First of all I think any band or musician who sing, perform, play, dance or whatever it is that they do is creative in some way. There may be different levels of creativity in different artists, but in order to be successful in some way, the artist or band has to have some creative aspect about them. If they didn’t no one would be able to determine whether they thought they were plastic or original because they would have never got the kind of exposure needed to become known in the first place.
That being said, I think there are some artists that are more creative than others. Some artists create and write their own music, have their own style, and refuse to be something that they are not. Then there are the artists who tries to be what they think society wants them to be, wear clothes someone else has picked out for them, and does whatever their “people” think is best. They sing songs that other people have written, but only if the label give it the ok. I’m not saying that I have anything against artist who doesn’t write their own music, I’m just saying that it does put them in a position for people to think they are plastic.
When I think of an artist who in my opinion is plastic, contrived, and formulaic the first person that comes to my mind is Britney Spears when she first started out. She was a sweet innocent little girl with a cookie cutter image, but it worked for her, her young fans and the parents of her young fans. Everything about her was plastic, contrived, and formulaic right down to the way she talked and laughed. Her songs from her first album “Baby One More Time” talk about relationships, and falling in love for the first time. Her outfits were always conservative and she had a girl next door type of persona. If you watch a video of Britney being interviewed during that time they way she spoke just sounds so fake, like she is trying way too hard to be cute and innocent. When she started growing up a little bit and wanted to try new things people started freaking out. No one can forget her performance at the 2000 MTV music video awards when she started out in a pant suit and in the middle of her performance she ripped it off and had a beige rhinestone two piece underneath it. That was one of the first times that she stepped outside her bubblegum, cookie cutter image, and into a new sexier version.
When I think of an artist who is innovative, creative, and original I think of Jack Johnson. I’m not too sure if a lot of people know who jack Johnson is, but if you don’t you should go look him up and listen to some of his songs. He is known in the acoustic and soft rock genres. He writes all of his own music and plays the guitar and Ukulele. All if his songs are about his life and his opinions on life. He never has any technical machines in his music, it is all just has a pure natural sound and feel to it. When he plays at concerts it isn’t a huge production with fancy lights and sparklers in the back ground. It is always just him with his guitar, wearing everyday clothes, singing his music. Jack Johnson’s music is like a breath of fresh air, it is great when you just want to relax and escape from the reality of everyday life or when you need a break from the plasticsJ.
I have to say that some plastic can be a good thing, but I am more for the original, real music that I have been able to find. Jack Johnson is a God on the guitar and ukulele. His sound is smooth and organic without too much machinery getting involved. He plays some pretty intricate lines that can be a little tricky to play for a musician, but the overall sound that is produced with the staccato notes and chords is flawless. I have a feeling that the people that don’t know who Jack Johnson is will know fairly soon. I have always loved the kind of music that can be performed with just a guitar or bass, or drums, nothing that requires me to use a computer program to replicate the sounds. I feel that if that is the case, then there is no meaning, no feeling behind the music, it is simply a progression of sounds without emotion. Music has always been a way for me to express myself and I am not the kind of person that wants to be labeled as plastic, so I stay away from the cookie cutter sounds. If you want to find some other good, organic players, check out Andy McKee, Matthew McGhee, and the band Animals as Leaders, all of them play instrumental.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that creativity is important for musicians and that some are more 'plastic' than others. Just writing, singing, and performing what society wants you to does not give you the credit for being original. Originality is important because it shows off your artistic side and your ability to please your fans without conforming.
ReplyDeleteI also agree that Brittney Spears was a good example of a 'plastic' musician. She wrote what her fans wanted to hear and faked her 'innocence' throughout the beginning of her career. I am not one to judge, but she definitely changed quickly from the 'good-girl' that she portrayed to the independent and sassy woman that she is today. Brittany spears seems to be all about the fame, and less about the artistic aspect to her career.
I have listened to Jack Johnson before also and I think that he is a great musician. He writes his own songs which is very respectable and shows that he cares about music itself and not the celebrity appeal that goes along with being famous.