Listen to this, has it gone bad?

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by Rachel Chacon Editor-in-Chief

Timeless music is what, arguably, most (arguable) artists strive for in their career. A really good song still has the potential to be a really good song 20 years down the charts; we can all come up with solid examples for that (so let’s not). After all, you’re only as funky as your last cut and if you focus on the past your ass will be a has-what.* With this in mind, why do songwriters still make the shortsighted decision to stamp expiration dates on music by blurting out words, events and years during the course of said cuts?

So much music is doomed to a short life span as it is, and rightly so. Not necessarily because it’s of poor quality or talent, but more of poor taste. Growing up and out of silly self admiring rhymes should be a natural course for an evolving star (mass produced or otherwise). Audiences and pessimists alike are gaining wisdom, and our music must follow suit or end up tossed in the corners of closets, far from critical eyes and merciless sneers.

Slang is an ever evolving form of lingual art; when people will understand and respect this is left to be seen. No one who thought ‘eat my shorts’ was clever a few years back still thinks its worth repeating today, unless in jest. Catch(y) phrases like these may be warmly remembered but hold no importance today. It’s the same with music; yet here we are leaning shoulders and bringing sexies back. What the hell does either mean, really. If my parents and your children aren’t in on the secret now, nothing short of a massive shock to the system is going to make them want to find out in their future. Going to jump on an already shaky bridge here and declare: relatable to the fussy masses in even two years? Probably not. This is not fixings’ for longevity; it’s a recipe for murky descent from fame. Like licking the flap of an envelope and sealing it tight-of course it can be ripped it back open, but why bother. It won’t be as good as new; it will be as good as old.

While good for the moments before, during and after release, some songs are ultimately left gasping for significance like so many trends that sputtered and died before it. Being in a position of influence is powerful but brief. There is only so much time, so many opportunities, to prove ones worth before the listeners grow impatient and become distracted by something shiny on the ground. You must get their attention, yes, but you must also hold their attention.

All the bravado in Mexico can’t keep a singer afloat forever, that’s all.