| If we look at what has been happening during the past few years, we see humanity at a transition period. The era of Pisces is ending; little by little we are titlting into the age of Aquarius-and this does not happen without risk or inconvenience. Human beings are faced with numerous stresses: the enternal spectre of the world war; the dangers of increasing pollution and vandalism; political scandals; recession; unemployment; anxiety at the coming of the Year 2000-and much more. Technology has developed faster than the general consciousness: spritual and moral values have not been preserved. Like Dr. Frankenstein, man has been surpassed by his own creation and technology. People feel a crippling desensitization. The human soul has lost its sense of magic; people have lost their sense of humor and everything is now banalized-instead of "joie de vivre" people feel "mal de vivre." So the future is not what it was, because humanity did not correctly manage its inheritance, Planet Earth. Now everyone is increasingly worried, anxiety-ridden, preoccupied and under pressure-and this generates sadness, intolerance, and violence. This can be felt in contemporary music productions, which always reflect not only the present but also what lies ahead. This is why I always deliberately introduced humor into my creations: I sincerely think that humor will help save humanity from the swamp into which it is sinking. Today we can't afford to be pessimistic, so let's try to keep a sense of humor bolted onto our hearts, soul, and spirit! Let's shove pessimism aside for better days...when we will be in better shape to handle it! For family reasons I had to return to France for good in 1970. I became an administrator and then the musical director of a French ballet company for 3 years. Because of my American experience, I was in demand to create radio and TV commercials "in the American way." I recorded other humoristic records, one for a Canadian company and 6 for a French company. I continued recording movie soundtracks in France and in Europe, plus jingles and cartoon music for French TV. I also oriented myself again toward research in therapeutic sounds, and my new "therapeutic prescription" was recently released...this time with the goal of inducing a state of relaxation and well being in persons who are stressed and anxious. Mission...continue...create...these obsessive words resound like a litany in my head. Yet the times have changed. In France at present in order to create, realize, and especially produce, one has to have significant financial backing. One must be part of the system. I know that I still have a lot of things to do...just recently I had one of these luminous ideas capable of revolutionizing the musical world, in a contemporary style, by using modern technology. If somewhere in the world there were a production company to trust me once again, I am sure they wouldn't be disappointed. EDITH, JEAN, WALT, if you hear me up there, please help me one more time! I still have one more message of humor to give, and bursts of laughter to pass on. -Jean Jacques Perrey, 1993 |
