The boundary between vision and listening: Fan or Follower?

What happened to simplicity?

We all seem placed on a stage and feel obligated to put on a show.

We listen to music to relax, to find distraction from our thoughts, to create a particular atmosphere, or simply to appreciate an artistic product born from the research and passion of its creator. Yet many times we have also been captivated by an artist's aesthetics, style, or the persona that has been meticulously tailored, constructed in every movement, word, and thought.

More and more often we witness the rise of musical phenomena that rapidly reach celebrity status through clicks, celebrated by millions of followers who are frequently drawn more to what the singer represents than to the quality of the music on offer.

It is therefore fair to think that a large portion of the global music industry is focused more on the value of appearing at all costs, in a game where winning is no longer about who sells the most records, but who gets the most views.

Yes, because everything is now driven by the culture of being seen. Gone are the days of the unkempt, reserved singer-songwriter focused solely on their music.

Being more beautiful than talented

Perhaps it is simply a matter of accepting that times have changed, in a world that has too often taught us to be more beautiful than talented, to use provocation to get noticed, to be bolder in appearing like winners while setting aside more niche compositions -- which often means setting aside truth in favor of greater visibility.

Of course, in the past too there were artists with strong, extravagant personalities who, in addition to immense songwriting qualities, had the ability to be true stage animals. One example above all is the unforgettable Freddie Mercury, who achieved the feat of being both, while showing an evident alignment between being and appearing, in a personal authenticity.

How much sincerity?

One cannot help but wonder how much sincerity there is today in artists who sometimes seem to build the foundations of their success more on the vision of themselves than on the quality of their music and content, more on appearance than on the simplicity of listening.

It is probably impossible to completely separate the show from the music, but it would be wise not to go too far beyond the boundary that separates them, losing what should be the primary purpose of a true musician.