Why I gave up on "pop" music years ago

I think I gave on pop music back in the early 90's prior to that I liked Michael Jackson but a friend put on a CD by Guns & Roses and from then on I was hooked on Rock/Metal music. Through the years I listened to numerous bands and I particularly liked Queen due to Freddie Mercury's vocals and Brian May's guitar licks (not to mention the epic live performances) and ever since then I have grown more and more appalled by the quality of popular music.

Now fast forward forward to the naughties and the biggest pop act in the world is Brittany Spears, she has sold millions of records, is a press magnet has a millions of fans and is the perfect example of a modern day pop act but can she sing live? Well for a basis on comparison let's listen to a good singer, take it away Freddie -



Now take it away Brittany -



That is epically dire and the people who I feel sorry for are the fans that are cheated out of their money. This is why I can't take pop music seriously if that's the best the industry can produce then I think the whole industry is in trouble.

I agree.

Well pop stars most of the time are just products.
They can't sing, can't write songs and all they can do is mostly smile and look pretty in front of the camera. And that's all they need to do. That's why they were picked.
Once the fad is over or the record company has gotten the maximum amount of sales out of the artists, they are dumped and since they don't have any talent, they become the "where are they now?" stars.
It's a disgusting business in a way and I hope one of these days will end.

Many bands/singers can't perform worth live. In my opinion that's what separates the good from the not so good. It's not just limited to pop music either.

Originally Posted by TB666

Well pop stars most of the time are just products.
They can't sing, can't write songs and all they can do is mostly smile and look pretty in front of the camera. And that's all they need to do. That's why they were picked.
Once the fad is over or the record company has gotten the maximum amount of sales out of the artists, they are dumped and since they don't have any talent, they become the "where are they now?" stars.
It's a disgusting business in a way and I hope one of these days will end.

Not all of them. Squirm a little as you watch this young girl sing songs with suggestive lyrics. "If it's what you desire/I'll let you do whatever you want to me/I don't care if rumors spread/That I'm a bad girl...", sings the 14 year old. But hang on, people have written some decent tunes for her. This too. Or this. By the time she's grown up, she can belt power ballads with the best of them, as well as playfully replaying her earlier material.

Cosmos
(Music & Lyrics: Masashi Sada, Original Performer: Momoe Yamaguchi)

A pale pink cosmos sways
In an ordinary spot in the sun on an autumn day
My mother, who has cried easily recently
Coughs once by the garden

She opens an album by the trees
And talks about memories of my childhood
Over and over again
In a small voice, as if talking to herself

On this peaceful day in an unusually warm autumn
I feel your kindness deeply
I laughed and said
"Even if my getting married tomorrow is causing you pain now
Time will turn it into a funny story, so you don't need to worry"

"Now I?m looking back on various memories
I've realised there was never a day when I was alone"
She bites her lip as she looks at me
Who is still as selfish as ever

She helped me pack for tomorrow
And we kept our spirits up for awhile
But then suddenly Mum burst into tears
And said "Good luck" again and again

I'll try to live my life my way
With the words "Thank you" in my heart
Let me be your child
A little longer
On this peaceful day in an unusually warm autumn

NB. She retired in 1980. See how many post-1980 covers of her songs you can find, in assorted languages.

Originally Posted by TB666

Well pop stars most of the time are just products.
They can't sing, can't write songs and all they can do is mostly smile and look pretty in front of the camera. And that's all they need to do. That's why they were picked.
Once the fad is over or the record company has gotten the maximum amount of sales out of the artists, they are dumped and since they don't have any talent, they become the "where are they now?" stars.
It's a disgusting business in a way and I hope one of these days will end.

TB nailed it on the spot... artist in the pop genre which means more than just "popular" are nothing more than products. The Backstreet boys, Nsync, Bieber, they are all sold for their looks and then dumped for another artist.

Take a look at Chris Brown for instance... his dance moves seemed unique but after his unfortunate mishap he sorta dropped off the charts... what did the record companies do. Well this guy appeared.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

From the above link you will notice very quickly the similarities in not only artistic style but look and that I believe is key to selling this artist.

I dont think anyone is kidding themselves music is an industry and it is exploitable and thus this is what we get. Nothing really wrong with it in anyway but I have noticed it does not affect rock too much... however, Nickleback comes to mind.

I myself grew up with 90s rock, No Doubt, Chevelle, Smashing Pumpkins, Fuel, Creed, Counting Crows, etc. I still like them because they can sing about more than big black girls with sexy asses. But thats really all rap and hip hop is. Theres no mesg anymore in Rap. The days of 2Pac are gone... rappers make quick cash on catchy tunes that really dont mean anything.

If anyone in modern day pop genre has a voice it is Beyonce, say what you will about her but she has talent because she has worked hard for it. I dont listen to her obviously but I respect her accomplishments for the artist she is.

And not to mention that the Black Eye Peas went from singing something meaningful to songs about getting wasted.

Queen was pop.

Originally Posted by ♔Sir Reginald♔

Queen was pop.

That is his point........

If Britney Spears is your definition of the modern pop act, you are terribly out of touch with the times.

Originally Posted by SoggyFrog

If Britney Spears is your definition of the modern pop act, you are terribly out of touch with the times.

Well I guess modern is a loose term since she has been around for 10 years now but she is every bit a pop act as you can get from the look, vocals, lyrics and dance moves everything is managed and controlled to such an extent it gives her work a very synthetic feel to it.

Queen was initial a glam rock band from 72 to 76 then in the punk era of the late 70's their music changed as was more raw and then in 80's they made a near career ending move with Hot Space which had a dance sound to it. They managed to recover with two 'pop-rock' albums in The Works and A Kind of Magic but for most Queen fans the mid 80's isn't that great but it was where Queen were at the height bar the US, later albums in the 80's and 90's saw another change of sound but much greater attention to production Innudeno is one of favourite Queen albums.

Pop= popular. Popular isn't necessarily good or bad or anything really. The Beatles were a "pop" band.

I just listen to what sounds good for me, don't really care about the labels on the packaging so to speak.

Because of Ke$ha, I brush my teeth with a bottle of Jack.

Originally Posted by zznɟ ǝɥʇ

Because of Ke$ha, I brush my teeth with a bottle of Jack.

Because of Ke$ha I punch myself repeatedly in the balls whenever her music comes on.

Originally Posted by Freddie

I think I gave on pop music back in the early 90's prior to that I liked Michael Jackson but a friend put on a CD by Guns & Roses and from then on I was hooked on Rock/Metal music. Through the years I listened to numerous bands and I particularly liked Queen due to Freddie Mercury's vocals and Brian May's guitar licks (not to mention the epic live performances) and ever since then I have grown more and more appalled by the quality of popular music.

Now fast forward forward to the naughties and the biggest pop act in the world is Brittany Spears, she has sold millions of records, is a press magnet has a millions of fans and is the perfect example of a modern day pop act but can she sing live? Well for a basis on comparison let's listen to a good singer, take it away Freddie -



Now take it away Brittany -



That is epically dire and the people who I feel sorry for are the fans that are cheated out of their money. This is why I can't take pop music seriously if that's the best the industry can produce then I think the whole industry is in trouble.

I totally agree mate. However there are rock vocalists who sound awful live as well (ex: Axl sounds a lot worse while he sings ballads live, not to mention kurt cobain who sounds like a cat being raped). However pop music has always been controlled by fads and media (although there have been some good pop artists).

To be fair, it is a lot harder to sing when you are wearing a constricting leather catsuit and you have to run around and do a whole gymnastics routine. All Freddie had to do was stand there and close his eyes and shuffle a bit. Its not the people themselves, its the whole thing of live performances. They are very rarely about the music any more, they are about the spectacle.

Originally Posted by Copperknickers II

To be fair, it is a lot harder to sing when you are wearing a constricting leather catsuit and you have to run around and do a whole gymnastics routine. All Freddie had to do was stand there and close his eyes and shuffle a bit. Its not the people themselves, its the whole thing of live performances. They are very rarely about the music any more, they are about the spectacle.

Hahaha! I haven't had a good laugh all day.

not to mention kurt cobain who sounds like a cat being raped)

Kurt Cobain had one of the best rock and roll voices ever recorded.

Originally Posted by 43rdFoot

Kurt Cobain had one of the best rock and roll voices ever recorded.

yeah recorded. His live performences were awful.

Originally Posted by Hobbes.

yeah recorded. His live performences were awful.

I disagree.