When I decided to write a weekly column for Stabroek News, some preconceptions were involved. For one, I felt that I would be drawn to a range of subjects instead of one particular area, and that has proven to be the case. Also, I was hoping the columns would trigger discussion, even opposing views, and that has come to pass, too. In there, as well, was the hope that I might be able to shed some light in certain areas where I have gained some experience over the years; that some information, or insight I might bring, would help to clarify matters or even attitudes. Judging by the responses, that latter one has worked in some cases but often not – a noticeable one, ironically, being in the area of music where readers’ positions have been interesting,
In a recent column on dancehall music, for instance, where I tried to show the strong value of the art form, several readers missed my point entirely and veered off into comparing the lack of vocal ability in today’s music as opposed to the music of 40 years ago. There were nostalgic outbursts back in time to the talents of the likes of Sam Cooke, Matt Monroe, Marvin Gaye, etc, and the often expressed wish for their return along with the dismissive “these people can’t sing” label pasted on the current pop artistes.
Unfortunately, the folks making those comments, valid as they may be in that earlier context, are missing a couple of current fundamental concepts. The first (I have said this before but information does not always translate into persuasion) is that the styles of popular music change constantly, sometimes radically, as with