What’s That Sound?
Have you ever heard a song on the radio or shopping in a store that you can’t quite classify as pop, punk, or R&B? Avril Lavigne was one of the first artists I heard who had that kind of universal quality to her music. As she made a song a little over a year ago with Lil Mama from her punk sounds of “Sk8ter Boi”, I immediately noticed how her strong, attractive punk image did not match her mellow, fun music. Looking back, some of her songs like “I’m With You” and complicated were more pop-sounding than Gwen Stefani of No Doubt.
As music shifts from gear to gear, more people are noticing that more songs are fitting into the category of “What is that category?” This is bridging wide music gaps, and widening the taste for more types of music. People who really like rap are starting to like it in the pop, and even the rock scene, and vice versa. Even if they don’t like it and stay on one side, they have at least heard it and recognize that the music genres are blending very nicely for music producers.
Who can forget the success of Jay-Z and Linkin Park’s “Encore” or the recent “What you Got” by Colby O’Donis and Akon? Reception of music combinations and remixes seem to be almost always better received than original songs, producing bolder beats, and a more energized sound.
No one can really tell if this is another step for music, or a step for a music genre, but I have almost never heard someone say they didn’t like a remix of a favorite artist with a less-liked artist. Synthesized sounds are moving the music industry forward, but appears to be taking a little away from traditional instruments and appreciation for highly talented singers.
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