Where have all the Cowboys gone?

Don’t let the topic confuse you with an earlier posting of mine where I likened South Africa to the Wild West. In that post I suggested that Wild West law and order would be the solution to south Africa’s crime problems.

Where have all the Cowboys gone refers to a call out to the pioneers of an industry. Usually when an industry evolves to the extent that it is neigh unrecognisable then the call for the Cowboys goes out.

One such industry that is in dire need for its Cowboys is the music industry. Don’t get me wrong, there are still some banging tunes out there, but if we look to the state of some of the genres now and where they came from, the industry is somewhat unrecognisable.

One such genre is Rap. Yank comedian Chris Rock argues that in the past you could defend Rap music on an intellectual level, and he has a point. The “John Wayne” of Rap must have been Tupac Shakur. If you look at his song changes, he actually addresses issues of relevance.

“Cops give a damn about a Negro? Pull the trigger, kill the Nigger his a hero!”

I mean there is so much that one can read into that. Now if we take Ludacris’ song move bitch, how can you possibly defend that on an intellectual level?

“Move bitch get out the way, get out the way bitch get out the way!”



The next genre is Rock music. WTF is going on here?

Before Rock music meant something, it moved people, from time to time it was a social commentary to relevant political events. America was pissed of that they were going to fight the Vietcong, Bruce Springsteen wrote and sang: Born in the USA, Iran when completely psycho and tried to ban all rock music, The Clash wrote and recorded: Rock the Kasbah.

I mean once again you can defend all of this on an intellectual level.

I was listening to Bob Seger’s: Hollywood Nights the other day and was really and truly moved by song. A friend that works with me sent me a modern rock song and it made me want to slit my wrists then sends me this song. I mean, why are these people so angry? Music is supposed to be relaxing and about escape.



And then there is Hip Hop and R&B. Seems like the older American population really have a problem with this genre. I suppose its because it because they were around when the genre was pioneered in the 70’s. Anyway, Steve Harvey says that he cant understand why every group cant be like the temptations, with the temptations there was five singers and one microphone, and their whole performance was centered around that one mic. Now every damn singer on the stage has a mic.

My biggest problem about R&B is the material that they choose to sing about. I grew up in the tine of Boyz II Men, who had a hit single with End of the Road and Ill make love to you. Both beautiful songs that took you on a musical journey. Nowdays, all the bastards can sing about is hoes and cheese, and it aint the stuff rats eat.

Fortunately the genre looks like it is going back to its roots, and its thanks to da sistas that are carrying the torch.

The only music genre that had survived, because Reggae is also in a shambles at the moment, is country. But I suppose that can be put down to nobody making a world wide country hit anymore.

Ah man and the Cowboys are still alive and kicking here. Willie Nelson looks like a piece of shit that has been left out in the sun to long but he still makes music.

Without a doubt. Best Country singer of all time: Kenny Rogers.

Not only did he make a hit with: “The Gambler” but he also created that masterpiece “Islands in the Stream”

Me and my girlfriend were looking for “Our Song” as most couples do, and I suggested Islands because it is a great song that is very relevant to our relationship. She was very happy to accept it and proclaimed that it was her mom and dads song as well. Now I’m sorry, if you can make a song that means so much to two generations, you are the man.