They say that on the stage it becomes clear that the singer is really a singer or that he can show off his voice only in the closed space of the studio. There are not few singers whose live performances are vastly different from what the audience has heard in the form of singles and albums, and of course there are singers who, despite their great fame, have refused to face the public in concert, lest the happy image they have created over the years be tarnished. Collapse within a few hours. The finger of accusation of weakness and even inability to perform powerfully on stage has been pointed towards pop more than any other genre. Although capable readers, especially among the previous generations; Whether on this side or on the other side of the waters, they have conquered the stage and there is no difference between their voices on stage and in the studio, but Naser Pourkram, a young and experienced southern singer, understands the critics’ criticism. In a conversation with us, he says about the reasons for the weakness of pop singers in live performance and of course the significant reduction of lasting works in recent decades:
Many music critics believe that most pop musicians do not have the ability to perform live on stage and are only in the studio. Do you accept such criticism?
Kian kabiri say
Criticism of critics is not so irrelevant. Many singers sing very well in the studio because they auto tune and melodyne the vocals with the new systems. Of course, some singers may get stressed on the stage during the first, second and even third performances and the anxiety will not allow them to play the notes correctly. On the other hand, it is possible that the reader has not yet reached full maturity. Of course, there are many pop singers who sing really well and in tune and have no falsies at all, but some singers are not like that and what you hear in concert is very different from their studio sound, so the criticism is quite valid, I’ve seen it even in traditional music. In live performances, singers have problems.
The old pop singers were very good; When the “Auto Tune” and “Melodyne” system did not exist, the singer had to sing the entire piece live and tuned, and there was no plan-by-plan recording. Now the technology has advanced so much that when music is produced and released, all the mistakes have been taken and fixed. Of course, as I said, on the stage, unconsciously, stress and the sound of screaming and yelling from the audience has a negative effect on the singer. Unfortunately, in concerts, I have seen the singer sing half a step or even a step lower and, for example, change the scale of C minor and sing C flat. I wonder why the reader should read a lower act? Reading down a curtain or a curtain and a half is a very strange thing. I have heard it with my own ears, and for that reason, I consider the criticism of the critics to be valid.
* Sometimes we hear a singer say: “I have done something with my heart.” But maybe it will take a year and slowly progress the work. The main verse of the work may be a heart, but the expansion of the work takes place over time.
Unfortunately, currently producing a piece; From start to release, it may take 20 days or eventually a month! Of course, if the head of the regulator is not busy, it may be released sooner! The songs and melodies that are created today do not have a sense of permanence and will soon fade away from people’s hearts, because there is not much time and thought behind the work. It may be hard to believe, but many composers today don’t even know how to play an instrument! They mouth the melodies that come to their mind and even the composer himself sings the song. Most readers today are also like this. The singer does not know how to play an instrument at all. He creates a melody in his mind, he also puts a text on the melody and spends maybe 20 minutes to 2 hours! They write the song and melody and arrange it themselves or another arranger spends two or three days and the piece is published!
In the meantime, another discussion is raised; The singer sings correctly, but does not convey the feeling. What do you think should happen so that both the reader reads correctly and the feeling is conveyed well?
Kian kabiri say
For the reasons I have mentioned, what is supposed to happen does not happen because there is no “heart” thinking. The discussion of the type of singing in the studio and how to record also depends on the situation of the singer. The reader should know when to read and when to convey the feeling of the work to the people. Now readers and even adjusters don’t spend much time compared to before. One or two people sit down and decide that the melody and song are suitable. They just want the song to fall on their tongues and the song to “take” so-called, they don’t think about the content, personality and style of the song anymore and they don’t think about the durability of the work. They just want to publish a song that a child can learn and sing right away if he wants to hum it to himself! I agree very much with simplicity and lasting works; From the past until now, they have been mostly simple, fluent and pleasant, and people have liked them more. I don’t have any problem with simplicity, but in the same simplicity you can have beautiful and attractive content for the audience, but these days that doesn’t happen.
* How do you see the current state of pop music?
However, we have had golden decades in the history of Iranian pop music, and this issue always keeps expectations from pop music high. For example, the 50s, 70s and even 80s are considered turning points in the history of Iranian pop music, but in the past decade we have seen the emergence of a bright star and the production of lasting pieces. Various polls conducted by reputable media and networks show that people still prefer old works. Regardless of the nostalgic discussion of the story, we must admit that few pieces in recent years have been able to open their place in people’s hearts for a long time.
What are the reasons for the decline of pop music in the last decade?
When the number of musicians and consequently the number of musical pieces increases significantly, the quality of the works will definitely decrease. Currently, the quality of devices and software has increased greatly, but at the same time, it has made it easy for those interested in the world of music, regardless of their talent, ability and skill. In the past, a person could not enter the world of music just because of interest, but had to go through many filters and finally record a piece in the studio, but now you can record and publish a piece with just a computer at home. For millions of people to hear. The old composers and singers suffered a lot and their efforts and practice are visible in their pieces. We have had unrepeatable compositions in the history of Iranian music, whose composers and singers today still use sounds and melodies and even imitate them.