Every day that I drive to my destinations, I will always see billboards or hear on the radio that this or that artist will come to the country to serenade us. I’m sure I’m not the only one who noticed that a lot of foreign acts from days gone by have visited the country, milking their long past salad days for whatever worth they have left. I know it sounds like I don’t like it. I really can’t say that I don’t like it. But I can’t really say I like it either. For me, it just is.
For me, this particular phenomenon can be attributed to two main factors. The first cause is people allow themselves to be gripped by nostalgia. To me this is not surprising considering the state of things here in the country. The past can be rosy in hindsight. Times were simpler, the air was cleaner, people were kinder, and politicians were more discreet. The music from the past brings this all back. Even if only for the period of the promotions for the concert or show.
The second cause is the very real dearth of original Filipino music. Listening to the radio now, you hear 80% foreign songs, 15% revivals and 5% original local music. That is so sad. Won’t you be saddened when even new singers try to get ahead in the business by singing someone else’s songs? Worse, their version cannot even hold a candle to the original one? And let’s not get into those who can’t even pronounce the words correctly.
It’s laughable to me to hear opinion makers just attributing the dipping state of things to the constant arrivals of once-popular people. News flash, dum-dums! There is nothing new to hear from the industry you’re defending. Even our own singers revive not only old Pinoy songs but those of these same foreigners you blame for what is happening to the industry. How can you expect people to support the local music industry when its well seems to have dried?
There is hope yet. I do hear a few good news songs on the radio. What they need is airtime. Radio stations can help with that. Also, our talents should realize that revising old songs can only take them so far. Eventually, they have to fly using their own wings instead of borrowed ones. Sure, paying tribute is good. But basing your career on somebody else’s glory days is just plain crap. Come up with new materials and you don’t have to blame other people for not making it here.
See you at the music stores.
3 comments:
Piracy is a disincentive for local creative juices to flow. We need to be more stringent in enforcing intellectual property rights in this country.
mainstream kasi ang eksena dito sa pinas and it's all about revivals and singing other people's songs. case in point... MYMP.
pumunta ka nga lang sa mga bars... that's what cover bands are all about.... trying to sound exactly like the original foreign version. it's sad.
there's a treasure of talents in the independent music scene that are just not given the attention they deserve.
I think a creative person is a creative person no matter the price. To say we won't create because people will steal it is just finding an excuse.
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