Dear Editor,
Dave Martins ‘So it go’ in Sunday Stabroek of the 28th, was indeed correctly titled ‘For the last time’, because as we all know complaints that “todays music is garbage!” will never stop. If I recall correctly the brother has addressed this topic before, but it’s something he can’t get past. And though I agree with most of Mr Martins’ line of reasoning, I do not think that it is by any means the reason why some folks – young ones too in the mix – continue to lament about the quality of many present-day genres of music ‒ and oh! they do know what they are on to in spite of all the analysing, make no mistake about that.
As I said, I understand and endorse much of what Dave Martins is saying, though I harbour a somewhat varying view. Now Dave Martins has made a grand contribution to his homeland, the Caribbean and further abroad with his music and performances for which he is well celebrated. With respect to Guyana he has for me in fine creative artistic mode, captured in almost every area our actions that are part of our cultural landscape; the tapestry and heritage of different people that blend and define us as one nation. Thus the laurels bestowed upon him are in order.
Now, everyone can pick a number, but I think I know trash when I hear it and no one is going to tell me there isn’t much of it floating around. Agreed, music and times change, and what replaces the earlier music, as we have seen, is not always better and what it is, it is. If it’s trash well, let’s call it that. Yes, the music and songs of yesterday are gone and not coming back – no problemo ‒ nothing is static, societies change, just like music, either for the better or worse, but change all the same. And don’t we fret and express our disapproval at the terrible new things that have taken hold and crave for a return to the good dead past? Yes we do, though stop it we can’t. But should we not strive for a lovely quality? Music ought to have a soothing and healing quality; society craves it, hence it does not belong to the gutter. Even if it reflects the times, mirroring the society, it is incumbent upon the artist to do better as he or she seeks to take us to a higher and better place.
I fully agree with what someone said: “Art is just not a mirror of whatever exists in its raw state.” So correct; it’s never a question of mere reflection, that’s just one aspect of it, for when that is all it does it loses its potency. Music is supposed to entertain in any which way, thus musicians who have chosen this fascinating profession ought not to treat people like scavengers. While the world is theirs to have and it is natural for the young to replace the old, this does not mean whatever, no big deal. Mind you, I’m not up in arms against change in style and form, etc. We can’t shackle that, for with the ages come the stages. But if we are to promote morals, it follows that one must be in command, the vanguard, or do we leave it in the control of those who care not a pint of parrot liquid?
Celebrated columnist Ian McDonald once wrote a stinging, piercing critique of popular music in an article ‘Vulgar music, vulgar times’ that triggered a response from one Ronald Austin Jr, who snapped: “I was shocked that this highly cultural lover of the arts would write off an entire genre in such a passionate way” (‘Dismissal of rap music was too sweeping,’ SN, Sept 24, 2008). Editor, in that article Dr McDonald wasn’t playing; one felt his wrath in what he regarded as vulgar garbage: “These amplified sounds… I’m not sure which to loathe the most, the noise or the mindlessness, the loudness of the music overwhelms all mental activities. These amplified sounds demand either semi sexual gyration on the dance floor or sitting in dumb acceptance of one’s fate while drinking heavily.
“This is music for the illiterate… for those who have not the slightest desire to think, converse, feel or understand anything…. It is music of unutterable sadness and despair.
“Surely even among the young there must soon be a revolt against this hideous cacophony which goes by the name of music.” The man is on target; the garbage is pervasive: “It possessed all the attributes of vulgarity; it is loud, it is intrusive, it favours the obscene and of course such music is a symptom of the time.”
This is why we have to tip our hats to those who are trying to stand tall among whom Mr Martins will most certainly be counted. But I have to say that we all have to be exceedingly thankful for technology; because of it the wonderful songs of yesteryear haven’t gone anywhere. The technology allows us to bask and wallow in the good old songs with which they still serenade us: Johnny Nash ‘I’m leaving’; Otis Redding ‘Pain in my heart’; Percy Sledge ‘When a man loves a woman’; Eddy Grant ‘Baby come back’; ‘Stand’ by Sly Stone; ‘Spanish Harlem’ by Ben E King; ‘Man to man’ by Dr Hook; ‘Africa Unite’ by Bob Marley; ‘Wild flower’ by Sky Lark, Curtis Mayfield and a zillion more. Look, with open arms I welcome the new, just make sure you stick in a nugget or two between; don’t just trash me.
Yours faithfully,
Frank Fyffe
