Give the People What They Want

Yup, there I go again with another reference to a well-known album.  The headline of this blog is an album by The Kinks.  For those of you who read what’s posted here each Monday, you’ll recall that four weeks ago I made a reference to an REO Speedwagon album title.

Today I’m writing about what I’m sure so many others are – last night’s MTV Video Music Awards.

Many would say that I should write in code so as not to give more publicity to you know who, but brace yourself, I’m going to say her name: Miley Cyrus.

On the red carpet she wore a barely-there outfit, and then in the show’s finale she sang a song that had more bleeps than an old Atari game.

Is this the way she wants to be known?  And yes, what does her father, singer Billy Ray Cyrus, think?

My plea is for artists to let their music speak for itself.  Gimmicks, outfits, foul language, and other distractions from meaningful lyrics are not the way to get noticed.  I realize that right about now someone is reading this and thinking about money and what sells (in the media).  But think about how you want to be defined.

I would much rather sit at a songwriters festival and listen to someone you’ve not heard of (yet) strum the guitar and sing masterfully crafted ballads that will move you to tears than watch an over the top show that is more glitz than substance.

But then again, MTV gave the people what they want.

Yes, I have DVR’ed concert performances by Pink, Britney Spears, and Beyoncé.  But those were performances where the show was artistry, not a free-for-all party on the stage from start to finish.  Emotions ranged from joyful to tearful.  These are solid pros and not likely to cross – and stay past – the line to the point of carrying around a tarnished image.

What’s the image you’re trying to project?  If your songs would get an explicit rating on iTunes, do you really think record labels are going to be lining up to sign you?  Right, you’ll release them independently, and then who cares.  And that attitude exactly is why you’ll find the sledding tougher and tougher.

Yes, you need to be your own person, and no, you don’t want to sell out or compromise who you are.  But make sure that what you give the people is something they’re going to want, not something that the censors would have a field day with.