What the heck is up with "pop" music anymore?

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Fred Wright

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Aug 7, 2006
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Folks, I am reminded once again why we do not accept youth-oriented shows.

I've been reviewing some recent promotional discs lately and I am honestly confused. From what I can determine, you've got two choices ~ rap and alternative. :(

Every rap track sounds the same... a bunch of trained chimpanzees with a mic. Ooga booga booga, woomp woomp woomp, all done in minor key. It doesn't even have a dance beat anymore. It's just noise. That Umbrella track is a friggin' joke.

Every alternative track sounds the same... grating, raspy vocals with no harmony. The vocalists sound like they're half asleep. Senseless lyrics, all played in minor key. It's depressing, flat and redundant. These people are nothing more than a bunch of cheesy garage bands that are copying each other. It's just noise.

This is music??:wtf:

It's no damn wonder the record companies are losing money. :rolleyes:
 
A large % of what's available today is junk that should have never been recorded.
 
Maybe I've been spoiled by Country music over the years. Perhaps that's it?

Yeah, I know some Country songs have redundant and sappy lyrics. The ones that don't last long are like that anyhow.

But the Country tunes that have staying power tell a story. And they have real vocalists and real musicians with real musical scores. There's harmony in the vocals. There's a melody to the music. You can tap your feet to it. It's positive ~ often songs about love ~ and played in major key.

I haven't kept pace with mainstream pop in years. Tell me what you want played and I'll play it. I can't guarantee that it'll fill the floor because I don't understand it. It's dark and noisy and boomy like an old mineshaft. I don't understand dark, depressing music nor what people see in it... but I will play it if you want it. If you wish to sweep your dancefloor, that's on you. I won't do it.

I don't understand why every other pop release has to be raspy garage band alternative... or have that damned Ebonics rap nonsense in it. You've got a decent dance track going... and sure enough, here comes the rap to ruin it. Rap is so unnecessary. I can't play it ~ it kills the dancefloor. It'll kill my referrals, too. So WTF good is it?

How about:
Travis Tritt's Drift Off To Dream and More Than You'll Ever Know
Steve Holy's Good Morning Beautiful
Sara Evans' I Could Not Ask For More
John Conlee's Rose Colored Glasses
Alan Jackson's Remember When
Stevie Wonder's My Cherie Amor
Percy Sledge's When A Man Loves A Woman
Ronnie Milsap's I Wouldn't Have Missed It For The World
Kenny Chesney's Me and You

Now you're talkin' music. Beautiful waltzes and other assorted buckle polishers. Kirby's VFW crowd would be proud. :)

Give me my Country music dances any night. I've got Bluegrass songs from the Depression era to today's recent releases. This is music to Wolfie's ears. :)
 
I guess we have to consider that there aren't the "squadrons" of songwriter for Pop music anymore. Every band that comes out, thinks that they can write "music", when all they're doing is grabbing a guitar riff or two and screaming over the top of them.

Hip hop/Rap for the most part rips off someone else's creation for the bass line, the hook, etc. and then adds the "canned drums" with a catch phrase repeated ad nauseum.

The record companies just want to push the product and "artistic" development has gone down the toilet for the most part.
 
These people are nothing more than a bunch of cheesy garage bands that are copying each other. It's just noise.

This is music??:wtf:

It's no damn wonder the record companies are losing money. :rolleyes:

Naw it can't be the music its the sleazebags downloading for free....And getting what they pay for :sqrolleyes:
 
Fred my friend you've crossed over to the dark side ( :sqeek: ). It seems that every generation looks at the one before and says that their music is crap. It is a natural part of going through the "change". Before you know it, you will be looking at motor homes, walking around the local mall before the stores open, and wearing one of those straw hats with the built-in green visors. It's old age brother-proceed with caution!

Who the heck am I kidding? You ARE right. it's all crappy music today; let's go play bingo...:sqwink:
 
its a rare time when JTV has ill feelings towards any music but that Umbrellasong and Babay are two of the most annoying songs of all time. I would much rather listen to finger nails on a chalkboard than hear these however the past four out of five gigs I have pleasantly smiled while playing them for my guests while jamming some Pantera- Cowboys from Hell through my headphones so I can keep down the awesome meal the staff provided.
 
Thanks, Chuck. :)

Yep it's a popular tune, no doubt about it. I just don't care for rapping, that's all. If they'd leave the rap out I could appreciate it more.

It seems to be getting worse. A couple of years ago, only a few promo tracks had rap in 'em. Now it's nearly every other track. They all sound alike.

I'm currently reviewing Justin Timberlake's Lovestoned. While done in minor (big surprise), the song has no rap. It's not bad at all. :)
 
To say the least that's why I don't do weddings. To take it a step further, I have listened to the song "Umbrella", by Rhianna.....I still don't see it as music, and I understand it's #1 on some of the charts.

From those of you who have played it what/how are the people dancing....jumping up and down????

Sad state of affairs for pop music today...........
 
Well, at least Rihanna sings, which is more than I can say for those Rap guys... Who understands those Rap guys...
 
I can honestly say that I didn't like it at first, but it does kind of worm it's way into your brain. :D
Not into my brain it don't, lol. I hate rap. :mad:

Wolfie put the promo CDs away for the night. Enough senseless noise for one session.

It's time for some real music. I've got the Beach Boys' Spirit Of America CD on the deck now. Reminds me of Chuck's pics in Hawaii. :)

Real vocals, harmony, positive lyrics, major key and real musicians. Fun music. Wolfie feel better now. :)
 
Who understands those Rap guys...

Baby Got Back Intro - Sir Mix A Lot said:
Oh, my, god. Becky, look at her butt.
It is so big. *scoff* She looks like,
one of those rap guys' girlfriends.
But, y'know, who understands those rap guys? *scoff*
They only talk to her, because,
she looks like a total prostitute, 'kay?
I mean, her butt, is just so big. *scoff*
I can't believe it's just so round, it's like,
out there, I mean - gross. Look!
She's just so ... black!

You've been listening rap again, Mr. Durio haven't you? :sqeek: :rofl:

--
Back on topic, I feel like I'm becoming an old man, I really cannot stand half the noise that's being called music these days. It would be nice if these "artists" made something upbeat for once.
 
... I really cannot stand half the noise that's being called music these days. It would be nice if these "artists" made something upbeat for once.
Don't feel alone, Dan. The stuff comes in every month and maybe.... just maybe there will be a track that can be played for an adult audience that doesn't sweep the damn floor.

It wasn't so long ago when Will Smith got the over 40's on the dance floor. Remember the retro swing fad a few years back? Squirrel Nut Zippers and Cherry Poppin' Daddies? I got a lot of requests for it.

It can be done. But it ain't gonna be done as long as the record companies continue to insert rap into tracks. That stuff may go over well in the club or at school dances. It ain't no good in my market.
 
Here's some releases that shouldn't have ever seen the light of day.

Crank Dat Soul Ja Boy (Supaman) - Soulja Boy
My Girl Gotta Girlfriend - Ray Lavender
I Got It From My Mama - Will.I.am
A Bay Bay - Hurricane

And of course, this is only the tip of the iceberg here.

There can be well done rap/hip-hop with some ingenuity in production and cleverness in word-play...but we're not seeing much of it, are we?
 
And of course, this is only the tip of the iceberg here.

I wouldn't call it the tip, that's still a minuscule sample of all the junk :D:D:D And you are correct there are some songs that are good in said genres but the vast majority is junk with offensive language that's not even called for.