I had an appointment with my doctor today, ultimately cancelled. On my way home, I absent-mindedly listened to the radio. Something I rarely do, opting for the song I've selected for my Spotify account instead, is listen to the radio. Especially Top 40 stations, but today I just didn't care. So I drove while KISS 107.5 warbled out its Charli XCX and Demi Lovato. And I wondered to myself, when did we begin to accept mediocrity as talent?
The answer to that question is Britney Spears.
In 1999, the little Southern tart, with her belly shirts and pretty face stormed airwaves and apparently the hearts of Americans. And started a trend. One in which you don't need any discernible talent, just a pretty face and toned tummy. And one hell of a production team.
At the same time, Destiny's Child was also spouting about "places I ain't ever been" and "pay my bills" in a fashion (so to speak, see The House of Dereon") that was urban and relatable. I guess. From Destiny's Child grew the superstar and Goddess named Beyoncé.
Beyoncé's a powerhouse. The last true, talented star we will probably ever see. Because in the reign of mediocrity, sex sells. And Beyoncé sells enough sex to liberate even the most ridged of zippers. Also, that voice.
From Britney Spears grew an age of young girls who sell their bodies and nothing else. We now have Charli XCX, Demi Lovato, Selena Gomez, Ariana Grande, Katy Perry, Ke$ha. Gorgeous women, but couldn't out talent a singing goat.
It's not just the ladies who are repping for mediocrity. Avicii, Justin Beiber, Austin Mahone (who's so forgettable, I thought his name was Kyle), Pitbull. If you have abs and a pretty face, I guess the rule goes for both sexes.
My point is that in this era where laptops and tablets are considered legitimate musical instruments, we've lost something. We've lost that soul that used to be so abundant. We lost that MoTown soul that was undeniable and pure. Today, if you can Autotune it, it sells.
There are the few bright spots, shining beacons of talent that make me hopeful for the future of music. However, with the current trend, it seems that the soul that was once thrived inside each song will die.
Rebecca Black will be a Grammy winner one day.
P.S. - If someone could get Ariana Grande to stop fucking shouting, that one song wouldn't be quite as terrible.
P.S.S - If someone could get P!nk to stop writing incredibly stupid songs, I'd love her. What a voice on that woman.
Also, just for fun:
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