Fist, I'd like to mention that despite the editing, I did not proofread this, so the following will all be seen as is.
I do find it funny that we were in an uptempo drought long enough in this country that now people hear these uptempo beats and truly believe that the faster beats sound like a new "futuristic" sound. I mean, I can understand why Black Eyed Peas and a few others may believe their sound is "futuristic", but this modernized version of a brought back sound is nothing compared to the late 90's Timbaland & Magoo / Missy Elliott style beats that were TRULY new and futuristic sounding. We have reached a whole new generation in sound - when it comes to the modernization of dance, but I don't really see how it is "futuristic". I don't see how The-Dream thought "walking on the moon" sounded futuristic. It did sound like a modernized classic sound, but not "futuristic". Lady Gaga? I don't think any of her material really sounds futuristic. As a matter of fact, hearing her latest release to X-Mix Rhythmic Top 40 Radio Promo, "monster", was what inspired me to come here and say something because it sounds precisely like the 80's and 90's taking over all over again. Just in more of a modern and urban fashion. Listen to the type of stuff Jason DeRulo, Kevin Rudolph, and Lady Gaga...etc. are doing. The new 80's and 90's synth / electro pop. We also have a lot more r&b artists touching on the 00's trance sound in their songs as well, regardless of whether or not they are using those sounds with fast beats. Listen to Ludacris "how low", Rihanna "rude boy"...etc. Some electronic trancey elements exist amongst those songs. I also came to share my thoughts on Taio Cruz, but will do so in the Taio Cruz "break your heart" section. It's like we are rewinding back in time and sort of "starting over" and "seeing if we can now move on and evolve the correct way", instead of what happened 2000-2008 with the unusual amount of hip hop. Anyway, I must say that I just heard some things... and I'm excited with many of the releases that are about to hit. Of course I'm not as excited as I was last year at this time (most of you remember...!!!!) because it's becoming all normal to me now, but I still maintain some level of excitement. We've come a long way since 2006, when I THOUGHT the turn to 2007 was exciting. At least now there are actually REAL dance artists & producers in the charts - AND more to come! It's funny; Now I look back to my 2006 posts about how Hilary Duff was using a freestyle dance beat and how Ciara released "get up" and Nelly Furtado was doing some stuff, and Fergie had some electro/booty bass styled stuff going on and think "wow! NOW look at where we are, and I use to once think that those days were something exciting!" I wouldn't say we've improved too much since 2009 yet, but we are definitely on the right path. I was once having orgasms when I heard "closer" by Neyo hit radio. Now look at David Guetta and Tiesto getting full rhythmic airplay. Honestly, the only reason any of this is even exciting at all is because of what happened in the mid '00, and what happened was dance music really "fell apart". If it was a nonstop, continuous sound on radio this entire time, we probably wouldn't have much to talk about today. Just be sure to know that as more dance picks up and becomes mainstream, it will cause a lot of dance hits to seem to get old quick, just like many hip hop releases did. I just can't wait for this "transitional period" where everyone still feels they must rap on everything to make it hot, passes, so we can move on to pure vocal dance, house, and booty bass vibes once again. Sometimes the rap even messes up the song, depending on which artists they choose to use. Anyway, those are my thoughts for now. I think overall, we're doing well and remain on the right path. Lets just hope that THIS time around, we take off and evolve "the right way". The only problem I have now is the fact that I can no longer classify myself to any particular sound since these days no one really knows the genres anymore. Even though I use it, I am not really too fond of the term "electro-hip hop", and I don't think when people hear Jay Sean "down", that they think "electro-pop", but if I use any terms like freestyle, booty bass, or electro in 2010, it will only confuse people more. Some one needs to hurry up and define it so people will realize the differences and maybe start back with the mix compilations (similar to how the DMA Freestyle Flava and Booty Bass compilations used to be done). If those terms were still used correctly today, I'm sure we would have at least a few uptempo albums & compilations of certain modernized uptempo styles being resurrected today.
