Sorry I've been negligent with this blog. After a few weeks focussing on other aspects of my life, my muse has returned. I've been writing like a fiend!
In the last couple of weeks, the next album has been born. Along with 'What To Say' and 'Love Isn't Enough', I can now add 'Home', 'The Dream', and 'Wow' to the set list!
Wow
What do you think, to bring up words like that?
So poetic, not for me.
Whenever I try I always fall down
I can only say ‘Wow’
How did you learn to present like that
So emotic, just for me
You hold the charisma, you turn me around
I can only say ‘Wow’
How do you live with yourself like that
Open-shuttered, not like me
I couldn’t decide, I don’t know how
I can only say ‘Wow’
How do you excise your demons like that
Show no fear, breaking free
I’d love to follow, but I can just bow
I can only say ‘Wow’
(c) Matt Swift 2010
Written to force the end of writer's block, I was listening to the latest James album, Hey Ma. I've been a fan for years, but it finally struck me how great a lyricist Tim Booth is.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Disenfranchised
Warning: High-and-mighty Soapbox-style preaching on it’s way…..
There – you’ve been warned. If you’re still reading, I’m assuming you have given permission for me to speak my mind.
A couple of years ago, I read a fantastic article about the devaluation of music as an art form. It discussed how a piece of music had been devalued from AN EXPERIENCE, to AN ALBUM, A SONG, eventually ending up being worth $0.99 on iTunes, or free from online file-sharing. Thus, music is now considered worthless by most of the western world.
Blame it on lossless, virtually free, distribution. Blame it on the general quality of the product (commercial music as a whole). Blame it on kids that weren’t raised properly, and the parents that (mis-) taught them. Who knows, who cares?
I seem to be alone with this pet peeve, but I really hate seeing two people sitting next to each other, sharing headphones. Someone wrote and arranged that music, recorded it, mixed it, produced it, and stamped their name on it. And the listeners have chosen to ignore 50% of that. Not to mention that a stereo recording is never meant to lose one side. It throws off the other side, along with omitting (in some cases) entire melodies or themes.
Comparing art forms, you’d never go to an art gallery to see a specific piece and see a curtain draped over the left side of the painting. If you did, you’d see a furiously screaming artist demanding respect for the work he’d poured himself into. And chances are you’d understand his point. Music? Get’s none of that respect.
I complained about this to a friend, Celeste, who pointed out that as a consumer the listeners had every right to use the product as they saw fit. That I, as the creator, had sold my rights for the $0.99 paid. And she’s not entirely wrong.
So, I’ve removed the BUY option from my Soundclick page. Now it’s only available for streaming. Now it’s my GIFT, and it comes with a condition: Treat it with the respect it deserves, or ignore it altogether and move on.
I didn’t write or record this music for profit. I did receive some, and I’m thankful to those that bought. I earned enough to pay for my divorce in fact, but it’s not worth selling the respect I have for the art.
I’m dropping out of the industry side. For the love of the art, it’s pure again. Love it or leave it.
There – you’ve been warned. If you’re still reading, I’m assuming you have given permission for me to speak my mind.
A couple of years ago, I read a fantastic article about the devaluation of music as an art form. It discussed how a piece of music had been devalued from AN EXPERIENCE, to AN ALBUM, A SONG, eventually ending up being worth $0.99 on iTunes, or free from online file-sharing. Thus, music is now considered worthless by most of the western world.
Blame it on lossless, virtually free, distribution. Blame it on the general quality of the product (commercial music as a whole). Blame it on kids that weren’t raised properly, and the parents that (mis-) taught them. Who knows, who cares?
I seem to be alone with this pet peeve, but I really hate seeing two people sitting next to each other, sharing headphones. Someone wrote and arranged that music, recorded it, mixed it, produced it, and stamped their name on it. And the listeners have chosen to ignore 50% of that. Not to mention that a stereo recording is never meant to lose one side. It throws off the other side, along with omitting (in some cases) entire melodies or themes.
Comparing art forms, you’d never go to an art gallery to see a specific piece and see a curtain draped over the left side of the painting. If you did, you’d see a furiously screaming artist demanding respect for the work he’d poured himself into. And chances are you’d understand his point. Music? Get’s none of that respect.
I complained about this to a friend, Celeste, who pointed out that as a consumer the listeners had every right to use the product as they saw fit. That I, as the creator, had sold my rights for the $0.99 paid. And she’s not entirely wrong.
So, I’ve removed the BUY option from my Soundclick page. Now it’s only available for streaming. Now it’s my GIFT, and it comes with a condition: Treat it with the respect it deserves, or ignore it altogether and move on.
I didn’t write or record this music for profit. I did receive some, and I’m thankful to those that bought. I earned enough to pay for my divorce in fact, but it’s not worth selling the respect I have for the art.
I’m dropping out of the industry side. For the love of the art, it’s pure again. Love it or leave it.
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