Of Buttery Bodies & Tequila Shots: Our Lyrics Need a Reality Check

What with singers talking about how the night is brown and water feels like tequila, we need a quick music revamp!

We’re tired of settling for mediocre music. (Photo: iStock/Altered by The Quint)

It’s 9.30 pm.

A black sedan walks through a hazy road at almost pedestrian speed. This road seems endless.

Jason realises he might have to brace himself for another marathon night on Mumbai’s gridlocked roads. He decides to turn on the radio to deflect his attention from the copious honking that’s all-pervading.

You might not be MF Hussain but the following paragraphs should help you paint a decent picture on the state of lyricism in Hindi music.

The state of lyricism in India is quite abysmal. (Photo: iStock)

A Play-by-Play Radio Horror Story

9.40 pm: It’s radio prime time. The first song starts off with an upbeat tempo. The composition isn’t ‘Rahman level’ but it works for the time being. Just as Jason starts revisiting his negative outlook towards the radio, the singer starts spewing some jaw dropping lyrics.

She talks about how the night is brown and how drinking water feels like tequila.

It’s time to change the station.

(GIF Courtesy: tandemproperties.com)

9.43 pm: This radio station prides itself on playing only the hottest music in town. (That’s self assuring.) After 10 long minutes of advertisements and cosmetic conversations, the music begins. This song feels like a fusion of disco music woven into some typical Indian drums. 30 seconds in, Jason feels good. Unfortunately for him, he isn’t second time lucky.

He recognises her voice.

She talks about how buttery her body is, leaving her admirers to imagine what it tastes like. It’s just the kind of thing that would coerce Mr Javed Akhtar to speak his mind (for the one-thousandth time) on the falling standards of Hindi music.

(GIF Courtesy: imgur.com)

Jason realises it’s time to shut it down.

Fortunately for him, the traffic has started moving at just the right time.

But there are millions out there who aren’t as lucky as Jason. Indian radio has always had a skewed outlook towards the music scene in the country. Their curation process is safe – much like today’s musicians, who choose to play it safe.

Why We Need to Stop Settling for Mediocrity

But here’s my two cents: musicians really need to realise that their actions have far-reaching effects.

You see, music – like everything else – rides piggyback on economics. You get what you give. As a musician, if you keep putting out mediocre music, you’re creating a vicious cycle of listeners who accept the mediocrity and demand just that.

The musician now thinks he knows what the listeners crave for – he’s attained the Holy Grail! (Photo: iStock)

The musician now thinks he knows what the listeners crave for – he’s attained the Holy Grail! He ends up using the same formula (not mathematical) that mightn’t guarantee appreciation of the art – but certainly guarantees money in the bank.

What Mr Musician doesn’t realise, is that in the process, he’s ended up creating a humongous candyfloss environment where mediocrity works.

Steve Jobs, the founder of Apple Inc., once said:

“A lot of times, people don’t know what they want until you show it to them.”

Record labels, musicians, lyricists and producers, please take note.  It’s never too late.  Start making GOOD music. We will listen.

Give the people what they need, not what they want.

(Somesh Chandran is a wordsmith from Mumbai. He loves rap music but is tired of defending it. In case you wish to reach him, drop a comment on his article. He’ll find you.)