Does honesty matter?

RL Clown · 07-18-2013, 12:33 PM

Seriously, do musicians have to be honest?

I'll give you an example...

A rapper makes songs about drugs, prostitution, and gang violence. But the truth is this rapper actually grew up in a nice neighborhood. This rapper had a good education (He graduated from University). The last time he got into a fight with someone was back in elementary school.

^
Would you be a fan of this rapper?

Do you think that musicians have to be honest? Do you think that their lyrics have to reflect their true lifestyles?

Urban Hat€monger ? · 07-18-2013, 12:35 PM

Ridiculous question

If people only wrote songs about things they'd experienced themselves you'd have virtually no songs about anything.

Powerstars · 07-18-2013, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Urban Hat€monger ?

Ridiculous question

If people only wrote songs about things they'd experienced themselves you'd have virtually no songs about anything.

Well, except maybe a song by The Who about Keith Moon. That would be pretty awesome. More on-topic, a lot of the music I like has lyrics that do not reflect personal experiences (Beatles, Queen), but a lot of it also does (Beatles again, Bon Jovi), so to me, it doesn't really matter

TheBig3 · 07-18-2013, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Powerstars

Well, except maybe a song by The Who about Keith Moon. That would be pretty awesome. More on-topic, a lot of the music I like has lyrics that do not reflect personal experiences (Beatles, Queen), but a lot of it also does (Beatles again, Bon Jovi), so to me, it doesn't really matter

Hey, do you like music from the 1960's?!?!?!?

OT: No, it doesn't have to be honest. Convey a message.

**Scarlett O'Hara** · 07-18-2013, 01:28 PM

This is about as bad as your clown avatar. I thought song writing was supposed to be imaginative. Since when does honesty matter?

Paedantic Basterd · 07-18-2013, 01:34 PM

If it's a well-crafted story like those that Joanna Newsom or Colin Meloy tell, then I think that the sky's the limit, but if you're an average lyricist and you don't even have anything personal to share, I think that speaks to the quality of your writing. Does it affect the music? Not an ounce. Does it stand as a mark against the quality of your poetry/prose if you can't tell a decent story and have no artistry with your language? I do think so.

Necromancer · 07-18-2013, 01:52 PM

I would think its just as important as the music is on a 50-50 basis, but not as important by itself.

No different than a fact or fiction novel/story.

~~butthead aka 216~~ · 07-18-2013, 05:32 PM

no it doent have to be honest. with the rap that you gave as an example i think the publics racial stereotypes play into that kind of success because a lot of times i think things need to be believable. image and look is important in that.

its also very different if you know the musician which most of us dont considering this is a music forum and we are tlakin about very famous artists. maybe having a shred of believability is all that is needed

Rjinn · 07-18-2013, 08:30 PM

I don't think the question is that silly. If artists are talking about themselves and making up their own experiences or owning something they don't, then their music wouldn't be very credible. I wouldn't really take it seriously in that regard. Otherwise it's just something they're trying to convey and like others have mentioned, sending a message.

**Janszoon** · 07-18-2013, 09:39 PM

I don't view fiction writing as dishonest so I'm not sure I even fully understand the question being asked in the OP.

07-18-2013, 12:33 PM	#1 (permalink)
RL Clown Music Addict Join Date: Apr 2013 Posts: 182	Does honesty matter? Seriously, do musicians have to be honest? I'll give you an example... A rapper makes songs about drugs, prostitution, and gang violence. But the truth is this rapper actually grew up in a nice neighborhood. This rapper had a good education (He graduated from University). The last time he got into a fight with someone was back in elementary school. ^ Would you be a fan of this rapper? Do you think that musicians have to be honest? Do you think that their lyrics have to reflect their true lifestyles?

07-18-2013, 12:35 PM	#2 (permalink)
Urban Hat€monger ? The Sexual Intellectual Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Somewhere cooler than you Posts: 18,605	Ridiculous question If people only wrote songs about things they'd experienced themselves you'd have virtually no songs about anything. __________________ Urb's RYM Stuff Most people sell their soul to the devil, but the devil sells his soul to Nick Cave.

07-18-2013, 01:28 PM	#5 (permalink)
Scarlett O'Hara Make it so Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 6,181	This is about as bad as your clown avatar. I thought song writing was supposed to be imaginative. Since when does honesty matter? __________________ "Elph is truly an enfant terrible of the forum, bless and curse him" - Marie, Queen of Thots

07-18-2013, 01:52 PM	#7 (permalink)
Necromancer Divination Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 2,655	I would think its just as important as the music is on a 50-50 basis, but not as important by itself. No different than a fact or fiction novel/story. Last edited by Necromancer; 07-18-2013 at 01:57 PM.

07-18-2013, 08:30 PM	#9 (permalink)
Rjinn The Aerosol in your Soul Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: New South Wales, Australia Posts: 1,546	I don't think the question is that silly. If artists are talking about themselves and making up their own experiences or owning something they don't, then their music wouldn't be very credible. I wouldn't really take it seriously in that regard. Otherwise it's just something they're trying to convey and like others have mentioned, sending a message. __________________ last.fm

07-18-2013, 01:34 PM	#6 (permalink)
Paedantic Basterd Music Addict Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 5,184	If it's a well-crafted story like those that Joanna Newsom or Colin Meloy tell, then I think that the sky's the limit, but if you're an average lyricist and you don't even have anything personal to share, I think that speaks to the quality of your writing. Does it affect the music? Not an ounce. Does it stand as a mark against the quality of your poetry/prose if you can't tell a decent story and have no artistry with your language? I do think so.

07-18-2013, 05:32 PM	#8 (permalink)
~~butthead aka 216~~ Account Disabled Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: freely swimmin thru the waters of glory much like a majestic bald eagle soars thru the skies Posts: 1,463	no it doent have to be honest. with the rap that you gave as an example i think the publics racial stereotypes play into that kind of success because a lot of times i think things need to be believable. image and look is important in that. its also very different if you know the musician which most of us dont considering this is a music forum and we are tlakin about very famous artists. maybe having a shred of believability is all that is needed

07-18-2013, 09:39 PM	#10 (permalink)
Janszoon Mate, Spawn & Die Join Date: May 2007 Location: The Rapping Community Posts: 24,593	I don't view fiction writing as dishonest so I'm not sure I even fully understand the question being asked in the OP. __________________ A Night in the Life of the Invisible Man Time & Place 25 Albums You Should Hear Before the Moon Crashes into the Earth and We All Die last.fm