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In 1997 I've attended the live concert of band Portishead, which was held in Roseland Ballroom, New York. This was the first live musical performance that I have even been to. Partially, because of it, this concert has left me deeply impressed. But it was also the quality of the music and authentic band's style that instantly made a Portishead's fan out of me. The first thing that turned out to be a completely different from my idea of live concert, was the fact the band was playing in the middle of room, being surrounded by people with drinks in their hands.
There was nothing in that room to even remotely remind me of a stage. This created an atmosphere of causality between the members of band and the audience. After a first few accords, I realised that Portishead was playing a music, which I couldn't possibly compare to anything else, I had listened to. Their style combined the elements of rap, pop and rock. For example, Portishead extensively uses a technique, called scratching, which is a common attribute in rap. This is done not merely to gain a reputation of innovative band.
Just like in rap, Portishead's scratching is a symbol of something new evolving under the socially acceptable and popular musical styles. It creates an illusion of band's music consisting of odd pieces, yet such combination makes sense, when played by Portishead, in its unique way. Another thing, which makes band's music to sound unlike anything else, is its rhythmical values. Basically, I got the impression that Portishead's music is actually a naked rhythm alone, but because of being perfectly balanced, it sounds like music.
In my opinion, this is because of two factors: simplicity and the tragic overtones in music's melody. Friedrich Nietzsche had once suggested that the music derives out of spirit of tragedy. Therefore, the majority of true musical masterpieces are predominantly written in D minor. One does not have to be an experienced musical critic to recognise the fact that the tragic properties of Portishead's music account for its popularity, more than anything else. Yet, there is no doubt in my mind that, despite the fact that Portishead's members possess a supreme artistic taste, their music is depressing. Unlike Wagner's operas, where even the tragic overtones radiate optimism, Portishead's music is absolutely deprived of fighting spirit.
When I came to the concert, it struck me as very odd that 90 % of audience consisted of White ypres, most of them belonging to Generation X. This generation is commonly referred to as one that has the intelligence and artistic finesse, but totally deprived of the quality that allowed Western civilization to conquer and divide, up until now - the inner strength. Also, what seemed to be a little strange, was the fact that there were many women, at the concert, which one would not have a problem identifying as lesbians. Short haircuts, absence of skirts, Subaru Outbacks, parked outside of Roseland Ballroom all these things indicated that the Portishead's music also appeals to the degenerative elements of our society.
This is why I came to conclusion that Portishead's music is nothing but a reflection of agonising convulsions of White race, which will became extinct in the matter of next 100 years. Basically, we can say that this band's melodics represent the best emotional impulses of Generation X, which unfortunately are directed towards self-destruction. The intelligence and beauty will never be able to effectively oppose the invasion of bad taste, which relies upon the power of cheer numbers. Portishead clearly plays the music of the third generation, which had lost its strength and beauty, and solemnly relies on intelligence. Its motives will never become popular in multicultural society, as the aesthetics of dying only appeal to Whites. I was shocked to hear the audience, after the concert, trying to bring Portishead's message to the terms of political-correctness.
For them, the utter melodic pessimism, stands for sophistication. The crowd that cheered Portishead's performance will be quick enough to reinvent the whole concept of music. Here we face the example of something pleasing to ears, actually posing a threat to the soul. Nevertheless, I liked Portishead's concert.
I think this is because my outlook on life becomes more and more pessimistic.
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Research essay sample on Roseland Ballroom Tragic Overtones Music
