for the money. To hell with being creative and writing music because something deep in your soul is telling you to. Grab a piece of the pie before it's all gone! Sample a huge chunk of some big '80s hit, and “create” your own recycled, instant hit. Pick a classic movie and redo it (badly) with a cast of hot stars of the moment. How can your art be truly creative, innovative and soulful when you're constantly shaking the money tree? If you want to make money, get into the financial business — don't make music.
On the flip side of the coin, I hear a lot of mainstream music (sometimes with the aforementioned recycled samples) that's catchy and can easily get under my skin. Actually, you can watch any video on mtv.com, and they're all catchy. The harmonies are all in the right places. The vocal hooks have the perfect pop sensibilities, and all the music is perfectly shaped so as not to get in the way of anything else. The bridges almost always appear predictably two-thirds of the way through. The artists/bands are beautiful and have cool haircuts and wear very expensive clothes, even when they're singing about having no money. And they sing with the right amount of passion, whether the words came from their heart or were made up by a songwriter 20 years their senior. Then there are the videos, which can be fairly innovative at times (like the backward video by that band Mute Math). I admit I'm a little jealous when I see the whole package. This business of making teenagers swoon is calculated, but it's pretty amazing when you see it come together.
But those aren't the kinds of artists you'll find in this issue. It's not about predictability or commerce with Prince Paul, M.I.A., UNKLE or anyone else here. It's straight-up creativity for the love of making music. Sometimes that can translate into the whole MTV package. But if you're beelining it for that goal, I hope your heart is really, truly in the music. Please spare me if it's not.
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