In a recent conversation I had, I had brought up the fact that there were a select few mainstream artists that actually spoke for/to this generation. Last week, I believe it was on VH1, there was a day long segment on the history of Motown and the affect its artists had on their generation from setting trends to speaking out on political issues of that day to being true innovators. Individuals like Marvin Gaye, Sam Cooke, Etta James, and older heads like Billie Holiday and her “Strange Fruit” come into mind as being musicians that not only spoke for their generation but spoke to it as well.
Fast forward about 40 years since the Motown days and we have artists such as T-Pain, Akon, & Co. that are commanding a lot of attention from their tracks but don’t, in my opinion, necessarily speak for the generation. The potential list of artists that come under this vein of being true speakers of the generation can be somewhat subjective but I think it’s important to understand that just because an artist has a # 1 hit on the charts and everyone knows his/her hooks, doesn’t necessarily mean that they could be on that list.
I’m interested in finding out who you guys believe are speakers of this generation. Also, when you list the musicians, please give reasons why. Being on such a list means that not only have you made it a point to perfect your craft as an artist, but that you make a conscientious attempt to be political or speak about pertinent issues that are affecting a mass of individuals. Being on this list means that you’re going above and beyond your role as an artist to actually be a universal entity encompassing values and concerns that the “common” individual may have and broadcast such in a greater outlet.
I’d also like to hear your thoughts on why certain artists who have mass appeal do not get overly political but choose to stay comfortable in the “pop” lime light. One individual that comes to my mind is Beyonce. For all of the work that she has done to build her career in the music industry, and most recently, in retail, I feel that she’s one artist that has a tremendous amount of potential to really affect change. Personally one or two tracks on an album does not make someone a speaker for the generation. It has to follow some kind of action. I’m not saying that Beyonce or any similar-type artist need to start picketing outside Planned Parenthood or the White House lawn but there’s so much going on in the world and I wonder why such artists choose to be more vocal about material things than things that can actually help the people.
What are your thoughts on the latter and Who do you think should be on such a list?
~Thesis
Reecie
thehonorable
christina aguilera should definitely be on the list.
^^^ Why?
yea … why christina agilera?
I know this is abotu to sound controversial but maybe these commercial artist are speaking for/to or rather misleading the generation. Working with middle and high school students, so I guess all those born after 1990 are who I’m talking abotu with that statement. All those kids know is bling bling and materialism. So when all the songs are abotu those things, they idetnify with them. I remember playing Common’s new album for some of the high schoolers I tutor and they hated it. Saying that he was too boring and whatnot. These boogers in 12th grade on down don’t know real music and don’t really care about politics or making a statement it’s all about how much they have and what they can spend it on. Or sex
But if I had to name some folks I would get song specific like Common’s “Black Maybe?” or Kanye West’s “Two Words.” Or how about Andre 3000s verse’s on the “Walk It Out” remix. He straight threw the baggy pants culture in everybody’s faces and played them all the way to the left and no one really noticed … go read the lyrics. I guess everyone was too busy two-stepping to listen.
1. Did you mean to write “boogers?” lmao.
2. Regarding “Black, Maybe” it’s interesting you bring that up because if you listen to what Common says after the track explaining how/why he came up with that, he does it so ineloquently and convoluted that he kinda killed the mood for me..I liked the song, just think Comm coulda been a lil more lucid in his explanation…
“When we talk about black maybe
We talk about situations
Of people of color and because you are that color
You endure obstacles and opposition
And not all the time from….from other nationalities
Sometimes it comes from your own kind
Or maybe even your own mind
You get judged…you get laughed at…you get looked at wrong
You get sighted for not being strong
The struggle of just being you
The struggle of just being us…black maybe”
????
Outkast [at least Andre]-They’ve spoken to the 90’s and the 00’s, tell people what it’s like, make good music without dumbing it down. Andre is telling people to be themselves, which the world needs more of.
Nas-Need I say why?
Common-Amazing artist, been round since 90’s, hasn’t had a number one album till this year. He proves that if you persevere, you can have something good. He also speaks for respect, etc.
Lupe Fiasco-No need to say.
Don’t most artists usually speak for themselves and end up striking it rich anyway? That must be why Common only has one #1 CD.
Um not to be harsh, but I don’t think anyone right now besides Bono and he’s old lol.
Say what you will about James Brown, but what other artist EVER EVER EVER went somewhere and told people to stop rioting and go home and they actually did it? There is NOBODY right now that could go and tell people to stop fighting and they would listen. 50 Cent? Kanye? Jay-Z? T.I.? Hell no. They would probably get bottles thrown at them.
And for nothing, but I don’t really think it would be appropriate for Beyonce to speak out on anything. She does not even have a high school education, let alone the knowledge to speak on any causes. She doesn’t even know how to make a thank you speech for goodness sakes! Asking her to speak off the cuff on anything would be like asking R. Kelly to become a school counselor. Just wrong. She should just stick to what’s she is good at, and I think she and her team knows it.
i agree,christina aguilera should be on the list.
I don’t know if everyone agrees with me, but in my opinion John Mayer straight speaks to our generation. His song Waiting on the world to change is a prime example. We have gotten lazy, and we want others to do everything for us, whether it be gas prices, the war, helping our communities. However, we are the ones responsible for staying active. His song is exactly about that. His record Continuum has songs about life, and the different situations we can find ourselves in. People should really go and pick up this album. John Mayer will go down as one of the most IMPORTANT artist of our generation.
Justin Timberlake have a big fanbase and he does a lot of social conscience songs. I can name a few now and he plans to do more.
Where is the love with Black Eyed Peas.
Losing my way.
LooseEnd with Will.i.am, Sergio Mendes, and Pharaon(sorry for spelling his name wrong) March
The Nature with Talib.
If you haven’t heard these songs than go check it out on Itunes.
Ah, forgot BEP. Yeah, the OLD BEP that is.
1. People really need to expound on their reasons for why Christina Aguilera should be on such a list. That is mind-boggling, to say the least.
2. Of all the comments that have been made thus far, and not to discount anyone’s point(s), I think Reen hit what I was trying to address.
I think Bono would be a great example and it goes without saying that he’s a conscious musician not only through his words but also by his actions. I will not stand here and say that I am a U2/Bono fan because I’m not but I give him cred. The only thing I would take away from Bono is that he isn’t in our generation. And perhaps I should have been a tad clearer. I suppose anyone on the cusp of Gen X/early Gen Y heads….(your 1979-1982/3 babies). Bono has been doing what he’s been doing before I was born. lol. I’m talkin about artists who came out in this generation. So Bono, would not qualify.
But to get to the point, a lot of you all named certain artists that made songs with a point but I’d like to take you back to what I wrote initially:
“Being on such a list means that not only have you made it a point to perfect your craft as an artist, but that you make a conscientious attempt to be political or speak about pertinent issues that are affecting a mass of individuals. Being on this list means that you’re going above and beyond your role as an artist to actually be a universal entity encompassing values and concerns that the “common” individual may have and broadcast such in a greater outlet.”
I think GreenDay and Kanye are artists that have proven to be speakers of the generation or on their way to really being such individuals.
Regarding Justin Timberlake- A huge fanbase means what? What does Justin stand for? What do we know about him aside from the fact that he’s Michael Jackson’s left n** (no Larry Craig). Again, I’m not saying that artists today need to be the poster children for the Save Darfur committee but there needs to be some iota of activism and I’m sorry, a lot of these artists do not make it a point to speak on significant issues that are affecting us today.
Maybe things have changed. Maybe artists/industry doesn’t care. It’s funny because when I was watching that Motown history spread on VH1, their was a segment that showed Berry Gordy not signing the Supremes to Motown until they finished school. lol. They felt they had the talent but Berry Gordy was really against signing child acts. He made sure they got their education then he signed them. It just goes to show that times have changed and many artists/industry ain’t about shit except selling music and profiting.
It’s one thing for an artist to have a thought-provoking song on iTunes. It’s another thing for an artist to go on national tv and say “George Bush doesnt care about black people.” Regardless of whether I side with Kanye’s statement or not, that took a lot of hootzpa and quite frankly, many artists don’t have it!
Lupe Fiaso? You kiddin me…..the dude is not seasoned enough to even be included on such a list. Sure the kid has an ill delivery and word-play and makes some thought-provokin jawns but i still don’t know what he’s about aside from the fact that he’s a skateboard dude. lol…and in that vein, that doesn’t even make him really unique.
John Mayer- Hmmm….might have to ponder on that! But yeah Reen, i felt a lot of what you had to say!
Thesis
I know Bono is out of the running, that’s why I noted that he was old as hell LOL! I was just implying that he is the only one I could think of at that moment.
I thought about it again and the person I would now say is Alicia Keys. Not only does she make uplifting music that is mainstream, she is definitely championing a lot of causes and doing it wholeheartedly (i.e. going to Africa and getting her hands dirty, among other things). Not only that but she is eloquent enough to actually know what she is talking about and do it in a way that is not jarring and turning off people. No offense to Kanye, but he kind of has a fart mouth, stuff comes out and then he has to go and explain it again in another interview. And I’m not talking about the “I hate black people” comment, that was more of a truth hurts comment, in my honest opinion.
But as I said before, I don’t think there is anyone right now who could bring a megaphone into a rioting crowd, tell people to go home and they actually listen. And for that, James Brown always gets my props.
Reen-
Point taken and respected….. Says a lot if we cannot name at least 5 ppl in this generation that could hold down that “megaphone.”
I take back saying Christina Aguilera,but i am gonna say comapred to the arist shes always compared to,she has the most potential to be that person.
When it comes to not getting political,like ur beyonce example,I think artist are afraid because anyone who seems to open their minds are going to have a blacklash.
Remember what happen to the Dixie Chicks?They were three white country girls and the biggest thing in country for a good time.Then the lead singer says something like “I’m ashamed the president is from Texas.”I’m not a fan of country,but I decided to see their documentary “Shut Up and Sing” and I just thought it was outragous how certain Americans overreacted,maybe that’s just me.She said it to cheer up a crowd in Europe!And just for that one line basically every country radio station stopped playing them and the record sales died.They had serious death threats and everytime they had to peform in Texas they needed massive security.It was only 4 YEARS LATER that they were able to release an album and win 5 Grammys.All of sudden poeple were respecting them so much,but that was only after we realized the type of president Bush was.
Sorry for making it long,lol.
OMG reading all that stuff with Dixie Chicks, makes me think you americans are way too dramatic:)) aren’t you living in a free country, were everyone can express their opinions, ’cause here in Romania we certainly can, and P.S. You realized kinda late waht kind of president Bush was, you were brainwashed by him.
So…sorry for the offtopic, but one artist that should be on that list is Pink, and that if we would only think about ‘dear mr. president’…
We shouldn’t put to much on the artist. Primarily the better artist, like the better athlete, starts with the natural ability in the performance. That doesn’t equate to an ability to analyse or even get a feel for the social frontline. I’m an older spirit, so rappers tend to go over my head, but I’ve heard Pink and I think she has a mind for the ironical that can be valuable in the social conversation. The Dixie Chicks incident tells me more about the level media minds work rather then the artist. And in that one can’t help remember that ridiculous interview with Tom Cruise about birthing. Any man whose helped a partner through the whole pregnancy, labour situation would have interviewed better than Tom on the subject. And why not - he’s an actor, not a midwife. So what are media thinking when they ask an artist for expert opinion outside their expert field? On the other hand, I recently wrote a poem in support of Percy B Shelley’s contention that poets are the unacknowledged legislators of the world. And effecting legislation is not just talking high-brow.
Theociocoiu is so right. The drama with the Dixie Chicks shouldn’t have happen, and it’s embarrassing to live in a country which promises freedom [of speech] yet when we use that right, we are ostracized for not agreeing with the general public.
-b
the one that comes to mind is “more or less” talib kweli
more franchising less sanitizing
more uprising less downsizing
more enterprising less sympathizing
more buildings less destroying
more jobs less unemployment
lets get the devil less enjoinment
more originality less biting pocket off big
more community activism less pigs
more blacksmithing, def jux less geffen
and the rest cause the rest suck the got the shit all messed up
more marijuana less coke
more countibility for politicians before we shoutin lets vote
more schools less prisons
more freestyles less written
more serious shit and less kidding
more history less mystery
more beyonce less brittany
more happiness less misery
more victory less losses
more workers, we all bosses
of course its reflection….
What we need?
Yeah, that verse was poignant indeed