Just so as to ensure I lose no one, this is what I am referring to.
Scenario Three(My personal favourite):Bastard songs.
These are perhaps the most lucrative venture for an artiste in one go! Wealthy NGOs, government agencies,politicians and corporates will often approach 'artiste extraordinaire' and ask them to record a hit single on MDGs, Census results, 'Vote for politician X', 'sing about our products' respectively. And the cheque dangled as the kill for hungry hunter sends many an artiste into the studio; they can afford to forget the silliness and ridicule of the lyrics drafted for them. Just this one time, they can overlook their creative element. (Full article <a href="http://life-of-a-gigging-musician.posterous.com/bend-over">here</a)
I wanna delve into this scenario just a little bit,indulge me if you will.
Some of the most memorable songs to emerge from this continent have been songs about the motherland, true? Allow me to share some of my favourites,in no particular order:
- Mamaland-Yvonne Chaka Chaka
- Homeless-Lady Smith Black Mambazo
- Kenya Only/Daima Mkenya-Eric Wainaina
- Aluta Continua-(The Late) Miriam Makeba
- Freedom Is Coming Tomorrow- Sarafina( The Sound Of Freedom Album)
- Different Colours, One People- Lucky Dube
- Todii-Oliver Mtukudzi
- 7 Seconds- Youssou N'Dour
(Feel free to share some of your favourites)
If you look into these songs' storylines, again, it's about the mamaland. The good, the bad, the ugly. By default,these songs are activism songs, in my humble opinion. Subtle activism; a call to unity, freedom,peace,awareness...the list goes on.
However, as I mentioned in Bend Over, Scenario 3, musicians have been, from time to time, been called upon to 'compose' songs on certain subject matters. Music has the ability to push agendas, and it is up to musicians to consciously decide what agenda each lyric brings forth.
I don't know what my sentiments are on artists being called upon to compose songs on 'pre-determined themes'. There are some that have been pulled off rather well, but lately I find myself cringing when I listen to songs with hooks on MDGs, Environmental conservation, HIV/AIDS etc... Africa, fortunately or unfortunately, has no shortage of such themes.
A good musician will be able to cleverly guise these themes and actually come up with a song that can enter the 'Africa Hall Of Fame'. Back to my list. To the best of my knowledge, none of these songs were composed on 'contract'. They were products of inspiration; the respective artists having churned over matters, and intellect coupled with creativity and musicianship bringing forth the great songs we've come to love and sing along to.
There seems to be a prevalence of songs with heavy intonations of matters that might as well be addressed in a documentary. I have been to launches where poems have been recited and songs been sung on themes not well tucked underneath the music. And this has made me wonder,is that the future of music? At the end of the day, there's a cheque written, and as much as music is about talent, those that choose it as a career also must make money.
I really don't know what to think. Is that the future of music? Because if that's the case, complications in the life of a gigging musician just went ten notches higher!
