Boy and girl bands, the measuring stick for the decline of the human race?
I was obviously not going to befoul the John Lennon thread with this but may I ask you all. Is there anyone out there who actually thinks boy or girl bands are actually worth the amount of cash they're generating?
Personally, I have no beef with someone who is in a boy or girl band. Sure, I don't like they're music and I think what they stand for, the commercialization of art, is disgusting but in the end there is a big fat pay check that none of us would turn down. No, not even the puritan music lovers that say they would never!
My problem is actually with the people buying this trite. Fair enough, most of them are 15 year old teenage girls but still, 15 year old teenage girls didn't listen to that crap when I was a 15 year old teenage boy! Well, actually they did because New Kids on the Block had only just started but two years before that no one would be caught dead listening to that stuff. Music was about good tunes, lyrics that spoke out to you and you wouldn't give two fks what the person making that music looked like.
Nowadays, NSYNC (hope I got that right), are...apparently...DA BOMB!...because Justin Timberland or what ever is....apparently...SO CUTE! The worst of the lot have to be Westlife though. Those guys I actually do despise. Not because they pretend to be these sensitive lads singing from the heart (hey! I'm closing my eyes and clutching my fists ain't I?) but because it took them two albums full of (bad) covers and then they made a flippin BEST OF!!!!!!!!! album! Best of what??? Best of bad covers?
Anyway, back to my point. How on earth can people buy this? The bands and their managers have in the past actually come out and said that it's all manufactured just to get your money. Why would you give up your hard earned dosh that easily to people that are openly conning you??
I just don't get it.
So what is happening to the world? Are we all so obsessed with money that we don't care what we're being served for it anymore? Are we so indoctrinated that all we can think about is that we need to make more money rather than what we spend it on? Do we not care anymore about the effort someone puts in to their work or what it means to them or can mean to us as long as it sounds ok?
Basically, is this increase of boyband and manufactured music a small symptom of our declining values?
[ 12-11-2002: Message edited by: macfenian ]</p>
Personally, I have no beef with someone who is in a boy or girl band. Sure, I don't like they're music and I think what they stand for, the commercialization of art, is disgusting but in the end there is a big fat pay check that none of us would turn down. No, not even the puritan music lovers that say they would never!
My problem is actually with the people buying this trite. Fair enough, most of them are 15 year old teenage girls but still, 15 year old teenage girls didn't listen to that crap when I was a 15 year old teenage boy! Well, actually they did because New Kids on the Block had only just started but two years before that no one would be caught dead listening to that stuff. Music was about good tunes, lyrics that spoke out to you and you wouldn't give two fks what the person making that music looked like.
Nowadays, NSYNC (hope I got that right), are...apparently...DA BOMB!...because Justin Timberland or what ever is....apparently...SO CUTE! The worst of the lot have to be Westlife though. Those guys I actually do despise. Not because they pretend to be these sensitive lads singing from the heart (hey! I'm closing my eyes and clutching my fists ain't I?) but because it took them two albums full of (bad) covers and then they made a flippin BEST OF!!!!!!!!! album! Best of what??? Best of bad covers?
Anyway, back to my point. How on earth can people buy this? The bands and their managers have in the past actually come out and said that it's all manufactured just to get your money. Why would you give up your hard earned dosh that easily to people that are openly conning you??
I just don't get it.
So what is happening to the world? Are we all so obsessed with money that we don't care what we're being served for it anymore? Are we so indoctrinated that all we can think about is that we need to make more money rather than what we spend it on? Do we not care anymore about the effort someone puts in to their work or what it means to them or can mean to us as long as it sounds ok?
Basically, is this increase of boyband and manufactured music a small symptom of our declining values?
[ 12-11-2002: Message edited by: macfenian ]</p>
Comments
<img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laughing]" /> Where's a boy-band defender when you need him or her?
Only "girl" band I miss...L7...Christ, did they rock. Now there web site's down...music's dead...
But I come from the Deborah Harry, Siouxsie Banshee and Chrissie Hynde age of rock... <img src="graemlins/smokin.gif" border="0" alt="[Chilling]" />
Jet
But not all boy or girl bands are pathetic. I personally liked Michael Learns to rock and of course the Beatles.
<strong>Only "girl" band I miss...L7...Christ, did they rock. Now there web site's down...music's dead.. </strong><hr></blockquote>
They're kinda hot! In a "we'll kill you if you cross us" kinda way, of course...
I still have a soft spot for The Go-Go's. Kathy Valentine...yummy!
<strong>
I still have a soft spot for The Go-Go's. Kathy Valentine...yummy!</strong><hr></blockquote>
I had a thing for Susanna Hoffs of the Bangles!
<strong>
I had a thing for Susanna Hoffs of the Bangles!</strong><hr></blockquote>
She's still hot, you know. Like one of those Mom's every guy in high school loves.
With all the really great music and proper singer/songwriters out there you'd wonder why people actually buy this crap?
Manufactured bands thankfully have a limited lifespan (anything from 6 months - 2 years at the most) and after they have covered literally every decent song out there and destroyed the music in the process they fade into artist oblivion.
Manufactured groups and solo artists (Popstars etc.) have only proved one thing, there's a lot of money to be made outta crap and the charts are an ill reflection of musical taste among the current younger generation.
They can be sold to very easily, marketing at its best (worst).
Sorry...thats 2 things!
AMAZING stuff.
And they'll never be heard by anyone other than random bar patrons.
MEANWHILE, some lame-brain from "American Idol" with a so-so voice, no writing ability and no "big picture" grasp of anything is rocketed to fame and fortune because she can hit a high note or two and has nice teeth.