11 months ago
Serious Musings about Pop Music
It’s official, I really like this song. And I honestly dig kids with this kind of style. At first, I was hatin’ but it takes a lot of confidence to wear those crazy colors. Not for me, but I have to say I’m kind of glad someone is rocking it.
Yes, I do hate turning on the radio and everything sounds like 1990s Ibiza club music (Rihanna’s “Only Girl in the World”, Pitbull’s “Give Me Everything” Kesha’s “We R Who We R”, etc, etc). It gets annoying and it’s a really crazy fad. But you know, there are always going to be kids who are going to want to dance. I don’t know how popular freestyle music was elsewhere in the country, but growing up, it was really popular in San Antonio. Songs like this really defined a childhood in San Antonio I think.
So there is a reason for me to get over the Kesha’s, the constant 808s, and the electro hop and just embrace it. I mean, I don’t have to like all of it. I’m just finally getting a better understanding of it and whatever gets people moving is great. It can become overwhelmingly irritating and soon people will be over it and onto the next. But for now, it’s fun and I’m going to enjoy it.
This is an ongoing project I’m going to try to work on. I’ve been wanting to do more breakdowns of why I enjoy pop music because I’m constantly around friends who are super indie rock, underground punk, and straight rock and roll people and most don’t seem to understand the fun in it. I’m a huge fan of soul and indie dance punk bands the most, so I fit in well with this current scene. That is, until I start blaring the Rihanna. So after writing a bit of a rebuttal to some user saying everyone is copying Lady Gaga here and then writing another response to a comment she left me here further explaining my opinion about my love for music about a year ago, I’ve been itching to write some more about the topic. I’m just so tired of people saying there isn’t any good music anymore and I’m tired of people not just having good fun when they listen to a song. I’ve gone from Janet Jackson to NSYNC to Senses Fail to We Are Scientists to Janelle Monae in big leaping steps. There aren’t many artists that I used to listen to and don’t like to listen to now. Yeah, you grow up in music but feelings about songs and albums don’t change drastically. You may have a laugh about it now, but it still conjures up something. And I love that about music. Here’s to talking and writing more about it!
2 years ago
A Contrarian View of Lady Gaga «
Over at Racialicious, an article questioning whether Gaga gets away with being innovative and progressive because she’s a white woman. This comes after all the hoopla over Kelis supposedly being her copycat on gossip blogs and M.I.A. slamming her in a recent interview.
When Ebony Bones and Nicki Minaj are out there pushing the envelope why aren’t they considered innovators or artistes? I’ve gone there before based on style but this article is a good look on the gender study and race of it all.
2 years ago
I am SO sick of the lack of creativeness in the music industry. Yes, I understand that people are really like futuristic and techno, I like that kind of music too. I am just so sick of the lack of creativity. It is so unbelievable. A person can sing whatever they want to in the music industry. They do not have to be such robot copies. Lady GaGa is brilliant. Amazing. Wonderful. She changed the music industry and brought it back to life. I’m SO sick of people copying her, though. Christina Aguilera, Janelle Monae, and Kelis all have nearly identitical album covers as Lady GaGa’s debut album, The Fame. Don’t get me wrong. I am not being a hater. I am really excited for all three of these records. I just think that the industry needs to realize not everyone can be Lady GaGa and everyone be creative and be themselves!
I’m sorry, I don’t mean to be offensive but that is the most ridiculous argument I’ve heard. First, although I’ve enjoyed Gaga songs, she is the biggest copy cat of all time. Freddie Mercury, Grace Jones, etc have all done it before and honestly, her sound doesn’t match up with her looks. When I first saw a Lady Gaga picture I thought this chick must have the sound of a punky glam rock star with hints of Portishead thrown in. Instead she sounds like any blond-haired, blue-eyed girl who comes on the scene. You could have given her songs to Britney or Gwen Stefani, you wouldn’t know the difference. I’m not saying she doesn’t have lasting power but right now she’s a gimmick and I don’t believe she’s making the kind of music her style portrays.
Second, the only reason I wanted to respond was for Janelle Monáe who has been in the game since ‘03. The Archandroid is a continuation of her first album which features the story of a female android. It’s been the ongoing concept she’s been using. Her debut was released in August of ‘07, Gaga’s debut was a year later. And if anything Monáe’s album cover depicts her wearing an African headdress, nothing like Gaga’s cover album. Might I also note that Monáe’s sound is original in today’s pop world. She’s punky, soulful, and theatrical. Her contemporaries would most likely be Shingai of the Noisettes and Andre 3000. She’s not the type to put out the usual love sick pop songs that Gaga has been known to. I don’t really have an argument on behalf of Christina as she was a fad with me but I do feel Kelis has been doing the avant-garde since the beginning. She didn’t even have mainstream success until “Milkshake” but her previous albums have always been different. A mix of hip-hop, electronica, and R&B is what she’s been and I don’t think she’s stopping now.
Third, you say that Gaga has brought the music industry back to life. If by that you mean she’s got folks talking about what is art and talent, then yes. People are running around and asking what’s the big deal. There is no big deal. She hit the pop scene hard just like Beyoncé did with her first solo work, Amy Winehouse with hers, and Britney did eons before her. These artists came out, folks either lost their mind over it, or shrugged their shoulders. The music industry is not how it used to be and a mixtape can bring as much attention to an artist as a debut on a major label can. Gaga cannot be looked at as the most amazing thing that hit the scene these past two years.
I believe you when you say you’re not a hater. I just don’t believe you have all the facts about any of these artists. No one’s asking you to dig up the dirt on every musician out there because if you like something better, that’s how it is. But don’t believe something is an original when it clearly isn’t and don’t put other artists on blast who have been doing it longer and probably better. You’ve got to back it up. Not mad at what you’re trying to do as I rarely do rebuttals to stuff I see on Tumblr. Not everyone can be Lady Gaga but not everyone wants to be. These artists, and a whole host of others, are just doing what they love and are having no trouble pumping out the creativity.
P.S. I might end up looking dumb here for ranting on over Pop music. I enjoy the sounds of Punk, “Indie” rock (whatever that means), and Soul. But I’m also not afraid to like to listen to what the masses are being fed. I’ve always wondered if they call it Pop because of popcorn. Doesn’t take a whole lot of effort to make, easy for the masses to digest but, at the end of the day, not filling. It’s still fun though. So who cares? Have a handful every now and then.
2 years ago
Gross. Obsessed much?
