The Queen Is Dead

Another one gone. We lost the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin today. Her voice is irreplaceable. Oddly enough, this is the anniversary of Elvis' death. His passing is still felt across the globe decades later, as I'm sure the passing of Aretha will be.

In recent years we've lost many of the greats. As a guitarist, BB King and Link Wray come to mind. Both were powerful influences on the instrument's place in music. Neither can be replaced. We've lost so many great musical artists.

I guess the big question is WHO ARE THE NEW GREAT ONES?

I can't recall the last time I heard a mind-blowing NEW artist. Someone with a fresh new sound or approach. Its been a long time, that's for sure. Anything new that I hear (and yes, surprise surprise, this old guy does listen to a lot of new music) is usually just a retread of something older. Sure, some of it is good but its neither fresh nor exciting. While not a huge fan of rap/hip hop, I enjoyed the energy of it when it was new. That its still thumping on is, at least to me, amusing. Its just not something I care to hear very often.

The so-called indie stuff...it all sounds like someone trying really hard to write something commercial. Screw that. I want to hear the weird kid sitting in his/her basement making some insane noise that his/her/family and friends all tell him/her is horrible...but he/she keeps doing it because he/she can hear in their head how it works. I want to hear a new sound. A new idea. A new approach. Screw trends. Screw whatever is popular. Screw commercialism.

Give me that singer in church who can wail at a level that makes the Almighty take notice. Give me the risk-taker. Give me the lunatic. I want to hear a sound that will rip the fabric of the universe apart, if only for a moment.

If only I had that ability.

Sure, I play a lot of old stuff. I'm old. Is it really my place to reinvent the spork? I can entertain almost any crowd. I might even be able to make the occasional jaw drop now and then. But I'm no Aretha...or Elvis...or Link Wray...or BB King...or Leonard Cohen. I too will pass and become even less of a footnote than I already am. But I've at least tried in my life.

Where are the new sounds? Have we finally given up?

R.I.P to the Kings and Queens of days gone by. May your musical memory inspire generations to come and set alight a spark of creativity in some young mind. I know I'm ready and waiting to hear it.