Is music clichéd?

Question

As mediums go, music seems to be the most clichéd of the lot.

Main streams films are generally clichéd but there are a few gems that are easily accessible to those who are willing to look. I think that's because stories can always change.

Computer games are an ever growning buisness. Technology changes everyday so games are evolving and changing too. Innovations such as the Wii controller, touch screen and others are being implemented into the main stream and games like Brain Training are the first of many alternative games. Sure there are many games that are full of clichéd to the brim (including dialouge) but it does seem like the industry is going the right way.

Music on the other hand is clichéd to it's fullest. Verse, chorus,. verse, chorus, verse, chorus, grand chorus, end. The Brit rock that seems to be taking over at the moment is all guitars, rnb is smooth, slow and sexy, pop dvias are Barbie looks and generaic vocals.

Is music in general generic and dated?

Answer 1

You are right.With each genre of music there seems to be a similar artist or band that jumps on the bandwagon, im not sure if this is the record companies fault or the artist but either way there seems to be a lack of orignality. Occasionally there is something that is totally new and exciting, but then the copycat process takes over once again. i know most bands have inspirations from other bands/artists and music in some ways can be very narrow minded. I dont think there is enough scope or leeway nowadays to be very ceative as the industry is run by money minded people who just want to bing out what sells rather than take any risks.

Answer 2

Popular music is cliched. Most definitely, because rock in it's pure form was about being against the norm, pop music with it's cookie cutter bimbos and it's lip-synching fakery has made a mockery of the industry as a whole. There is so much wrong with the music industry today, if you look at it, musicians with tons of talent, but may not be pretty to the eye will get overlooked by someone who's cousin's in the industry, or knows the guy that has the "phat" beats. If I see another 16-something girl try to put out new music I will barf. I have liked bands from before they were mainstream, now they have changed their whole sound completely just to fit in. It's shameful to see how a good band can go bad by simply being signed to a major label. That's what's ruining music, the industry.

Answer 3

There are more original ideas than there are original artists.

Record labels push what sells. There are plenty of fresh original acts out there who are undiscovered.

Cliche? No. There are many types of music in the world, however, popular music is pushed by what record labels feel they can sell the most of, and that usually means formulaic, unimaginative drivvle.

The same can be said of the "entertainment industry" in general. They push the movies they can make the MOST return from. The movies they think are targeted toward a "limited" market, never get widely released.

That's just the way things go. They want the biggest payday every time.

Answer 4

I don't know about generic and dated but it is definitely very vanilla nowadays. When I listen to the likes of James Blunt and Damien Rice it just sends me to sleep! I'm not saying they're not talented it's just that it doesn't exactly make me feel fire in my belly. I blame Betty Ford. Rehab is killing our music! I know that sounds like a real dumb thing to say but musicians nowadays seem so, I don't know - normal. Whilst I'm all for people conquering their demons and so on, the cost is our music. A sensible, well-balanced musician is an oxymoron. Kurt Cobain was screwed up enough to blow his own head off and, whilst I don't condone suicide, there is no denying he produced some of the most influential music of our generation. RnB just seems to be all about t*ts and a*se and quite frankly I'm bored with music of today. However,once you get away from the more commercial stuff I think it's borderline interesting. Alas, there is no fire in my belly with today's music in general.

Answer 5

I had thought so until I saw a band that supported the Chili Peppers in Ottawa.
They were called Mars Volta.................and well the music was truly indescribeable. Each song/ concerto/cacophony lasted 15 or so minutes. They were an 8 or 9 piece band..The lead singer had his/her back to the audience for the full gig.
Not a single word was understood. I suspect the whole gig was one big jamming session / tune up. stunned I was ...totally stunned.

If this is breaking free from cliche then lordy help us all.

Answer 6

Are we talking pop music and or movie music? If so - I totally agree.

Classical music - even though it is hundreds of years old - is not cliched or dated in any way. It is something to be cherished over the dull drollery of the pop music singing "American Idol" crowd.

If you are sick of the monotony of the pop music genre - pick up a Mozart, Beethoven, Vivaldi, Wagner (I could go on for an hour) CD. It will expand your mind a little.

Answer 7

Nah.. I don't think so..
We may have only twelve notes to play with, but look at the variety of wonderful, beautiful music that has been made in the last few hundred years (not even mentioning what came before!)
There will always be someone out there who will come up with something new :)

Answer 8

no you're just not listening to enough music. you're probably stuck in a rutt and have been listening to the same genre or cds for the past 10 years.

okay, okay.....it's more clichéd that most other art mediums but it's certainly not generic or unoriginal. some of it's just slightly derivative.

Answer 9

Basic 12 bar blues uses three chords. Generally Oasis and Beatle songs have about six major chords - oh yeh and there's also the old relative minor in the blues scales like Em in G. There's not much new I'm afraid.

Answer 10

You are partially correct. Mainstream music is very cliched and dated. It doesnt even have to be good to be mainstream. if its popular and enough people have heard of it, then its a hit. On the other hand underground, indpendent lable music can be very innovative and refreshing. If you take music as it is given to you, there will be a lot of crap. its up to you to go out and discover the real talent