 I just checked Google and found there's no word in its vast index called "info-tune." There's a corporation called Infotune, without the hyphen, but it has to be regarded as a commercial proper noun and not a general term used in the context of music. Today I decided to coin the term "info-tune" because it represents something that already exists and should exist on a grand scale. Yet there's no mention of even the concept in most books about music. My definition of an info-tune is a song that contains informative lyrics set to a unique melody. It's not an instrumental or a song that emphasizes musical qualities without informative lyrics. This type of song already exists and can be found within the vast musical landscape of sixties-thru-nineties pop/rock. The music industry turned to predictable corporate formulas in the first few decades of the 21st century, leading to a surplus of soundalike music that lacks both meaning and originality. Giving the term a strict definition keeps its meaning and understanding pure. The reason for a unique melody is so that the song's intent is not confused as a parody of something popular or trying to fit in with a trend. Many musical genre terms have evolving definitions. Rock, for example, mainly was considered electric guitar-based music rooted in rhythm & blues at one time. Then the term became so popular, the media started using it in universal ways. Now almost any kind of new music can be called "rock" whether it has guitar in it or not, as long as the sonic texture is not too soft. Then again, "soft rock" became a musical term in the seventies. Sometimes it's convenient to leave definitions of musical genres wide open so that they have room to expand. Jazz is an example of a musical world that doesn't have concrete boundaries. Many different types of music borrow from jazz already and jazz has no ending time marker in history. With the concept of info-tunes, however, it's important that the definition remains clear and solid without gray area. If so, it will be a strong and valuable genre in the field of education. But if the term gets compromised the way "rock" did, so that it means anything - including completely meaningless or vague songs - the whole concept will be diluted. At its peak, rock commanded strong credibility because it referred to a lot of music with socially-conscious lyrics. Eventually, however, marketers of non-rock fluff that had little meaning other than an intent to sell records, were able to market their cookie-cutter formulas as "rock." To be considered an "info-tune," the song should deliver useful information. The more lightweight the message, the less likely it should be thought of as "info-music." The idea of informative songs has been around a long time, but is often restricted within the realms of rigid educational spheres or the deeper levels of lyrical contemporary music. But just because a song has a political or social message, doesn't necessarily mean it qualifies as an info-tune. The informative content should be upfront and not buried in artistic metaphors that beg for multiple interpretations. The reason it's important to keep the definition of "info-tune" straight is because it's a very powerful concept, if applied appropriately. It opens the door for educators to embrace the power of music as it relates to stimulating the mind. Music as a learning tool can be a strong inspiration for an individual to grow knowledge. Think of how a three-minute song full of useful information can become a fun way to remember important knowledge. There's plenty of potential for info-tunes to speed up learning curves. A band that comes to mind that has written several info-tunes is They Might Be Giants. Some of their songs sound like musical science lessons, such as "Why Does The Sun Shine?" In a sense, children's songs with educational content can also be considered info-tunes, but there should be a clear categorical distinction between children's info-tunes and college-level info-tunes. I am in the process of writing a series of info-tunes and recording them in my home recording studio. I hope these songs at least inspire other musicians who see the untapped power of musical intelligence to write informative songs. Historically, the music industry has gotten away with marketing a lot of meaningless music framed as important to pop culture. There's certainly a place for all kinds of music not meant to stimulate the brain, but there hasn't been much effort toward advancing the concept of truly mind-expanding songs. Music doesn't just have to be about following established commercial trends. Commercial radio stations have sought music that resonates with general audiences without much concern for lyrical content. College, community and public stations are more likely to embrace the idea of informative music. This is not a message for all songwriters to start writing info-songs, it's more of a message that the genre needs to exist and grow. But it should only be approached by music creators who understand the power of marrying meaningful lyrics with unique melodies. It needs to be a genre full of useful songs that clearly inform and not just artistic songs that imply knowledge via metaphors. Below is one of my first info-tunes under the name Sunsetrip to get the ball rolling. It's called "1911 Hollywood" and informs the listener about the early history of the film industry. It's a home recording, so the emphasis is not on production at all. It's on lyrics set to a unique melody. It's a way for songwriters to offer valuable messages without spending a fortune on recording. It's followed by other info-tunes for this project. |
© Playlist Research. All rights reserved.