Go East, Young Man! (Well, Not Necessarily Physically)

I’m writing this issue’s editorial from the Music China show in Shanghai and, just as in previous years, what I’m struck by – not just at the Expo Centre, where you’d of course expect to hear non-stop music (or at least “musical noise”) – as I walk around the city, is the ubiquity of music.

Not that life in the States doesn’t have its own non-stop soundtrack via songs piped through overhead systems at supermarkets and malls, street musicians, TV and movie soundtracks, et cetera. Something about the re-contextualization of it over here is striking, though.

Not to say that the quality of most tunes in China is somehow “superior.” In fact, not in the least (in my opinion). The most commonly heard music is the PRC’s current version of pop, which most closely resembles the overwrought epic numbers off of soundtracks from late ‘80s American films. I’ve – no joke – twice stopped short, convinced I’m hearing Survivor’s “The Search is Over” (that was from a soundtrack, right?), only to find I’ve been duped by some contemporary Chinese hit.

But there’s an undeniable passion and excitement that’s palpable and invigorating. It’s likely related to the still-fairly-new exposure to Western art/music, this exuberance for pop music and culture, but whatever the reason or reasons, it’s unquestionably restorative.

It’s all too easy to become jaded about things that were once thrilling and most folks I know do, at least to some extent, grow to be blasé about playing music, somewhat bored by instruments and gear, “ho hum” about performing or attending concerts, “meh” about exhibiting at or covering trade shows… So it’s pretty cool to see so many people of all ages not in any way worried about appearing “goofy” in their fandom and enjoyment. I’m not making a blanket statement about Americans (“We’re all jaded and bitter!”) or the Chinese (“They’re so innocent and simple!”) – it’s of course way more nuanced than that. I simply appreciate being reminded, by coming face-to-face with it, of how gnarly/dope/righteous/et cetera our industry and everything connected to it is. I think it’s a refresher course we should all embrace when we happen upon it.

The same thing happens to me when I see a friend’s younger brother or daughter pick up an instrument, or when some random catalyst reminds me of how that song I loved in 12th grade is still, objectively, beyond amazing – or when I attend something like the NAMM Show with a jaw-on-the- floor newbie.

It feels great to be an unabashed, “goofy” fanatic of this “music stuff” – and the ones who affect real change and make lasting contributions to MI are just that (I bet you can think of a handful who fit this bill on both the retail and supply side of things).

To paraphrase one of the great tenets of Manifest Destiny and a powerful slogan from our nation’s history: “Go East, Young Man (or Woman)!” At least in spirit – or to any time, experience, or place where you were forcibly reminded of how rewarding being involved in the music industry and the culture of music making is.

Goofy is good.