Chubby Checker, not Chuck Berry. And I hope that, as an adult, you realized that recording and releasing similar follow-ups was not crazy but a nearly surefire way to sell more records, a whole lot more in Chubby's case.
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More Damning Evidence Of Today's Pop Music
- Thread starter landtuna
- Start date
Chubby Checker, not Chuck Berry. And I hope that, as an adult, you realized that recording and releasing similar follow-ups was not crazy but a nearly surefire way to sell more records, a whole lot more in Chubby's case.
"Na Na Hey Hey" was an unfinished (called "Kiss Him Goodbye") song destined for a B side to fill. The group made it intentionally too long for radio so stations wouldn't mistake it for the A side. I have no idea what the A side was supposed to have been, but "Na Na Hey Hey" made it to the air and the rest is history.
One of the few songs that whenever it starts playing my finger goes without even thinking to the tune button.
G
Groove1670
Guest
When you can not relate to today music you are out of the demo. Your parents said the same thing about your music. Now it is time to roll out the 8 tracks.
Or, another way to look at it.
As a 50 year old with a Rhythmic AC format, I like most of the current music, but I listen everyday. You did the same in the era music you grew up with (or liked).
Now, would I like today's music if I didn't listen everyday? Probably not. Not because it isn't good, but because I just wouldn't relate to the current changes format/decade/style etc. I would be out of the loop.
Or, another way to look at it.
As a 50 year old with a Rhythmic AC format, I like most of the current music, but I listen everyday. You did the same in the era music you grew up with (or liked).
Now, would I like today's music if I didn't listen everyday? Probably not. Not because it isn't good, but because I just wouldn't relate to the current changes format/decade/style etc. I would be out of the loop.
Did you ever translate the lyrics into English? If you did, you would know that the "Bamba" was basically just the name of a dance. Lyrically, it isn't much deeper than "Louie Louie," which I also like.
Actually, my parents said nothing of the sort. In fact, I can remember my father calling my sister's radio station and requesting songs.
It has nothing to do with relating but rather the type of music being produced - for the eyes and not the ears, or the heart.
No, it has to do with personal taste. That's all.
You are correct, however, the argument was that the song was an old folk song and not a modern novelty song.
Take away the video from modern pop music and you have nothing. Squat. Noise. Some people are satisfied with that but how many of them will be listening 30, 40, 50 years from now? My generation still does.
As I said...personal taste.
Yes we know. Personal taste.
If you have insight on 50 years from now, I have far more serious questions to ask.
They said virtually the same thing 50 years ago. May I direct you to "Flat Foot Floogie with a Floy Floy"?
The answer to your question is........you're doomed.
How often was that song, or anything else released in 1938, played on radio in 1988? Outside of Dr. Demento, my guess is "rarely or never," even on Adult Standards stations. There aren't as many songs from 1966 aired today as there were even 10 years ago, but there are some. Not in anything resembling heavy rotation, of course, but they do air on Classic Rock and the remaining Oldies stations.
Who are "They"? Certainly no one I ever spoke with (and yes, I was alive and viable 50 years ago).
I have seen a couple of postings disparaging 'Louie Louie'. It is NOT the lyrics. It is the arrangement.
I was going to post the actual lyrics here but it would be too long. Actual lyrics are a romantic ballad.
Where is Cole Porter now that we need him
"Louie, Louie" was believed to be a very 'dirty' song in its heyday although I never bothered looking up the lyrics. Nevertheless, it isn't one of the classics that I would include in my list of exceptional Oldies (ranking right up there with "Bird" by The Trashmen).
I wasn't aware we were discussing songs played on the radio. I was just discussing music in general. We all know, courtesy of K.M. and DE, that music radio is totally dependent upon the agency biz so old music, by definition, will not advertise well so it isn't played. Even so, there are a smattering of stations that still play Oldies and Classic Hits and I am still amazed, from time to time, when I run across 20 and 30-somethings that not only love the music but know the lyrics as well. I attended a wedding of two 30-year olds two weeks ago and most of their reception music was from the 50's, 60's and 70's. Ad agencies doing TV commercials appear to also like them as they are frequently used there as well.
As I have mentioned in previous posts, Standards don't stand up well because a large part were WWII-related and don't play well now for obvious reasons. Others, such as Christmas Standards are timeless and are played relentlessly during the season. Dance Standards still draw well in plays and stage shows - most of which are performed by college and high school-aged performers.
Suffice to say I am not the lone voice hollering in the wilderness. There are many others who believe the era of great pop music has passed. Time will tell.
Most of whom...amazingly enough...are about your age.
As I've said, music, like all art, is subjective. You either like it or you don't. Opinions are like noses and butts
One music critic who is about your age is Robert Christgau. I've noticed he has found quite a bit of current pop music that meets his criteria.
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Erm...I usually take the conservative stance on stuff like this, but pop in its purest form is not worse nowadays than it's ever been. Like many of the songs mentioned earlier, there has always been "bad" pop music for novelty value. If you look at classic/adult/AC hits stations, the more rock-leaning hits tend to have the longest "staying" value (Queen, Bon Jovi, Alanis Morisette, Fun.), where only some pop hits have that same value (Madonna, Bruno Mars, Justin Timberlake) that stand the "test of time." Also there is many pop music that gets good ratings from music critics, so to say "it's crap nowadays" just isn't true, and from hearing CHR music from almost every decade...there's plenty of "crap."
I would expect that too but the number of younger people with a similar opinion is surprising.
I've found that critics are merely people too and have found a way to make a living writing opinions. They tend to know a lot more than the average person on the street (like me) about the musicians, music genres and manufacture but in the end it comes down to "do you like it or not?" and to that question they are useless.
I may look him up and try to find out what his 'criteria' is. Personally, I don't have any although I do have certain performers I like and others I won't listen to. I was trying to find the name of a song using Shazam the other day and each time I sample it my app comes up with a different title although they are all in the techno genre. After listening to almost all the Shazam suggestions it occurred to me I genuinely hate techno and the reason is because virtually all of it is the same. The very same reason I cannot listen to opera. It would seem senseless to me for any human to spend his/her lifetime trying to pry apart one song from another when they are virtually identical.
EDIT: According to Wiki, Christgau reportedly called Frank Sinatra "the greatest singer of the 20th century". That alone discredits him in my eyes. Sinatra was a teenage idol and a hack singer the remainder of his life. He did OK as an actor but needed a big band backup to hide his lack of singing ability. Christgau's list of jobs since graduation from college indicate to me he is the master of none. His columns may be entertaining to read, I don't know, but he doesn't seem to be any sort of expert on anything. He is exactly what I would have expected from someone living east of the Hudson River - a planet unto itself.
Another comment about critics. You ever find one who was also in the same business he/she was critiquing? Musicians, like other creative performers develop their product then get up on stage and perform it taking whatever lumps along the way their fans and public think of it. I have never seen a critic in any industry have the nads to do the same therefore I take their criticism with a grain of salt, if that.
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