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Music Meltdown -By Oliver Ejike Uja

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Good music is like a medicine that calms the nerves and sooths even the most upset person. In the Bible Saul employed the services of David to play the lyre whenever the evil spirit from God was troubling him. And Saul was refreshed when David plays the lyre. “If music be the food of love, play on; give me the excess of it…” These words from Shakespeare also underline the importance of good music in the life of man.

Music is made up principally of four elements – Vocal, Beat (Rhythm), Lyrics and harmony. A strong presence of some or all these elements makes for the “evergreen” or classic songs that survive through generations. Rosanne Ambrose Brown highlighted the place of music in defining an age or generation when she wrote: “we know an age more vividly through it’s music than through it’s historian” the works of Handel, Beethoven, Mozart, Rex Lawson, Abba, Michael Jackson, Eddy Okonta, Okonkwo Adigwe, Victor Uwaifo, Bongos Ikwue, Osita Osadebe, Celestine Ukwu, Dolly Parton, Ebenezer Obe or Oriental Brothers speaks volumes of the era when they where produced. Though these are of different genre, their music attests to the fact that good music is irresistible and one can only grow up to appreciate it.

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However, with the present trend in music industry globally, it is clear that good music have become endangered. This made George Strait, one of America’s most popular country artists lament thus in one of his songs: “Nobody saw him running from sixteenth Avenue. They never found the fingerprint or the weapon that was used. But someone killed country music, cut its heart and Soul. They got away with murder down the music row”. Really, somebody killed music! If Strait is crying blue murder on the bastardization of country music, then the case of rap is a ‘no go area’. Since Tu Pac Shakur and Notorious BIG made this genre of music popular with their strong rhyme, rhythm, vulgar and violent language and slang, it has got to a level where Snoop Dog chants incoherent words accompanied by disordered beats while using nude women and drug freely in his videos and live performances. The more decent rappers have already started crying fool too.

Here in Nigeria, whatever happens in America is replicated and in worst forms. Like in America, industry players keep churning out music and awards but the overriding interest is profit. The generality of musicians including the gospel artists in Nigeria are only interested in money. In the South East specifically, virtually all musicians are doing gospel music now. The appeal of any gospel song is in its ability to life up the spirit towards God but to say that there is nothing spiritual about most gospel music today is stating what people already know. Gospel singers have graduated from Awilo Style song and dance (Soukous) to even the abominable and sacrilegious Mapouka all for money. Like Strait, Patty Obasi, an acclaimed gospel singer dressed down the commercial gospel artists saying that they are just taking after their cousin, the commercial gospel preachers, who can go to any length just for money and fame.

That this generation lacks the creative instinct due to the quest for quick money and fame is an understatement. Musically, no one is thinking again. This is why good songs done way back by artists like Jonez, Cardinal Jim Rex Lawson and Peacock Guitar Band have been bastardized in the name of re-doing them.

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Well, the problem of lack of creativity in music industry in Nigeria today can, to some extend, be attributed to the fears critics had when computer was gradually taking over many duties in the recording studio. Computer has made it much easier to not only produce music but for those who cannot differentiate between a guitar and violin neither is their vocal capability anything to write home about to become musicians overnight. All they need do is sing and software will present the beat (Auto Tune). Little wonder why most music in Nigeria today sounds alike. One can even record a song in the comfort of ones bedroom. The use of computer has equally made piracy and ‘Music plagiarism’ very much easier too. It is very difficult to see a musician who can play an instrument today. All that are needed in a live performance is a DJ and the artists who sing and jump up and down to a pre-recorded sound in front of a crowd. Most people in the crowd may be high and in that state even the most offensive and discordant sound will be most pleasing to their ears.

Definitely, the era of good music that endures has gone. But to arrest the current down turn, the relevant authorities must enforce all laws on copyright and piracy, which forced reputable music labels to close or leave the country in the first place. This will encourage people to put in their time, talent and money in making good music. Let us see the making good music as a legacy and the process of rebuilding the psych of the average man who believes now that money is an end in itself. Bailing out the industry from the current death thrust is very vital since music defines a particular people, era or generation.

Uja is a researcher and wrote from Abuja.

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This piece was first published in The Guardian of Thursday, October 7, 2010 and is being reproduced for its relevance.

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