Get Rythmn in your Melody

The author of this article on rythmn, melody, and pop music knows a hell of a lot more than I do. Or for that matter, most people who consider themselves "music" journalists. And he makes the argument that music is a moral force, that it is the expression of the soul. And as such, it ought to be submitted to judgment.

And even if we don’t forbid musical idioms by law, we should remember that people with musical tastes make our laws; and Plato may be right, even in relation to a modern democracy, that changes in musical culture go hand in hand with changes in the laws, since changes in the laws so often reflect pressures from culture. There is no doubt that popular music today enjoys a status higher than any other cultural product. Pop stars are first among celebrities, idolised by the young, taken as role models, courted by politicians, and in general endowed with a magic aura that gives them power over crowds. It is surely likely, therefore, that something of their message will rub off on the laws passed by the politicians who admire them. If the message is sensual, self-centered, and materialistic, then we should not expect to find that our laws address us from any higher realm than that implies.

I cannot argue. I freely admit that most of the music we listen to is deliberately primitive; it appeals to the animal instincts and not to the heart. Most of the music that appeals to the heart, in fact, bores me. For me, music is not a complement to my life, but a vacation from it. What that means about me, and modern music, will require serious thought.