adminUrban Beats and Culture Nkosilathi Sibanda
MUSICIANS have a special gift. It is this gift that makes them amazing beings. They are heroes of our lifetime. If used well, that gift transforms lives, but when it is put to waste, it ceases to have a purpose. We all at some point in our lives envied musicians and vowed to be like them. We wanted that gift. Now at an older age, we then realise we were not born to do it. We stepped aside.
Don’t be surprised if your child says they want to be like Madonna. Accept the reality that Madonna is his or her idol.
That is how powerful musicians are. They can play around with dreams and emotions, but we love them.
In our quest to understand music and build relationships with our idols, we face a challenge.
There are musicians with misplaced “never give up” attitudes. These are the groups of “wanna be” musicians who cannot read the writing on the wall.
Without the voice, no attempt to learn musical instruments, how would one expect to be worth listening to?
This week a young unknown musician rang for an appointment and I warmly accepted. He gave me a disc to listen to and comment.
Actually, it was his album, a third release in three years.
Having listened to earlier works, I was not surprised to find out that he still could not compile more than six songs.
Mind that, there are remixes and instrumentation there.
If it was a cassette, it would have either side with three tracks.
The album was a repetitive earworm <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haunting_melody> and nauseating.
This boy was not born to sing. He is still clouded by the wish to be like his idol. He is overwhelmed by the sound of his voice on the speaker.
The fact that he cannot sing does not cross his mind.
Sadly, there are many of his kind.
Musicians who force their way through are a disgrace. I would not want to mention names, for a good reason to protect some reputation, if ever there is any.
The hard attitude does not exist if you do not belong to the field. It boggles when musicians come out of the studio with crap.
Should we blame the hungry producer who taints his name or comes up with a shoddy album sleeve?
Albert Nyathi once said it well, these are musicians who have the cash to pay up studio time and are well connected to get gigs anytime.
You read about them in the press because they always have a story to tell. Journalists are with me on this.
“DJ X releases album”, “Malvin returns to the studio”, so goes the usual headlines.
It’s either they are performing at some small show or they have a new offer. You fall for their charm and get hurt by their product.
A follow up to these musicians is the same old story of a five-track CD.
How are we, the valuable fans, supposed to treat these musicians? That is if they deserve to be called such?
The worse thing of all is those hastily produced albums have no story to tell. It sounds like music but doesn’t depict life.
Think of cake without the icing.
The young and- up-coming are the culprits. They do not want to learn, yet claim they can do it.
I failed to tell the young musician the truth at our appointment. I feared he was not going take it kindly since his friends tell him he is a star.
Instead I handed him my R Kelly’s 16 track collection. The message was listen to quality and hard work.
I will let the audience be the judges but Iam confident the message will be loud and clear that never take people for a ride.
Alick Macheso has made a clarion call to every young musician to join him and learn a few tricks.
The onus is on the young generation. If they write songs in their bedrooms and rush to the studio the next day, we will forever curse that.
Well said, we are not fans for bonus tracks and remixes. We want to appreciate talent combined with hard work.
Now, heading to ekasi, the melting pot of artistic creative, there seems to be something of interest there.
There is something brewing in the township. We heard it and we have to talk about it.
More than 30 artistes have come with Bulawayo Ithubalethu Arts Association (BIAA).
We like things new and would want to check where this is headed to.
Honest Sibanda of the famed Whatever Promotions is the president. Among the artistes already affiliated are members of Iyasa, Jambanja Pahotera, Kaisa and a whole lot in the dancing business.
BIAA says it wants to revive the arts industry in the city and promote its members internationally.
Sound good on paper but time will tell.
Big brother is watching!
Our request in the urban movement is for these associations to be genuine and professional.
Gathering concepts and failure to implement them serves no purpose.
These initiatives must teach musicians to correct their attitudes and desist from the five-track album mentality.
Online Reporter