Remember those days where lyrics actually exist? That the composition of a song was based on sheet music? When real instruments made the rhythm rather than the incessant pressing on a keyboard?
I know, I know. I’m a college student during one of the most technologically-induced generations in the history of mankind, yet I don’t like EDM. I just don’t like, I abhor it. The genre is an excuse to produce three versions of the same rhythm that resembles a certain bedroom activity, eh-hem. But people out there considers it as “art.” I’m apologize, but I don’t buy it.
And I’m not saying that other people should not listen to EDM nor am I judging anyone that listens and appreciates the “art” of it, but I don’t understand it, honestly. Maybe it’s because I don’t rave. But I don’t just restrict myself to just band music, I am open to a variety of musical expressions such as musicals, rap, R & B, country, mo-town and even pop music. I even tolerate certain “chill” EDM with artistic backing such as poetic lyrics or a rhythm that is unique to the mood.
But what I’m talking about is the main, main, mainstream EDM everyone seems to love sober and/or high.
However what bothers me is that there are people that strongly believe (and confidently open) that EDM is the “best” or it’s “lit” and pushes their beliefs on others. So anyone who doesn’t share that opinion (like myself) are seen as an outcast because it means not being apart of the mainstream. I’ve noticed this lately. That if you’re not apart of the rave lifestyle that your automatically not apart of the “now.” So instead of pushing my beliefs, I will explain the reasoning behind my opinion.
All the other kinds of music that I listed above expresses a meaning behind it. It provides the assertion that we are human beings that feel. Music is the constant reminder that everyone has a story to tell and no other way to express it except through the combinations of musical notes, sharps, flats, crescendos, decrescendos, tempo changes, key changes. That’s what gives music life. And yes, EDM uses that similar concept of music composition but here’s the difference: there is no sign of human emotion (besides feeling high but that’s more a biological thing in a scientific research paper).
Music is the proof that musicians struggled not only with life, but with the artistic process. EDM doesn’t have that same effect. At the end of the day, EDM artist don’t suffer from callouses from pressing on the guitar strings. They don’t break a sweat after passionately beating on those drums. They don’t have to take a breather after blowing air through a brass mouth piece. The music-making process isn’t the same with EDM. It is meticulous when it comes to details, but it’s not have the same efforts and dedication as other platforms.
And if there is a pop song with electronic music or low-key electronic, remember there are lyrics (that is not the same four words repeated throughout) with meaning and a story. Lyrics are especially important to me because it is an expression of thought, an urge to tell a story. It’s to console the broken-hearted, to express their high-in-love status, to celebrate human life, critique society, or just experiment with some words. Especially to a lover of words such as myself, lyrics are important in a song.
You don’t get to hear that with EDM music. The raw-ness of humanity is so important under an expressive outlet like, and it amazes me that it can be expressed through a myriad types of music.
Others find different means to enjoy their music, and therefore EDM might suffice to those needs. However, for me, EDM is just proof that Huxley was right about electronically-producing music indicating a real-life dystopian world.
Sheetal Tadiparty
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