First of all, no one really knows how Mozart dies, and I've actually never heard of that explanation before so I doubt that many people really presume he died that way. That's sort of besides the point though.

I will admit, however, that Mozart was a heavy drinker. This definitely does not mean every great classical composer was a heavy drinker. Bach definitely wasn't. If you think the way Mozart behaved was standard for 1600-1700s composers, or for any musician, than you need to recheck your facts. Basically, using Mozart as a benchmark for what was normal behavior among classical composers is pretty much a waste of time.

I agree, its just a theory, but i presented it to simply show that he indeed drank often. As did Beethoven, and hey are 2 of the most important composers ever seen.

Sex disguised as love and love disguised as sex. Is what some of the best art was influenced by. Art being music of coarse

Money has a greater effect than anything. Why? If you don't have money, to 99% of the listeners you don't exist. Do you really think these ****ty top 40s people who write love songs do it because they have trouble getting laid, influence, and drugs?

**** no, they get laid because they do have money. Money gets drugs, money gets sex, and money fuels power in politics. Money is the way to acquire all three, and the most important musicians don't have to worry about acquiring either of them, but once they lose their money, they lose everything.

One person though who made music for reasons beyond money, sex, and drugs is Sun Ra. I mean, he ran a DIY label which pretty much made nothing simply for he purpose he could make the music he wanted to creatively, not what the industry wanted. Furthermore, he was fiercely against drugs, and wanted his band to stay clean, and entirely abstinent while writing music.

He is solid proof that you don't need drugs to create weird music(There are very VERY few people in music who are/were more legit eccentric than Sun
Ra), and that excellent music could be created inspired by the spiritual feeling it generates rather than sex. Albeit, he may have been slightly effected by politics, in general, Sun Ra created music pretty much for no other purpose than the love of music.

this is a really hard question. I am a composer, and I write based on my emotions. All of these things effect my emotions, so indirectly all of them.

The vast majority of musicians aren't rich though. And the scenario you're describing is something that's only been applicable for the past few decades anyway. When you look at all of the people making music in the world throughout all of human history I think it's very hard to make the case that money had nearly as much influence as other things.

I don't know what the deal was. For some reason this replied turned into a semi-quote... I think my connection cut out while it was transferring...

Any rate, the point I made was in response to Jazsoon's reply to mine. The thing is, this thread is about effect, not about influence. So, to sum it up. In those decades which money was allowed to shape music the entire shape of music was changed. Many genres were flat out killed in mainstream context because they didn't fit radio format. If you go to a foreign country, it's very likely you'll find they've heard many American pop acts. Take say Brazil. I'm guessing you'll find a lot of Brazilians who have probably heard selections from a Madonna CD, but very few Americans/British who can safely say they've had a world of Brazilian music.

Due to that, a very large majority of bands in other countries tend to follow American trends in songwriting out of hopes of connecting with the American industry, or rather, because they have little exposure to anything else. In the same sense, bands inside America try to write catchier hook based songs because they think it'll get them on the radio easier. Money may not be the main motive to pick up the guitar, but once you do, it's definitely something that keeps most people interested.

The vast majority of musicians aren't rich, but the rich ones are the only ones that seem to make an impact with most listeners.

I would like to point out, though, the figure of Sun Ra. To me, he embodies the spirit of evidence that neither drugs, nor sex, are really necessary as aids to making excellent music. He pretty much kept his band disciplined clean, and abstinent while writing songs. Plus, he did it entirely on his own time hand printing/assembling a lot of his album sacrificing a large portion of money so that his creativity would not be hindered. Purpose I believe was his believe that music can be written simply about music, and can be inspired entirely by the mood that it creates. So technically, he's proof that music can be created without the influence of any of these things.

I like your response. I would have to agree with that also.

:thumb: thanks :)

Its a bit vague when you say 'politics', it could mean a whole load of different things. At the end of the day I think politics must have the biggest influence considering every war, event, slavery, depression, economical downturn and the resulting 'culture' shapes what musicians not only sing about but what they play and the emotions they apply. How do you think the Blues and Jazz came about? sex drugs and money? no chance.

John Lennon for example, and hence, The Beatles; (although I think McCartney was the genius behind the actual music which made them so successful).

Bowie, Dylan, the list goes on.

It all falls under 'politics', I reckon though that you must refer to it differently.

Why no chance?

So nobody singing the Blues was singing about feeling unloved or their wife leaving? Cheating on them, being alone or anything like that?

actually imo it came about from a certain mississippi delta father of blues selling his soul to the devil at the crossroads... so I'm not sure that falls under any of them haha. it definitely is a great thought provoking question though, I haven't thought of it before :)


edit: well he did sell it for fame I guess, so maybe money.. I don't know very interesting!

Actually Blues is a pretty broad term. I dont think one thing inparticular inspired it. As much as a variety of hard times down on your luck situations. A multitude of things could cause that. In Blues it seems the most popular is woman problems, but again its a loose term.

oh agreed I'm just taking the easiest way out. Just what someone would say as a short answer. I've hear Clapton say it before.. but who wants to speak long sentences on heroine :D

Lol thats funny

I heard the Freemasons done him in - for revealing Masonic secrets in his opera, The Magic Flute.

drugs...a lot of songs are about sex, but a lot of people write those songs when they're on drugs.

I dont think theres anyway to accuratley depict which one of these would be correct. All had a significant impact on music for ages now. Very interesting topic to say the least though. Makes it fairly easy to read into what someones main influence is for them is. Just based off what their answer. Each could make a case for making a gigantic impact.

Sex, unless we're talking prog rock.

:laughing:

sex, definitely, it's imprinted on our DNA to procreate

but of course with money, you can buy sex, but it still boils down to sex

If we are talking about these terms as motivators, then drugs is out. Sex and money are things we work for. I don't think many musicians want to make it big to fuel their drug habit (I'm sure there are a few, though, so I don't need a giant list of examples). Drugs are usually used for the music, which could still be motivated by sex or money. Or for the love of music. You know...whatever.

I thought the title of this thread said something about erections.

I can rename it:

"I've got a ragin' boner for music: The effect of Sex, Drugs, and Money"

Sex. As others have said, music has been around pretty much since the dawn of time. In places where there isn't even such thing as "money," here is love.

Also, religion should have been on that list. Most native forms of music, in all parts of the world, starts out as spiritual in nature.

i voted sex. We have so many artists now that is themed with sex appeal and all that... Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Beyonce, Rihanna, Spice Girls, Justing Timberlake, Usher, Lady Gaga, Adam Lambert and all rappers existing.

astrology

How?

pisceans are more eager to go into the music industry?

I thought it was Cancer's? Because they are the most creative star sign.

i see lots more pisceans - Kurt Cobain was one

Actually, Aries are the most talented people in terms of music (and downright, singing). Think of Aretha Franklin, Mariah Carey, Steve Tyler, Lady Gaga, Celine Dion, Leona Lewis, Diana Ross, Elton John, Eric Claption, and the list goes on and on.

How about all people of all star signs have a generally even ability to be talented, and that any situation where the majority is one over the other is entirely coincidence.

^^possible

I'm just putting forth the astrology connection for the sake of argument

The frightened kid whistling in the dark and the aborigine banging on a hollowed-out log are inspired by the same urge; to cry out to an uncaring world, " I exist ! Don`t abandon me !" So I think that the desire to express yourself is the most common motive for creating music. It`s the reason why most aspiring artists pick up a guitar.

As that`s not one of the poll options, I`m going for "money" for these reasons :
In the past, just to be heard was reward enough for musicians, like those old monks singing their Gregorian chants, but in these materialistic times, musicians want to sell albums. It may sound cynical, but I suspect that for every genuine love song that`s written, there`s at least one that`s written just in the hopes of commercial success, so I don`t think sex is as big a motive as the music business would have us believe.

Anyway, here are some quotes which might shore up my shaky theory - I just wish more of them were from actual musicians :

*The original instrument ... the human voice : Zap Mama liner notes
*I celebrate myself : Walt Whitman
*Sun Ra created music pretty much for no other purpose than the love of music : Skaligojurah

*Our culture is infatuated with nothing but "silly love songs" : Jastrub
*We`re only in it for the money : Frank Zappa

Celine Dion is one of my favourite artists of all time – I can’t wait to go see her new show in Vegas next month.

I'd say the biggest influence on the direction music takes would be technical advances. I'd love to invent a new instrument just to see where it leads.

Strange thing is, I personally make music, and none of these things compel me to, and I get none of these things from it. I do lose small bits of money here, and there, though.

I mean look how much the invention of auto-tune did for music :) :banghead: