[Harp-L] The Internet

[Robert Bonfiglio <bon@xxxxxxxxxx>]

I found another CD of mine on I-tunes stolen with a new cover.  I see  
a lot of my music pirated and sold with no gain on my part.  I see  
CD's on Amazon that I have no part in; in essence the Internet has  
become this global license to steal anything that can be copied  
digitally.

I also see a lot of really amateur harmonica playing on youtube that  
would never have seen the light of day without the Internet and  
comments that people actually love the stuff proving that what people  
really want to see on TV is themselves and what they want to see on  
YouTube and the Internet is themselves.

The amazing thing is there are no A&R guys to say this or that is not  
worthy of recording.  Even the music on TV has become a reality show  
format with American idol.  The basis is that if you have natural  
talent you can be a singer, even though you didn't go through  
training or paying your dues in some way, you are better than the  
rest.  There is an element of "in your face" for all the people who  
did the work - they must be some kind of stupid.

This leaves sports as thing left with exposure that has any sense of  
real talent with hard work wins out.  Who knows, maybe in 10 years  
reality football and baseball games where neighbors play each other  
in a game show will push those sport events into oblivion.

I think it is time to say that performance was nice, come back after  
a few years of practice and work and we will see how you have  
matured.  we have to start telling people that mediocre is not good  
enough to be successful or we all will putting up with average  
performances for the rest of our lives.

I heard a winner of American Idol sing with the New York Pops just  
after a REAL singer did two numbers from West Side Story.  The  
American Idol singer got blown off the stage; it was embarassing. But  
who cares?  We all should.  We all should hold music and all art to a  
higher standard than "anybody can do it."

Harmonically yours,

Robert Bonfiglio


http://www.robertbonfiglio.com