Jorge Diaz

Huge cities, dirty and polluted, full of faceless people, people who do not talk to you and do not see you, people who would not do anything for you if you were lying in the middle of the street suffering a heart attack. Noise, noise, noise everywhere and at all hours. Background noise that accompanies us even in our dreams. The city never stops, never keeps silent, people have stopped appreciating the calm, we are altered, we want to get first to anywhere, although that place is nowhere. We do not mind pushing, crushing. We believe that we do not need peace, we believe that the states of anguish and anxiety are normal and inherent to the human being and we are very wrong. We rush to the office in the morning and we only went through a café (of the fashion brand, because otherwise, we would be as weird) the women put on makeup behind the wheel, the men drive as if they were playing a football game, and time to eat? No way! If there is no time, we do not go out to eat because the work requires commitment to one hundred percent and we want the promotion at all costs, no matter hours, friends, family, health, nothing, what matters is success in business. Then, at the end of our life, we will realize that little or nothing was worth all that time invested in a company in which you were only a number, that there was never any appreciation for what you did and gave, not for the way in which you sacrificed time for your family. In the afternoon, already very late, you leave the office exhausted and in a bad mood. Maybe it's a good idea to go to the bar for a couple of beers or something a little stronger. But you're tired and you know you might find yourself with more noise and maybe with unpleasant people, besides, tomorrow you have to start the routine again; and life? life is postponed for a better time, a moment that will hardly come if we do not look for it ourselves. Peace, has anyone said peace? Well, no. Most of us who are in the middle of this chaos that is modern life have forgotten the moments of peace, those that give us the tranquility of enjoying the countryside, of pleasant music, far from the noise and the absurd objectives of the job. The moments of being with whom you love the most and most love you. To enjoy your pet, that will always be for you, unconditionally. To be in the place where you know you are safe, away from those who hurt you or just want to take advantage of you. Being on an island, the island that forms in your mind and the most endearing places for you, to find peace amid all this chaos. The chaos that represents this road that tires, that sometimes throws you to the ground and where nobody raises you.

I took Take The Crown as an example only because it seems to me that it is what most eloquently describes the career of an artist that baffles me. A record that is not from here, nor from there, that pretends to be everywhere and in none at the same time. In the beginning, as many in the UK and much of Europe know, Robbie Williams belonged to the most famous Boy Band of the time in the British Isles, Take That, and because of the outstanding attention that fans of the band put about Robbie, the idea inside his mind about leaving the band and starting a solo career began to germinate. You know, the artists' ego is huge as the Universe itself and the temptation to shine with their own light and not share credits or reflectors with the rest of the band members is very big. It is not the first, nor will it be the last. Throughout the history of the twentieth century and so far in the twenty-first we can make a long list of artists who have abandoned the original band members or, even, have caused enough problems within their groups to cause the break and thus get the goal of starting a solo career. The way in which Robbie behaved when recording his videos and in the live presentations attracted a lot of attention. Perhaps his unusual facial features and the energy he put into everything he did with the rest of the band, made him stand out from the others and that should also have captivated the executives of the record labels. The conditions to start a solo adventure were given after several very successful albums with Take That and, what had to happen, happened. Robbie Williams announced his departure from the band and one of his main goals was to go to the conquest of the great music consumer market: The United States. The artist moved to Los Angeles to be concentrated one hundred percent and have all possible contact with the industry and the public. At the time of announcing his retirement and releasing his first solo album, he had a great response in Europe (where he was already an idol) however, I believe that the American continent did not have so much enthusiasm. The signs, from the point of view of the business, were clear: we should be very careful in the next attempt and, if things in the United States were not given as intended, we should return to take care of the market that was already held captive and not cause a cooling of it, because the risk of going into oblivion very soon in a market that was not receiving attention, was very large. I think the obsession with the American market was what led to Robbie Williams' ship drifting, however many attempts he made, things never got better on this side of the Pacific Ocean.

In many parts of the world, those who call themselves lovers of pop music and who analyze all the decades of evolution since this musical style has become the biggest influence of young and not so young, agree to give it a nickname (not very lucky) to almost all the musical production of the eighties: the horrible eighties. I think it's a bit unfair. Although the aesthetics of that decade and the musical productions pretended a rupture with the past and, sometimes, provoked laughter, there are certain values ​​that have become standards until our days. The problem, from my point of view, is that we became an audience that consumed music through the eyes. The technological advances and the vision of many businessmen and creatives to take video clips in all the music that was produced in those moments distorted the perception that must be had when enjoying and analyzing the songs. Suddenly, the hairstyle or the clothes of the singers and musicians were more important than the main product: the song. The absurd video clips that took place in that stage became either the entertainment of people who did not even understand the value of the musicians and their works, or, in the reason for many people to move away from artists that were truly worthwhile. That continues to this day, although with the accumulated experience after so many years, There are very interesting nuances that have returned dignity to true geniuses who did not deserve (nor they, nor their songs) such a bad deal when the record companies ordered to produce a video as a campaign to promote their songs. Returning to the theme of the eighties and everything that occurred at that time, I remember with some anger that could not stand to see artists who did not deserve all the success they had just because they looked good on television and in the videos projected on MTV. At the same time, I was saddened to confirm that true artists surrendered to the demands of that market and lost all dignity in order not to lose validity. The worst thing was to see how great heroes of the previous two decades tended to disappear or greatly reduce their popularity and lower down the spread of their new songs just because they did not want to follow the new rules in the music market. However, not everything in the music of the eighties was bad or unworthy, there were also artists who knew how to adapt to these new rules, refined their image without falling into the pathetic and gave shape to what would be the hallmark of that era, which that up to this day is still valid in the work of many young people who, whether they want it or not, pay tribute to that musical stage of which perhaps even today many laugh without mercy. One of the best examples of good music, dignity, honesty in everything they composed and intelligence in the way they used the image of those years is Tears For Fears.

I could listen to this album twenty million times in a short period of time and I would not get tired of it, in fact, with this album, I can confirm and say that, in effect, Lady Gaga becomes a monster. A monster that creates music for all the senses and all the ways of being and thinking. A monster that devours the popularity charts of the whole world with many of the songs included in this long-play album and that conquers the most demanding consumers of popular music. There is no one who is not captivated by the sound, arrangements, strength, and rhythm of the themes that consolidate Lady Gaga as an obligatory reference and as the person who makes us understand the reason for existing, and the meanings of worlds that, until recently, had remained hidden from the view of the majority. It allows us to understand the meaning of certain attitudes and ways of thinking and makes us accept them as something normal and part of our diversity. It allows us to discover and contemplate beauty in all those things where before we only perceived strange things. It opens our mind, it moves our feet, it shows us the path that, from this album, would take popular music. It has set a high standard with which music lovers will value the musical works of other artists who pretend to be at the forefront. It puts limits to intolerance and builds bridges that unite all as the rhythm of all the themes passes. Her image challenges us to accept what is different and teaches us not to put more labels on people, only to love them as they are, without questioning their way of thinking or the way they look. Her determined and threatening look dominates us and marks us with the beat of the songs to go to those places where we had never been and discover so many things that we did not know. The Fame Monster is a before and an after, challenges the great stars of past decades and sets the conditions for the new generations of musicians who aspire to become the stars of the future. Obligates that those who seek to break through in the music scene are overcome and do everything possible to attract the attention of an audience that, upon discovering Lady Gaga, probably have already seen everything. It is not easy to overcome this for anyone. Everything that revolves around her music and image has been the perfect blend of marketing, market research and inspiration, and creativity that lives in the mind and heart of a complete and determined artist to conquer the world. As with all artists, Lady Gaga has had ups and downs in her career, either because of the natural weariness of people, the exhaustion of ideas, business commitments, tours, personal affairs and many imponderables in the life of anyone; nevertheless, The Fame Monster, must be, in my opinion, the line that throughout her artistic life must mark the course to her. It must be the compass that guides this artist at all times in all the art projects she intends to carry out so that she remembers what has allowed her to win the idolatry of massive and varied audiences.

I cannot imagine what market segment of Lennon Stella went with her EP, Love, me, in times of life where relationships tend to be a little more relaxed and love tragedies less frequent. Perhaps it is because she is going through a very painful moment in her romantic relationships or because, definitely, I am wrong and there is a large sector of the American female population and other parts of the world that identifies with these problems on a daily basis. If so, hit the nail and surely the sales will be a success. It's a selection of songs that pull you down, you get depressed just listening to the sorrows that Lennon Stella tells with that sweet but sad voice. Several themes seem like a romantic but optimistic lyric, the truth is that there is very good music in this EP; however, the lyrics invite something much darker in the soul and unfortunately could not be songs that accompany us all and at any time of the day. At least on this record, the singer shows that she and her love have not got along very well these days and that things in the heart should remain on pause for a prudent time until the prospects improve, and their expectations are met. Although love should not be expected much, there are several trial and error attempts that have to be made until the right person comes into your life. But that does not mean that it will not hurt you and that the wounds will leave scars forever. That's why, at a certain moment, maybe the album Love, me, is an escape valve for many who are going through a love disappointment and many of their songs become the soundtrack of some sad stage in the lives of some. I think that, indeed, "Bad" and "Breakaway" could be themes that will be remembered forever by the person who runs into them during a moment in their life when everything is broken and you do not even have a clue how collect the pieces of the heart to reassemble it and move on. Sometimes, songs become classics. When a theme hits the target and translates the pain of many people into song and poem, the rest will be history. Although, to be honest, I think the songs of Love, me, do not have the strength to become a generation's classic, but there will be many who remember these songs throughout their lives for very special reasons and circumstances.

There I was for the first time in my life, it was a long wait, I could not believe it. In fact, I never thought that I would ever be there because, although I always dreamed of that day, different circumstances of my life prevented me from believing that I could achieve it. But fortunately, I could and finally I was standing in front of the recording studios where the greatest number of musical successes of my childhood and adolescence heroes were recorded. At that time it was obvious that no one could go inside the studios and all the tourists swarmed on the sidewalk to take a picture of the plaque and be able to have proof that they were there when they returned to their homes after the trip to London, among other things, to make a pilgrimage to that sacred temple (I am sure that many fans consider it that way). I prefer to only see the places and I am almost an enemy of cameras and selfies; I think I keep the best pictures in my mind, and they are very good there. But who was with me, the woman of my life is the best friend and ally of the photos. As much as I ask her not to take pictures of me, she insists. Always perfectionist, it takes centuries to find the best angle, the most favorable light, wait for everyone to leave there to capture what she wants as a frame or background ... from a simple photograph! Sometimes I have to wait a long time under the sun or the rain without moving and in the place that she indicates until everything is all and in accordance with what she believes will be the perfect photograph. If I do not, the problem will be huge. And since I love her very much, with everything and my annoyance I cooperate; However, when it comes to something that for me represents an excess and an imitation of what all people do, I always defend my point of not wanting photos posing or doing what, because it is obvious and predictable behavior, is ridiculous. And that was exactly what happened on Abbey Road. Everyone comes with one goal in mind: to take a picture in that pedestrian crossing that The Beatles made famous on the cover of what would actually be the last one they recorded as a band. Returning to the religious sense that many of us give to the Fab Four, before my eyes the prophecy written by John Lennon for this album was fulfilled: "Come Together.”

While this is not the last album in the discography of The Beatles, it was the last album that went on sale and that contained original songs, and that was an attempt to introduce to their fans to the most intimate area of the Fab Four. Throughout the time other discs authorized by them with compilations also arrived, but I think all the fans will agree with me that Let It Be and Abbey Road are considered as their last works as a band. In another Narrative I commented that it was an attempt of the band for showing the most intimate part of their work to their millions of fans around the world, I was referring specifically to the filming that bears the same name of the album. And I do not think it was not achieved at all, however, to all of us who admire his career during the sixties, it is enough for us to have seen those brushstrokes of inspiration and creativity that they showed during the recording sessions of this album. I have been very hard when I refer to his previous films, that were film attempts and that seem frankly ridiculous to me, however, in the case of what we see in Let It Be, it seems fair to admit that it was not pretentious and that they were simply trying to show the creative side of the band, so I think it was not bad. It is not a documentary itself and no one pretends to be what it is not, they simply limit themselves to work and the camera records the moments. For me it is a pity that it was not done at another time. A time when the band was more united from a friendly point of view and, very important, from the creative point of view. I think that an exercise of this magnitude for the sessions of Revolver or Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band, would have been wonderful and would have given us much more because I consider that for the times in which Let It Be was filmed, there were irreconcilable differences among the band members and things sometimes feel forced and in others a little bit false. Nothing to talk about it, such is life and the history of human relationships, everything that starts with a big dream and awakes so much camaraderie among the group members ends up tiring and annoying some of them, professional jealousy is present, communication breaks down, personal interests are imposed over the interests of the group, upstarts are always a bad influence, and things get worse until the thread breaks on the thinnest part. In fact, it has been officially reported that both the rehearsals and the recordings suffered delays due to the absence of George Harrison for a few weeks, and I believe that although he returned to finish the final works, it was impossible for things to be the same as before. The invitation made to Billy Preston was a desperate attempt of the four from Liverpool to try to save things and, although the participation of the keyboardist is enriching could not be more, and the story would precipitate until the disappearance of the band a few months after.

In the career of an artist, there are works that are fundamental pillars in the construction of his/her way to stardom, others are like the bricks that give shape to that building and some are simply to forget. We cannot ignore the fact that, in many cases, there are stages of much fatigue, personal problems or exhaustion of ideas, which are obstacles that must be overcome in the artist's life and that surely inspiration and creativity will return in the future near. The ups and downs are not bad, in the music they help us to know in what we have failed and we take the temperature of the fans to redirect the course of our next works and we take impulse to vindicate ourselves in the creations that come. But there are also prolonged creative holes to which we must be very afraid and put hands to work at work so that ideas come back and do not allow us to sink increasingly into that hole. It is particularly difficult when you have a short career and have difficulties to penetrate all the markets in which we have proposed to be successful and the songs of previous albums, although they have turned out to be something interesting, have not been the bomb that explodes and forces everyone to see you and love you. It can also happen that our creative beta is over and no matter how much we want to continue exploiting it, we will not find more gold. The saddest cases in which we see that an artist falls into a hole, is when we realize that they are business commitments or the bad advice of those around them, which influence the way they compose the new songs of their next album or the change of style, the excessive interest for entering and pleasing a territory that is not yours or you do not know. I understand that sometimes there are experiments and personal searches and that also implies a high risk of being wrong, but if it was an honest attempt, then we must accept the error and pay the consequences without making a drama of it, this last possibility is a great opportunity to learn and a way to satiate your experimental spirit. Regardless of the reasons, if the artist has a genuine love for music and his/her career, the most important thing is to recognize everything that was wrong, rectify the mistakes and leave behind that bad experience with a lot of work and not let the moral goes down. We have to keep maintaining the interest to deliver quality material and not settle for small victories, we have to go to win the complete battle. My reflection on the album The Architect, by Paloma Faith, only reflects my concern for what I think is a hole in the career of a great artist.

I could tell many stories that are linked to The Beatles' album Yellow Submarine and my life. Stories that have to do with the growth of a guy who preferred to follow the dream of becoming a famous musician, make their own songs, play in large forums and, above all, be in a recording studio most of the time. Maybe the only thing I did not get was to become famous; however, I am happy to have done everything else. Always true to what I thought, I never succumbed to the temptation to compose songs with the fashionable formula in my time. I thought that if I was not honest and did not follow my inspiration and that, if only I became a record seller as if I were selling cars or refrigerators, I would prefer not to. That's why I tried for years to get where I wanted with my music. When I realized that it was about being commercial and cheating the public, I decided not to try it anymore. And I think it was fine. In the distance, I think I had a lot more fun doing what I wanted in the presentations in which we were hired, and in the recording studio, than what I would have thought today if I had become a mercenary. After all, when you're young and pretend to be a rock star, when what you're really looking for is fame, money and girls, but you are not aware of all the problems faced by those who do achieve it, and perhaps in many cases, it's not worth it to want so much fame and money ... although maybe the girls are worth it. After all I think it does not matter, the soundtrack of my life is as rich as I can be, thanks to that stage, where I spent hours, days, weeks, months, and years listening to music non-stop and composing everything that came to my mind, rehearsing with the guys in my band, performing at the local forums, placing some of my songs on the radio and taking some money to my pocket to buy musical instruments and pay a few hours in the recording studios. All that left me very positive things in life, although I must admit that there were also certain frustrations for the failures, but nothing that has not been overcome with time and the triumphs that life brought me in other areas. While my youth was passing, there was a record that was spinning in my mind all the time: Yellow Submarine, all the contrasts it has in its songs, made me think about how valid it is to be faithful to what you want without any other consideration. Of course, some have that great luck of being able to achieve the fame they seek as The Beatles, and others are left on the road, but recognizing the great merit of those who conquer the top and respecting them forever.