I Believe in Yesterday

If you can't recognise the legendary band in the photo above, then you may have become one of the individuals trapped in today's parade of trash music.

The other day, I chanced upon a news article that said great talents like the Eagles, Colbie Caillat and U2 are cancelling tour dates due to bad ticket sales, while acts like Justin Bieber and Taylor Swift have no problem performing to sold-out arenas.

That's a reflection of the sad shift in music taste that the general public has gone through of late.

In the past year or so, "musicians" like Miley Cyrus, Sean Kingston, Justin Bieber and Taylor Swift have collectively shattered my interest for mainstream, commercial music. They are the reason why today's music scene has become a list of who's who in meaningless R&B, Dance and Hip-Hop playlists.

By the day, I sense an evolution taking place in me, from the boy who was head over heels for all that was commercial and mainstream in the entertainment industry years ago to a young adult who's garnered a strong appreciation for all that's classic, art house and "yesterday".

I've found much more joy spending time with The Cranberries, Barbra Streisand, Frank Sinatra, Bobby Darin, The Corrs, Sade, Oasis and Edith Piaf. These artists gave us deep and meaningful songs and taught us about love through soulful songwriting.

There are, however, current names that I still indulge in. Artists like Beth Rowley, Imogen Heap, Ingrid Michaelson, John Mayer, Jason Mraz and Corrinne May give hope that today's music industry can still produce beautiful records like it did in the past.

Still, in the big picture, I feel we're living in a sad chapter of music history. There's so much trash currently being released that billions of people are brainwashed to think that it's good music we're listening to on the radio today.

While such music can be addictive (e.g. Ke$ha's "TiK ToK") and we need such music for clubbing, the fact is that people's perception of good music has been tweaked, thanks to the likes of Miley Cyrus and company. And to think there are people who think of these so-called "musicians" as talented. That's brainwashing at its finest.

Not brainwashed like the others? Have you figured out who the band in the photo is?