The sad, sad state of music

by **Ehwmatt** » Wed Feb 16, 2011 12:40 pm

So, I absolutely refuse to watch any shit like the Grammies or pay attention to the pop divas of today. But sometimes, exposure is inevitable because I'm a younger guy and I'm around a lot of young idiots who are into that shit.

I got to thinking: How low can we go before mainstream music just dies?

I grew up a child of the 90s, and for our generation, the boy bands/Spice Girls of the world were the scourge of the earth, the butt of all jokes etc. I know children of the 80s hated grunge, but some of those bands had a lot of talent. And honestly, the boy bands/Spice Girls and arguably even some of the other female pop stars had some real talent. So, in hindsight, the 90s wasn't NEARLY as bad as today when it comes to mainstream music.

Today, we're assaulted by the likes of Lady Gaga and Justin Bieber. Absolutely horrendous, vapid shit that has no substance.

I know I'm probably not saying anything revolutionary here, but my god, this Bieber shit just pisses me off to no end. I can ignore most of the awful stuff that's out there, but for some reason, some of these fools really just set me off. Fuck them.

by **S2M** » Wed Feb 16, 2011 12:54 pm

Hmmm...the 80s had it's share of comparable vapid acts....although somewhat better.

New Edition
NKOTB
Tiffany
Debbie Gibson
Kylie Minogue
Musical Youth

And today it is much more in your face. Bieber is exponentially more popular than these acts combined. Gone are the days where an act/solo artist will be around in 10-15 years....music now has a shelf/viability life of no more than 5 years, if that. And Idol is ruining things. Daughtry seems to have gone the way of the Dodo....Music companies want that hit single. They can pretty much finance the next two albums off the profits of ONE hit single. This is what is has become. Disposable, vapid shit....

by **TRAGChick** » Wed Feb 16, 2011 12:56 pm

Ehwmatt wrote:So, I absolutely refuse to watch any shit like the Grammies or pay attention to the pop divas of today. But sometimes, exposure is inevitable because I'm a younger guy and I'm around a lot of young idiots who are into that shit.

I got to thinking: How low can we go before mainstream music just dies?

Apparently, preeeeetttty low....

I grew up a child of the 90s, and for our generation, the boy bands/Spice Girls of the world were the scourge of the earth, the butt of all jokes etc.

Don't get me started. :twisted:

I know children of the 80s hated grunge, but some of those bands had a lot of talent. And honestly, the boy bands/Spice Girls and arguably even some of the other female pop stars had some real talent.

OK...so now that I'm past the 90s ...SOME of it is not so bad.

So, in hindsight, the 90s wasn't NEARLY as bad as today when it comes to mainstream music.

Somehow, I beg to differ.

Today, we're assaulted by the likes of Lady Gaga and Justin Bieber. Absolutely horrendous, vapid shit that has no substance.
I know I'm probably not saying anything revolutionary here, but my god, this Bieber shit just pisses me off to no end. I can ignore most of the awful stuff that's out there, but for some reason, some of these fools really just set me off. Fuck them.

Please see my Signature

by **Saint John** » Wed Feb 16, 2011 1:05 pm

I love New Edition, S2M! :evil:

Those dudes were talented singers and had some cool tunes. No swearing, no jive bullshit and shit you could relate to.

by **Don** » Wed Feb 16, 2011 1:08 pm

BackStreet Boys actually play their own instruments now. I never really had a problem with the boy/Girl bands but now it's more about being shocking or having some kind of whacked back story to create a publicity blitz.

by **StevePerryHair** » Wed Feb 16, 2011 1:11 pm

Don wrote:BackStreet Boys actually play their own instruments now. I never really had a problem with the boy/Girl bands but now it's more about being shocking or having some kind of whacked back story to create a publicity blitz.

What about Madonna? The 80's had their share of that too!

by **Behshad** » Wed Feb 16, 2011 1:14 pm

StevePerryHair wrote:
Don wrote:BackStreet Boys actually play their own instruments now. I never really had a problem with the boy/Girl bands but now it's more about being shocking or having some kind of whacked back story to create a publicity blitz.
What about Madonna? The 80's had their share of that too!

What about Madonna ?! She was the queen of pop music and rightfully so. She had talent.

by **StevePerryHair** » Wed Feb 16, 2011 1:16 pm

Behshad wrote:
StevePerryHair wrote:
Don wrote:BackStreet Boys actually play their own instruments now. I never really had a problem with the boy/Girl bands but now it's more about being shocking or having some kind of whacked back story to create a publicity blitz.
What about Madonna? The 80's had their share of that too!

What about Madonna ?! She was the queen of pop music and rightfully so. She had talent.

I happen to like Madonna. You missed my point. The 80's had a lot of "shock" too, and she was one of the queens of that too.

by **S2M** » Wed Feb 16, 2011 1:17 pm

Saint John wrote:I love New Edition, S2M! Those dudes were talented singers and had some cool tunes. No swearing, no jive bullshit and shit you could relate to.

Dan, I have all the albums - until they went gangsta....lol. New Edition....gangsta. LMAO.

Their best album, sans Brown. Johnny Gill on Vox.

by **Deb** » Wed Feb 16, 2011 1:20 pm

Don wrote:BackStreet Boys actually play their own instruments now. I never really had a problem with the boy/Girl bands but now it's more about being shocking or having some kind of whacked back story to create a publicity blitz.

Out of them all, I kinda liked them. My daughter was big into BSB so I heard their CDs blaring thru the house more times than I can count. :roll:

LOL, could probably even still sing right along with I Want It That Way http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4fndeDfaWCg

Some of us took the kids to see BSB when they came and surprisingly enjoyed the show..........well, besides an arena full of screaming tweenies. :lol:

They actually put on a pretty good show back then. My daughter was nuts about Nick. :lol:

But I actually thought that Brian kid had a good voice, AJ too.

by **Saint John** » Wed Feb 16, 2011 1:21 pm

S2M wrote:
Saint John wrote:I love New Edition, S2M! Those dudes were talented singers and had some cool tunes. No swearing, no jive bullshit and shit you could relate to.

Dan, I have all the albums - until they went gangsta....lol. New Edition....gangsta. LMAO.

Their best album, sans Brown. Johnny Gill on Vox.

Gill and Tresvant could bring it, man. I loved those dudes as a kid. They just had cool pop tunes. I heard Cool It Now a few weeks ago and was stunned that I still knew all the words. :lol:

by **ebake02** » Wed Feb 16, 2011 1:27 pm

Ehwmatt wrote:
I grew up a child of the 90s, and for our generation, the boy bands/Spice Girls of the world were the scourge of the earth, the butt of all jokes etc. I know children of the 80s hated grunge, but some of those bands had a lot of talent. And honestly, the boy bands/Spice Girls and arguably even some of the other female pop stars had some real talent. So, in hindsight, the 90s wasn't NEARLY as bad as today when it comes to mainstream music.
I know I'm probably not saying anything revolutionary here, but my god, this Bieber shit just pisses me off to no end. I can ignore most of the awful stuff that's out there, but for some reason, some of these fools really just set me off. Fuck them.

I was a child of the 90s myself so know where you're coming from. I remember sitting in Jr. High between 1996 and 1998 when all this boy band crap really hit it big. I kinda felt out of place because my CD collection consisted of Journey, REO Speedwagon, Foreigner, Bon Jovi and music like that. I listened to a Lady Gaga song just to see what all the fuss is about and it sounded like shit. It's not about the music anymore. It's all about the bottom line, that's why everything sounds exactly same, cheap recycled garbage and good looks. I'll stick to the good stuff, my Sirius receiver never leaves Lithium, Boneyard and Hair Nation.

by **S2M** » Wed Feb 16, 2011 1:48 pm

Top 5 Songs on every playa's mix tape in the early 90s - songs that they thought would get them laid... :lol:

by **StevePerryHair** » Wed Feb 16, 2011 1:52 pm

You realize people raised on 60's and 70's music saw the 80's as the decline.

by **Ehwmatt** » Wed Feb 16, 2011 1:53 pm

StevePerryHair wrote:You realize people raised on 60's and 70's music saw the 80's as the decline.

Ya, it's the old "Back in my day" phenomenon that every generation experiences as it passes the torch to the next one. I do realize that it's a recurring theme in music/politics/sports/just about everything, but I really just can't fathom how music can recover from where it is at right now. Not mainstream/pop music, at least.

by **Don** » Wed Feb 16, 2011 1:54 pm

StevePerryHair wrote:
Don wrote:BackStreet Boys actually play their own instruments now. I never really had a problem with the boy/Girl bands but now it's more about being shocking or having some kind of whacked back story to create a publicity blitz.
What about Madonna? The 80's had their share of that too!

Madonna didn't use shock tactics to start her career. Her first album went to number 8 on the charts, had two top ten singles and sold three million copies by years end.
After she had garnered critical acclaim for her debut album was when she began experimenting with how far she could push the envelope, Not before.

by **Deb** » Wed Feb 16, 2011 1:56 pm

S2M wrote:Top 5 Songs on every playa's mix tape in the early 90s - songs that they thought would get them laid...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-eSN8Cwit_s

by **S2M** » Wed Feb 16, 2011 1:58 pm

Deb wrote:
S2M wrote:Top 5 Songs on every playa's mix tape in the early 90s - songs that they thought would get them laid...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-eSN8Cwit_s

Not quite the right tempo, Deb, if you be catchin' me drift... :lol:

by **StevePerryHair** » Wed Feb 16, 2011 2:00 pm

Ehwmatt wrote:
StevePerryHair wrote:You realize people raised on 60's and 70's music saw the 80's as the decline.

Ya, it's the old "Back in my day" phenomenon that every generation experiences as it passes the torch to the next one. I do realize that it's a recurring theme in music/politics/sports/just about everything, but I really just can't fathom how music can recover from where it is at right now. Not mainstream/pop music, at least.

Well, I just see a lot of them trying to mimic what they saw in the 80's. The shock, the colors, the dancing, but just in a more modern way. Everything comes back, but a little different. The difference then was rap was in it's infancy. So pop and rock had equal audience. Now pop and rap have that audience. I don't hate all of the mainstream music right now. I hated the 90's WAY worse! I feel a lot if them are trying to be retro now.

by **Deb** » Wed Feb 16, 2011 2:01 pm

S2M wrote:
Deb wrote:
S2M wrote:Top 5 Songs on every playa's mix tape in the early 90s - songs that they thought would get them laid...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-eSN8Cwit_s

Not quite the right tempo, Deb, if you be catchin' me drift...

LMAO, it can be. :lol:

Not every gal likes a romantic traips through a meadow type tempo. :lol:

by **StevePerryHair** » Wed Feb 16, 2011 2:02 pm

Don wrote:
StevePerryHair wrote:
Don wrote:BackStreet Boys actually play their own instruments now. I never really had a problem with the boy/Girl bands but now it's more about being shocking or having some kind of whacked back story to create a publicity blitz.
What about Madonna? The 80's had their share of that too!

Madonna didn't use shock tactics to start her career. Her first album went to number 8 on the charts, had two top ten singles and sold three million copies by years end.
After she had garnered critical acclaim for her debut album was when she began experimenting with how far she could push the envelope, Not before.

For THAT time, even what she wore in her first MTV videos was the beginning. You don't remember her clothing trend on young girls from even as far back as Lucky Star? The over the top, STARTED in the 80's. Even the androgynous bands.

by **StevePerryHair** » Wed Feb 16, 2011 2:05 pm

This was provocative for THAT time:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKnwYLQP ... ata_player

by **Deb** » Wed Feb 16, 2011 2:11 pm

I want the 70s back damnit........ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usWQOPTORn8

by **Peartree12249** » Wed Feb 16, 2011 3:01 pm

StevePerryHair wrote:You realize people raised on 60's and 70's music saw the 80's as the decline.

Yes, I would agree with that. :wink:

We used to laugh at the "talentless" spandex clad hair bands of the "80" :lol:

I quit listening to most rock in the 80's because I thought the quality had really gone down hill. I always liked Journey, Foreigner, Aerosmith, & Van Halen, but there was a lot of really bad rock out there as well. So in the 80's I got into outlaw country & new traditional country music, like Willie, Waylon, Jerry Jeff Walker, Joe Ely, EmmyLou Harris, Dwight Yoakam, etc.

There is still a lot of great music out there, you just have to look a little harder to find it.

by **Maui Tom** » Wed Feb 16, 2011 3:08 pm

Ehwmatt wrote:So, I absolutely refuse to watch any shit like the Grammies or pay attention to the pop divas of today. But sometimes, exposure is inevitable because I'm a younger guy and I'm around a lot of young idiots who are into that shit.

I got to thinking: How low can we go before mainstream music just dies?

I grew up a child of the 90s, and for our generation, the boy bands/Spice Girls of the world were the scourge of the earth, the butt of all jokes etc. I know children of the 80s hated grunge, but some of those bands had a lot of talent. And honestly, the boy bands/Spice Girls and arguably even some of the other female pop stars had some real talent. So, in hindsight, the 90s wasn't NEARLY as bad as today when it comes to mainstream music.

Today, we're assaulted by the likes of Lady Gaga and Justin Bieber. Absolutely horrendous, vapid shit that has no substance.

I know I'm probably not saying anything revolutionary here, but my god, this Bieber shit just pisses me off to no end. I can ignore most of the awful stuff that's out there, but for some reason, some of these fools really just set me off. Fuck them.

Yep...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oowuyzxg ... 1C9FE0C740

by **Clasicrockldy** » Wed Feb 16, 2011 3:22 pm

For me, mainstream rock has died out. Give me some late '50's, 60's, 70's, and 80's, and I am a happy camper!

by **bluejeangirl76** » Thu Feb 17, 2011 12:56 am

Ehwmatt wrote:I got to thinking: How low can we go before mainstream music just dies?

Right here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6bX3Is3PA2U

I swear, I've never seen anything so god awful. This was the moment I said "Are you KIDDING me with this? THIS is what is "hot" now? REALLY? Worse than Gaga, Bieber and all the rest of them rolled up in one. Absolute dog crap. Makes all the cheesy crap I grew up with sound like Beethoven.

And then there's that Willow Smith. Let's pray that b.s. will be a one "hit" wonder and go away fast.

by **DrFU** » Thu Feb 17, 2011 1:08 am

The word that comes to mind for me is simulacrum ... an imitation that lacks the substance and qualities of the original ...

by **Memorex** » Thu Feb 17, 2011 1:32 am

One person that I feel rises above all of the current crap is Bruno Mars. He had a great SNL performance last year. His album is really, really good. He writes a ton of other stuff and I thought his Grammy performance was absolutely great. You have to go to the 2:20 mark for his main song.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zz_INUGCseM

Reminded me of Terence Trent D'Arby and of course all that old school stuff. He played drums on the next song after that.

This is one of those artists that both me and my kids can enjoy.

by **Michigan Girl** » Thu Feb 17, 2011 1:35 am

Deb wrote:
Don wrote:BackStreet Boys actually play their own instruments now. I never really had a problem with the boy/Girl bands but now it's more about being shocking or having some kind of whacked back story to create a publicity blitz.

Out of them all, I kinda liked them. My daughter was big into BSB so I heard their CDs blaring thru the house more times than I can count. LOL, could probably even still sing right along with I Want It That Way http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4fndeDfaWCg

Some of us took the kids to see BSB when they came and surprisingly enjoyed the show..........well, besides an arena full of screaming tweenies. They actually put on a pretty good show back then. My daughter was nuts about Nick. But I actually thought that Brian kid had a good voice, AJ too.

Love the BSB and NKOTB ...they are still touring
and making new music!! Still listen, still love them!! But I understand where Matty is coming from!! :wink:

Also, saw Kid Rock the other night ...some of his stuff is sooo not for me, but I also love a lot of it!!
The guy can sing and he is an A #1 entertainer; although, his Michigan shows are far better than any other!!
He's fuckin' forty now, you know!!:wink:

MR

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