August 12, 2008

[Niveous]

I'm having a bad day when it comes to my job. I'm looking at added job responsibilities without equal reparations for the work I'm doing. This is no good. Something must be done.

QotD: So I was reading an article about Revolver Magazine. Every year they put out an expose called the Hottest Chicks in Metal. That was interesting but more interesting was the debate it created.

Do you think less of a musician when they show off their sexuality?

(I think that question could be phrased a little better but you get the idea, right?)

[Hoblit]

QotD: I get annoyed by it sure. However, if the music is good then looks only enhance the overall likability. I loved Coal Chamber but not because of the hot girl bassist(s). I think the girl from that Evenescience is pretty nice lookin' but one national release (the first popular one?) was boring.

Paul McCartney was a dreamboat...I mean...the cute one..or whatever, did that help them or negate their success?

However, with all of that said. I DO BELIEVE that IMAGE has way more impact than it should on today's brand of musical success. I hardly believe that some of these really pretty artists would be nearly as successful if they didn't have the whole package deal. While there are certainly exceptions, today's MTV world directly controls what is considered cool. A lot of what is considered cool has to do with looks.

I get annoyed by it, sure.

[EmbersOfAutumn]

Depends...

My hugest pet peeve in everything in LIFE is when an artist doesn't play any instrument or plays a token instrument but doesn't write their own music. Generally, this fact is cradled hand-in-hand with the sexuality argument, especially for younger individuals. They should all be dragged into the street and branded very many times with a painfully hot branding iron.

...

Preferably with the branding "I suck".

[Hoblit]

Depends...

My hugest pet peeve in everything in LIFE is when an artist doesn't play any instrument or plays a token instrument but doesn't write their own music.

Get over it.

Basically what you are saying here is that a talented singer and performer shouldn't be recognized because they aren't also a talented writer.

You are also inadvertently saying that talented song writers shouldn't be given work because they aren't talented singers or performers.

[erik]

I like to look at sexy females while good music is playing.

[ujnhunter]

I like to look at sexy females while good music is playing.

yes... me too... however I tend to not like many... if any female musicians... (for some odd reason...)

and I can't technically "play" an instrument... so I guess I suck... blah!

[EmbersOfAutumn]

Get over it.

Basically what you are saying here is that a talented singer and performer shouldn't be recognized because they aren't also a talented writer.

You are also inadvertently saying that talented song writers shouldn't be given work because they aren't talented singers or performers.

Not necessarily. Trust me, I can't sing. I appreciate the talent of someone who can sing. In fact, Broadway is one of my favorite genres--I know that most actors on stage don't actually play instruments.

This is what I'm saying--

Some little blonde 18-year-old twit shouldn't be paid millions of dollars as a MUSICIAN when they can't play MUSIC.

I feel that it's horribly unfair to MUSICIANS who actually can play MUSICAL instruments. I know, I know... Life's not fair and all that jazz. But nothing turns my stomach more than watching these stupid little teens twirl around on stage, dancing and singing and acting like they're in their bedroom listening to the radio or something, and every other young person in the whole world staring at them, saying "Wow, isn't she so talented? I'd love to do that or even shake her hand!" Meanwhile, she's making a gazillion dollars, becoming a spoiled, obnoxious product of this system. Meanwhile, I'm heating up my ramen noodles in my living room sifting through all my bills....

[Niveous]

I feel that it's horribly unfair to MUSICIANS who actually can play MUSICAL instruments. I know, I know... Life's not fair and all that jazz. But nothing turns my stomach more than watching these stupid little teens twirl around on stage, dancing and singing and acting like they're in their bedroom listening to the radio or something, and every other young person in the whole world staring at them, saying "Wow, isn't she so talented? I'd love to do that or even shake her hand!" Meanwhile, she's making a gazillion dollars, becoming a spoiled, obnoxious product of this system. Meanwhile, I'm heating up my ramen noodles in my living room sifting through all my bills....

Translated: I wanna do things to Miley Cyrus and I feel bad about it.

[Hoblit]

Get over it.

Basically what you are saying here is that a talented singer and performer shouldn't be recognized because they aren't also a talented writer.

You are also inadvertently saying that talented song writers shouldn't be given work because they aren't talented singers or performers.

Not necessarily. Trust me, I can't sing. I appreciate the talent of someone who can sing. In fact, Broadway is one of my favorite genres--I know that most actors on stage don't actually play instruments.

This is what I'm saying--

Some little blonde 18-year-old twit shouldn't be paid millions of dollars as a MUSICIAN when they can't play MUSIC.

I feel that it's horribly unfair to MUSICIANS who actually can play MUSICAL instruments. ...the whole world staring at them, saying "Wow, isn't she so talented? I'd love to do that or even shake her hand!" Meanwhile, she's making a gazillion dollars, becoming a spoiled, obnoxious product of this system. Meanwhile, I'm heating up my ramen noodles in my living room sifting through all my bills....

I still don't understand why you don't consider singers musicians.

I think the real distinction here is that not all entertainers are musicians. And thats fine but I can't understand why you would separate talent from entertainers. There is a lot more to dancing and entertaining than you are giving credit for. For one, dancing is exhausting... try dancing to a full 3 minute song, then two...see if you can even make it to four. Even if you can, you're going to be terrible at it by the fifth. Besides that, teenage twits have to compete with other teenage twits and apparently there is a huge market for teenage twits. I understand, you don't like that type of entertainment... but I must disagree with you when it comes down to who or who SHOULDN'T be considered talented.

Musicians who play instruments but don't write songs: Most acclaimed orchestras
Singers who don't play instruments and don't typically write songs: World famous Tenors (Paverotti etc...)
Writers who don't sing: Almost all of Nashville.
Talented teenage twits who don't write or play instruments: Britney Spears, Christina Agulara (sp?) and many other talented entertainers who are very good at what they do. (even if you and I don't care for it)

Just somethin' to think about over your ramen

[erik]

This is what I'm saying--

Some little blonde 18-year-old twit shouldn't be paid millions of dollars as a MUSICIAN when they can't play MUSIC.

But they're not being paid to be musicians, they're paid to be singers.

[Caravan Ray]

If people appreciate my hot body more than my music, I'm comfortable with that.
But I try not to overexploit my sexuality. I know a lot of people may not be comfortable if I continually tried to ram my genitalia down their throats.

[Märk]

This is what I'm saying--

Some little blonde 18-year-old twit shouldn't be paid millions of dollars as a MUSICIAN when they can't play MUSIC.

But they're not being paid to be musicians, they're paid to be singers.

Do you mean singer or vocalist?
Several people come to mind who have almost zero talent, but were 'hot' (and therefore 'marketable') and I think that's the type EoA is talking about. And I agree with him.

[Eric Y.]

they're paid to be singers.

Or more generally, performers.

No one has any false impressions here... no one has ever said "Wow that Britney Spears is such a great musician and her albums are just full of excellent songs she has written." If you care about musicianship and songwriting (I do), you'll seek out people who are good at one or both of those (I do). If you don't care (lots of people don't), you'll be satisfied with a talentless flavor-of-the-week performer (lots of people are). No sense complaining about what lots of people do or don't like listening to. I don't understand the problem.

[Billy's Little Trip]

I like to look at sexy females while good music is playing.

There is too much reading on this thread at this point of my intoxication, so I'm going to go ahead and agree with Eric.
....except replace, "look at" with "get a BJ from" and "while good music is playing" with "eating a sandwich".

[Bjam]

If a song is meant to be sexy, I want a sexy person singing it. For example! There's a Jason Mraz song called 'Older Lover Undercover' which has some racy lyrics. It's an awesome song and I love singing it. However, I once had a friend sing it who is just so so unsexy. True epitome of a dorky guy. Not even the cute-dorky type. It was just awkward to watch and listen to.

However, if it's a nice song, I don't want someone sexing it up. For example! Rainbow Connection is a lovely pretty sweet song. I don't need to hear some girl at the local open mic heavily breathing and doing runs and gyrating her (poorly played) guitar while she sings it. It's just weird.

There's a place for sexyness in music, and I don't think less of a person if they're sexy when they're performing. As long as they should be being sexy in the first place.

[Billy's Little Trip]

Jason Mraz

This guy totally......TOTally....needs to buy a vowel with his rock & roll money

[Rabid Garfunkel]

Uhhh... Elvis Presley, anyone?

Just noticed your board ranking, BLT.

[Niveous]

One of the complaints I read yesterday about Revolvers' Hottest Metal Chicks expose was that Heavy Metal was a male-dominated genre and it takes away from the women of the genre when they get sexualized and presents a bad image for new women coming in. So that got me thinking, Songfight is a male dominated music community... If there was, let's say, a Women of Songfight expose with scantilly clad Maxim style pics? Do you think it would hurt the female standing within the community?

[Hoblit]

One of the complaints I read yesterday about Revolvers' Hottest Metal Chicks expose was that Heavy Metal was a male-dominated genre and it takes away from the women of the genre when they get sexualized and presents a bad image for new women coming in. So that got me thinking, Songfight is a male dominated music community... If there was, let's say, a Women of Songfight expose with scantilly clad Maxim style pics? Do you think it would hurt the female standing within the community?

NOPE!

Only the women of Songfight! would be upset and being a male-dominated community by your own words; so who cares!?!!!?!

Women: I'm joking. This is humor.

[Niveous]

Please note, I meant dominated as in "there are a greater number of male songfighters". Please do not misconstrue.

[Hoblit]

Please note, I meant dominated as in "there are a greater number of male songfighters". Please do not misconstrue.

Point stands.

[Billy's Little Trip]

Uhhh... Elvis Presley, anyone?

Just noticed your board ranking, BLT.

I think someone is trying to tell me something, but I can't quite figure it out.