Whatever happened to the singer/songwriters?

by **S2M** » Thu Dec 23, 2010 2:58 am

I think they've been replaced by the disposable nitwits?

Where are the Al Stewarts? Billy Joels? Carole Kings? Roger Hodgsons?

Singers that were able to paint a picture with their songs...Man I fucking loathe today's music.

by **Jeremey** » Thu Dec 23, 2010 3:03 am

There's lots still out there, but you won't hear them on the radio, in movies or commercials...30 years ago that was a celebrated genre but these days it's not what sells product (be it CDs downloads or deodorant)...iTunes Genius recommendations is a great place to start looking for new artists if you've already got a collection of established artists in one particular genre.

by **S2M** » Thu Dec 23, 2010 3:06 am

In the early 90s I had faith in Joshua Kadison - was supposed to be the next Billy Joel....ummm....we all know how that turned out. I think he married Moses... :lol:

Jessie
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gre4DZuA6k4&feature=related

Picture postcards from L.A.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXPKNiUFPls&feature=related

Beautiful in my Eyes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sRKqxSZeq4s&feature=related

by **S2M** » Thu Dec 23, 2010 3:15 am

One of my favorites:

Walking in Memphis - Marc Cohn
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JzuZW-Lcns&feature=related

by **rsimpson** » Thu Dec 23, 2010 3:24 am

There are a few still out there. Neal Morse comes to mind.

by **S2M** » Thu Dec 23, 2010 3:31 am

I Could Not ask for More
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPXRJkla7fI

I'll Be
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMiVeK5zGz8&feature=related

by **brywool** » Thu Dec 23, 2010 3:45 am

Whatever happened to the singer/songwriters?

Mtv, Autotune, Rap, Downfall of record companies that developed artists

by **Abitaman** » Thu Dec 23, 2010 3:46 am

S2M wrote:In the early 90s I had faith in Joshua Kadison - was supposed to be the next Billy Joel....ummm....we all know how that turned out. I think he married Moses...

Jessie
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gre4DZuA6k4&feature=related

Picture postcards from L.A.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXPKNiUFPls&feature=related

Beautiful in my Eyes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sRKqxSZeq4s&feature=related

I have several of his cds, I thought he would be the next Elton John (music wise).

by **Abitaman** » Thu Dec 23, 2010 3:48 am

Jeremey wrote:There's lots still out there, but you won't hear them on the radio, in movies or commercials...30 years ago that was a celebrated genre but these days it's not what sells product (be it CDs downloads or deodorant)...iTunes Genius recommendations is a great place to start looking for new artists if you've already got a collection of established artists in one particular genre.

Didn't you at one time had some music up somewhere? I remember having them on my old computer. Your take on Unchained Melody was one of them, if I remember right,

by **S2M** » Thu Dec 23, 2010 3:48 am

brywool wrote:Whatever happened to the singer/songwriters?

Mtv, Autotune, Rap, Downfall of record companies that developed artists

+1

Artists aren't found today, they are made...when was the last time you heard of a singer being discovered?

Website · by **steveo777** » Thu Dec 23, 2010 3:59 am

S2M wrote:
brywool wrote:Whatever happened to the singer/songwriters?

Mtv, Autotune, Rap, Downfall of record companies that developed artists

+1

Artists aren't found today, they are made...when was the last time you heard of a singer being discovered?

Arnel Pineda - discovered on YouTube by Neal Schon, founding member of the legendary American rock band, Journey.

by **timstar78** » Thu Dec 23, 2010 4:14 am

They morphed into tools like John Mayer.

by **Michigan Girl** » Thu Dec 23, 2010 4:19 am

steveo777 wrote:
S2M wrote:
brywool wrote:Whatever happened to the singer/songwriters?

Mtv, Autotune, Rap, Downfall of record companies that developed artists

+1

Artists aren't found today, they are made...when was the last time you heard of a singer being discovered?

Arnel Pineda - discovered on YouTube by Neal Schon, founding member of the legendary American rock band, Journey.

He found him on the tube ...singin' someone else's songs, nothing he wrote!!
He was not DISCOVERED!!

by **S2M** » Thu Dec 23, 2010 4:20 am

steveo777 wrote:
S2M wrote:
brywool wrote:Whatever happened to the singer/songwriters?

Mtv, Autotune, Rap, Downfall of record companies that developed artists

+1

Artists aren't found today, they are made...when was the last time you heard of a singer being discovered?

Arnel Pineda - discovered on YouTube by Neal Schon, founding member of the legendary American rock band, Journey.

Dude couldn't wash Stewart's or Joel's balls....although Al would probably like it... :lol:

I gotta say this lovefest over Arnel is getting pretty lame and sickening. If you aren't Filipino, the only reason you say you enjoy Arnel is because at least the J-boys are touring....anything else is a complete and utter fabrication, and you should be heavily medicated. Pop a few dozen Oxys, won't you?

Website · by **steveo777** » Thu Dec 23, 2010 4:21 am

Michigan Girl wrote:
steveo777 wrote:
S2M wrote:
brywool wrote:Whatever happened to the singer/songwriters?

Mtv, Autotune, Rap, Downfall of record companies that developed artists

+1

Artists aren't found today, they are made...when was the last time you heard of a singer being discovered?

Arnel Pineda - discovered on YouTube by Neal Schon, founding member of the legendary American rock band, Journey.

He found him on the tube ...singin' someone else's songs, nothing he wrote!!
He was not DISCOVERED!!

ok..ok, well his voice was. :wink:

by **Everett** » Thu Dec 23, 2010 4:22 am

steveo777 wrote:
Michigan Girl wrote:
steveo777 wrote:
S2M wrote:
brywool wrote:Whatever happened to the singer/songwriters?

Mtv, Autotune, Rap, Downfall of record companies that developed artists

+1

Artists aren't found today, they are made...when was the last time you heard of a singer being discovered?

Arnel Pineda - discovered on YouTube by Neal Schon, founding member of the legendary American rock band, Journey.

He found him on the tube ...singin' someone else's songs, nothing he wrote!!
He was not DISCOVERED!!

ok..ok, well his voice was.

What voice? :twisted:

Website · by **steveo777** » Thu Dec 23, 2010 4:24 am

S2M wrote:
steveo777 wrote:
S2M wrote:
brywool wrote:Whatever happened to the singer/songwriters?

Mtv, Autotune, Rap, Downfall of record companies that developed artists

+1

Artists aren't found today, they are made...when was the last time you heard of a singer being discovered?

Arnel Pineda - discovered on YouTube by Neal Schon, founding member of the legendary American rock band, Journey.

Dude couldn't wash Stewart's or Joel's balls....although Al would probably like it...

I gotta say this lovefest over Arnel is getting pretty lame and sickening. If you aren't Filipino, the only reason you say you enjoy Arnel is because at least the J-boys are touring....anything else is a complete and utter fabrication, and you should be heavily medicated. Pop a few dozen Oxys, won't you?

All the lovefests of artists get pretty lame and sickening. Go down a couple floors and be sure to take a puke bag with you. Don't slip on the overflowing vag juice either. :wink:

by **brywool** » Thu Dec 23, 2010 4:29 am

S2M wrote:
brywool wrote:Whatever happened to the singer/songwriters?

Mtv, Autotune, Rap, Downfall of record companies that developed artists

+1

Artists aren't found today, they are made...when was the last time you heard of a singer being discovered?

Totally. It's all about what you look like now and how you can be marketed. There's so much music out there now that doesn't get heard.

by **brywool** » Thu Dec 23, 2010 4:33 am

steveo777 wrote:
S2M wrote:
brywool wrote:Whatever happened to the singer/songwriters?

Mtv, Autotune, Rap, Downfall of record companies that developed artists

+1

Artists aren't found today, they are made...when was the last time you heard of a singer being discovered?

Arnel Pineda - discovered on YouTube by Neal Schon, founding member of the legendary American rock band, Journey.

Not the same thing. Arnel stepped into an already-working band's situation. It's totally different than an A&R guy from a label going out and FINDING talent in a club and that label developing him. Actually, that DID happen with Arnel and his Manilla band, right?

With regards to that, Journey is not really on a "label" that nourishes and develops their artists (I don't think). Weren't they pretty much left to their own devices with Shirley producing, then WalMart just distributed the record? That's totally different than it used to be. Record labels used to develop their artists. I can remember people griping way back when about 'too much' record company involvement. Now there's none for older bands is there?

by **brywool** » Thu Dec 23, 2010 4:36 am

S2M wrote:
steveo777 wrote:
S2M wrote:
brywool wrote:Whatever happened to the singer/songwriters?

Mtv, Autotune, Rap, Downfall of record companies that developed artists

+1

Artists aren't found today, they are made...when was the last time you heard of a singer being discovered?

Arnel Pineda - discovered on YouTube by Neal Schon, founding member of the legendary American rock band, Journey.

Dude couldn't wash Stewart's or Joel's balls....although Al would probably like it...

I gotta say this lovefest over Arnel is getting pretty lame and sickening. If you aren't Filipino, the only reason you say you enjoy Arnel is because at least the J-boys are touring....anything else is a complete and utter fabrication, and you should be heavily medicated. Pop a few dozen Oxys, won't you?

Wrong. I enjoy Arnel cuz he's a talented little mofo that works his ass off. He's got a helluva powerful range and is a better showman than many others doing the job he does. If he's singing in English in any band, I'd probably like it. I just can't get into the non-English stuff cuz I don't understand it.

As for Al Stewart, man, I remember a friend and I seeing him in High School with a teacher of ours that was very cool. It was a great show. I think what killed him is just that tastes changed. That and "Time Passages". Dang that was a terrible tune. Gimme Nostradamus or Road to Moscow any day of the week. Great songs.

by **kgdjpubs** » Thu Dec 23, 2010 7:07 am

S2M wrote:I think they've been replaced by the disposable nitwits?

Where are the Al Stewarts? Billy Joels? Carole Kings? Roger Hodgsons?

Singers that were able to paint a picture with their songs...Man I fucking loathe today's music.

Butch Walker.....pretty much operates outside of the studio system (makes his living as an in-demand producer, and records whatever he wants to on his own) with a FANATICAL live following--and the only person I've ever seen that as an opening band who blew the headliner off the stage, then as a a guest on the encores, blew the headlining band off their own stage. Started off as guitarist in late 80s hair metal Southgang, then went another direction. Currently somewhere between pop-rock and singer-songwriter.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WgqUoHQWURE...from a pro-recorded show that is on youtube

by **slucero** » Thu Dec 23, 2010 8:08 am

Labels used to have hundreds of artists under contract that were "discovered" by their A&R people... but we'd only hear the top 10%...

Then the Interwebs happened... and the labels lost all their ability to be "only way" an artist could get heard... (or not heard, if you were one of the unfortunate 90% under contract)

Now we have everyone and their cousin able to put out their "music" on the interwebs for all to see, hear and possible purchase... which is a good thing actually.. while the big labels keep doing what they've always done.. putting huge money into a few artists for the big payday...

BUT

The problem is they now are competing with everyone on the Interwebs (some of who were that aforementioned 90%)... and people are taking the time to wade through all the crap... bad news for the big labels...

The larger problem I see is the lack of songwriting skills... most of us who are older than 40 grew up loving the Beatles... Frampton, Etc.... and those artists grew up listening very well written music...

A great example is John Lennon, who's influences were the music his mother listened to... Bing Crosby, etc... eventually he got into American music like Elvis, and black R&R.. but those earlier influences are what makes his writing so diverse and still timeless, even today ... a great read is "The Songwriting Secrets of the Beatles"... which really delves into what influences John, Paul and George as songwriters...

Fast forward to today... and these kids grew up listening to what "great" writers??

IMHO.... that is why most of todays stuff is so one dimensional..

by **Jeremey** » Thu Dec 23, 2010 8:38 am

slucero wrote:Labels used to have hundreds of artists under contract that were "discovered" by their A&R people... but we'd only hear the top 10%...

Then the Interwebs happened... and the labels lost all their ability to be "only way" an artist could get heard... (or not heard, if you were one of the unfortunate 90% under contract)

Now we have everyone and their cousin able to put out their "music" on the interwebs for all to see, hear and possible purchase... which is a good thing actually.. while the big labels keep doing what they've always done.. putting huge money into a few artists for the big payday...

BUT

The problem is they now are competing with everyone on the Interwebs (some of who were that aforementioned 90%)... and people are taking the time to wade through all the crap... bad news for the big labels...

The larger problem I see is the lack of songwriting skills... most of us who are older than 40 grew up loving the Beatles... Frampton, Etc.... and those artists grew up listening very well written music...

A great example is John Lennon, who's influences were the music his mother listened to... Bing Crosby, etc... eventually he got into American music like Elvis, and black R&R.. but those earlier influences are what makes his writing so diverse and still timeless, even today ... a great read is "The Songwriting Secrets of the Beatles"... which really delves into what influences John, Paul and George as songwriters...

Fast forward to today... and these kids grew up listening to what "great" writers??

IMHO.... that is why most of todays stuff is so one dimensional..

Absolutely...And most of the "country" songs are written by people who wrote pop rock in the 1980s.

Additionally, I think the idea of the singer/songwriter a la Arlo Guthrie, Gordon Lightfoot, Carole King, was a product of it's time....that genre came out of a pretty socially and politically volatile time, and that form of expression was pretty well suited for it's time.

by **slucero** » Thu Dec 23, 2010 8:53 am

Yup - one really hears the pop rock influence in todays modern country writing...

I also hear it in the production techniques... drum sampling and replacement, guitar re-amping... Autotune... Most folks have zero idea how the production side of music has so drastically changed.

The irony for me is that - I was told and taught as a young musician... "a great song will always be a great song" regardless of wether it is performed solo on an acoustic guitar or fully recorded...

I am heartened by some of the stuff I 'm hearing... but we've a ways to go before we see a songwriting renaissance

by **Jeremey** » Thu Dec 23, 2010 9:08 am

Abitaman wrote:
Jeremey wrote:There's lots still out there, but you won't hear them on the radio, in movies or commercials...30 years ago that was a celebrated genre but these days it's not what sells product (be it CDs downloads or deodorant)...iTunes Genius recommendations is a great place to start looking for new artists if you've already got a collection of established artists in one particular genre.

Didn't you at one time had some music up somewhere? I remember having them on my old computer. Your take on Unchained Melody was one of them, if I remember right,

Hey man, I must have missed your post, LOL...I did have quite a few originals and covers hanging out in places but over the past couple of years I've consolidated to focus on a couple of specific projects...I don't even know where those other recordings would be, though I have some YouTube performances, including Unchained Melody, that I set to "private" when JSS fans were scouring the web for every last ridiculous or non-Journey related video or song to show how foolish Schon & Co were to fire JSS...I have some of the links I think still if you wanted YT links...You could PM me for them, but they are not downloadable recordings...

Thanks for asking!

by **Gypsy Willow** » Thu Dec 23, 2010 9:47 am

Everytime that Time/Life infomercial for "The Singer/Songwriter" collection comes on, I watch it! Even though I was just a child, it makes me miss the 1970's!

by **SherriBerry** » Thu Dec 23, 2010 9:35 pm

Gypsy Willow wrote:Everytime that Time/Life infomercial for "The Singer/Songwriter" collection comes on, I watch it! Even though I was just a child, it makes me miss the 1970's!

I do that too - I was too young to really listen to most of that music at the time, but sometimes I will hear songs from then and it brings back specific memories from childhood. :wink:

by **SherriBerry** » Thu Dec 23, 2010 9:52 pm

Some talented Canadian singer/songwriters are:

Sarah Harmer: (Almost) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4E7fpxKE68

Daniel Powter: (Bad Day) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gH476CxJxfg

Chantal Kreviazuk: (In This Life) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jX7i0MG ... re=related

A Fine Frenzy (Alison Sudol) isn't Canadian, but I like this song:
(The Beacon) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-T3pn5shcg

by **Duncan** » Thu Dec 23, 2010 10:31 pm

SherriBerry wrote:Some talented Canadian singer/songwriters are:

Sarah Harmer: (Almost) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4E7fpxKE68

Daniel Powter: (Bad Day) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gH476CxJxfg

Chantal Kreviazuk: (In This Life) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jX7i0MG ... re=related

A Fine Frenzy (Alison Sudol) isn't Canadian, but I like this song:
(The Beacon) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-T3pn5shcg

Couldn't get the Sarah Harmer track over here, but I will check her out. However, I have to say the Chantal Keviazuk blew me away. Absolutely fantastic. Never heard of her before and i am now off in search of her CD. I love it when the folks on this site take a break from arguing and post about music. There is always some great stuff posted.

If anyone is interested check out Ezio.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GERGAveB ... re=related

by **Duncan** » Thu Dec 23, 2010 10:43 pm

Forgot to tell you about someone definitely worth keeping any on. He's is called Bjarne Langhoff. He hasn't released anything yet but he has one song up on his myspace site, which sounds like a cross between Chicago & Toto. If he writes another 9 songs of this quality he would have one helluva a melodic rock record on his hands.

http://www.myspace.com/bjarnelanghoff

MR

Whatever happened to the singer/songwriters?

Whatever happened to the singer/songwriters?

Re: Whatever happened to the singer/songwriters?

Who is online