Popular Music Trend is looking promising

[Roger Penn]

Yeah, I watched that. Not sure I like all the implications but they’re mostly positive.

[Jung Roe]

Hi Roger

Yeah, I like all the positive implications.

Rock is regaining popularity,

the guitar is becoming more prevalent in new music,

hip hop and the negativity is dying,

and there appears to be more diversity in the music young people are liking.

If all of this implies the younger audience is appreciating the musicianship more in what they listen to, good music could be what they are beginning to crave. Rick mentioned, while it’s still nowhere near the level of creativity of music in the past (60s), a snap shot now of the songs in the charts are getting better with more diversity, and musicianship.

Rock, guitar, diversity, musicianship are all in MLTs wheelhouse. If this trajectory continues, the younger music audience will be ripe for MLT to flourish.

[Bud Jackson]

Hi Jung & Everyone,

That’s interesting; I like Rick Beato, & I just watched this video for the 1st time. I like some implications here, esp. with the popularity of Rock, Guitar and Melody on the rise! I think that a lot of Music style popularity has to do with how much money is spent to promote just a few kinds of Music Styles, & also a lack of Education in Music. Socioeconomic status has something to do with it too.

I’m also very happy with Mona & Lisa’s current rise in popularity, & I consider them a wonderful & positive new influence in Music today, & hopefully for many years to come! They are a result not just of their parents’ influences, but also from the kind of Music Education they received back home in Austria!

I love guitar, voices, Rock etc. but Instrumental Music is important too. The healthiest Music Scene should include all kinds of Music. I looked up Jazz popularity because it wasn’t even mentioned in Rick’s video. What I found, said that out of 185 million adult Americans, about 34%, or 63 million say they “like Jazz.” but only 5%, or 9.5 million say the “like Jazz the best.”

Just to clarify, the US isn’t the ONLY country in the World, & I haven’t looked up current world popularity for Jazz. Also, yes, I play in a Jazz group, & have for many years, but I’ve also played & love many styles of Music! And I appreciate that Mona & Lisa have written & performed some of their songs with a Jazz/Swing feel!

And sorry to say, many Americans aren’t very knowledgeable about Jazz, which originated here. Blues, Jazz, Ragtime, Funk & other styles have had a HUGE influence on popular Music for over 100 years, worldwide! Even Rock has its Blues & Jazz influences. The Beatles themselves said that they were influenced by America’s early Rockers, Chuck berry, Little Richard, Fats Domino, & of course the white Rockers like Buddy Holly & Elvis.

And although we can still enjoy ALL of these Music styles, they have never been stagnant, and are always evolving. I would just like to see Jazz, Rock, Classical, Latin and all Music understood & appreciated by everyone. I don’t care for “Musical Prejudice,” or preference of one Music style, & condemnation of other styles.

Although Jazz originated with African Americans since 1895, it has become a Multi-National Art Form. Here’s one example of a newer Jazz Saxophonist/Vocalist who combines Jazz, Rock, Funk, Techno & other styles. You might enjoy this — Grace Kelly doing “Unchain My Heart!”

GRACE KELLY GO TiME: Unchain My Heart – Grace Kelly Studio Sessions (youtube.com)

[Jung Roe]

Hi Bud

Thanks for sharing that video. Grace Kelly is very good, and she is not only a remarkable musician the way she improvises, but a good singer too. The drummer is great too. One thing with Jazz, they have some of the finest musicians in the world.

The more I ride this big merry go round, one thing I found music does, is it shows you you don’t know everything and you haven’t experienced nor understand every perspective. Never say never. The universe has conspired to show me, I don’t know everything, and I shouldn’t be so quick to judge others. The universe has a way of turning the scales around.

In my early teens I remember I loved the pop music of the Beach Boys, Beatles, and some of the 60s oldies, but hated my parents classical, couldn’t understand the appeal of Hendricks and all the hard rock and roll, country and jazz were completely foreign, a weird kind of noise etc… But as I grew older, each domino started to fall. The harder rock started sounding good, some of the country music sounded interesting, a friend introduced me to jazz, really got into the hard rockers like AC/DC, Reggae, Celtic, even got into a little rap in my clubbing days (Tone Loc), Punk, New Age etc…then one day classical appeared on my horizon…There is really only good music and bad music, and I like good music.

Didn’t mean to get so deep and philosophical.

One thing that was a bummer in Ricks video is that the use of piano is on the decline in popular music. 😔

[Bud Jackson]

Jung,

There’s nothing wrong with being philosophical, (unless you don’t like philosophy!) But then we do hopefully mature & expand our interests as we get older! I’ve had similar experiences as you, in learning to appreciate different Musical styles, & I’ve learned a lot about myself along the way. I know that music has made me happier and stronger as I’ve grown, and much more accepting of different people & cultures. All of that has enriched my life, & I’m not sure where I would be now if I hadn’t chosen Music for a profession!

And I really like Grace Kelly too! She has a very similar personality to Mona & Lisa! She’s very open, nice, sincere & appreciates her fans. And I hope that someday I can do to our Twins what I got to do with Grace! (Now you’re probably thinking, WHAT is he talking about!?!?) Let me explain:

I saw Grace live for the first time in Seattle over a year ago in a Jazz Club. Right before her show, I was able to see her as she was getting ready to go into the dressing room. (She was dressed, of course, just getting ready to go on!) She was super nice, talked to me for a few minutes, and let me take two pictures. I told her that I’d shown a few of her videos to my classes, & that they had clapped at the end!

She put on a great show, & at the end she promised the audience “free sweaty hugs” to anyone who wanted to meet her afterwards. (There was a line of over 50 people, including a few musician kids!) So I did get a hug, though it wasn’t sweaty, just nice! She also offered to send a free CD to those who bought a CD, just for coming to her show in Seattle!

I bought her new CD & a Grace Kelly T-shirt that night.

A few weeks later I got a free CD from her that she’d signed, with a nice added personal note! She apologized for being late, because the people who usually did the wrapping & mailing were off duty for a few weeks. So I thought WOW — how nice! And I also thought, this is how Lisa & Mona are also; talented, but humble, & very kind & appreciative of their fans!

I’ve always tried, & usually succeeded in meeting many famous musicians. The Jazz ones are easier to meet when they play in the Clubs. Seeing some of Mona & Lisa’s videos, they seemed to be the same way when they were playing places like the Cavern!

OK, so I tend to go on & on too, but I thought I would share that experience, as I dream of one day (or two,) meeting Mona, Lisa, Rudi & Michaela! (We have to have our dreams, RIGHT!)

Dat’s all for now & enjoy your evening! — Bud

[Bud Jackson]

Jung, Mona, Lisa & Everyone!

I’d like to add that I loved Mona, Lisa & Rudi’s recent composition & performance of “If You Raise Your Head!” I would really like to see more of that kind of thing from our MLT’s! It’s actually a nice Rock/Funk type Fusion song that’s great for improvised solos, and slightly similar to Grace Kelly’s version of “Unchain My Heart.” I think it would be cool to see Lisa & Mona trading off Guitar licks along with Papa Rudi on the organ & bass! Also, Mona could easily trade solos with herself on Drum set, Cajon & Bongos! MAYBE this idea will inspire the MLT Team to write a “jammin’ kind of song” for soloing!

Anyway, it’s just a thought I’ve had ever since I first saw this video which I’ll put up here now. Maybe some of their newer Club Members haven’t seen this yet?! ENJOY!

If You Raise Your Head – MonaLisa Twins (Original) (youtube.com)