Before The Music Dies (DVD)

h/t to drummer - http://forum.concen.org/showthread.php?tid=33349&highlight=before+the+mu...

If you like the DVD, please make sure you purchase it here: http://www.roadwingsentertainment.com/

With outstanding performances and revealing interviews Before the Music Dies takes a critical look at the homogenization of popular music with commentary by some of the industry's biggest talents like Eric Clapton, Dave Matthews, Elvis Costello, Erykah Badu, Branford Marsalis, Bonnie Raitt and more. Using historic footage the film looks at the evolution of American music and the artists who created it and pulls back the curtain (in a very creative way) to expose the sad truth behind today's "artificial" music stars. "The reality is that superficiality is in," says Marsalis. "And depth and quality is kind of out." Inspired by the death of his brother, director Andrew Shapter and his crew traveled thousands of miles, visiting dozens of cities, speaking with hundreds of fans, journalists, record executives and musicians while searching for "real" American music. What they found were mega-talents without a major label, including one artist Eric Clapton believes is "the real thing."

from amazon:

Quote:

"Shows how musicians no longer create music. Promoters, marketers, and sponsors make "music" and create personalities in order to push product. One telling scene shows some teenage girls talking about how "hot" Ashley Simpson is and how "real" she is. When asked if they knew who Bob Dylan was, they all shook their heads. When told that he inspired millions of people back in the 60s, and asked whether Ashley Simpson inspired them to do anything, they all just looked confused. Music? Inspiring? What a strange concept.

Another segment shows how radio stations have become focus-grouped marketing machines instead of a real venue for real artists to get airplay. While there have always been issues of "payola" in the business, the radio station monopoly in this country has completely homogenized the new music scene. Even "classic" radio stations limit their airplay to a limited variety...you will rarely hear a deep album cut from a classic album...just the hits.

Real musicians are being relegated to background roles, while artificially enhanced body parts, heavy make-up, and a few dance steps are all it takes to become a music star. In one segment, Steve Poltz (great singer/songwriter...check out his solo CDs One Left Shoe and Friendly Fire and his work with The Rugburns) improvs a song on his guitar, and the hit-making machine goes to work. First they get a beautiful, untalented girl to sing (off key) into the microphone. She never sees the musicians who play behind her on the track. Then, the computer "fixes" the vocals, graphically changing the pitch of her voice in just the right places to make it sound as if she is actually on key. She is then filmed in seductive poses, lip-synching the lyrics while "her" voice plays over the action. The result is a slick video of a beautiful girl singing a trendy, vapid song...one that fits all the formulas for a hit. I would not be surprised to hear it on the radio someday soon.

Interviews with Branford Marsalis, Dave Matthews, Erykah Badu, and Eric Clapton are all particularly insightful. All confirm that the great music acts from the 70's and 80's (Aretha, Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder, Led Zep, the Who, etc.) would never have had a chance in today's market. So the next time your son or daughter tells you about how "awesome" the latest Brittney Spears CD is, show them just how little of Brittney is actually in the CD, and how much of it is marketing, make-up, and computers. Show them this film. Then buy them some real music, played by real musicians."

DIVX version: http://tracker.concen.org/torrents-details.php?id=17573