The Oppenheimer Report 9/25/17

Shauna and I have animated conversations at the dinner table about music. Last week, she asked me why the rock group Nickelback had such a lousy reputation. It’s a running gag that this apparently popular Canadian rock band is much-despised by music lovers throughout the world. Apparently, Nickelback is to rock n roll what Kenny G is to jazz. I laughed the other day when I heard on the news that someone was summarily escorted out of a Trump rally for carrying a sign that read “Trump Likes Nickelback!” I did not have an answer to Shauna’s question, although I suspected that it had something to do with the band’s inauthentic, derivative, soul-sucking lack of originality. Shauna did a Google search, and as she typed “Why Don’t”, Google immediately finished her sentence with several options. The third thing that popped up was “People Like Nickelback”. Clearly other people have been asking the same question. There were, by the way, a number of reasons why Nickelback is so despised by many, and some of my suspicions were confirmed.

As I’ve mentioned more than once, I broadcast a show on Thursday nights on Hunters Bay Radio in Huntsville, which focuses on songwriting. I play songs that I think are well written and then talk about some the people who wrote them. Lots of radio shows have themes, or present styles of music, but my show is all over the musical map. You might hear Zydeco, Polka, Blues, Country Rock, Jazz, Broadway Musical hits, Punk, Folk, Alternative Rock, etc. and the only criteria I use is that the song must move or entertain me on some level. To improve my own songwriting, I have begun to deconstruct songs. Does the song move me because the lyrics are strong, or is it the arrangement that hooks me, or does the artist do a particularly good job of interpreting a cover? The more I research the music I like, the more good songs I uncover. I haven’t listened to all that many Nickelback songs, but to date I have yet to be impressed by any of them. There will always be Nickelbacks in the world that make it big. Most of my favorite artists are struggling to make a decent living. One thing I’ve learned about good art is that it often goes unrecognized.

Shauna wants me to release another CD of songs, and I’ve probably recorded enough songs to fill two more CDs. I’m not sure I will, because in a field where so many talented artists are trying to be heard, I don't want to (or can't) compete. It has been my great pleasure to have recorded some of my songs with some very talented local musicians and singers, and it seemed logical to employ their skills to better represent my work. I am proud to be recognized locally as one of the local artists, and some of my songs even get local airplay. But I can’t compete in a world of Trumps and Nickelbacks. Creating music, improving my skills as a songwriter, mentoring other songwriters, and collaborating with good musicians, have become my unexpected rewards. I never thought the day would come when that was enough, but I think it finally is. As Nickelback plays to arena audiences and Donald Trump is busy trying to fire the NFL, I’ll be alone in my music room with a pen and paper trying to make sense of it all. My twelve loyal readers demand it!

  - Written by Jamie Oppenheimer c 2017 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED