Comedy and Music

Many comedy films have been made about the Music Industry, however in recent years the music industry seems to have become increasingly obsessed with money and the power struggle between consumers and producers. On top of this the age of Rock 'n' Roll is over and it is no longer a socially acceptable fact to take drugs and drive your car into a swimming pool. This is shown by the condemnation of Amy Winehouse and Pete Doherty for taking drugs. Don't get me wrong I am not condoning copious amounts of drug taking that colours the lives of Ozzy Osbourne and Jimi Hendrix but the music industry now seems so uptight, only accepting mainstream artists if they fit a certain genre: tall, skinny, muscular, good looking and an ability to sound just like everybody else. The days of liking music for musics sake and forgetting the private life of artists is at an end!



Still Crazy Trailer
This film released in 1998 spans the careers of a hit band of the 70's and their attempt to revive their music lives with a reunion tour of some of the most disgusting venues. This film is a satirical view of rock stars and their lives incorporating good music with alcohol, drugs and jokes. This sort of film has also been released recently with 'The Boat That Rocked', in this respect it is not unusual to see comedy and music hand in hand. However these film are all based in the past music scenes and the current stars of the music industry are taken extremely seriously, with magazine stories covering parts of their lives and constantly analysing what they wear and what they do. This serious view on the industry dictates the type of mainstream music that is now produced and all sounds slightly similar as to stray from the tracks of acceptable behaviour is to be under ridicule and is career suicide in the eyes of the music industry.



'Big Bottoms' by Spinal Tap from the film This is Spinal Tap, as you can tell from this clip comedy is used satirically just as in Still Crazy through a fictitious band and their lives. Set in the time of release (1984) this moc-umentary tries to reveal the lives behind the music and the use of comical songs like 'Big Bottoms' certainly does make a satire of the music industry.

As I have said before the world of comedy and music often combine to create a whole new experience. Comedians like Tim Minchin, Victoria Wood and Bill Bailey do this perfectly, as during their stand-up performances they perform funny songs.


Basically what I am trying to say is that Music and Comedy mesh so well and yet the music industry is full of rules and intrusion from the media industry that the comedy is often overlooked. so wouldnt it be great if audiences were not so concerned with the private lives of the celebrities but are more interested in enjoying the music and having fun!