The Voice - Thomas Hardy

Music. It heals wounds, relieves stress and motivates people. Music is everywhere, whether it is played in pubs and clubs, or cars and spas: there is even evidence that cavemen were jammin’ in their caves. In the past however, music took serious talent to make. One would have to dedicate years to learning an instrument, and write songs that aren’t just catchy, but ‘speak’ to an audience, with passionate meaning underpinning behind the lyrics. Nowadays the music industry is expanding rapidly; seemingly endless numbers of new artists fight to reach, celebrity status and the incuitable ‘endless riches’ which follow. Unfortunately for them, only a restricted number actually reach radio; these select fifteen (or so) songs are played on an ostensibly endless loop. The problem is, that there isn’t any variety to the songs, with pop icons such as ‘Nicki Minaj’ releasing waves of vacuous babble; and, week upon week, other artists follow the lead, with any original thoughts perishing from loneliness.
Okay, admittedly, some songs on the radio are rather catchy: they have a seductive beat, some amiable lyrics, and are very easy to sing along to; but the problem is that the music itself lacks any substance. What do I mean? When listening to a song, your mind instantly hones in on the lyrics: what is the message that the artist is trying to get across? What could it mean? Chanteurs should write music that appeal to the fans, allowing them to tap into the singer’s emotions. There should be Songs that we listen to depending on our mood: for example, when we are angry, the song of choice will have lyrics that articulate our anger, right? This is no longer the case: with modern music, lyrics inhabit a semantic wasteland. To be frank, stick a good beat behind the words, and you can sing about the growth rate of your fingernails. Maybe that was a slight exaggeration, but when songs get into the charts with a young girl espousing the virtues of “whipping her hair back and forth”, it