Category Archives: Arts

The Way The Music Died

The Way The Music Died is an episode of Frontline (by PBS) that looks at what’s happened to the music industry over the last couple of decades.

It makes some strong claims that the music industry has done a lot to hurt itself by demanding hits from the artists (on infeasable timscales) and ‘corporatizing’ artists by making them fit the mold to ensure profits.

The show talks about what it takes to become a success:

  • A catchy radio tune.
  • A good music video so that the hoards of MTV watching kids will buy your album.
  • (Optional, but helpful): A large fan base from touring, etc.

For the record companies, it’s more of making the band a hit with one great song than putting together an album of great songs. Sometimes the better songs with better lyrics and a better tune are pushed aside for those that are a little catchier and fit better into the radio mold.

The whole episode is available online. It lasts a little under an hour. I’d recommend watching it if you’ve got the time.

Nike Commercial

Commercials like the Nike one with Lance Armstrong just make me want to watch commercials again.

Lance Armstrong on his bike in the Commercial

The music is touching, sending a shiver up my spine. I looked for the song online, but wasn’t disappointed when I found out that the music was custom made for the commerical by the company who put it together.

The most redeeming quality of the commercial is that it isn’t trying to sell you anything. Instead, it merely shows Lance riding his bike with some bikers and buffalo, being watched bunch of hospital kids, riding alone at night, and riding in the street with hundreds chasing him.

However, the most memorable moment is the final scene with the little kid that pedals so hard to catch up with him. Then the “Just do it” and Nike Swoosh appear and the commercial ends.

Too bad all commercials can’t take such a laid back attitude.