Don't be a poser: Broaden love of music and live a little
Liz Scott
Issue date: 2/4/10 Section: Opinion
"Interests: Music is my life! I love music! "
You don't love music. You just love a certain kind of music. I demand you adjust your Facebook info immediately, you poser.
This past weekend, The Conservatory of Music featured some of its talent in Gilbert and Sullivan's "Iolanthe."
I'm going to bet that a majority of the audiences consisted of the performers' families, other Conservatory students, a few non-Con friends of cast members and perhaps some community supporters and Conservatory alumni. But where was the student body?
It's a sad truth that certain areas of the arts are overlooked. They have become simply the pastimes of those who specialize in the particular area.
Viewers of art galleries are artists. Listeners of classical performances are classical musicians.
The idea behind popular entertainment today is that it has to be immediate and easy. What people fail to recognize, however, is that a lot of what is popular now is actually based on the other genres and styles that people claim to dislike.
People need to broaden their musical horizons. When you put your iTunes on "shuffle," what do you hear?
A few things to think about:
• The Broadway version and film "Rent" were based on Puccini's opera, "La bohème."
• Gwen Stefani's "Rich Girl" is based on the 1994 Jamaican pop version by Louchie Lou & Michie One, who actually got the song idea from the 1964 musical "Fiddler on the Roof."
• Shows like Family Guy and The Simpsons have spoofs on way more operas and musicals and use lots more classical music references than most people probably realize.
• Do you know how many current pop songs are actually covers? Has Jessica Simpson ever done an original song?
• Listen to Jason Derulo's "Watcha Say" and Imogen Heap's "Hide and Seek."
The point is, don't say you hate opera and continue to blast "La Vie Boheme" in your residence hall room. Don't idolize pop stars and have no clue where their ideas come from.
Be knowledgeable in the history of what you like. Don't ever be biased against something you don't understand, because it might just be the backbone of something you love.
Performers and organizations are losing funding because a lot of the public thinks things like opera-things that pop culture is based on-aren't their "cup of tea."
I suggest that you attempt to do everything possible to educate yourself.
For a chance to broaden your musical horizon, Opera Columbus has a performance in two weeks. Go experience something new and be open to the possibility of enjoying it.
Support all music like you claim to do on Facebook.
By Liz Scott
Contributor
escott@capital.edu
You don't love music. You just love a certain kind of music. I demand you adjust your Facebook info immediately, you poser.
This past weekend, The Conservatory of Music featured some of its talent in Gilbert and Sullivan's "Iolanthe."
I'm going to bet that a majority of the audiences consisted of the performers' families, other Conservatory students, a few non-Con friends of cast members and perhaps some community supporters and Conservatory alumni. But where was the student body?
It's a sad truth that certain areas of the arts are overlooked. They have become simply the pastimes of those who specialize in the particular area.
Viewers of art galleries are artists. Listeners of classical performances are classical musicians.
The idea behind popular entertainment today is that it has to be immediate and easy. What people fail to recognize, however, is that a lot of what is popular now is actually based on the other genres and styles that people claim to dislike.
People need to broaden their musical horizons. When you put your iTunes on "shuffle," what do you hear?
A few things to think about:
• The Broadway version and film "Rent" were based on Puccini's opera, "La bohème."
• Gwen Stefani's "Rich Girl" is based on the 1994 Jamaican pop version by Louchie Lou & Michie One, who actually got the song idea from the 1964 musical "Fiddler on the Roof."
• Shows like Family Guy and The Simpsons have spoofs on way more operas and musicals and use lots more classical music references than most people probably realize.
• Do you know how many current pop songs are actually covers? Has Jessica Simpson ever done an original song?
• Listen to Jason Derulo's "Watcha Say" and Imogen Heap's "Hide and Seek."
The point is, don't say you hate opera and continue to blast "La Vie Boheme" in your residence hall room. Don't idolize pop stars and have no clue where their ideas come from.
Be knowledgeable in the history of what you like. Don't ever be biased against something you don't understand, because it might just be the backbone of something you love.
Performers and organizations are losing funding because a lot of the public thinks things like opera-things that pop culture is based on-aren't their "cup of tea."
I suggest that you attempt to do everything possible to educate yourself.
For a chance to broaden your musical horizon, Opera Columbus has a performance in two weeks. Go experience something new and be open to the possibility of enjoying it.
Support all music like you claim to do on Facebook.
By Liz Scott
Contributor
escott@capital.edu
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