50 Music Moments That Mattered: The Debate Rages

December 16th, 2009

THEY DID MATTER.

Hey MuchMusic viewers!

So, did you get a chance to check out our latest juggernaut of a special, the 50 Music Moments That Mattered? In case you didn’t, don’t fret – you can catch it again TODAY (Wednesday) starting at 1:30pm ET! (And keep checking the listings for more airtimes during Holiday Wrap!)

To follow in Leslie (the producer’s) footsteps, I’d also like to take the opportunity to say a few words about this show. I’m a total music junkie, and I LIVE for shows like this – ones that profile the artists and events that have shaped popular music as we know it, while also putting them into context. So when I was approached to be the writer for this massive project, I jumped at the chance!

I’ve been reading some of your tweets and comments about the show, and I’d also like to answer some of your questions. A LOT of stuff can happen in 10 years, so reducing an entire decade to only 50 moments was no easy task. Ultimately, what you or I define as an “important” moment is largely subjective. And as with any countdown show, you can debate the value of each moment and its placement on the list for days if you really wanted to. That’s part of what makes shows like this so interesting to watch, because people become PASSIONATE about the subject matter.

But as Sarah explained in Part 1, the countdown is based on the people, events, trends and innovations that you could NOT stop talking about. Believe me, I’m no fan of Paris Hilton – but she was a VERY buzzworthy figure in music and pop culture. Her inclusion on the list isn’t so much about the artistic merit of her music, but what her album meant for the music industry – that literally ANYONE could have a music “career” in the new millennium. So sometimes you have to look beyond just the surface value of a moment, and dig a little deeper to understand its significance.

The 50 moments team debated long and hard over each and every moment, and in my opinion they came up with a list that truly is representative of music’s first decade in the new millennium.

Since music and popular culture are always changing, we really had to roll with the punches on this show. That meant constantly tweaking the script to keep up with recent developments (ex: Chris Brown & Rihanna), and more than once we had to add new moments as they happened or gained importance (Twitter, Taylor Swift & Kanye West).

Then we were REALLY thrown a curve ball.

I started writing the script in mid-April, and by the end of June I was almost done… then the unthinkable happened. Michael Jackson died on June 25th.

MJ’s sudden, tragic death easily became the biggest music story of the decade, and we knew we had to include it in the show. The producers and I debated for several days on where to put MJ on the list, but in the end he wound up in a very familiar spot.

Personally speaking, I was deeply affected by Michael Jackson’s death. For 30 years I grew up listening to his music, and I even had tickets to see his big comeback tour in London. Even six months later, I find it hard to accept that MJ is gone – and I doubt the world will ever see another talent of his calibre. So for me, MJ’s death is definitely the most important moment of the past decade – but you might disagree, and you’re entitled to!

You realize when you watch The 50 Music Moments That Mattered, that SO much has happened over the past 10 years. Britney’s debut… Columbine…iPods… boy bands… Live Earth… Eminem… Napster… just imagine what the NEXT decade will bring!

What moments mattered most to you?

Antonella J

PS: See the Top 50 in list form here!

Tags: 50 music moments that mattered, holiday wrap, tv