Old music used to mean something. There is none of that today - Ziggy Marley
In PNG, the singer generation today with their music produced and composed with laptop software (fruity loop + studio10) can beat the music production in the early 1990s with the pure instrumental mix, musical synthesis, synchronized harmony to fit the vocal arrangement matching the typical lyrics in such a wonderful PNG setting - then you got a fan backing and following that last for ages or otherwise its just another exaggerated emotional driven chant or a self-pity song to a girlfriend all the way (na antap lo em bai yu yet kisim bagarap lo boombox plusim wantaim cheap vitis bia, weed na fire wara)
Credit to this talented Manusians with their group name Sanders who were popular in the 90s and others who did produced a great array of music in the early stages of PNG contemporary music. Those songs are still best hit songs to many now too just because of its original arrangements and composition which are not like these days ori styles through laptops.
If you are not sure of what I'm referring to about the 1990s music, then watch the video on the link below from the Sanders of Manus with Keni and see for yourself.
These days singers and producers are into a trend of singing about ladies (womenfolk) alone and it is definitely an act of abuse or violence with harassment tag on some innocent *meri Manus, Meri Tolai, Papua, Buka, Wabag, Lae, Sepik, etc.*
Many songs have been produced by these days generation singers are definitely personalized chant/poem to their girlfriends but when shared widely via devices and on the PNG airwaves, these songs are tarnishing the general image of good girls or womenfolk. The tokples/ tokpisin mix English lyrics are spelling out sexual harassment, violence and abuse by all context of the composition in the songs.
It is obvious and we cannot deny the fact that; most of these days songs and lyrics are tools meant to promote domestic violence, abuse and sexual harassment everywhere. Either it is unimaginable or unbelievable to say the least of this secret domestic violence tool hidden in the songs and lyrics. Those songs have the power to bring adversity into societies causing domestic violence against womenfolk and trigger violence.
Indeed, most of these days songs and lyrics appears to be tools of domestic violence, abuse and sexual harassment. For instance; a druggies on the street imitates a meri tagged lyrics over your daughter, wife or sister whilst passing through the street. That's already an act of abuse, violence against woman and no different to sexual harassment - depends on the song/lyrics composition with whoever imitates it given the scene and situation.
The songs/lyrics with meri tags are empowering the druggies and creating an atmosphere safe to abuse/harass innocent girls and women in the communities through imitation of the songs. Hence, these days songs have became an easiest secret tool for harassment and violence against girls or womenfolk in the communities.
Undeniably, music surely plays a big role in the societies to ease social, political and economical hardships by bringing hope and peace into the minds of people or advocates for change in the communities and way of life too.
For instance, late Lucky Dube, Bob Marley, Cordrell Reagan, George Michael and others have brought some significant changes to the lives of the people around the world through their powerful and inspirational songs which got their fans and followers to act in haste bringing significant changes and placed things in order in some situations that lacked humanity.
In PNG, the songs these days are able to incite violence, create ethnic tensions, fuel domestic violence against women and girls, promote sexual harassment, create social issues, provoke and promote binge party or drug and alcohol abuse as well as witchcraft and cult activities.
Evidently, the music these days with the aid of Mobile phone and Boombox is seen to be part of dressing for this day's generation which is causing nuisance and recklessly creating disturbances in the communities by adding noise as well as distraction of communities who needs peace and silence in their surroundings - the loud and unwelcomed songs from boombox are hard to bear up and down the local streets and neighborhood.
For this Manus guy (Sanders of Manus) and others who stood out in the music scene in 1990s deserved recognition for their handwork and efforts put into creating a genre of music that comes with musical intro, bridge, chorus and typical ending that is aimed at promoting Manus Province and its Culture unlike these days songs that starts with chants with no breaks, bridge or chorus yet ends with chants over computerized music on a typical PNG song.
Maybe a PNGian singer tries his/her best to imitated a Jamaican or Republican but that could be their own culturally inspired music and song genre which does have no links and connection to PNG traditional or contemporary music.
It is not too late to rethink and look back into the PNG contemporary music scene and it's purpose in the societies, political arena, environmental, social and economical issues we have in PNG - na inap lo singsing karai tumas lo meri olsem yu laik susu yet wantaim ol bebe bebe lyrics bilong yupela.
There are positive things we all can do with songs and music to bring changes for this beautiful country with our own styles of music inspired by our traditions mixing with contemporary flavors - a better musical arrangement that is fitting for PNG and the world, able to inspire and bring change into the world stage as well.
Credit to Keni and The Sanders of Manus, Hollie Maea, Basil Greg, John Wong, Sir. George Telex and others for your inspiration and setting standards in PNG music scene during the early stages which the singers of now need to learn from.
This song from Keni and Sanders of Manus Island cannot not reach the world stage but the video have been viewed worldwide on Yutube favorably despite being the production age.
Hence, the video is classed A quality in my own views whilst I'm giving A+ rating on the song composition and musical arrangements despite the 90s instruments - hopefully we will help reproduce the video again for the Manus Island tourism destination quest and PNG contemporary music promotion.
Lastly, I'm hoping that PNG airwaves will promote to play those positive songs about issues in life, economy, society, environment, social challenges of PNG to advocate for change and avoid promoting to play songs that seems to be the tools of social disorder which are likely to provoke abuse or violence against women and girls.
Views are personal for the blogger only and comments are welcomed for a better PNG contemporary music advocacy with changes to each society's outlook by outdoing all forms of violence against women and girls from music, by music, through music and songs.
