I've been trying to come up with an example that would illustrate -- in no uncertain terms -- how pathetic, childish, commercial and totally devoid of talent -- relatively and objectively speaking -- the American 'Pop Music' Business has devolved into over the past three or four decades. So, here it is:
According to Billboard, the official researcher of such things, the Top 5 'Pop' songs so far in 2014 are:
1. The Monster (Eminem, featuring Rihanna)
2. Timber (Pitbull, featuring Ke$ha)
3. Dark Horse (Katy Perry, featuring Juicy J)
4. Happy (Pharell Williams)
5. All of Me (John Legend)
Now, here are Billboard's Top 5 'Pop' songs for the year 1970:
1. Bridge Over Troubled Waters (Simon & Garfunkel)
2. Let It Be (The Beatles)
3. American Woman (The Guess Who)
4. The Long and Winding Road (The Beatles)
5. Tears of a Clown (Smokey Robinson and The Miracles)
It's obvious to anyone who knows anything about music how ridiculous the 2014 list looks next to the 1970 list. The only song on the 2014 list that is even tolerable, from a talent and melodic standpoint, is John Legend's All of Me. That's because Mr. Legend is an actual musician, who plays an actual instrument (the piano) and sings quite well. Granted, his song is derivative and sounds like a thousand other love songs that were popular over the past thirty years or so.
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| A fucking Joke |
Eminem, featuring Rihanna is #1. Neither one of these two talented performance artists are actual musicians. Eminem writes rhymes, and he's very good at it, but let's face reality for a moment -- he's no Bob Dylan. Eminem's rhymes are for children, and apparently the music market in the USA is made up of millions of little kids, because they buy this sonic garbage in massive amounts. Rihanna has a good voice, and she looks good, just like thousands of other girls in the USA.
Pitbull, featuring Ke$ha have the #2 spot so far in 2014. Not only is this a terrible song by any measure, but it also exemplifies the fact that kids can still be brainwashed into 'liking' anything that is perpetually shoved down their throats via the 'radio' stations and promoters who are responsible for bringing such bullshit to market. Kids will listen to anything that is shoved down their throats. It's not their fault. They don't know any better. As for the millions of adults in the USA who also love this garbage, the world would be better off without you. I recommend suicide as soon as possible.
Katy Perry, featuring someone else. What is it with all of the 'featuring' nonsense these days. It's like heroin for puppies. Any idiot capable of coming up with a three-second-long 'hook' that happens to be catchy to listen to, is suddenly inserted into the structure of a song, because corporate researchers have determined that these little 'hooks' cause children to spend money to keep listening to the hooks. Heroin for puppies -- you'll start to understand what I mean as you digest the truth that I'm throwing your way. As for Katy Perry, she has a good voice, like millions of others. Song quality? Garbage. No depth or musicianship to speak of. But the masses will keep buying what the moneymen are selling because that's the way this monetary society works.
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| Wanna-be porn star w/a decent voice |
Pharell Williams, Happy. This song is no better than thousands of commercial 'jingles' people of my generation grew up to. People call this guy a genius, because everything he touches turns to money. If money equates to genius, then all of these people would be correct. If one takes a look around the world, one would find plenty of very wealthy morons. Pharell is a 'jingle' writer. He belongs in an ad agency, writing jingles for Coke, or Pepsi, or Gap or Lululemon. His 'genius', if you break it down, is nothing more than an ability to come up with five-seconds-long 'hooks' repeated over and over and over again, ad nauseum. It's like disco plus Adderall. The kids in America will buy this shit and swallow it up and defend it at all costs. Like I said, heroin for puppies. Pharell deserves a permanent role on 'Sesame Street,' nothing more. If you're interested in learning about a genius music producer who actually produced music, I have two words for you: George Martin.
So, now take a look at the same list from 1970, also compiled by Billboard, using the same metrics and variables. The Beatles, Simon & Garfunkel, The Guess Who, Smokey Robinson.................all brilliant musicians and vocalists. Music for grown-ups. There is nothing more to be said.
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| Actual Musicians, remember them? |
It's unfortunate that the American music market has turned into a cesspool of commercial jingles. Because the tragic reality is that there are tens of thousands of brilliant musicians in the U.S. who will never get the exposure they deserve. Once in a while, someone great like Jack White or Dave Grohl will make it to the top -- sadly this is probably due to luck more than anything.
Peace/Warm Regards:
Jude Blues
