Kanye West. Cardi B. Post Malone. Kendrick Lamar. To most people, these are names that feature on your Spotify playlists and Apple Music Libraries. Songs that reach the current top ten, stay for a bit and then change after a few short weeks or months. If you were to search through my library of albums and songs that range in genre, none of these names, let alone the countless other artists of the moment, will be listed. One may ask why. The answer to that is complicated and complex.
To me, most popular music of the moment is very synthetic, relying on auto-tuned lyrics sung by decent artists, synthesized to a beat that doesn’t get my blood pumping. To give credit to these artists, I appreciate their work that has contributed to the multimillion dollar industry. They are great singers who compose great songs, but to me, artists like Migos and Khalid are not what great vocals are. Some of the truly great music, both in vocals and rhythm, come from artists that most college students listen to.
My favorite singer of all time is Frank Sinatra. Old school, I know, but he is the first artist that I truly fell in love with. His songs speak to me in a way that no other artist can. I first discovered his music when I was watching a movie about four years ago. The scene featured a couple slow dancing in their background to his rendition of “Fly Me to The Moon.” After the movie, the only thing I remembered about the movie was his voice and the lyrics he sang. It was like a breath of fresh air, and I wanted to take the biggest gasp for his music.
I proceeded to begin a search of his music. I quickly found more, and I started to listen to his music on a constant basis. Soon after, I uncovered his music group the Rat Pack, and feel in love once again, but this time, with music from Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr. More discoveries led to singers like Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong. Years later, it’s the same artists that set my musical heart ablaze.
I believe that it is rare to find truly talented voices in a sea of artificial music. Most of the music I listen to does come from that era of big band music. But in the midst of all the music today, there are some extraordinary vocals that stand out. Music from artists such as Adele, Sam Smith, and Sia are examples of what truly great voices sound like. Songs like “Palace” and “All I Ask” speak to my core and share the same quality that the music of Frank Sinatra has: the presence of true musical talent and a type of poetry in its lyrics that leaves its listener speechless.
Yes, Beyoncé is talented, beautiful, and successful. However, I find that music from Sinatra and those of his time speak to my music-craving soul. Because of his music, I discovered a plethora of artists covering a span of time longer than I have been alive. It takes me back to a time that I have and never will see, and that’s okay. I have always been an old soul, finding joy in the history of our world and the music that has developed over a century. Big band music and jazz sing to me in a way no other genre can.
For those people who have a deep appreciation for music, I encourage you branch out in your music listening. Find the artist that speaks to you in the way that Frank Sinatra does to me. And for those who want to start a music journey, begin with the YouTube-based group Post Modern Jukebox, a music group covering songs from today in the style of '40s big band swing, '60s Motown and Blues, and a whole variety forms.
I know that most of the artists that I listen to are no longer alive and therefore will never produce new content. No new songs from Sinatra will break into the top ten among the names of today, and that’s okay. I will relish in the music of the past until an artist speaks to me in the way he does. It’s a history that I will never live, but it's an art that will always be treasured for generations to come.