I managed to watch the first minute of each one. Then figured life is too short to waste any of it (especially at my age). Nice art direction in the Lil Nas X vid, though. Beyond that I think these come under the general heading of "get off my lawn!"
Listening without watching the accompanying video:
"Senorita" is pleasant enough for a MOR pop song. Stuff with "la-la-la" in place of a lyric can be bothersome occasionally but it worked ok.
The Selina Gomez song is a lot like the Ariana Grande stuff I've tried listening too -- another song without a memorable melody line. I appreciate the concept of young female artists writing more "serious" lyrics for sure, but where's the tune? I think she has talent, but it's a swing and a miss from me. TBH, it sounded a lot like they "Weyes Blood" stuff I tried and didn't work for me for the same reason, either. At least Lorde and (at some level) Billie Eilish can write something with a hook.
Lil Nas X -- meh.
Tones and I -- Had not heard this one previously. Baby-doll-ish vocal delivery doesn't work for me. I waited through the chorus, though. It was not offensive.
Lil Tecca -- I'll be the first to admit today's urban music is not aimed at me. This one was like a thousand other songs that don't do anything for me. It takes something special to break through my wall in a genre I don't usually listen to (though I try to be open-minded about it.)
"Senorita" is the best of the five, clearly. Its the only one I played all the way through that I wouldn't turn off if it came on.
kudos to anyone who listens all the way thru. the songs sound constructed in a laboratory rather than in a studio or rehearsal space. otoh, I just completed a road trip, and Mendes' prior big hit came on the radio several times (as did Kiss On My List for some reason) and I was not moved to change the channel. I do have a soft spot for Gomez and that bhangra song of hers from a few years ago (Come and Get It).
The processed vocals on these songs drives my brain nuts. I feel like I should do a better job of listening to more recent popular music, but it's just too hard.
I've tried multiple times to listen to a full Taylor Swift album, but it's the same problem. Even watching her on SNL a couple of weeks ago, I'm watching her sing but the sound that's being transmitted is not from a human. There's nothing to hold on to.
About 52 seconds into the Nas vid, the gal made the face I made when trying each of these out. Like others, I cringe at processed vocals when it's in the service of 1) Covering a lack of skill 2) Jumping on a bandwagon. More bothersome, tho, is the whiney quality of so much pop these days, and I mean that as a reference to the vocals, not the lyrics. I hate the forced vocal fry. I hate the keening, especially in a guy's voice. When I think of a male R&B singer, I think of guys that sound like men, even when they were begging their lady to take them back. I think of this as an artifact of the last couple decades -- I'm guessing boy bands helped whelp it -- but I heard "Do They Know It's Christmas" again a week ago (On a collection of McCartney rarities, of all things, because Paulie contributed to it apparently), and I noticed that George Michael and Boy George both sang with that keening whine, too. When modern R&B singers sound more like fey Brit boys than like Otis or Aretha (or even Marvin!), there's a problem. No bueno. C in California
I think you always have very good stories and posts. I am not sure about this one. I think I will pass on this, I have really huge prejudices about most of the things shown in this post (some others I don't even know but I can guess this is all part of the same based on the comments). So I will download the EC file and listen to it while you come back with another of the great posts.
I'll take a wild guess that everyone posting here is a life-long music obsessive, and also likely to be at least 40 (50, 60?) years old. That certainly includes me. When I was playing in a New Wave band back in the 80's, (yeah, in general, that shit hasn't aged too well, has it?) I was bitching to someone about the lack of taste in music of the great unwashed masses. She responded, "Well, dude, music is just not as important to them as it is to you." That comment flipped a switch for me. I get it. It's possible that music may be even less important to more of the people nowadays, but still, every generation wants their sounds, even if it's just secondary to whatever else they think is important. Also, when you're just coming to pop music as a kid, everything is fresh, and it resonates with your life, and... you're not measuring it against 'ALL THE AMAZING MUSIC FROM BACK IN THE DAY." Having said all that, nah, I can't make it through any of those 5 'songs'. :D
What's great is that every micro-generation wrestles with "popular," "good," and "classic." Where will any of these songs be in five years? We can't know. We will be talking about Lil Nas X in five years in many ways like we bring up Corey Hart's "Sunglasses at Night" (OK, Boomer?). Many of us also believe that the music of our youth was the best (not I) but that doesn't necessarily make it so. Regarding Taylor Swift, the biggest thing in pop music, I struggle with how vapid and stunted her lyrics are. Songs might be hook-y but want to talk about breaking up? Listen to Jackson Browne, right:) Haters gonna hate, right?
12 comments:
Has this site been hacked? :)
I managed to watch the first minute of each one. Then figured life is too short to waste any of it (especially at my age).
Nice art direction in the Lil Nas X vid, though. Beyond that I think these come under the general heading of "get off my lawn!"
Thanks for reminding me what I'm (not) missing.
Listening without watching the accompanying video:
"Senorita" is pleasant enough for a MOR pop song. Stuff with "la-la-la" in place of a lyric can be bothersome occasionally but it worked ok.
The Selina Gomez song is a lot like the Ariana Grande stuff I've tried listening too -- another song without a memorable melody line. I appreciate the concept of young female artists writing more "serious" lyrics for sure, but where's the tune? I think she has talent, but it's a swing and a miss from me. TBH, it sounded a lot like they "Weyes Blood" stuff I tried and didn't work for me for the same reason, either. At least Lorde and (at some level) Billie Eilish can write something with a hook.
Lil Nas X -- meh.
Tones and I -- Had not heard this one previously. Baby-doll-ish vocal delivery doesn't work for me. I waited through the chorus, though. It was not offensive.
Lil Tecca -- I'll be the first to admit today's urban music is not aimed at me. This one was like a thousand other songs that don't do anything for me. It takes something special to break through my wall in a genre I don't usually listen to (though I try to be open-minded about it.)
"Senorita" is the best of the five, clearly. Its the only one I played all the way through that I wouldn't turn off if it came on.
kudos to anyone who listens all the way thru. the songs sound constructed in a laboratory rather than in a studio or rehearsal space. otoh, I just completed a road trip, and Mendes' prior big hit came on the radio several times (as did Kiss On My List for some reason) and I was not moved to change the channel. I do have a soft spot for Gomez and that bhangra song of hers from a few years ago (Come and Get It).
The processed vocals on these songs drives my brain nuts. I feel like I should do a better job of listening to more recent popular music, but it's just too hard.
I've tried multiple times to listen to a full Taylor Swift album, but it's the same problem. Even watching her on SNL a couple of weeks ago, I'm watching her sing but the sound that's being transmitted is not from a human. There's nothing to hold on to.
The search for the perfect sound forever never ends.
About 52 seconds into the Nas vid, the gal made the face I made when trying each of these out. Like others, I cringe at processed vocals when it's in the service of 1) Covering a lack of skill 2) Jumping on a bandwagon. More bothersome, tho, is the whiney quality of so much pop these days, and I mean that as a reference to the vocals, not the lyrics. I hate the forced vocal fry. I hate the keening, especially in a guy's voice. When I think of a male R&B singer, I think of guys that sound like men, even when they were begging their lady to take them back. I think of this as an artifact of the last couple decades -- I'm guessing boy bands helped whelp it -- but I heard "Do They Know It's Christmas" again a week ago (On a collection of McCartney rarities, of all things, because Paulie contributed to it apparently), and I noticed that George Michael and Boy George both sang with that keening whine, too. When modern R&B singers sound more like fey Brit boys than like Otis or Aretha (or even Marvin!), there's a problem. No bueno.
C in California
I think you always have very good stories and posts. I am not sure about this one. I think I will pass on this, I have really huge prejudices about most of the things shown in this post (some others I don't even know but I can guess this is all part of the same based on the comments). So I will download the EC file and listen to it while you come back with another of the great posts.
With all due respect.
Roy
I'll take a wild guess that everyone posting here is a life-long music obsessive, and also likely to be at least 40 (50, 60?) years old. That certainly includes me. When I was playing in a New Wave band back in the 80's, (yeah, in general, that shit hasn't aged too well, has it?) I was bitching to someone about the lack of taste in music of the great unwashed masses. She responded, "Well, dude, music is just not as important to them as it is to you." That comment flipped a switch for me. I get it. It's possible that music may be even less important to more of the people nowadays, but still, every generation wants their sounds, even if it's just secondary to whatever else they think is important. Also, when you're just coming to pop music as a kid, everything is fresh, and it resonates with your life, and... you're not measuring it against 'ALL THE AMAZING MUSIC FROM BACK IN THE DAY." Having said all that, nah, I can't make it through any of those 5 'songs'. :D
What's great is that every micro-generation wrestles with "popular," "good," and "classic." Where will any of these songs be in five years? We can't know. We will be talking about Lil Nas X in five years in many ways like we bring up Corey Hart's "Sunglasses at Night" (OK, Boomer?). Many of us also believe that the music of our youth was the best (not I) but that doesn't necessarily make it so. Regarding Taylor Swift, the biggest thing in pop music, I struggle with how vapid and stunted her lyrics are. Songs might be hook-y but want to talk about breaking up? Listen to Jackson Browne, right:)
Haters gonna hate, right?
Paul in CA
Five seconds each, max. If you're a musician, there is nothing to hear here, move along.
Tried to be kind...gave each 10 seconds. It is just pathetic....
Post a Comment