Let's Get Sidetracked: A Few Thoughts From the Pillow

(this chapter and the next are simply a few thoughts from the author)

The Beatles

Top Songs in 1969:

Sugar, Sugar- The Archies

In the Year 2525- Zager and Evans

Get Back- The Beatles

Honky Tonk Women- The Rolling Stones

Dizzy- Tommy Roe

Top Songs in 2011:

We R Who We R- Kesha

Someone Like You- Adele

Party Rock Anthem- LMFAO

E.T.- Katy Perry

Born This Way- Lady Gaga






Where Are We Going?

Out of all of the top 5 artists in 2011, zero play a guitar. Only two of them play any instruments at all, with Lady Gaga and Adele dabbling in the piano. The only "band" in the top five of 2011 is LMFAO, which features two lead singers/songwriters.  

The Rolling Stones

Instruments are quickly being phased out in today's popular music. Why is this happening? Mostly due to a shift in society's taste in music. "Pop" music dominates the scene today, which has always relied on vocals over instruments. Paired with the availability of electronic sounds, beats, and rhythms, musicians today simply feel no need to spend so much time mastering an instrument. 

Lady Gaga

In times like the 60s, 70s, and some of the 80s, Rock dominated the scene, and contrary to pop music, rock traditionally places a heavier emphasis on instrumental and musical talent than vocal ability (see Bob Dylan). Going through many different stages of evolution, rock as a genre outlasted several fads throughout the years, but now seams to be dissolving before our eyes. This can be attributed to the fact that instruments are being left by the wayside. Who knows if there is a kid out there who can shred with the best of them, melt your heart on piano, tingle your spine with a sax, or tell you a story on trumpet? Truth is playing an instrument has gone out of style, kicked off the porch of music's house. 

So What Happened to the Guitar Hero?

Jimi Hendrix

Rock music created a beautiful paradox. It challenged every and any sorts of establishment, setting fire to them and creating anarchy-infused freedom. However with this rock created it's own establishment: the music industry, and thus over the years has begun to collapse under its own morals. Much like many of history's greatest rockers (think Hendrix, Morrison, Marley, and Presley), rock music seemed incapable of aging gracefully. In today's time, a modern rock star would simply not be welcome without a healthy dose of distractions including electronics, lights, auto-tune, and money. While the new names start to take over, its hard to image that the dead rockers of yore aren't scratching their heads (or ripping out their ears).