Was pop music always this bad?

lufties

Having tuned into 2fm for a few minutes, I listened to a bit of music on ruth and paddy, the music seems to be all the same, electronic type music, rubbish lyrics and some pitbull type lad rapping in parts. Compared to the 80's 90's and even noughties its awful shyte, drivel with a so called catchy tune so it sticks in your head.

RIP pop music

whirlpool

The early noughties were terrible!

A radio station in Canada announced last week that it's now only going to play 2 minutes of every song, as people's attention spans have dropped dramatically so there's no point, and they can fit more songs in. (Also something about the current standard of 3 or 4 minutes songs being an outdated standard that was originally demanded by radio stations in the 50s or something, and that not being relevant anymore.)

Shakespeare's Sister

No. And before the "No, you're just getting old" brigade start, it really wasn't. Just look at charts of the past, e.g. 1981: http://www.uk-charts.top-source.info/top-100-1981.shtml

Now obviously there was some crap, but today there is far MORE crap.

I know music isn't just limited to the charts, but I miss when there would be good current pop songs on the radio.

I actually think the early 00s was an improved time for pop - with all that Timbaland/Neptunes stuff, which was great IMO.

Links234

It's always been fairly crap, the thing about the 80's is that all the good stuff is what's remembered, while the bad stuff is forgotten.

Pwindedd

whirlpool wrote: »

The early noughties were terrible!

A radio station in Canada announced last week that it's now only going to play 2 minutes of every song, as people's attention spans have dropped dramatically so there's no point, and they can fit more songs in. (Also something about the current standard of 3 or 4 minutes songs being an outdated standard that was originally demanded by radio stations in the 50s or something, and that not being relevant anymore.)

Jingles...we're all going to end up listening to 30 second jingles...Demolition Man was scarily accurate and prohetic. Joy-joy feelings all over this land.

whirlpool

Shakespeare's Sister wrote: »

No. And before the "No, you're just getting old" brigade. It really wasn't. Just look at charts of the past, e.g. 1981: http://www.uk-charts.top-source.info/top-100-1981.shtml

Now obviously there was some crap, but today there is far MORE crap.

I know music isn't just limited to the charts, but I miss when there would be good current pop songs on the radio.

I actually think the early 00s was an improved time for pop - with all that Timbaland/Neptunes stuff, which was great IMO.

I agree with that. That stuff was the silver lining. There was an AWFUL lot of rubbish British pop music around at the time. If you can't remember it, there's a good reason. But as a teenager who used to watch MTV after school, and Saturday morning pop shows, trust me... looking back, it was awwwwwful.

The American pop was a lot better. (Although, a lot of that was produced by Swedish guys.)

Links234

Pwindedd wrote: »

Jingles...we're all going to end up listening to 30 second jingles...Demolition Man was scarily accurate and prohetic. Joy-joy feelings all over this land.

Have a mellow day

Bang_Bang

Simon Cowell, Pete Waterman and co killed the actual music industry, hiring songwriters, getting nobody's to do what their told and making millions off it.

This started in the early eighties, there's no one around now that actually performs their own music. I have witnessed countless times, people signing to labels then their "music" suddenly changes.

Example would be John O' Callaghan, ( I like heavy metal and hard techno)

His music before he was signed up by PVD was savage, now it's like Tiesto, rubbish. I will admit he play's a good live gig until all the singing shíte tracks are played.

kneemos

lufties wrote: »

Having tuned into 2fm for a few minutes, I listened to a bit of music on ruth and paddy, the music seems to be all the same, electronic type music, rubbish lyrics and some pitbull type lad rapping in parts. Compared to the 80's 90's and even noughties its awful shyte, drivel with a so called catchy tune so it sticks in your head.

RIP pop music

2tm wouldn't be a good place to look in fairnes,literally any other station would have a better offering.
There's loads of fantastic music being made but sadly you need to go look for it.

pauliebdub

There has always been really bad mainstream pop music through the 70s 80s 90s etc, but I think in recent years it's gotten worse with a lot less choice. The same chart hits seem to be playing on the radio for ages, previously songs would not be played once they dropped out of the charts. Some of the Katy Perry, Rihanna stuff is beyond awful.

I also think musicians have run out of ideas, I've heard no exciting guitar rock or electronic music in the past few years.

wp_rathead

Pwindedd wrote: »

Jingles...we're all going to end up listening to 30 second jingles...Demolition Man was scarily accurate and prohetic. Joy-joy feelings all over this land.

lufties

Bang_Bang wrote: »

Simon Cowell, Pete Waterman and co killed the actual music industry, hiring songwriters, getting nobody's to do what their told and making millions off it.

This started in the early eighties, there's no one around now that actually performs their own music. I have witnessed countless times, people signing to labels then their "music" suddenly changes.

Example would be John O' Callaghan, ( I like heavy metal and hard techno)

His music before he was signed up by PVD was savage, now it's like Tiesto, rubbish. I will admit he play's a good live gig until all the singing shíte tracks are played.

Respect to those who didn't sell out namely true talent like sasha and digweed, nick warren etc.. Tiesto is a pure cheesemonger, no pun about his nationality intended.

Shakespeare's Sister

pauliebdub wrote: »

Some of the Katy Perry, Rihanna stuff is beyond awful.

I don't even think that's the worst - those gals, annoying as they are (they're REALLY RAUNCHY - we get it!) actually have some catchy, polished pop numbers IMO.

The Purveyor of Truth

Links234 wrote: »

It's always been fairly crap, the thing about the 80's is that all the good stuff is what's remembered, while the bad stuff is forgotten.

That's not true at all.

Take a look at any week's Top Ten on TOTP on YouTube and at least two or three of the songs will still be being played today. There is no way that in thirty years time you could say the same about today's charts. You'd be lucky now to get one song a month that will still be around in three or four decades time. Hozier's Take Me To Church is about the only song so far this year I think would qualify.

Look at the Electric Picnic line up this year - it's total and utter crap. You would struggle to name a band appearing at it that came up in the last five years, that will still be around in twenty to thirty years time.

Look at the line-up to Feile '92 in comparison:

cf.broadsheet.ie/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/73.jpg

lufties

Shakespeare's Sister wrote: »

I don't even think that's the worst - those gals, annoying as they are (they're REALLY RAUNCHY - we get it!) actually have some catchy, polished pop numbers IMO.

Kesha is so bad its actually clever...White trash appeals to white trash.

Antar Bolaeisk

Links234 wrote: »

It's always been fairly crap, the thing about the 80's is that all the good stuff is what's remembered, while the bad stuff is forgotten.

It's the inverse temporal Doppler effect.

Bang_Bang

lufties wrote: »

Respect to those who didn't sell out namely true talent like sasha and digweed, nick warren etc.. Tiesto is a pure cheesemonger, no pun about his nationality intended.

This is exactly what JOC has turned into.

InTheTrees

Its always been 80% crap. Look back at the 70's and 80's and some of the crap is considered charming and retro now but it was actually crap at the time.

catallus

Modern pop music is the epitome of the art. The development of musical engineering protocols has given content-makers the tools to take the art to a new level of aural exploration. While it is natural that this new vista has been made possible by the work of past musicians, this shouldn't be used as an excuse to indulge in nostalgia.

While music is a matter of taste, the blanket dismissal of new music is blinkered thinking. The new blood coming on stream is at such a high standard, it is just curmudgeonly to say it is "bad".

There has always been tripe out there.

Riesen_Meal

Bang_Bang wrote: »

This is exactly what JOC has turned into.

John is a nice fella, never mad on his music in fairness, fair play to him for doing well internationally, just wouldn't be my cup of tea....

I think as you grow up your music tastes just change frequently, back a few years ago you probably thought he was great, now that your a bit older your music taste has matured and you just don't find it interesting anymore...

It happens with all music, dance, hip hop, metal, everything....

Adamantium

I sometime laugh at the youtube comments and their lack of self awareness probably from people born in 1999..." I wish I was born in the 80's, 90's were still good and some of the 00's was just ok."

*Bangs head off of desk repeatedly*

catallus

How many times do you bang your head off the desk?

Bang_Bang

Shakespeare's Sister wrote: »

I don't even think that's the worst - those gals, annoying as they are (they're REALLY RAUNCHY - we get it!) actually have some catchy, polished pop numbers IMO.

I can't understand why they all use, pyramids and devil horns in all their videos? I thought they were supposed to be different artists?

Rough Sleeper

catallus wrote: »

Modern pop music is the epitome of the art. The development of musical engineering protocols has given content-makers the tools to take the art to a new level of aural exploration. While it is natural that this new vista has been made possible by the work of past musicians, this shouldn't be used as an excuse to indulge in nostalgia.

While music is a matter of taste, the blanket dismissal of new music is blinkered thinking. The new blood coming on stream is at such a high standard, it is just curmudgeonly to say it is "bad".

I'd agree that music now is probably more interesting than it's ever been, but pop music is a terrible ambassador for what's out there.

Pop music now seems to involve appropriating ideas from grassroots underground scenes (usually at least two years after said scenes were at their peak), wringing out any spark of creativity and shred of originality, and presenting a well-produced but bland product that's generic enough to appeal to tweens and young mothers. A polished turd.

catallus

Rough Sleeper wrote: »

A polished turd.

You see, it's this type of blase dismissal I'm talking about!

Have you ever tried to polish a turd? It's not easy work, let me tell you.

We should recognise the artists for their hard work.

InTheTrees

catallus wrote: »

The development of musical engineering protocols has given content-makers the tools to take the art to a new level of aural exploration.

Or... there has been so little change or development over the last thirty years that modern pop music has evolved into a highly engineered homogenous derivative dirge designed to extract as much revenue from each sucessive generation of teen listeners before they mature enough to realise they're being manipulated.

catallus

InTheTrees wrote: »

Or... there has been so little change or development over the last thirty years that modern pop music has evolved into a highly engineered homogenous derivative dirge designed to extract as much revenue from each sucessive generation of teen listeners before they mature enough to realise they're being manipulated.

I like Katy Perry.

That is my answer to that statement.

Baron Kurtz

What is love? Baby don't hurt me, don't hurt me, any-mohhhhrr...

Gbear

It feels a lot dumber and more shallow.

There was an honest stupidty about the horrible lyrics in rap music from the 80's and 90's. They might've played up acting like a scumbag but that's the background a lot of them came from. I'd imagine that it grew out of the same impulse that spawned blues music - social commentary and a rueful nod to the problems poor black people faced.

The glamourisation of all the ****ty things bled into pop music but purely for the sake of it - there was nothing grounding it in reality. It sold so it was shoehorned into everything.

It's a bit like how a completely straight-faced film that's utterly terrible can make great watching but all the Sci-Fi channel ****e that's created to be intentionally terrible (Sharknado or whatever) just completely misses the point and has no charm, comedic value or anything worthwhile in it at all.

catallus

Baron Kurtz wrote: »

What is love? Baby don't hurt me, don't hurt me, no-mohhhhrr...

Get it right wudja?! :pac:

Rough Sleeper

catallus wrote: »

You see, it's this type of blase dismissal I'm talking about!

Have you ever tried to polish a turd? It's not easy work, let me tell you.

We should recognise the artists for their hard work.

u r a rusemaster m8

biko

Yes, pop was always bad.


I only listen to post glam speed folk, but you've probably never heard of it.

solomafioso

I used to be with it....

Doris300

Like any music there's good and there's bad. There's been a few great pop music releases in the last year.

Baron Kurtz

pauliebdub wrote: »

There has always been really bad mainstream pop music through the 70s 80s 90s etc, but I think in recent years it's gotten worse with a lot less choice. The same chart hits seem to be playing on the radio for ages, previously songs would not be played once they dropped out of the charts. Some of the Katy Perry, Rihanna stuff is beyond awful.

I also think musicians have run out of ideas, I've heard no exciting guitar rock or electronic music in the past few years.

Omit "Stay" from this sentiment re Rihanna!:)

Baron Kurtz

catallus wrote: »

Get it right wudja?! :pac:

Haha! I actually intended to write "no" but "any" stole its way in there. A resounding apology. I bet the song is in your head now though

The Purveyor of Truth

Here's the Billboard Top 100 from 1983:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billboard_Year-End_Hot_100_singles_of_1983

Almost all those songs are still being played today.


Now here's the Billboard Top 100 from 2013:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billboard_Year-End_Hot_100_singles_of_2013

..you'd be lucky if ten of these songs will still be getting airplay in thirty years time.

Doris300

pauliebdub wrote: »

I also think musicians have run out of ideas, I've heard no exciting guitar rock or electronic music in the past few years.

There has been drones of exciting electronic music and lots of good guitar bands in the last few years.

Kat97

Too much emphasis is put on image in chart music imo.

I'd watch a band performing on stage with a simple set, playing their music with nothing fancy singing good music over a flashy, commercial one any day.

Some chart songs are catchy though. I listen to them if theyre on the radio but I can guaruntee you, after the song ends I've forgotten about it. It rarely leaves a lasting impression that would make me listen to it again.

It used to when I was younger though and tbh that's most of their target audiences. Young teens who will promote them, buy their songs, watch the videos and attend their concerts.

One thing that really annoys me though is when people generalise ALL modern music as being crap. The good music is there, you just have to look past the charts if that's not your thing.

There are loads of young new bands that only have one or two songs in the charts, that play instruments (which Im sad to say is a rarity in chart music) and write their own decent songs.

anncoates

There's still good commercial pop music around but like all music it's obviously going to be less innovative as time goes on as it's a relatively rigid cultural formula so it's a big ask to expect pop music now to be as rich with ideas as a golden era like the early 80s.

Plus the general way culture is consumed nowadays means that technology-enabled cannibalistion of the ideas of previous eras is easy and rife which stymies innovation or banishes it to the margins. That's why a lot of good pop these days is ironic and in the margins as opposed to something like the late 70s/early 80s where a lot of chart/commercial pop was made by arty types with lots of ideas

131spanner

I used to listen to loads of Spin SW while working, but had to change over to Classic Hits after Spin played "Sing" by Ed Sheeran 3 times in one hour, fúcking ridiculous really.

Doris300

Kat97 wrote: »

that play instruments (which Im sad to say is a rarity in chart music)

Because playing instruments is the epitome of good music :pac:

Rothko

Bang_Bang wrote: »

Simon Cowell, Pete Waterman and co killed the actual music industry, hiring songwriters, getting nobody's to do what their told and making millions off it.

This started in the early eighties, there's no one around now that actually performs their own music. I have witnessed countless times, people signing to labels then their "music" suddenly changes.

Example would be John O' Callaghan, ( I like heavy metal and hard techno)

His music before he was signed up by PVD was savage, now it's like Tiesto, rubbish. I will admit he play's a good live gig until all the singing shíte tracks are played.

Nonsense.

Baron Kurtz

Does Atlantic 252 still have a place in people's hearts? Duran Duran's Ordinary World and Come Undone were played with satisfying regularity. Rooney's, " When did your heart go missing" was a bit of a belter not too long ago.

The odd poptastic song does come around these days. Its the incessant ubiquity of a particular artist/song that diminishes anything that might be relatively decent in that genre.

Bang_Bang

Suas11 wrote: »

Nonsense.

Correct, on independent labels, kept away from mainstream "top 10" bullshíte on 2FM and other channels.

Kat97

Doris300 wrote: »

Because playing instruments is the epitome of good music :pac:

I don't think it's the epitome of good music but in my opinion it's a contributing factor towards a good song..

Doris300

Kat97 wrote: »

I don't think it's the epitome of good music but in my opinion it's a contributing factor towards a good song..

That's immediately dismissing loads of good music for a petty irrelevant factor.

Rough Sleeper

Kat97 wrote: »

I don't think it's the epitome of good music but in my opinion it's a contributing factor towards a good song..

There's loads of great music produced entirely on software and loads of terrible music made with conventional instruments. Compare Aphex Twin to Busted. Playing instruments is neither a good nor a bad thing, it's just a thing. For genres like rock it's entry-level requirement stuff.

By the way it makes me feel old realising that people born in '97 are 17 this year.

FloatingVoter

Oh look its the "I'm Middle Aged And Don't Know It Yet" thread.

Classy music went out when Fred Flintstone sold his bongos.

purplepanda

Seems to me that single sales of top 40 artists are at their lowest ever, that's all the evidence you need that the charts are no longer relevant to the general public. How many unit sales do you need to get to number one nowadays, probably a 20th or much more in comparison to previous decades.

Whilst there seems to be more music recorded & released than ever before, due to recording equipment & costs having fallen in reality with the newer modern technology, this vast amount of new music doesn't get adequate airtime of coverage. Nor seem to have any real chance of being played on the majority of media broadcasts.

We now have countless radio stations , including digital broadcasting, these just largely play the same chart material / or the same old hits from yesteryear, & ignore all the new & varied music that's available. It's like these radio stations are just a cartel in effect under the control of the major media companies. :mad:

Sales of musical instruments are still historically high so many more artists are making & recording music, yet there is not sufficient chance of their material being broadcast to the public. :rolleyes:

KungPao

The good stuff doesn't really rise to the top like it used to. The disposable crap that is a guaranteed money-spinner is the order of the day and is pushed by the labels.

Imagine if Kate Bush was born 18 years ago and was about to sign a deal now. Would she even get a deal? A proper deal with a major label, and be given musical freedom and time to grow? She would in her ****e.

If Nirvana were starting out now, would we ever hear them on the radio or see them on MTV MTV Music? Doubt it very much.