The great composer and pianist George Gershwin once said, "True music must repeat the thought and inspirations of the people and the time." Looking back through history, the music of the times provide us with snapshots of the values, culture, and desires, of a time period.   The 1940's is a prime example.  The 1940's was a time of war, women in the workplace, rationing, the GI Bill, the television and the baby boom.  All of this was reflected in pop (Bing Crosby, Glenn Miller, Frank Sinatra), Jazz (Ella, Billie Holiday, Louis Armstrong, Nat King Cole, Benny Goodman--I could go on forever!), and Country (which I know nothing about). Music of this time was joyful, lively, generally positive.  It brought light to difficult times.

The 60's, full of peace, youthful rebellion, drugs, civil rights, and war, produced music reflecting these themes--folk (think Joan Baez and Bob Dylan), folk rock (think Simon and Garfunkle), psychedelic rock (think the Doors, Jimi Hendrix), and blues rock (think Janis Joplin and Allman Brothers).  This music made statements.  Requested thought and change of its listeners.

More recently, the 1980's, with a focus on "Me!Me!Me!," status, credit, labels, the birth of modern technology, the war on drugs, the AIDS epidemic, big hair, the Berlin Wall's removal, and the birth of MTV, brought pop music (Michael Jackson, Prince, Madonna, Whitney, Janet, NKOTB, Cyndi Lauper, The Bangles), Hard Rock (Def Leppard, Bon Jovi, Guns N' Roses), Alternative Rock (R.E.M., The Pixies),  Singer-songwriters (Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty, Stevie Nicks), Hip Hop (Run D.M.C, LL Cool J, Ice-T).  

It seems that these past times have distinct cultural representations through their music.  The wartime exuberance and hard-work of the 40's, the life and rebellion of the 60's, the attitude of the 80's. Previous generations have made statements, used their music to reflect their values, and wants, and needs.  They've asked for change, demanded it even, through their music. Spread joy and fun through dance and free spirit.     
This leads me to think about my generation, my lifetime. What will our legacy be?  What will our music say about our modern culture to our children, and their children. What will the 2000's reflect? As of now we're looking at a lot of violence, sexism, drug culture, hate, anger, angst, and fluff in our music.  It doesn't seem that we request or demand change to occur, that we use our music to bring about positive movement in our lives.  Instead, it seems, we use it to either complain a whole lot or wax and wane poetic about unimportant fluff.  Unless, of course, you consider Kelly Clarkson's  "A Moment Like This" and N*Sync's "It's Gonna Be Me" calls for vast societal change or reflections of a generation's values.

Of course, the 2000's haven't been a walk in the park.  As far as I can remember some of the more monumental images of the decade included the themes of fear, disaster, and maybe as a result, distraction. Y2K, the home computer, 9-11, the iPod (and a lot of other iStuff), the invasion of Iraq, social media, natural disasters, the economic downturn, high oil prices, and smartphones, are signs of the times. 

Of course, this is not all to say that there is no music of value being produced right now.  No, of course there is some.  What I do intend to imply, however, is that the vast majority of the music that gains popularity with people of my generation serves no purpose but entertainment.  Entertainment is an important purpose of music in our lives, but I've always believed that music should do more than that.  It should take the times, and make them better somehow.  In the 1940's that was by spreading joy.  In the 1960's that was by requiring change. In the 1980's that was expression of rebellion and individuality. 

Millennials, what will we choose for our statement?

Keep on thinking,
Josie