Leona Lewis

[Meenzer 15552]

Just racked up the fastest-selling debut album in UK chart history, apparently. The girl done good.

[Guest Patrokles]

Just racked up the fastest-selling debut album in UK chart history, apparently. The girl done good.

 

PR machine and radio done good, you mean.

[Meenzer 15552]

Just racked up the fastest-selling debut album in UK chart history, apparently. The girl done good.

 

PR machine and radio done good, you mean.

 

True, it's a right bind when you go to HMV for the new Einstürzende Neubauten CD and those industry bastards swap it for a pop album when you're not looking.

[Kevin Carr's Gloves 3900]

Just racked up the fastest-selling debut album in UK chart history, apparently. The girl done good.

 

PR machine and radio done good, you mean.

 

True, it's a right bind when you go to HMV for the new Einstürzende Neubauten CD and those industry bastards swap it for a pop album when you're not looking.

 

Popularity is no measure of artistic merit.

[ewerk 30648]

Just racked up the fastest-selling debut album in UK chart history, apparently. The girl done good.

 

PR machine and radio done good, you mean.

 

God forbid people buying an album on the basis that they like the first single off it.

[Lazarus 0]

Wasn she in america for over a year being 'trained' before she even appeeared on x factor idol?

[Guest James_coDurham]

Just racked up the fastest-selling debut album in UK chart history, apparently. The girl done good.

 

PR machine and radio done good, you mean.

 

True, it's a right bind when you go to HMV for the new Einstürzende Neubauten CD and those industry bastards swap it for a pop album when you're not looking.

 

Popularity is no measure of artistic merit.

 

But it generally can't be achieved without it. People buy their music because they like the sound of it, not because they've been told to like it. Leona was marketed the same as other past winners were, yet hasn't flopped in their style as she actually has talent.

[Tom 14012]

Just racked up the fastest-selling debut album in UK chart history, apparently. The girl done good.

 

PR machine and radio done good, you mean.

 

True, it's a right bind when you go to HMV for the new Einstürzende Neubauten CD and those industry bastards swap it for a pop album when you're not looking.

 

Popularity is no measure of artistic merit.

 

But it generally can't be achieved without it. People buy their music because they like the sound of it, not because they've been told to like it. Leona was marketed the same as other past winners were, yet hasn't flopped in their style as she actually has talent.

 

B) :icon_lol:

[sammynb 3365]

Just racked up the fastest-selling debut album in UK chart history, apparently. The girl done good.

 

PR machine and radio done good, you mean.

 

True, it's a right bind when you go to HMV for the new Einstürzende Neubauten CD and those industry bastards swap it for a pop album when you're not looking.

 

Popularity is no measure of artistic merit.

 

But it generally can't be achieved without it. People buy their music because they like the sound of it, not because they've been told to like it. Leona was marketed the same as other past winners were, yet hasn't flopped in their style as she actually has talent.

Excellent, I can't wait for that duet with kid cock or james bl©unt

Edited November 19, 2007 by sammynb

[Meenzer 15552]

Seriously though, I'm no fan of identikit popular/populist music, but you'd have to be a fucking retard to claim that a significant number of people spend their hard-earned money on stuff they don't actually like.

[Tom 14012]

The Ryan Adams album 'Rock N Roll' speaks wonders for this subject.

 

It really does.

[sammynb 3365]

Seriously though, I'm no fan of identikit popular/populist music, but you'd have to be a fucking retard to claim that a significant number of people spend their hard-earned money on stuff they don't actually like.

 

True and obviously people actually voted for Bush.

Maybe Stalin was correct after all!

[The Fish 10872]

Seriously though, I'm no fan of identikit popular/populist music, but you'd have to be a fucking retard to claim that a significant number of people spend their hard-earned money on stuff they don't actually like.

but you could argue that people will spend their money on things that they like purely because that is the status quo. If these non-celebrities had not benefited from the foot up from these shows they would not be in the pop charts. The ONLY reason Leona Lewis has the number one is because the bohemothic PR juggernaut that is X Factor put her there.

 

I know what you're saying, there has to be a grain of talent to land such a following, but the problem I have with it all is that for every IKEA pop star that is thrust into our consciousness a genuine talent is overlooked.

 

I;m certain that these people who've spent there hard earned money on Leona Lewis do think that she's good enough to warrant them spending their money on her. But I'm equally certain that if CD prices were lower and the PR machine was concerned about quality and innovation rather than pure franchise money making that public would happily spend their hard earned cash on someone a little less obvious and little more original.

 

 

as an aside I doubt that it's hard earned cash, I reckon it's 14 yr old girls and james codurham spending their pocket money that their parents wish they'd spend on something a little more worthwhile... like Led Zeppelin albums, bean bags and drugs

[Kevin Carr's Gloves 3900]

Just racked up the fastest-selling debut album in UK chart history, apparently. The girl done good.

 

PR machine and radio done good, you mean.

 

True, it's a right bind when you go to HMV for the new Einstürzende Neubauten CD and those industry bastards swap it for a pop album when you're not looking.

 

Popularity is no measure of artistic merit.

 

But it generally can't be achieved without it. People buy their music because they like the sound of it, not because they've been told to like it. Leona was marketed the same as other past winners were, yet hasn't flopped in their style as she actually has talent.

 

Joe Dolce, Mr Blobby, Keith Harris and Orville, Crazy Frog, The Spice Girls, The Tweets et al.

[manc-mag 1]

It's a canny song like but the thought of SMO dancing round the house singing it into a hairbrush microphone should be enough to spoil anyone's enjoyment of it tbh.

[Guest James_coDurham]

Just racked up the fastest-selling debut album in UK chart history, apparently. The girl done good.

 

PR machine and radio done good, you mean.

 

True, it's a right bind when you go to HMV for the new Einstürzende Neubauten CD and those industry bastards swap it for a pop album when you're not looking.

 

Popularity is no measure of artistic merit.

 

But it generally can't be achieved without it. People buy their music because they like the sound of it, not because they've been told to like it. Leona was marketed the same as other past winners were, yet hasn't flopped in their style as she actually has talent.

 

Joe Dolce, Mr Blobby, Keith Harris and Orville, Crazy Frog, The Spice Girls, The Tweets et al.

 

"Target audience", "Novelty factor". So you sit and listen to stuff you don't like the sound of because you've been told to by the media? No? But you think the general public do? Arrogant bastard. Stupid view. The "PR Machines" have thrust many an artist into the limelight, but they don't succeed long haul without talent. Fact.

[Meenzer 15552]

but you could argue that people will spend their money on things that they like purely because that is the status quo.

You absolutely can argue that, because it's absolutely true. At the same time, though, "pop" music has been largely dead in this country for the last few years as the wave of dull guitar bands with "The" in their name has taken hold, so I have no problem with the mainstream success of a lass who can sing a bit and has some decent pop tunes, however manufactured her profile may be.

 

It's a lovely thought that we should all discover music organically and not be dictated to by radio stations, record companies etc., but it's not like things work that way in any other part of our lives, really - we buy from supermarkets, we drive cars from companies we've heard of rather than clunking around in some Bulgarian rustbucket, we follow peer pressure in a way that isn't substantially different to outside "marketing". And besides, most of the people who rant about OMG ÜBERMARKETED MUSIC would be devastated if the record industry as we know it disappeared overnight and everyone was forced to muscle in on their "I was there first" badge of discovering bands and singers as soon as they pop out of the womb, or whatever it is they do that makes them so much superior to your average, regular consumer. There's no point in being "indie" if there's no mainstream to rebel against, is there?

[Guest alex]

but you could argue that people will spend their money on things that they like purely because that is the status quo.

You absolutely can argue that, because it's absolutely true. At the same time, though, "pop" music has been largely dead in this country for the last few years as the wave of dull guitar bands with "The" in their name has taken hold, so I have no problem with the mainstream success of a lass who can sing a bit and has some decent pop tunes, however manufactured her profile may be.

 

It's a lovely thought that we should all discover music organically and not be dictated to by radio stations, record companies etc., but it's not like things work that way in any other part of our lives, really - we buy from supermarkets, we drive cars from companies we've heard of rather than clunking around in some Bulgarian rustbucket, we follow peer pressure in a way that isn't substantially different to outside "marketing". And besides, most of the people who rant about OMG ÜBERMARKETED MUSIC would be devastated if the record industry as we know it disappeared overnight and everyone was forced to muscle in on their "I was there first" badge of discovering bands and singers as soon as they pop out of the womb, or whatever it is they do that makes them so much superior to your average, regular consumer. There's no point in being "indie" if there's no mainstream to rebel against, is there?

Good post. Anyway, taste is the enemy of art.

[The Fish 10872]

but you could argue that people will spend their money on things that they like purely because that is the status quo.

You absolutely can argue that, because it's absolutely true. At the same time, though, "pop" music has been largely dead in this country for the last few years as the wave of dull guitar bands with "The" in their name has taken hold, so I have no problem with the mainstream success of a lass who can sing a bit and has some decent pop tunes, however manufactured her profile may be.

 

It's a lovely thought that we should all discover music organically and not be dictated to by radio stations, record companies etc., but it's not like things work that way in any other part of our lives, really - we buy from supermarkets, we drive cars from companies we've heard of rather than clunking around in some Bulgarian rustbucket, we follow peer pressure in a way that isn't substantially different to outside "marketing". And besides, most of the people who rant about OMG ÜBERMARKETED MUSIC would be devastated if the record industry as we know it disappeared overnight and everyone was forced to muscle in on their "I was there first" badge of discovering bands and singers as soon as they pop out of the womb, or whatever it is they do that makes them so much superior to your average, regular consumer. There's no point in being "indie" if there's no mainstream to rebel against, is there?

 

You make fair points mate, but by your own admission the "pop" in this country has been poor, and there has been a disturbing trend towards throwing the weight of the PR machine behind anyone who ticks the boxes of "Alternative". I saw that "Unsigned" thing on T4 over the weekend and there was a judge who summed it up quite well and though I paraphrase I'll try and get what he said down properly.

 

"You have the gift of reality, many bands try to be, where as you just are."

 

My point being that although many guitar bands wear the clothes and strut the swagger under the banner of"indie", few of them actually are. I'd wager many are as manufactured as the pop bands I love to hate. I afford those bands as much gravity as I would the next X-Factor winner.

 

I don't mind pop, this isn't a rant against pop, it's a rant against creating false Gods in mediocre singers who's only gift is bestowed upon them by Simon Cowel and Louis Walsh.

[Hank Marvin 0]

Wont last long imo,Amy will be around a lot longer imo she rocks c'mon Valerie,Valeeeriirrrrrrreeeeeeeeee

[Guest alex]

Wont last long imo,Amy will be around a lot longer imo she rocks c'mon Valerie,Valeeeriirrrrrrreeeeeeeeee

Although I think she's alright I can't see her being around that long either.

[Meenzer 15552]

Wont last long imo,Amy will be around a lot longer imo she rocks c'mon Valerie,Valeeeriirrrrrrreeeeeeeeee

Although I think she's alright I can't see her being around that long either.

I don't know, posthumous fame is all the rage these days.

[The Fish 10872]

Wont last long imo,Amy will be around a lot longer imo she rocks c'mon Valerie,Valeeeriirrrrrrreeeeeeeeee

Although I think she's alright I can't see her being around that long either.

I don't know, posthumous fame is all the rage these days.

 

He's never been bigger

[trophyshy 7083]

Ahem,

 

1. I must be out of some kind of cultural loop because who the feck is Leona Lewis?

 

 

 

[sammynb 3365]

but you could argue that people will spend their money on things that they like purely because that is the status quo.

You absolutely can argue that, because it's absolutely true. At the same time, though, "pop" music has been largely dead in this country for the last few years as the wave of dull guitar bands with "The" in their name has taken hold, so I have no problem with the mainstream success of a lass who can sing a bit and has some decent pop tunes, however manufactured her profile may be.

 

It's a lovely thought that we should all discover music organically and not be dictated to by radio stations, record companies etc., but it's not like things work that way in any other part of our lives, really - we buy from supermarkets, we drive cars from companies we've heard of rather than clunking around in some Bulgarian rustbucket, we follow peer pressure in a way that isn't substantially different to outside "marketing". And besides, most of the people who rant about OMG ÜBERMARKETED MUSIC would be devastated if the record industry as we know it disappeared overnight and everyone was forced to muscle in on their "I was there first" badge of discovering bands and singers as soon as they pop out of the womb, or whatever it is they do that makes them so much superior to your average, regular consumer. There's no point in being "indie" if there's no mainstream to rebel against, is there?

 

You make fair points mate, but by your own admission the "pop" in this country has been poor, and there has been a disturbing trend towards throwing the weight of the PR machine behind anyone who ticks the boxes of "Alternative". I saw that "Unsigned" thing on T4 over the weekend and there was a judge who summed it up quite well and though I paraphrase I'll try and get what he said down properly.

 

"You have the gift of reality, many bands try to be, where as you just are."

 

My point being that although many guitar bands wear the clothes and strut the swagger under the banner of"indie", few of them actually are. I'd wager many are as manufactured as the pop bands I love to hate. I afford those bands as much gravity as I would the next X-Factor winner.

 

I don't mind pop, this isn't a rant against pop, it's a rant against creating false Gods in mediocre singers who's only gift is bestowed upon them by Simon Cowel and Louis Walsh.

 

Watched a documentary on The Saints last night (arguably the first punk band to release a record with (I'm) Stranded in 1976).

Anyway the amazing thing was these guys came from Brisbane and after they pressed their single they sent it to everyone and anyone in the UK, Europe and the States resulting with NME, Melody Maker and the rest of the English music press raving about this new, great punk band and with EMI in England rushing to sign them before someone else got them.

Now you have to remember the great punk movement was all about rebelling against everything, including the music industry and yet once these guys actually travelled to England to play some shows, the press, the fans and their record company all changed their tune because they didn't buy their clothes from Malcolm McClaren's shop, they didn't spit at their audience, they didn't have piercings or mohawks, they wore average clothes, grew their hair to shoulder length as a reaction to the punk style and although they were generally obnoxious and agressive didn't piss on their equipment or the few fans they had.

And yet because they didn't fit the mould, in the eyes of the press they weren't punk after all!

 

Indie, pop, EMO, etc, it doesn't matter what the genre; once a record label becomes involved there becomes a look.

Pearl Jam was Sony's response to Nirvana, The Pet Shop Boys were SAW response to the 80s camp dance scene, James Bl©unt is some fucking A&R idiot's response to some other talentless shit, it goes round and round and round.