Lately I have been listening to many musical albums from many different nations and in a wide variety of languages. One gloomy Sunday, I was curled up on the couch, immersed in the rhythms of music. Suddenly, my dad mysteriously appeared in front of me( I’m sure that he has secretly learnt teleportation but  isn’t teaching ME the skill.☹) and he suggested that I should listen to music that he admired. I was slightly reluctant as I just wanted to remain in MY world of music, but I somehow agreed. He made me listen to Michael Jackson, ABBA, Boyzone and Backstreet Boys. After watching a few videos, I was struck by the differences in music between the 1900s and 2000s.

I noticed that music videos in the eighties and nineties did not have as much glamour as the music videos now. They were shot on very plain backgrounds. They usually included a short period of dancing and close-up shots of the band or the artist. The exception here would be the Michael Jackson albums that had a well-presented storyline and elaborate dancing style. It felt as if the videos were mini movies. I feel that the albums during this era were more inclined towards presenting social issues and causing social awakening amongst masses. For example-“Heal the World” and “They Don’t Really Care About Us” are a few songs that led me to read about discrimination and its impact. It also made me question why social discrimination was so deep-rooted in the society.

Nowadays, in the music videos, several special effects are incorporated to captivate the audience. Reverberating sound, dazzling lights, extravagant costumes and powerful animations and graphics…it is a marriage of music and technology. The range of effects used, the different symphonies and the musical miscellany of sounds adds a magical feel. According to me, the present music albums also depict personal struggles, achievements, and disappointments, in a way bringing their stories into our realities. For example- “The Heart Wants What It Wants”, “Confident”, “So Am I” were a few songs that conveyed personal messages.

Every musical era came and went, each one leaving a profound impact in some way or the other and possessing its own style and technique. Although I enjoy listening to all kinds of music, I would still prefer listening to…hmmmmm…let me think…

They are DEFINITELY the albums of today.

What do you say? Whom do you like the best? Can you suggest some good music albums?

Signing off…