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Am I Old, Or Is Today's Pop Music Really That Terrible?


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#1 Steve Heard

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Posted 25 August 2014 - 01:50 PM

I watched most of the VMA's last night and must say that 99% of it was terrible.

 

Beyonce, Taylor Swift, Nicki Minaj and some squeaky little girl that the crowd went wild for all had big dance numbers but no substance or discernible talent.

 

What ever happened to musicians playing music and singers singing songs?
 

 

 


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#2 cw68

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Posted 25 August 2014 - 02:02 PM

I'm old, too. I kind if blame Clear Channel for ruining radio. I miss when radio made a difference - when DJs picked the song, not playlists. Now they just shove mass produced crap down our throats.

#3 Rich_T

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Posted 25 August 2014 - 02:07 PM

Steve, I had the exact same reaction, and in fact could not keep watching after Taylor Swift came on.  She has jumped the shark IMO.

 

Part of the problem is that "mainstream pop" has been defined down to a certain kind of production sound.  Music that doesn't sound that way is labeled "alternative" or "indie", and has a different (although overlapping) audience.

 

I would like to think the door is wide open in pop music for someone with real talent who writes and performs real songs that do not sound like everything else out there.  My daughter is working on it.  :-)



#4 nomad

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Posted 25 August 2014 - 02:14 PM

IIRC you posted nearly this same thing last time this "awards" show was on. Glutton for the punishment or just hoping somehow the music industry would have turned around?

 

Didn't watch but read that the Best New Rock Artist "Lorde" was even shocked she won. She didn't even think she belonged in that category. LOL!

 

The show is so bad they are just trying to manufacture drama so people will watch.



#5 4thgenFolsomite

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Posted 25 August 2014 - 02:26 PM

I watched most of the VMA's last night and must say that 99% of it was terrible.

 

Beyonce, Taylor Swift, Nicki Minaj and some squeaky little girl that the crowd went wild for all had big dance numbers but no substance or discernible talent.

 

What ever happened to musicians playing music and singers singing songs?
 

 

 

 

you are only as old as you feel, but what we do become is more discerning.  kids have nothing to judge pop music against.  we do.

 

it seems like most pop music today is produced by producers, not artists.  everyone is scrambling to make a buck and they just need to look good, act outrageously, dress provocatively and get their face in the news.  with autotune, they don't even need to carry a tune.  I will say that Beyoncé and Taylor have actually written some good songs and, I think, better than Madonna's.


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#6 folsombound

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Posted 25 August 2014 - 02:45 PM

Steve:

You are not that old.  Today's music or what is supposed to pass for music sucks!  I'm old and I just shut it off.  There is no way I could have watched that program.  Given the lousy sounds and the entitled brats performing it, I'm glad I'm from a different generation.



#7 kfergo

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Posted 25 August 2014 - 03:00 PM

I'm old. I remember when MYV played Rock n Roll.



I'm old. I remember when MYV played Rock n Roll.

MTV oops



#8 Steve Heard

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Posted 25 August 2014 - 04:42 PM

Steve, I had the exact same reaction, and in fact could not keep watching after Taylor Swift came on.  She has jumped the shark IMO.

 

Part of the problem is that "mainstream pop" has been defined down to a certain kind of production sound.  Music that doesn't sound that way is labeled "alternative" or "indie", and has a different (although overlapping) audience.

 

I would like to think the door is wide open in pop music for someone with real talent who writes and performs real songs that do not sound like everything else out there.  My daughter is working on it.  :-)

 

Indeed. It seems there is pressure, either from the record labels or the artists' entourages that tells singer/songrwiters to comply with the crap movement (no pun intended). 

 

It seems that Taylor Swift is much like Jewel, Nelly Furtado, and yes, Robin Thicke; all successful singer/songwriters who were convinced or decided on their own that their images had to change who they were as artists sell sex with funky beats and hoardes of dancers in order to please the masses. 

 

Sam Smith gives me hope that there's still some room for exceptional singers.

 

 

IIRC you posted nearly this same thing last time this "awards" show was on. Glutton for the punishment or just hoping somehow the music industry would have turned around?

 

Didn't watch but read that the Best New Rock Artist "Lorde" was even shocked she won. She didn't even think she belonged in that category. LOL!

 

The show is so bad they are just trying to manufacture drama so people will watch.

 

You are correct, sir. I am fairly passionate about music, and just don't 'get' what's going on today. We don't want to hear good music or musicianship, we want to dance and be shocked by edgy lyrics that you have to look up online to understand.

 

I was that the Tower Bistro at the Embassy Suites Saturday Night. Executive Chef Clay Purcell (husband of myfolsom's own 'amethyst organizing') has an outstanding menu, patio setting is beautiful, with a view of the Tower Bridge, and they had a truly professional jazz trio playing. There were only 4 tables full.

 

Too bad they don't rap or where thongs while serving. The place would be packed. 

 


 

it seems like most pop music today is produced by producers, not artists.  everyone is scrambling to make a buck and they just need to look good, act outrageously, dress provocatively and get their face in the news.  with autotune, they don't even need to carry a tune.  I will say that Beyoncé and Taylor have actually written some good songs and, I think, better than Madonna's.

 

This is true. There's a handful of producers who are responsible for most of the crap we hear, and artists clamor for their attention.

 

 

I'm old. I remember when MYV played Rock n Roll.



MTV oops

 

I asked my daughter what MTV stood for and she didn't know.


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#9 Deb aka Resume Lady

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Posted 25 August 2014 - 05:49 PM

.....and the lyrics keep reaching new lows. Disgusting.


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#10 Dave Burrell

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Posted 25 August 2014 - 07:03 PM

I watched most of the VMA's last night and must say that 99% of it was terrible.

 

Beyonce, Taylor Swift, Nicki Minaj and some squeaky little girl that the crowd went wild for all had big dance numbers but no substance or discernible talent.

 

What ever happened to musicians playing music and singers singing songs?

 

 

 

I am fairly passionate about music, and just don't 'get' what's going on today. We don't want to hear good music or musicianship, we want to dance and be shocked by edgy lyrics that you have to look up online to understand.

 

 

I too am very passionate about music and feel your pain.  Most of the sappy pop being cranked out today really sucks.

 

The problem is all the artists you listed do not write their own music.  They have a group of other people write it for them and then I think they do focus groups to see what kids will buy and that's what they go with.

 

I gave up the VMA's, grammys, MTV etc years ago.  Even 98 Rocks sucks now too, they keep playing the same crap over and over and over...

 

I was very disappointed in the new albums from ColdPlay and Beck, the songs are so very boring it puts the listener to sleep, they can't even get any radio play where as in the past they were both radio darlings.

 

The ONLY good source for music these days is Pandora, iHeart Radio and Beats Music (it's a little better then Pandora)


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#11 cw68

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Posted 25 August 2014 - 07:05 PM

iHate iHeart Radio. I want Clear Channel to die!

#12 The Average Joe

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Posted 25 August 2014 - 07:35 PM

I heart radio has a 24/7 comedy channel that is pretty awesome. Great for the commute home after a long day.

I was listening to a blues masters channel on Pandora today, and they were playing some deep cuts. It was AWESOME. Vocal and musical talent off the charts (literally).

 

You aren't old Steve, you have taste. As a once upon a time musician, I appreciate raw talent as well as technical talent. Current music has neither. You can sit down with a very basic program, and have a bass and drum track that would be ready for whatever "hook" you wanted to steal, er, pay homage to and loop it into your new song. It would take about an hour or so once you were familiar with the program. Where is the creativity in that?

 

<puts old man hat on> Back when I was in a band, we had scores of notebooks with lyrics. The drummer would start out with whatever beat he was feeling. I would play around on the bass until we had a good groove. The guitarist would bring his flavor, and we would just grind on it for awhile working out accents/breaks, etc. Once we had the musical basics down, someone would grab a notebook and flip through the pages until they found something that seemed to fit. 100% hand crafted goodness. No loops, no samples, no digital drum machine. Many of todays "musicians" aren't musicians at all...they are pre-packaged, disposable PRODUCT with a shelf life of a couple years. <takes hat off, notices there is no hair on top of head, puts hat back on>


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#13 bookwom

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Posted 25 August 2014 - 09:16 PM

I watched most of the VMA's last night and must say that 99% of it was terrible.

 

Beyonce, Taylor Swift, Nicki Minaj and some squeaky little girl that the crowd went wild for all had big dance numbers but no substance or discernible talent.

 

What ever happened to musicians playing music and singers singing songs?
 

 

 

 

Steve, if you like singer - songwriters who can actually sing and play, take the time to listen to a young man named Jake Bugg.  He sounds like Roy Orbison and Bob Dylan's British love child.  I agree with much of what you say about today's music, but I am really blown away by this young man's talent.  He's coming to the Sleep Train Arena in November, opening for the Black Keys.  My daughter and I are going, mostly for the opening act.


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#14 The Average Joe

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Posted 25 August 2014 - 09:47 PM

Not sure if I linked this guy here or not. I first heard the Ain't Nobody cover and thought it was awesome (gets impressive at 1:30). Then I started checking out his other stuff. Not the style for everyone, but incredible musician. His song Telepathy (2nd link) has really grown on me. His technical skill is off the charts, so maybe it's just the the guitar lover in me...

 

 


"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive" -- C.S. Lewis

 

If the only way to combat "global warming" was to lower taxes, we would never hear of the issue again. - Anonymous

 

"Society in every state is a blessing, but Government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state an intolerable one" — Thomas Paine, 𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘰𝘯 𝘚𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘦 (1776)

 


#15 Tyto Alba

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Posted 25 August 2014 - 10:29 PM

I watched most of the VMA's last night and must say that 99% of it was terrible.

 

Beyonce, Taylor Swift, Nicki Minaj and some squeaky little girl that the crowd went wild for all had big dance numbers but no substance or discernible talent.

 

What ever happened to musicians playing music and singers singing songs?
 

 

 

 

Years back I went to a Rock Concert at Arco Arena.  The band performing had an album out at the time and seemed Ok.  When I saw them live they stunk.      The members had some talent but the music live and show arrangement was horrible (no effort or creativity).   The warm up band, or person was horrible.    I remember when the warm up band was always a well known group or artist.    A week after this concert the group broke up.

 

Today's singers (I.e. Beyonce, Taylor Swift) can sing great but the directors create the presence which appeal (or sell) to the younger music market.   

 

I went to many Rock Concerts in the 1970's and the groups had simple lighting and musical equipment and they would organize the show around their music on latest albums.     I went to shows where these artists were the warm up band:    early Van Halen,  J. Geils Band,  Cheap Trick,  Micheal Schenker,  Joan Jett,  George Thorogood  Ac/Dc etc.    You will rarely get a warm up band like these.






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