Comentarios De Tomas Cantoral
Perspectivos - View Points
La Musica Popular En La Actualidad
The Music Industry Today
Algunas Observaciones - Some Commentary
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(Continues from YouTube “Description”)
Friends - This is Ric , the composer, speaking. The possibility of including music critic Tom Cantoral's commentary here placed me in a difficult spot, since I was told it is not a good idea to mix promotional efforts with controversial topics. But I am allowing Tom's comments, with Tom's promise to bring only light, not heat, on the subject of SOME current corporate-sponsored music styles which has also affected Latin music. In my opinion, Tom has some important things to say, even if we might not all agree with everything.
This commentary is in reference to the boleros and baladas by my friend, composer Ric Dominguez, posted on Youtube. Some pop music lovers have criticized Ric's songs, asking, "Don't you know that boleros are considered antiquated and no longer played on contemporary Latin radio programs? "Why do you waste time writing music styles from the past - forget commercial success without labels, producers, publishers, or broadcasters." I'm thinking to myself in response, " Well, maybe Ric writes that way because, in spite of everything, one ought to write what the heart dictates, not what some corporate entity wants, though it may be the biggest and the most controlling in the world." When corporations exist to serve the well-being of the people, they are a blessing. But when they exist for profit alone, blinded by uncontrolled greed, they become a social curse leading to disasters, as can be seen today in the economic, and so many other areas. The same arrogant corporate mind-set has also been at work in the popular music scene. aggressively promoting socially toxic ''music''. Many of these corporate players, and their products, have become destructive to the social fabric - lacking moral integrity, ethical direction, and effective regulation. In interviews, some of these corporate heads and singers have been asked if they allow their own children to listen to their edgy productions. Their response - "Oh no - these are just for the general public!" It's like saying - this crap is for your children to consume, not ours.
Folks, other friends have exclaimed, "Hey, Tom why get bent out of shape - it's only music - not money!" My response is to say, yes it is definitely only money - not music, that's driving the popular music "industry", over which corporate players have called the shots. Having been given virtual control of our public airwaves, the game is to promote only what makes them money in one way or another. Understandably, our popular culture has been tragically affected - given how popular culture influences what is socially acceptable, how we think, how we speak, how we behave - even what we wear - especially influencing our young people - which in turn has a pervasive effect on all of us. In this case, we can't see our own forest because of the trees- us! But we can learn by looking back historically at Roman social and colosseum "entertainment" with its focus on sex, violence, vulgarity, and cruelty. One thing is certain: what ever is demeaning, demeans; whatever is inhuman, dehumanizes, whatever is corrupting, corrupts, whatever is poisonous, poisons. Whether it's food or music: whatever we consume on a steady basis has consequences - healthy or toxic. Be sure there are SOME corporate powers who would prefer we cared nothing about our health - physical or psychological - or that of our children. At what point does so - called "entertainment " becomes a socially and personally destructive vice. There is an interesting cable TV program called "BEHIND THE MUSIC" about the players involved in the current popular music scene. It is amazing to see how many players end up suicidal, in drugs, in jail, "attitudinal", and/or involved in all kinds of violent acts, often ending up in prison. And these are just the famous players. If you can't see "BEHIND THE MUSIC" - we need only to listen to the evening news, or read the papers!
Ric is well aware that his musical quest - to preserve and continue the rich heritage of traditional Latin popular music - is more a cultural or social project, rather than a commercial one in this corporate-controlled industry. Maybe that's why Ric has been titled "Riquixote", like a Don Quixote, trying against the grain, to restore the GOLDEN AGE of Latin popular music - before hard rock, regaton, hip hop, rap, etc. There are times when artistic endeavors are more in need of a supportive patron with a clear altruistic vision, rather than corporate entities blinded by sheer greed.
To contribute to the cause, and for more information please visit us here: http://bit.ly/cpNuRg
Tom Cantoral, ed.
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Ricardo. Te felicito. Que bonito se oiria ese tema “SOLO TU”, como melodia introductiva para un programa de radio de categoria romantica. Ojala alguien se ponga en contacto. Rodrigo
Trans. ....Ricardo. I congratulate you. (Your song) “SOLO TU” would sound great as the opening theme song on a Latin radio program of romantic music. I hope someone will contact you.
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Ric - Permiteme decir que con mucha razon, D.Namerow te comenta que tendras mucha dificultad tener exito con tus canciones. Tal vez seria posible en el internet. Pero la verdad es que algunas grandes corporaciones que dominan la radio y tele, ya tienen poderosa presencia en el internet respaldando con mucha influencia y dinero, temas de poco o ningun valor social, moral, o artistico. Y no maravilla, ya que tales corporaciones solo les importa la ganancia sin barreras - rechazando consideraciones sociales o esteticas - hasta demoralizar vidas juveniles con temas no dignos ni para jovenes ni adultos. Hay que darnos cuenta que esa locura obsesiva por el lucro en el mercado musical, es la misma locura que ha alcanzado casi a destruir la economia aqui, y mundialmente. Cuando el unico motivo de existir es solamente la ganancia, eso siempre resulta en algo tragico socialmente, no solo en las aseguransas de salud, sino casi en todos los campos financieros, incluyendo la musica. En este mundo loco, todo se trata del poder, el lucro, y la avaricia - y nada o poco del merito musical. Como ha observado Van Morrison - La musica es algo espiritual, mas los negocios de la musica, no.
En la actualidad, algunas oficinas corporativas han dominado hasta el contenido de las canciones que respaldan - quitandoles ese aspecto decente que deben tener, sean temas tristes o alegres. En vez del merito estetico, en su lugar, han interyectado y respaldado especificamente para la juventud, temas descaradamente sexuales, violentos, y vulgares. Y porque? - solo para incrementar el lucro - a la vez incrementando y respaldando la mal-educacion y atitudes anti-sociales - no solo afectando los barrios, sino a todas nuestras comunidades. El Presidente Obama se ha dedicado rescatar la economia de los graves danos causados por esos locos - pero quien se ha encargado de rescatar nuestra cultura popular de esos mismos locos?
Muchos de esos tipos rapaces cegados por la ganancia, no tienen ningun sentido altruistico - ni pretenden considerar el bienestar del pueblo con sus manipulaciones. Se tiene que establecer a cual punto se convierten las manipulaciones mercantiles a fraudes llamativos para enganar y abusar la gente. Igualmente tenemos que determinar a cual punto de lo que llamamos "entretenimiento" en realidad es un camino llamativo, pero sicologico, social, y moralmente destructivo - como veneno dulce en forma de pildora ligeramente cubierta con ''musica''. Quien esta protegiendo y vijilando los danos a nuestra cultura popular?
Pues basta con mis comentarios, Ricardo. Apesar de todo, espero que no te desanimen las circunstancias - todo puede cambiar con tiempo y la educacion popular. Tomas Cantoral
Te dejo con unas observaciones reveladoras que vi en la Red -
‘’ Si la música tiene el poder de inspirarnos hasta alcanzar el reino de los cielos, también tiene el poder contrario...pero ya no es música.’’ -
“Los hombres tienen la capacidad de transformar lo bello, lo noble, y lo deseable, a algo feo, perverso, e insalubre...si les conviene.’’ - G.Aleman
"Hay cosas que se pueden contar, mas no cuentan; y hay cosas que no se pueden contar, mas cuentan." A. Einstein
Translation -
Ric - Permit me to say that with good reason, D. Namerow comments that you will have a hard time being successful with your songs. But maybe it might be possible on the internet. The truth is that some big corporations that have dominated the radiowaves, now have a powerful presence on the internet, bringing a lot of money and influence, and backing “music” with little or no artistic, or social value. And no wonder, since these corporations are only interested in profits, to the point of demoralizing young lives with themes unworthy of juveniles or adults. That obsessive, money-driven madness in the music world, is the same craziness that has almost destroyed the economy, here and world-wide. When the only reason for existing is the making of money, it always results in tradgedy, whether it is the insurance, the heath industry, or the financial world in general. Popular music has become a victim of that greed-driven world - no question about it. In that world, everything is about power, money, and greed - musical merit matters little, and social merit - forget it. Today, not even proven artists get much air play. As Van Morrison has observed,“ Music is something spiritual; the business of music, no.”
Today, some corporate muckety-mucks have not only dominated the topic of songs, but also their performance, interjecting often edgy sexual, violent, and demeaning content. At the same time, they encourage newer bands to do the same in order to get radio play. And why? Just to increase profits - while at the same time encouraging the mis-education, and anti-social attitudes of the young, not only in ghettos, but in all our communities. President Obama has devoted himself to rescuing the economy from the damages caused by those crazies, but who is in charge of rescuing popular culture from the anti-social immoral effects caused by those same crazies?
Many of those same predatory types, blinded by greed, have no altruistic sentiment whatsoever - nor do they pretend to have the social well-being of the community with their media manipulations. We have to consider at what point market greed becomes socially damaging. Equally, we have to determine at what point, what we call “entertainment” is actually a road leading to the slow destruction of our values - like a poison pill, lightly coated with ‘‘musical’’candy. In short, who is guarding or protecting popular cultural values?
Well, that’s enough critcism for now, Ric. In spite of everything, I hope you don’t let these circumstances discourage you - things can change with time, education. In fact, in a free society, a requiered class in social dangers should be offered in every public school. I leave you with a few related observations:
“ If music has the power to inspire us to reach the kingdom of heaven, it also has the contrary power - but then it is no longer music.” M. Toledano
“ Man has the capability of transforming that which is noble, beautiful, and desireable, to that which is ugly, perverse, and unhealthy... if there is profit in it.”
“ There are things which can be counted, but don’t count. And there are things which can’t be counted, that count.” A. Einstein
