Five Lost Arts of Music

Let’s face it. It’s the future.

It’s crazy to think, but we’re already a whole decade into the New Millennium (which might have been true last year, too, depending on how you look at it). And that has meant some really cool things, especially in the way of technology; it’s easier to communicate than ever, and for the most part, that is a wonderful thing. Imagine going back in time, and telling people even two generations ago that you can access the internet (good luck explaining that one), store every document on your computer, take pictures and videos, and even make a phone call, all with one device. Imagine telling the first generations of music nerds that we can have our entire music library in our back pocket at any given time… Pretty crazy.
Still, while 21st century living has its perks—when was the last time you had a problem that your cell phone couldn’t solve?—it’s not without its consequences: there are some beautiful traditions that have definitely been lost in translation. While most of us music lovers are still very in touch with the past (such as the new generation of vinylphiles arising in the past five years or so) some traditions—and downright art forms—have been lost to time.

For example:
1.) The mixtape. Long gone are the days of painstakingly patching a true mix tape together; more recently, the Napster days ushered in a new tradition: the mix cd. Generation X is known for its passion and skills in the art of the mixtape (you remember “High Fidelity”). It was more than just choosing the perfect blend of songs; it was piecing them together in an artful order, with graceful genre-crossing and careful transitions, and even designing their own album artwork for the jewel case. The mix not only showcased old faves, and highlighted new or obscure music for the mix’s recipient to discover (or, at the very least, be impressed by) but also, ideally, conveyed a message: anything from “it’s summer; let’s party!” or “I like you like you.” At its best, the mix is a thing of true beauty.
2. )The flyer. Gone are the days of hundreds of flyers plastered on the cork boards of community centers and coffee shops, advertising upcoming shows. These days, bands can simply make a Facebook or MySpace invitation, and send it to their friends, whose friends (and their friends) will inevitably see it too. While this is arguably a more effective means of communication, there is something about the design of a flyer that says a lot about the show and the band who distributed it. Thankfully, some bands are still taking the time to design flyers and using social networking sites to post them, but for the most part, true flyers are mostly a thing of the past.
3.) The secret song. In the old days, it was not uncommon for bands to stick a short “secret” song on an album—usually at the end, long after the last song on the album had faded out—that was not on the album’s track list. While some bands still do this from time to time, it is far less common as bands cope with the reality that many of their fans are downloading their music a song or two at a time rather than purchasing the album itself.
4.) Onstage choreography (especially men). This is taking it waaaay old school. But part of me wishes that some bands still worked that oh-so-subtle choreography into their live show (a la The Temptations). While some of the showboaty rock bands of the 70s and 80s often featured some synchronized thrashing of their guitars (notably, KISS) band choreography is probably destined to stay a long-gone doo wop relic.
5.) Music on TV. People complained for years that MTV and VH1 didn’t show enough music videos. Then, they showed them only at night—in the “wee hours,” when the rest of the networks were playing infomercials and M*A*S*H* reruns. Now, there is rarely a mention of music on MTV, VH1 or any of their many offspring networks. Music videos were once a genre all their own, creating a new level on which to interpret a song. Who could forget the trippy sketch-animation of A-Ha’s “Take On Me” or the epic theatricality of “California Love” (and dare I mention “Thriller”)? Or Blind Melon’s lovable “No Rain?” While the rise of online video media like YouTube has created a new incentive for bands to create memorable videos (OK Go, I see ya’ll) it would still be cool to have a real music TV network.
The best part about lost arts? Lost arts only mean one thing: the potential for revival. So don’t be afraid to use the “Burn Disc” feature on your iTunes (I know you have a dusty stack of CD-Rs somewhere) and make a mixtape for your guy or gal (Valentine’s Day is coming up and mix CDs are a free thoughtful gift!). Don’t be afraid to design a cool flyer to promote your band’s next show. And definitely don’t be afraid to switch off Jersery Shore and cruise music videos on YouTube—they’re still out there!