SAD STATE OF MUSIC

I was having my dinner in our hostel mess yesterday, and browsing the music channels that were on air. After a few initial minutes I realized that there was nothing ‘musical’ about any of the shows being aired. The so called music channels have become more of reality show channels in which the only thing that that is being aired or advertised are absurd reality shows. This goes without saying that the very fact that MTV, one of the pioneers in the field of music channels, took off the label of music television from their logo, is a testament to this fact. I wonder what has happened to the world of music. Of course if you were to believe the marketing team of these music channels, their complaint is that people no longer depend on music channels for music, as in with the advent and advancement of ipods ( or any other music player)and internet, people now do not depend on television for music. Yes it is true I remember as a kid I was a Bryan Adams fan and my only refuge was MTV , I would wait for the shows where they would play English song. But now the story is different my mobile takes care of my hunger for music.

Is this the only thing that’s gone wrong with music ? no. Especially in India I feel the mainstream bollywood music is heading nowhere, and this music is eating up the space that should have been provided to other genres. For instance we are a country that can actually be proud of its rich heritage in music . we have innumerable gharanas and many ustads and pandits. But where are they………… they are confined to a very small number of population whose number is already on a decline. Let us for a moment forget about classical music considering that its for the classes and not the masses, but look at mainstream music………………… all we want is a foot tapping number………… even if it has practically absurd and redundant lyrics. Singers like sonu nigam who are actually amazing singers are singing lesser songs, not that the upcoming ones are bad the newer song simply lack the feel , only once a while someone comes across a song which is really good and sensible. For the first time now hindi cinema is making progresses and has come out of its traditional cloak, so why is it that a very few experimentations are done with music.

I remember when Indian ocean came to my college , the students actually felt frustrated where as the band, in my opinion is great and one of the very few Indian bands to actually combine rock with folk music which is actually amazing. Where does the fault occur?...........with us or with the composers………well definitely we have a fair share in t his blame game but not entirely. Of late I came across something known as the ‘coke studio’. It’s a program aired in Pakistan and very fresh. There they call upon amazing classical singers like ustad rahat fateh ali khan and combine them with bands like junoon or noorie. A perfect blend of rock and folk music and audiences of all ages love the shows. My only doubt is why can’t we do something like that in India . I strongly feel that our current state of affairs in the field of music is going down the drains, and with music channels going of the hook , things look even grimmer. A better realization must be brought about to explore the rich music that our country has, and that too soon.

Yes one can say that newer labels are coming up, but are they promoting mew music , not much. Well there are many labels like demonstealer records which are promoting newer bands but I think not enough is being done. Time has come to shed of our stereo-typed mainstream music and give the other genres a chance.