FRANK ZAPPA, THE MASTER OF CULTURAL INCONGRUITIES SAID:
"MODERN MUSIC IS PEOPLE WHO CAN'T THINK SIGNING ARTISTS WHO CAN'T WRITE SONGS TO MAKE RECORDS FOR PEOPLE WHO CAN'T HEAR."
Just a tad cynical you might say. However, listening to Zappa's only Top 40 hit VALLEY GIRL featuring his daughter Moon Unit as THE Valley Girl helps us understand where modern music can take us - a different way of seeing our world - up, down and sideways. To be, as they say, all up front and real, I am a child of the sixties. I saw the BEATLES in '64 and Led Zepplin in '69. That is a wide slot from the greatest pop/rock ever made to the greatest pure rock and roll. I love all music genres from Texas Country to Beethoven when it's written and performed well.
The 2025 SUPERBOWL LIX displays modern music of today from the best to the absolute worst. Let's start with the worst. I also must say - I loathe Hip Hop, so my opinion of the worst of the worst this past Sunday is tinged by that opinion.
No. 1
The multi-Grammy winner Kendrick Lamar's performance of Not Like Us is in my "I Just Don't Get It Category of Music". His performance, with a crowd of dancers and other famous and not so famous actors and singers, was painful to my ears and my eyes. Opinions were positive and negative. Most of them negative. One X writer stated - By far the worst Super Bowl halftime performance I’ve seen from any artist! Sorry - No clip. You can find it on You Tube.
No.2
Lady Gaga is an amazing talent. as the late great Tony Bennet said - " Gaga is the Picasso of the entertainment world. She's very intelligent." The song she performed in the middle of downtown New Orleans just before the big game, with thousands watching, was powerful, emotional and enhancing in every way - Hold My Hand was completely inspiring, especially to the people of New Orleans.
NO. 3
And last but certainly not the least- I did not know who this artist was until this Super Bowl. I did some research and realized he is a major talent! Born in Louisiana, from a family of renown performers, he started playing drums at the age of eight then piano lessons started at eleven and lasted seven years. Ultimately, this multi-award-winning artist attended Julliard and received a masters degree in jazz studies. This incredible talent combines jazz, rock, pop and classical in his music. Jon Batiste performed a beautiful and inspiring National Anthem at Super Bowl LIX was beautiful and inspiring.
So let freedom ring. From Elvis to Mumford and Sons, modern music is in a constant state of change for all listeners to hear.
IF YOU CAN'T HEAR THE MUSIC, YOU WON'T SEE THE LIGHT - Anonymous
Spring is on the way my Fellow Nomads!
D.L.Stafford
thenomadARCHITECT
And one last number from one of my favorite bands performing at the famous Red Rocks Amphitheatre - Multi-award-winning British Folk Rock Band Mumford & Sons performing I Will Wait. This amazing rock-bound venue should be on every music lover's Bucket List.
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