RCB album: Why pay for music these days?

Here’s a question: why would you purchase an album of the RCB?

It’s difficult for me to ask that question of myself.

But in the interests of a good question, okay, I will: why would Ryan Calder pay for a copy of On The Edge?

Firstly, and most obviously, I’d be helping to pay off my own debt from making the album in the first place! Once that’s out the way, I’d be helping to pay for my kids’ school fees.

But that’s just me. I have my own assumptions about why YOU would pay for this music, either a physical CD or on iTunes.

Here are my reasons:

1. You like the album cover.

Michael Griffiths and Kelly Daniels are to thank for that. It’s a cool cover. Plus there’s just something unique about a bruin ou, a Benoni ou, a Cape Town student, a mother and a hat-loving Saffa standing in the middle of a soaking wet meadow. That alone is worth something.

2. You need to spice up your sex life.

This is not something most people would necessarily associate the RCB with, but it is something I think people consider when buying an album. You think about when you will listen to this music and how it can be used – in your car, your hi-fi around dinner time, at a party… or when you need some external assistance in the bedroom. This album caters for all scenarios – there’s the upbeat, the mellow, the laid-back… need I say more?

3. You support SA music.

This is my favourite reason. You buy it because it’s a locally-made, quality SA product, mastered by Brent Quinton – one of South Africa’s top engineers. It’s proudly South African.

We’ve heard of a white Afrikaans ouma buying a young coloured R ‘n B artist’s album simply because he’s South African. We love that. Viva Mzansi viva!

4. You want your children to be clever.

You’ve heard it before – playing classical music to children in their sleep enhances brain functionality. Well, you’ll be pleased to learn that the RCB’s album maintains a tempo rate which is optimal and chord progressions in major keys to ensure a happy mood, as well as deep and interesting lyrics… all of which encourage cerebral neuron-firing and boost brain activity.

Yes, listening to the RCB makes you clever. Very clever. Like a dolphin.

5. You’re buying a lotto ticket.

One day, when we’re the best in the world, you’ll be able to cite the beginnings – the fact that you were there from the start, at the genesis… before all the paparazzi and MTV and Grammys and magazine covers… you bought the RCB album. Before fame and all that other celebrity nonsense (which Jon is banking on), you can say that you were supporting the RCB in little venues around the beloved country.

I asked Berto why he would buy an RCB album. “Because the songs speak positively into my life and the sound is fresh yet easy listening.” What more can one say?

Wanna listen to the music or buy an album? Click here.

Have I left any other reasons out? Why would you buy the RCB’s album?

[rps]