Soulflower

Good points.

I agree with your point about the 60's but I think that same argument could be made about today's society. I think my generation does not bond or band together because there are consequences for doing that and being an individual that thinks outside the box. The industry and the system wants people to act the same and not challenge things that are presented. So the industry also plays a negative role in this difference to.

In the 60's you had songs that reinforced the idea that people should show backlash and we do not have songs like that now because that is something the industry obviously does not want to promote.

I think this same "group mentality" can apply in today's society as well.

When you say "group think" mentality are you referring to the the industry, record companies and artists or the general music buying public?

There is always a "group think" mentality regardless of the era or decade. The current popular music artists and popular music labels collectively do not have an interest in songs that discusses social or political issues.

The industry chooses to only promote certain artists and certain songs that is associated with what they are trying to promote.

For instance, I know this example has nothing to do with what we are talking about but I think it shows how the industry is in control of what is being promoted.

Example:

In today's current mainstream scene it is much harder for African American R&B artists to cross over making R&B music. The industry has currently designed that genre where only White artists that make R&B music can cross over. The industry promotes those white artist's R&B songs on popular stations and outlets which automatically allows them to reach a wider audience compared to the African American R&B artists that pretty much just play on R&B stations.

I think the industry as a whole believes socially conscious songs can not produce money which is why they do not invest in songs that cover these subjects.

I think if the popular music labels and popular music artists collectively tried to make their music more socially conscious, they might be surprised that more people actually would want to hear that. Music inspires and influences people more than what people give it credit for.

I think the current mainstream scene is designed to dumb down peoples way of thinking and to prevent people from becoming aware of issues with substance or depth. This type of manipulation and group think mentality is highly detrimental. It is so detrimental to the point that if you even now question why pop music is so pussified, you get bashed for it lol


In the 60's that premiss became a movement, a spiritual movement, a movement to change injustice, a movement that was out for the grater good of humanity. And anytime you have progression in history it's bloody.The music of that time couldn't help but reflect the energy in the air. There is still one thing that this time doesn't have that the 60's did.


Agree.
However, every single artist in the 60’s did not use LSD. Most of the artists that singed about socially conscious music in fact did not use LSD or drugs. Of course, some did but not all 1960’s artists did so I do not think you need to take LSD in order to make socially conscious songs.
Current music today can still reflect the times and social issues we experience in our current society. This does not have to stop in the 1960’s because this not just a 1960’s issue. Every decade of music can reflect the social and political problems that affected that era.
I think it is sad because in a way the current mainstream scene kinda reflects our times.

A nation that is no longer interested in values, morals and the principles that created this country. Maybe it is not the public and instead the industry or a mixture of both. It is disturbing how we still experience so much turmoil in our society and the popular music artists, industry and labels do not wish to make songs that reflect that. It just seems that they are more interested in superficial things as well as money but then again maybe that is the overall interest of the public (American society) as well.

I think you are confusing the purpose of what LSD was used for during the 60’s versus what it is considered today. LSD is a hallucinogen. So it causes hallucinations, psychological and emotional disability. It also causes severe physical and mental disability as well. In the 1960’s, like you mentioned earlier, the purpose of the usage of the drug was mainly for spiritual reasons. Psychologists in the 1960’s also used it to experiment on their clients to test the effects of the drug in psychotherapy. However current research shows that there is no evidence that hallucinogens increase spirituality, creativity or have therapeutic value. Psychologists currently do not use it in psychotherapy because it can kill people and causes to many negative effects.

The drug causes people to experience an “out of body experience” or “visions of beings” but those are technically delusions and hallucinations as a result from taking the drug. People have killed themselves because they thought a spiritual being told them to or because they saw someone that told them to but these are all delusions as a result from taking the drug.
So LSD is not the reason why artists do not write social conscious music anymore. I think this is the fault of the record companies as well as the music industry. LSD does not enhance creativity or spirituality. There is no evidence that supports that it does in current research.
I agree. We need to come back together as a nation and as people.