I can't help but think Rick Beato's insides are twisting into pretzels as he struggles to find anything positive to say about the ten songs he is showcasing.
The title of the video is "The Spotify Top Ten Got Even Worse" and Beato, with his forced smiles and backhanded compliments, is clearly not enjoying what he is listening to. He says things like, "Well written!" Or,"nice change." But every one of these songs, to my ears, sounds exactly the same. He must hear that, as well. There isn't a memorable chorus to be found, or a pure, unaffected voice to be heard. It's all autotuned and soaked in reverb, with melodies that mostly go nowhere.
Rick Beato seems like he doesn't want to come off as the old guy screaming "Get off my lawn," but I have no problem coming across that way because in my heart, I know I'm not.
These ten songs are godawful.
24 comments:
I couldn't get past the first one. Obviously, you deserve combat pay. 😎
My thoughts exactly Steve, this guy has a lot of patience to be able to listen to 10 of these things I only made it through one and a half
I watched it all because I was interested in what Beato had to say.
“Bass player hasn’t gotten the message they changed chords” haha. I watched it all too. There wasn’t anything I wanted to go hear more of, but #3 and #1 had actual melodies. I know we’re old and all that, but if you don’t listen how can you criticize? Cleveland Jeff
I had heard of "Choosin' Texas" as it's been #1 on the charts a lot this year, but never actually heard the song until this video and I agree why it's heads above the rest of the list. I made it through all 15 minutes and it was...interesting, depressing and funny all at the same time.
I enjoy Rick Beato's interview videos but am less interested in these. With so much good music available, why suffer? Try this interview with Rick Rubin which is excellent: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qkwISstQQVw
- Paul in DK
Too funny, I'm not the only one who watches his site. Rick does pull some rabbits out of his hat securing interviews -
Denny Dias, Stewart Copeland, Glyn Johns. Think of the musical contribution just these three have created and then...Pandoras top 10 dreck
I watch them because I hate that trash as much as he does. It's money wasted in every conceivable way, and entirely disposable.
You guys sure haven't said anything to convince me to press the play button on the video.
Thanks for that!
Randy
Again, my interest wasn't in trying to sell anyone on the music. I like Rick Beato and I thought someone with his knowledge would have a much more interesting take on pop music. I enjoyed the 15 minutes and thought readers might, as well.
And some of us did.
Okay.
Sal,you sound despondent...
Just OK ? You did good grasshopper. Conversation tdialogues - thx it was fun
Thanks Rob. I'm fine. Not despondent at all. (Go Knicks!!) It's been 18 years of this place and I am still at a loss on how to moderate comments. Silence is a option.
I'd completely forgotten how much I like that Bob Seger Chuck Berry cover. Thanks!!! 😎
So many of these pop songs sound the same to me. Then again I have never much enjoyed most of whatever the current pop trends have been over the years and it's gotten to the the point where I no longer care to try. There's too much out there to discover that I may like to waste time on what I most probably won't. At 63 I kind of know my lane. The Ella Langley has gotten a lot of positivity on another blog I frequent, but I don't get it. She reminds me of so many modern female country artists but with a bit more of a pronounced twang. Of all the songs in the video it was...OK. The rest was pretty awful.
"She reminds me of so many modern female country artists but with a bit more of a pronounced twang. Of all the songs in the video it was...OK. The rest was pretty awful."
This is exactly how I feel. Pop music has been so godawful for so long now, anything that isn't absolute crap is considered gold.
The bar hasn't been lowered. It's been buried.
Makes you yearn for Emmy Lou, Linda, Loretta, Roseanne Cash...
I...disagree! Rick gives props to both Ella Langley songs. I've listened to the album and as Rick says, it's produced and played very well, head and shoulders above most Nashville product. I did not LOVE it. It felt a little too trad country in its subject matter (wouldn't you know it, Ella's living the dream as a touring musician -- but what she really wants is a farmhouse with a horse in the yard and a husband comin' home to take off some dirty work clothes. So we've got one thing in common!) I suspect my friendly middle of the road feelings toward the album will tilt down after another few listens. But we shall see.) I really liked the Olivia Dean album and Rick respected the song he heard, somewhat. It's not the album highlight and I've played it quite a few times. I would assume anyone who liked Olive Jones would at least find Olivia Dean ok. Finally, he spoke quite highly of both Justin Bieber tracks. Sure he gave the props to cooler-than-cool guitarist Mk.Gee on one but still. That's four out of ten he did more than tolerate. No, he wasn't rushing out to buy any of them. But that ain't so bad.
What exactly do you disagree with? That I think Beato isn't really enjoying what he says he is enjoying? That I think he his forcing his compliments because of past backlash of his criticisms?
That all the music he played is crap. The Olivia Dean album is one of the best of 2025. Justin Bieber's two songs are quite interesting and feature a really innovative guitar sound. That the two songs by Ella Langley are off a decent album. That's five out of ten songs that have some worth. Now of course one can flashback to the top 10 songs of say a week in 1973 and blow these ten out of the water. Which goes to your argument that everything today sucks and can't remotely compare to the old days. Fine. But the ten songs are not shit. A song from one of the best albums of 2025. Two songs from a solid country album (which may well bore me on repeated listens), a song featuring the truly innovative guitarist Mk.gee (Rick seems to really dig him) and another interesting Justin Bieber song. I didn't love his album Swag, but then I've never loved any album by Bieber. But I will be checking out the next Mk.gee. But then, I never listen to the radio and don't give a damn what's in the Top 10 of Billboard or on Spotify and never have. Neither have you. But it was a fun video, watching him diss tracks and wince at times. The slam on the bassist on one track was v funny. I just don't think all ten songs are crap. Five are crap. Two are decent. One is great. Plus Bieber.
Gotcha. It was unclear. Thanks for spelling it out.
...farmhouse, yard with horse, coming home dirty - sounds like we both lived in Barnwell, SC 🤠
And they pale next to the Etta James album "Tell Mama" from 1968, which I just played for the first time. Righteous.
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