Wow, what a relief! The Billboard Music Awards are coming back to television. It’s been off the air for five years but it seems like an eternity. In its absence, we’ve had only the Grammys, American Music Awards, MTV Awards, Teen Music Awards, Academy of Country Music Awards, People (music) Awards, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Awards, Latin Grammys and a half-dozen or so other programs to fill the gap.
Seriously, can it get any more narcissistic than the music industry’s penchant for self-congratulatory award shows? Having Toby Keith sing “I wanna talk about me” would fit in quite nicely as the opening act for every one of them — the song’s revelatory point would cut straight to the chase. (Kind of like the motion picture industry’s unabashed and ego-boasting “There’s no business like show business” mantra.)
But that’s the way it is today — music is everywhere, all the time. That doesn’t sound bad on the surface — I love music. But to be honest with you, I like cheeseburgers, too. I just don’t want them every meal, every day. There needs to be a balance. Let’s call for a more judicious use of music, lest we forget what the real world sounds like. Nature has its own audio — and it’s rather nice. It doesn’t need a manufactured soundtrack 24/7.
But you can’t go anywhere today without seeing people walking around with headphones (or earpieces, or whatever they’re called). Everyone has to be listening to something else in an effort to tune out what’s really going on. Why? I don’t get.
It seems unnatural to constantly ignore the audio that comes at no extra cost with the video of each day. Music is, by all means, wonderful, but constantly substituting it in place of reality seems — to me — like a form of escapism. And that grates on me. I don’t know why.
Give me the sounds of winter and its crunch of ice and snow underfoot, birds chirping in the spring ... you can’t beat it.
Where I live, in Medina, the village has a sound-system blaring away on Main Street. On paper, it seems like a great idea. There are, however, several issues that I have with it. First of all, those that would be inclined to listen are already walking around with wires dangling from their ears bee-bopping to their own choices. They don’t need or care about it.
Second, it’s so loud at some of the speakers (one of which is right above the NAPA store where I work) that you have to get off the street and inside in order to hold a normal conversation. We tried asking those in charge to turn it down a little — but, apparently, they can’t hear us. It’s one thing to have the volume where it’s just heard in the background, but when it’s played at the decibel level of a front row seat at a headbangers concert, that’s ridiculous. Quite frankly, it’s noise pollution.
And finally, nothing can ruin a favorite song like hearing it day after day after day. For God’s sake, I get it: “She’s got Bette Davis eyes” and “You are the wind beneath my sails.” Enough already!
Torture by music is a real and documented fact. Manuel Noriega gave himself up and was easily extracted from his safe-haven after being bombarded by rock music. Facing the music in prison was far more alluring than listening to Ozzy Osbourne all day long. Musically, tastes and moderation are what separate entertainment from torment.
I like music but I prefer to listen to the harmonies of nature. Give me the sounds of the four seasons and I’m quite content, thank you.
The Four Seasons? Didn’t they sing “Silence is golden”? Good song — even better advice!
And that’s the way it looks — and sounds — from the Valley.
Contact Tom Valley at Tvalley@rochester.rr.com.
Tom Valley
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Tom Valley is a Medina resident. His column appears every Thursday. Contact him at tvalley@rochester.rr.com.
FROM THE VALLEY: Music award shows need a swan song
- Tom Valley
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FROM THE VALLEY: Music award shows need a swan song
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