Hey folks! I'm writing this because I've noticed that over the last 10 years of so there's been a shift in focus in the music industry. They don't like talent any more. I'm not talking about the entire industry just the 5% that supply most of the commercial releases. The big boys that throw money behind the media blitz that tells us that, despite our actual appreciation for singers, we WILL need to buy Rihanna's latest offering.
A few years ago, when Jessica Simpson was first starting her reality show, she said on camera during an episode that her record label had told her to "stop singing so much" because the fans wanted someone they could sing along to. They basically told her to dial her talent down to make it more tangible. Now, this makes no sense to me because people used to be fans of singers, musicians, athletes and other entertainers because they had some sort of talent that set them apart from the rest of the world. But Jessica did what they asked, even when she didn't agree, and what resulted was a bunch of airy records that she had a hard time performing live.
If you've even watch a person who belts try to whisper through a song, it's painful. Mariah does it, Jessica does it and neither of them look like they're comfortably singing anything until they get out of their heads and into their diaphragm and do what they were originally signed to do.
The big box labels, which at this point are more like Big Lots than Target, used to sign singers. I was watching Monica's reality show and wondering why female artist can't sing like she did even at 14. Same with Brandy. Usher could sing, Christina could sing, even the boy bands could sing. And honestly, some of the artist we think of as non singers have more skill in the tapes of them as kids than any of their records would suggest. Take a look at an old tape of 9 year old Britney Spears and you wonder why 16 year old Britney was SO bad. At one point she was actually trying to sing.
But she was part of the beginning of this whole "sign someone we can mold into a star" thing. Talent is optional, and those who are serious about their craft need not apply. So what is happening is that they are now under producing the vocals of people with talent and throwing big budget effects on everyone else. Now, you better dial down the talent or go the independent route. And people who used to be singers are opting not to sing just to keep up.
Who had a bigger hit single, Mario or Brandy? When I first heard Mario's Break Up, I thought it was a god effort for a non singing studio artist. Then I found out it was Mario. Huh? But he can sing. Why was his lead single 3 notes of repetition? Why wasn't he singing and why was he auto tuned to death? On the other hand, Brandy actually sang (honey, SANG) Long Distance. The song disappeared as soon as we heard it and the video was right behind it. Break Up won't go away, because of course Gucci Man and Sean Garrett are such gems. I'm being sarcastic, but you get the point.
But can someone explain what happened to me? Omarion's new single, he's not singing at all. He's basically talking. And Jerimih...I feel sorry for the kid. I think Birthday Sex was one of the most horrible songs I've heard in a long time. Break Up to Make Up, is a much better single. BUT, my issue is this, it only took me seeing a clip of him live one time to know that he got screwed. He plays keys and he actually can sing. They took that talent and turned it into Birthday Sex?
But, Jerimih took advantage of the game. He wanted on, he got on. What he's going to find out is that when he wants to really make a mark as a real artist with merit, no one will believe him. Talent or no talent, we'll be holding Birthday Sex against him for the rest of his career.
I know that part of the problem is that the record industry is no longer being run by people who can actually MAKE records anymore. There are a handful of exec who can still play or produce, but even they are under the watchful eye of the companies that have financed them and kept them going. It's now about the numbers and if T-Pain makes money, then every single record that comes out needs to have the best possible chance of making some of those dollars. So, get in there and auto tune something! If Kanye makes different sell, then please somebody throw on some neon and talk about your angst.
Sing? Play? No one can prove to us in the boardroom that you'll make money doing that, so we don't care! Yeah, Beyonce can sing, but no one cares as long as she pops something. So, Esther Dean, we need you to make a song about your ass if this is going to work. We can't make money on an Anita Baker or Regina Belle (or even a Brandy or Monica) in 2009, but we'll give you Melanie Fiona and sell her as the "real deal". We know singers who sold millions 10 years ago can probably singe circles around her, but she LOOKS the part! We know you can sing and everything, but...
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