Well friends, my last session of infotainment with you guys. And since this is the last interactive session (so I would like to believe) with you guys, I thought I would make it fun and exciting.Now we know that music has been able to construct people's lives. I mean, nowadays you find that many people have adapted their lives around their favourite music. For instance, a person who is into rap music would dress themselves in big clothes (often baggy), all blinged up (even on their teeth), and they tend to have an American accent that is adapted to the coloured nature of Americans. American music is fast becoming an influential factor on people's music. The most dorminant music nowadays is that which is produced in America. When you look at the top charters of all times, you find that they are from America. The then top charters such as The Beatles, Michael Jackson etcetera, and the now top charters such as Mariah Carey and Alicia Keys are from America. I am sure that one would agree with me that America is the capital country of music. I know very well that if I would ask you who your favorite musician is, the musician that would most probably come to mind would be that which is American.
Now people, do not get me wrong. I am not saying that the only country that has been able to profoundly produce music is America. Other countries have also been able to do this. Bringing this idea closer to home, we have also been able to produce fairly good music that has been recognised almost all over the world. Our ambassadors, such as Loyiso Bala, Freshlyground, Zama Jobe and the Soweto Gospel choir have been able to do us proud. Our music has reached a global level and it has been well recognised and recieved by the world. this proves that South Africa has what it takes to reach a global level of significance.
Although I am very proud of what South African musicians have been able to accomplish, a I am sometimes weary of the fact that South African musicians are trying so much to adapt to the American style of producing songs. For most artists in this country, one finds that they aspire so much to American music, that they start deviating from the native originality of it. Firstly, they start by not using ethnic languages to appeal to the South African audiences, they choose a style of dressing that is most common amongst Americans and lastly, they start dancing like Americans. I think the mentality that drives these musicians is that American music has so much influence over the music scene, that they also want to carry-on from that influence in order for them to make a success out of their careers aswel. The South African public generally, does not have much appreciation for local music as they do for international music, so perhaps that is one of the reasons why South African musicians start deviating from the local material.
3 comments:
On the dot my sister. People are falling inlove with the American music, they even change their dresscodes and acsent because they want to be celeb lookalikes. They want to be our next 50cents and ushers. Some SA musicians do thier original thing, which is good but the truth is: the American music videos are more attractive because they have enough to make attractive videos.
Music as a form of media helps us understand the world we live in, hence people want to change their lifestyle because they want to identify with what they see or listen to.
Okay, that quite true. International music, especially that from USA is dominant...Why??? Mass Media is your answer.. We cant start blaming people just like that, we first have to look at what the cause is and the way the people are acting is the effect of the cause..
Since we were colonized and regained independence, modernization has made us individuals that asre made familiar with a West perception and identity..The other side is made to seem ideal therefore we all base our way of living around they approval even if it means waking up for lectures or work every morning - if you didnt live according to a western perception you would't have to do that..
The quest for people is to try finding identity and a place where they belong, fortunately/unfortunately music genres have allowed people a place of representation.. and people understand that comunicating to a wide audience can be easily done by the use of the English language - it tends to spread the message faster and easier...
But you're right, a lot of our identities and ways of living and representation ar "borrowed"...
Peace..
Music has become a way of life for many. In a way this is rather sad because a lot of people lose their identities in the quest of being seen by others as the "cool gang". I have come across people that go by aliases such as 'Crack' or 'Twang' in the hope of being the next best South African/American thing.
Although all is not lost in the battle of identities because there are still people that pride themselves over their heritage and culture. And by doing so it reflects in the music they make. To those people that are making music and keeping as real as it possibly can, Big Up!
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