So...pop music/MTV=crap?

[old.Tohtori]

I've beeeen thinking, again, yes, that time again.

Everybody who's "anybody" and a music "lover", always says that popular music, the radio tunes, MTV, etc. is utterly crap.

Now, i'm guessing these people don't go out and get the whole album and listen to it. Fairly..err...fair assumption i'd assume?

Now, to the point, how can one judge a whole artist/album(music genre likes aside), by the most popular song/track that is shown on TV or played on radio?

As an example, a friend told me that Black eyed peas is crap. Fair enough. I asked what was crap about it? He answered with "It's just that basic thump songs you hear in a club"(not exact quote). So, i played a couple of tracks from the album, that weren't so "played around", without him knowing(this was just "inbetween" at a preparty) and he liked one track, asked what it was, and i answered with...black eyed peas.

Safe to say he was a bit "wtf" about it and took a bit of convincing to prove it(take out cd from player X) )

Anyways, Isn't the very basis of an educated opinion, or "musical taste opinion", to know the whole production instead of judging something by a miniscule amount?

 

[collegien]

Exactly !

Thats why i love everyone [cept for the bad ones ;P]




/hugs all round

 

[Overdriven]

Oh, I've done this a few times (Actaully with the same band O_O) and had to prove them wrong too. Happens with a few people, which sucks.

Though saying that, some songs which you know suck (Certain artists) you know the rest of the album will.

 

[Calaen]

As an example, a friend told me that Black eyed peas is crap. Fair enough. I asked what was crap about it? He answered with "It's just that basic thump songs you hear in a club"(not exact quote). So, i played a couple of tracks from the album, that weren't so "played around", without him knowing(this was just "inbetween" at a preparty) and he liked one track, asked what it was, and i answered with...black eyed peas.

Safe to say he was a bit "wtf" about it and took a bit of convincing to prove it(take out cd from player X) )

Anyways, Isn't the very basis of an educated opinion, or "musical taste opinion", to know the whole production instead of judging something by a miniscule amount?

The fact he didnt know it was a BEP track shows you he has no clue. All of their songs can be ticked of as being done by them because of the style and sound of the group.

The problem people have and I agree with them is most of the time you only ever hear 1 song from an artist and its overkilled on every radio/tv station to the point where you could not possibly imagine listening to anything else by them because you have been killed slowly listening to the same song over and over again.

I have a very open stance when it comes to music. I really will listen to anything and give it a chance.

 

[old.Tohtori]

The fact he didnt know it was a BEP track shows you he has no clue. All of their songs can be ticked of as being done by them because of the style and sound of the group.

Actually the ones playing on the radio/TV, are(atleast to the people who only hear those), not at all similar to those in the albums. Ofcourse if you know the band, listen to the band, then you'll recognize it easy, but there's enough diversity for the "i don't like that band" to be surprised.

But i agree that there's a problem in overselling too.

 

[soze]

Popular Music is Popular because of children kids are the majority then it comes to buying singles.

Most Adults either buy the Album or dl it. While there are kids who will spend pocket money buying the latest dribble from girls allowed they will never go away. And yes i blame the parents

There are a few radio shows like Zane Low play album tracks but its specific music. You do wish the radio would make more of an album than the 2 hit singels. Like how English Radio is all over Gym Class Heroes now and keet raving about the new album. When its really the 3rd album and nearly a year old.

 

[Mojo]

I agree Toh, people jump on the bash pop band wagon.

I find those who slate POP and stand up and yell sell outs at other bands usually have the most limited taste when it come to music. Not only does the music have to conform to some standard but it has to be unpopular and not played on any TV or Radio not just MTV.

How anyone can disregard music just because it's popular is beyond me.

 

[Naetha]

I just love it when you ask what sort of music people like and they reply with "oh I like everything!".

When you ask them if they like Slayer, or Pink Floyd, or Holst they always go "oh no I don't like that stuff - I just like whats on the radio/MTV".

 

[Levin]

There is too much music out there to take every album and listen to it to get an "educated" opinion. You have to go with what you hear, and try to form an opinion from that. If, later, you discover that a band actually make some pretty good music, it's just to shrug and admit you were wrong.

I've done it too.

In the eighties I was into rap/hiphop and told my friends I'd NEVER listen to metal as I thought it sounded crap. Then a friend of mine played Metallica's "One" as background music at a party, and I asked him "what's that?". He explained smugly that it was that "crap" music, and I proceeded to borrow the CD from him and loved Metallica and and metal ever since. I was baffled by the skills of metal musicians. My friends still love to tease me about it too.

Still, sometimes people need to warm up to certain kinds of music. Sometimes they need to listen to certain songs that spark their interest in a whole new genre. It's not so strange really, and is perfectly fine, as long as you're big enough to admit you changed your mind.

 

[leviathane]

there's a fine line between what people say they think is crap and what people say they like tbh.
Everyone is has atleast one guilty pleasure which is considered "uncool".

 

[Golena]

The truth of the matter is that there's more music out there than you'll be able to listen to in your lifetime.

Most people therefore listen to some of the popular stuff bands do and if they don't like them don't bother listening to the rest. Are they potentially missing out on some great tracks by doing so, almost certainly..
You've got to filter music somehow tho since you can't listen to it all and I guess it's as good a way as any.

When most people say bands are crap, what they actually also mean is they arn't my style of music. Pretty much all bands that get records made actually arn't crap, it's just lots of them don't fit the style of music I enjoy.

 

[Glacier]

The reason 99.9% of the crap that goes on MTV is hated is because the majority of music lovers, like myself, like:

Good Lyrics
Skillful instrument playing
Band/Musician doing their "own" thing.

Most of the MTV bands you see are bands that went from doing their own thing, that went to going the easy-liking way with their stuff, doing lyrics and beats they know would hit their main audience; 14-18 year old rebellious teenagers.
Heck, like 20% of the time a song gets popular for it's video instead of the song itself [See: Call on me, and various Günther, or other videos with women with light-clothing]


When I listen to music, i listen for: Orginality, Lyrics, Performance, Skill.

Majority of the 14-18 year old pop audience listens for: Beats to shake their ass to or feel sorry for themselves to.


Edit: Don't get me wrong, listen to what music you like, but i'm explaining to OP why so many hate the mainstream, and my own personal views on it.

 

[aika]

agree with Glacier, and i dont really like it cause sometimes the clips are so low and the music itself is very commercialised

 

[pikeh]

Everyone is has atleast one guilty pleasure which is considered "uncool".

got a whole fecking playlist of them.

gah! brian adams for the win.

i generally hate the radio/ tv for music. but sometimes, the singles are singles for a reason.
one thing im adamant about, is that i dont own (virtually) any single tracks from bands. i (virtually) always get the full album. just cos it pisses me off. I dont wanna say i like a band just becuase ive heard one of thier songs.

what does really piss me off is when the radio tout a band as the best new thing etc, and they have like 2 albums out already. (although i hate them, it happened with Fall Out Boy)

pff its all a big mess.

 

[Case]

I like fall out boy

Problem with pop music and the industry as a whole is that once they find a formula that works they only sign bands/groups that perform that forula untill it`s absolutly ragged to death. Then they move onto the next formula that comes along. Pop music in today`s society stifles creativity rather than encouraging it as it did in the past.

Try listening to an old Beatles album so much creativity in 1 album and that was the pop music of it`s day.

 

[Glacier]

I'm not a fan of rap, but the stuff MTV put's out, even I can tell is crappy rap.
They have no statement, no real Push, like old-school rap, and the current underground ones have, they sing about how much cash they have, how many people they have shot, how phat cars they have.

Heres an example:
MTV Style Rap:
YouTube - Juvenile,LiL Wayne & BG - Bling Bling
[youtubevid]WbLd5IRte54[/youtubevid]

Rap with a message:
YouTube - Immortal Technique -- Point of No Return
[youtubevid]Igt-jW4e8ts[/youtubevid]







I'm not even a rap fan, but I can tell the difference between trying to milk teenagers for all it's worth, and real music, with a statement.

 

[Olgaline]

I agree Toh, people jump on the bash pop band wagon.

I find those who slate POP and stand up and yell sell outs at other bands usually have the most limited taste when it come to music. Not only does the music have to conform to some standard but it has to be unpopular and not played on any TV or Radio not just MTV.

How anyone can disregard music just because it's popular is beyond me.

that is so well put!
tbh the only "problem" i have with alot of so called pop, is more a question of the concept behind it, and not the music in it self. But I'm really not a big fan of the idea of taking a "preaty face or steroetype" to market a song or a carrier/band.

basicly things like elvis presly, gun's and roses, britney spears, rhiana, backstreet boys, ect and so on.

but that dosent change the fact that i like some of the music it self or the performer for that matter, it's the concept, if you catch my drift ?

 

[Raven]

Most of the music around these days is disposable, nobody will be listening to it in a years time, let alone 10 years time. Dance music went down hill about five years ago, chart rock music around the same time. everyone in a particular genre sounds much the same as anyone else.

 

[kivik]

Rap with a message:
YouTube - Immortal Technique -- Point of No Return
[youtubevid]Igt-jW4e8ts[/youtubevid]

I'm not even a rap fan, but I can tell the difference between trying to milk teenagers for all it's worth, and real music, with a statement.

Just gotta say thanks alot for posting this, I like it alot. +rep

 

[Huntingtons]

glacier: is there something wrong in making music without a message?

if i know a band has made a big hit radio wise and i dislike it, im not gonna say i dont like it, i say i havnt heard it alot. if i know they have made more of the same type im very reluctant when knowing people want to listen to it - but i can still easily listen to it without freaking out... hey it might be good anyway. but it needs abit more to convince me
just my useless opinion

 

[Glacier]

glacier: is there something wrong in making music without a message?

if i know a band has made a big hit radio wise and i dislike it, im not gonna say i dont like it, i say i havnt heard it alot. if i know they have made more of the same type im very reluctant when knowing people want to listen to it - but i can still easily listen to it without freaking out... hey it might be good anyway. but it needs abit more to convince me
just my useless opinion

Nothing wrong at all with making music without a message.
But the pop music today you will see they intentionally get a hottie/hunk up there, and just make him spew out something that's studio edited 300 times over.

An artist like that wouldnt last 3 seconds live, and someone who JUST plays for profit, is not even an artist in my eyes, sorry.

Ofcourse not 100% of what's "hip" today isn't crap, but as I said before, todays artists play for one thing, profit, no heart and soul into their music.
Seems they don't even care about what they sing about aslong as it sounds "cool".

So to the original poster; This is why Pop music/MTV gets bashed. No soul, no meanings, no heart in the songs.Nothing more than milking cows. One day here, next day gone.

And @ any mod. COME ON, give me back the option to have a sig, god. You guys have less sense of humor than Kim Jong.