I don't think music is as good as it used to be and it lacks soul. Do you agree?

Question

Everyone's entitled to their own musical taste but here's my opinion:
If you like new music fine, but it shouldn't be called what it is. Today's R&B isn't R&B it's just hip-hop. And how could today's
"rock" be placed in the same genre with Led Zeppelin? How can R&B be R&B if it doesn't have SOUL? How could rock n' roll be rock if it doesn't even ROCK? And Kid Rock's just pop and rap in a cowboy hat. Older music has way more soul and quality. Let's compare:

JAZZ
Back when: Louis Armstrong, Spirits of Rhythm, Hall Johnson choir
NOW
Kenny G, weather channel crap
R&B
Back when: Otis Redding, Drifters, Marvin Gaye, Sam Cooke
Now: R. Kelly, Ashanti, Justin Timberlake
REGGAE
back when: Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, Bunny Wailer
now: dancehall crap
ROCK
back when: Chuck Berry, Elvis, The Coasters, Led Zeppelin, Bad Company
today: Simple Plan, other assorted whiny prepubescent-sounding bands
COUNTRTY
back when: Hank Williams, Patsy Cline
now: Big & Rich, Kid Rock

HERE COME THE DAGGERS;-)

Answer 1

No daggers from me. You are partially right. Commercial music has now soul. It's written by hacks who aim to bit middle of the road audiences without challenging them, and therefore it has to meet the lowest common denominator.

Underground bands however, still play music for the love of music. They arent aiming to hit any sales targets, and therefore put much more personality and soul into their music.

So, yes, commercial music has completely lost it's soul, and is a sterile wasteland, but underground bands are still creating great music, you just have to look for it.

Answer 2

You have the right idea but the wrong people:

Jazz back then: Miles Davis,Eddie lockjaw Davis,Jimmy Smith,
MOdern Jazz Quartet,Jazz Messengers,Nina Simone, John Patton
Jimmy McGriff,Little Jimmy Scott,Dave Brubeck,Sonny Payne

R&B back Then:Al Hibbler,Roy Hamilton,Lloyd Price,Fats Domino,Little Richard,Big Joe Turner,Frankie Lymon & Teenagers,Moonglows,Flamingos, Clyde McPhatter&Drifters,
Lavern Baker,Ruth Brown,Five Keys,Platters,The Dominoes
Hank Ballard&Midnighters,Dells,Ray Charles,Shirley&Lee,
Johnny Ace,Orioles,Spaniels,Cadillacs, Jackie Wilson,Ivory Joe hunter,Little Willie John,Chantels, Little Anthony & Imperials,Jimmy Reed (These are all the big ones that Elvis was listening to)

Answer 3

I agree with you. There are very few new artists that I like. Most of them can't sing, have no talent. I find myself listening to old school music. Songs had meaning then. I normally stick to music, R&B, Pop, Rock, from the 50s through the early 90s. It's fine to go to a club and dance to whatever beat is playing but if I want songs that have meaning, I listen to old school.

Answer 4

To paraphrase and with apologies to Bob Seger:
Just take them old records off the shelf
I sit and listen to them by myself
Today's music aint got the same soul
I like that old time rock and roll
You are absolutely right.

Answer 5

There will unfortunately never be another Motown Era and Jimmi Hendrix is long since gone. Luther Vandross has passed to go sing with Minnie Riperton ... We're just gon'a have to wait it out.

Answer 6

YES! YES! Finally--someone who thinks like me!! Do you notice that in each genre of music, hardly ANY music is ORIGINAL SOUNDING? Let me explain: Jazz today is called "smooth jazz" and it sounds like hip-hop with the occassional sax or guitar! With dance beats and computerized drums--it doesn't resemble a shadow of the all-time greats of the past, such as Louis Jordan, Dave Brubeck, The Nat King Cole Trio, among others!
And as for R&B? Where should we begin??! Today's "artists" are too busy taking samples of previous artists since,it seems to me, that nobody can think of anything original. Either that, or talent as we use to know it died and went to heaven! Gone are the greats like Teddy Pendergast, Wilson Pickett, Brooke Benton, Earth,Wind and Fire,ect. Now we're stuck with mediocre, sound-alike voices that are preoccupied with reaching high notes and "wavy" scales and vocal tricks and gimmics! Seems they forgot the ''blues" in rhythm and blues!
Rock? awww.... don't get me started! Let me just say that today's "rock" is far from the timeless, ageless, still-popular legends from decades past! To name a few: Buddy Holly, Bill Haley, Three Dog Night, Chicago, Rolling Stones,ect. Most of the rock today lacks virtuosity-they seem to learn a few chords on the guitar and scream a few depressing lines and away we go! Maybe because most of it is punk-influenced, not genuine "rock" based.
And finally, "country"! what a joke! The country of today sounds like rock of the 90's! They don't even LOOK like country stars used to look like! The men have hair styles that can compete with some rock bands out there. And the guitars are loud and so...UN-country like! Gone are the steel guitars, fiddles, the slow, plucky, trade-mark bass, ect. Even the names of these artists seems to "crossover---waaay over"!

I guess I got carried away here--I could go on and on. But, don't worry- I won't. It's just that, as I mentioned before, I thought that maybe it was just me that seemed to have noticed that music probably will never again be quite like it used to be. There are some artists out there thay I like, but honestly, even the ones that I like have made maybe 2 or 3 songs per cd that I can say I really like. It's kind of disappointing... isn't it?

Answer 7

You go girl! I'm a Motown child myself and I miss the days when music really had meaning and everyone didn't sound the same!

Answer 8

Neat thoughts.

Answer 9

Not at all.Things that should be done is that there should be no cursing.