David Emery Online

Causer of controversy

25 April 2008

Have we got to a point where we’ve now pushed past our boundaries – in music specifically, but other art forms as well – leaving us with no ‘edge’ and nothing to push against?

We have progressed slowly but surely through the rise of popular music with more and more becoming acceptable. Rock and roll (a quaint term, now, isn’t it?) was once the causer of controversy – you shouldn’t listen to that – and now the very same musical style is about as staid and middle of the road as you can get.

Obviously this is just the march of an ever more liberal culture and society and specific examples will, when given 50 odd years to simmer, obviously loose their edge, but I think the real question is what edge do we have left? Racism – in its many forms – is the obvious example, but I think is hardly an edge worth pushing up against. It’s also an inverse of many of the other controversies – really the boundary that has been pushed against is people being racist (as opposed to pushing for being racist).

Offensive language is no longer an issue – yes, it’ll get bleeped/muted on the radio but it’s hardly controversial. Similarly, drug use is so well established it’s become a cliché; no one is going to care if you write a song about cocaine. And celibacy would probably probably be more shocking then sex.

I cannot think of any current musician that is actually genuinely controversial. It’s all been done.

What happens to music without its edge?