Manufactured Music...

[Virus49]

We have all seen it. Coming from the likes of Pop Idol, X Factor, -country name- has talent. The manufactured pop that has no artistic value at all.

But my question to you is... why does it appeal to the masses so well? As opposed to people listening to better music written by artists who genuinely live and breathe music. Rather than those who just thought... i'll sing in front of 3 people and then they will put me on the path to fame.

Please somebody explain how this happened. The rage against the machine christmas no1 hit proved that loads of us hate it. But why does it persist as a parasite on the music industry?

If you like it yourself, I dont intend to start a flame war. Just would like to know why you like it.

 

[Virus49]

Rage Against The Machine is barely better than those manufactured bands....

 

[Bobic]

I don't like it either, something I dislike more however is people like you.

You're so arrogant and pretentious when it comes to music and seem to have real trouble grasping the fact that people don't like different things.

Get over yourself.

 

[Chased]

Everyone likes different stuff. It's not like Coldplay was one day like "Hey dudes, lets be famous and make smashing good tunes so all the ladies will think we're snazzy!" Lady Gaga used to be a music producer before she made music. May not seem like it but some of these people work hard at it. I don't like the majority of music in existence, but it doesn't mean its bad or talentless.

 

[Virus49]

I don't like it either, something I dislike more however is people like you.

You're so arrogant and pretentious when it comes to music and seem to have real trouble grasping the fact that people don't like different things.

Get over yourself.

Dude calm the hell down. Its one specific area of music that has quite simply left me confused. Theres plenty of stuff I dont like. Some of which I outright hate.
But that generally doesnt make me denounce it. This however, I simply cannot see why its always been the most loved type of music.

 

[Virus49]

Rage Against The Machine is barely better than those manufactured bands....

Agreed. At least those manufactured bands don't try and ram some half baked political and social view down my throat in every song they release.

I have a very simple solution when it comes to music. If I like it, I will listen to it. If I don't like it, I will not listen to it. It doesn't matter whether it's 'manufactured' or recorded on a cheap multi-track in someone's basement. If it's good, it's good.

 

[Virus49]

First of all, music elitist is elitist.

Secondly, given that music has become more omnipresent with the introduction of portable music players that enable people to choose the exact song they want to listen to at any one time, a lot of people have gone for music that doesn't take a lot of effort to listen to. It makes sense - these people just want to relax with their music.

Thats more the kind of reply I was hoping for... So its effectively just good background music? To be listened to while the mind is focused on other things?

Spose that makes more sense....

 

[Bobic]

I don't like it either, something I dislike more however is people like you.

You're so arrogant and pretentious when it comes to music and seem to have real trouble grasping the fact that people don't like different things.

Get over yourself.

Dude calm the hell down. Its one specific area of music that has quite simply left me confused. Theres plenty of stuff I dont like. Some of which I outright hate.
But that generally doesnt make me denounce it. This however, I simply cannot see why its always been the most loved type of music.

If you had been listening you'd have noticed I said that in a very calm and serene manner.

 

[Virus49]

I don't like it either, something I dislike more however is people like you.

You're so arrogant and pretentious when it comes to music and seem to have real trouble grasping the fact that people don't like different things.

Get over yourself.

Dude calm the hell down. Its one specific area of music that has quite simply left me confused. Theres plenty of stuff I dont like. Some of which I outright hate.
But that generally doesnt make me denounce it. This however, I simply cannot see why its always been the most loved type of music.

If you had been listening you'd have noticed I said that in a very calm and serene manner.

You went directly to the personal insults rather than making discussion. I see that as an area of no discussion. Your entitled to disagree with my opinion on the music. But it doesnt make me a prick that I really dont get why it's done so well.

 

[Ironic Pirate]

Because even the hippiest folk band that Pitchfork praises the hell out of is probably not actually artistic. And if I want art, I don't want Beardy McAngstpants to define art for me out of the trendy coffee shop he uses his Mac from. I myself can decide if something resonates with me, thank you very much.

And you know what? I don't even care if something is art. I have my own feelings, my own meditations on the universe, and if I wanted someone else's I'd fucking ask them. There's nothing wrong with expressing yourself, and there's also nothing wrong with "manufacturing" music. If I like it, I fucking like it. I don't care who made it.

 

[Imperioratorex Caprae]

There is a difference between canned pop music and actually well written pop music. Music is very subjective but there is a lot of "music" out there that is post-produced so much you can barely call it music or not even the actual on-stage "performer". Good examples: Ashley Simpson, Milli Vanilli. I guess some people's biggest beef though is what seems to be cookie-cutter clones in the industry, which is something I do have an issue with. People only doing music because its popular (Metallica is hella-guilty of this...) just to make money. If there's no heart in music then I don't know how you can really call it music but thats the artist in me coming out.

Also I have little respect for artists who touch up their voices with pro-tools and don't think people notice (not knocking effects, I'm knocking the auto-tuning). If you can't sing you can't sing, and your fans will notice at your concert.

 

[Snake Plissken]

It would be very dangerous for me to jump in as I am one of these oh-so-hated music elitists, but I'll insert my 2 cents.

Nobody ever made the claim that reality competition stars work hard. We all understand that it literally took them just a few weeks to be in the position that they will ultimately end up in at the end of the competition (negating the time spent to hone their ability prior to ever deciding to go on these shows). Nobody cares how much work they put in. It doesn't detract from the fact that the vast majority of the are genuinely TALENTED.

Working class musicians still exist, they just get overlooked. Bands like Lucero, Drive-By Truckers, Murder By Death, etc. have all turned down major label deals in the past, so it's partially the bands fault. Don't blame the public for liking shitty music when, often times is the case, the musicians just don't want that sort of recognition.

 

[DSK-]

I have no idea why it is so popular to be honest, and I'm probably not the best person to answer such a question. I don't listen to pop music; the only genre I listen to consistently is trance music and trance podcasts from the likes of Armin van Buuren, Anjunabeats, Aly & Fila and various trance events such as Sensation, Trance Energy and the ASOT 300, 400 (for example) celebrations.

 

[Bobic]

I don't like it either, something I dislike more however is people like you.

You're so arrogant and pretentious when it comes to music and seem to have real trouble grasping the fact that people don't like different things.

Get over yourself.

Dude calm the hell down. Its one specific area of music that has quite simply left me confused. Theres plenty of stuff I dont like. Some of which I outright hate.
But that generally doesnt make me denounce it. This however, I simply cannot see why its always been the most loved type of music.

If you had been listening you'd have noticed I said that in a very calm and serene manner.

You went directly to the personal insults rather than making discussion. I see that as an area of no discussion. Your entitled to disagree with my opinion on the music. But it doesnt make me a prick that I really dont get why it's done so well.

No, it doesn't make you a prick, but your reasoning is pretentious and your attitude arrogant.

Anyway, they weren't entirely personal, I said people like you.

 

[Nickolai77]

I'll explain my take on pop music by comparing it to alcohol:

Most people, myself included, drink Carlsberg, Magners or Heineken. Common drinks you easily find at your local pub. Some people however, who are more passionate about what they drink may choose to drink rare and very fine brands of ale and cider. And indeed frown upon anyone else who drinks the "mainstream" stuff like Carlsberg, Magners, Heineken (and especially those who drink Budwieser and Strongbow). But the fact is that those who drink the mainstream stuff don't really care so much about seeking out rare and exotic brands, they simply want a drink. And i think it's the same with pop music, most people won't seek out rare and exotic bands and will instead simply listen to whatever's on the radio.

Music elitists, be them classical, heavy metal or jazz fanatics, just need to realise that not everyone is as into music as they are. Not everyone has to have the same hobby.

 

[tux789]

A) Most people either don't know or don't care what "good" music is.
B) Most people will accept the fads fed to them
C) Popular music has to be the most safe and unoffensive to gain the most appeal. Taking risks by being "innovative" is counter-productive to that.

 

[tux789]

Right but the difference I think is that with pop music the intent is to make it "popular" from the start. If you express opinions in the music then you run the risk of alienating potential consumers.

Punk is not Pop, Punk just happened to gain popularity. In contrast Pop is intended to be the most popular (aka marketable) from the start rather than mere happenstance.

Edit: by 'Popular' I meant Pop music in the original post, sorry for the confusion