So You Wanna Make Music and Change The World?
SO YOU WANNA MAKE MUSIC TO CHANGE THE WORLD?
What do Bob Dylan, Elvis Presley, the Beatles and Mozart all
have in common? And what do they have in common with practically
every other artist who's creativity has changed the world? They
are all unique. But there is something in common.
They each changed the popular music of their times by combining
already popular forms in a new way. Elvis - on that famous and
fateful day in Sun Studios in Memphis he let it all loose and
brought it all together again differently... the blues, country,
gospel and regional elements that were his influences in his
youth all came together into rockabilly, rock and roll,
something that had not been heard before. Elvis on Ed Sullivan
also brought together the new music form and the new medium -
television in a new way which has influenced generations of rock
icons to first pick up their guitar.
Bob Dylan... they pulled the plug on his concert when he dared
to bring out electric instruments, drums and a backbeat to his
folk and protest music. But Dylan had his own vision of his
music and it contained his influences from Woody Guthrie but
also the last decade of rock and roll and other influences..
again.. he combined popular music forms in a new way.
The Beatles... well they set the world on fire with their style
and their hair cuts and all that. The Beatles on Ed Sullivan -
still one of the great moments in rock and television history.
But do you know that in the mid 60's they didnt release a CD for
almost two years and then came out with Sgt Pepper - the
orchestation, song structure and the bringing together of
elements in a completely new way is what made history.
Mozart? Well, see the great movie, Amadeus, and you will
understand better than I can illustrate here. But it is another
case in point.
Another one that could be mentioned here is Johnny Cash. As
Bruce Springsteen said (not an exact quote)... Johnny Cash broke
down barriers to communication and artistic styles and, not only
did he break those barriers down, but he showed why it is
important to do so. Cash's music contains many elements brought
together for the first time in different parts of his career.
So the point...? If you want to make music that changes the
world, don't just be the latest kid on the block, the latest
rapper in the hood, the latest rocker in the backstreet clubs.
Do something that has not been done before by combining elements
that are already popular in a new and creative way.
Perhaps this unique combining of other art forms is so impactful
because it aligns with the derivation of the word "art" itself.
The derivation of the word art basically means... to join
together.
The world needs great artists. Start!