Rock Minutes

I was watching VH1 Classic the other day and the video of Missing Person’s Destination Unknown came on the television. My god I thought, I hadn’t seen it in years! But it was apparently clear within the first 30 seconds of seeing the video, that Lady Gaga is nothing more than a reincarnation of Dale Bozzio. I mean it…the look, the attitude, the style, I was thinking that Lady Gaga is not original at all, and in fact everything old, is new again.

It really got me thinking about the 80’s and the music and the styles the transfixed that era. I know that music from the 80’s as far as “its place in history” is controversial in the fact of its quality when compared to the birth of rock and roll. When Duran Duran is placed in history next to the Beatles, there should be collective chuckle occurring worldwide. But in its time, 80’s New Wave and Pop was relevant and socially important. Yes it was trite, shallow, and bubblegum in most respects. And, yes it was nonsensical, self absorbed and super materialistic, but like I said, everything old, is new again.

The 80’s were a time of musical experimentation and fashion extravagance. The use of computerized music and post apocalyptic fashion were in full gear, and set trends that were defiantly unique…and actually, truly original. What you can not say is that the 80’s music scene was a rehashing or rebirth of another era or time (i.e. the 90’s reinventing of the 70’s punk movement or the rebirth of tie-dyes and peace signs), the 80’s were totally and ultimately original.

And that since and feeling of originality is something music has not been able to grasp in a while…that it is fresh and new and within itself, original. Over the last 15 years or so, most of the musical trends (excluding rap which is really one of the few original art forms that has stayed true to itself and genre) have been rebirths of older styles. Right now, we are in a rebirth of the 80’s music scene. And as bad as it was back then, at least it was original.

Lady gaga is not a fashion Mecca; she is simply reinventing the old styles from Dale Bozzio, Wendy O’ Williams, and Grace Jones. Which I don’t have a problem with, but lets not be confused with the difference of being a trend setter and a trend mocker. The music of the 80’s was in most regards, simplistic and materialistic, trite and light. And, if you listen to what is popular today, it ain’t the musical stylings of The Edmond Fitzgerald, no indeed. Today’s pop music is closer in substance and style to Duran Duran and Milli Vanilli.

I just wanted to point out that we are not in an era of musical and fashion break through; in fact it is quite the opposite. We are in an era of musical staleness and stagnation. I guess everything old is new again…unfortunately

Aaron

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