10 nonsensical musical industry observations:

[Deja Q]

1. Mickey Dolenz and Davy Jones make a far better singing duo than the two blokes from "Paul Revere and The Raiders"

2. Nancy Sinatra has real singing talent. Unfortunately, Britney Spears, Jessica Simpson, and 9.8 out of 10 rap artists do not.

3. Sanjaya should have been around in the 1980s. Of all the epithets accord people, he deserves to be called "boner" the most.

4. Apparently, Grace Slick's song "Lather" was about a bandmate who just turned 30. Never mind I'm almost 35 and look 26 and act 19, but some of the lyrics describe events of his life. (Drugs, lying nude in the sand, et al.) That stuff aside, "Lather" is a terrific coming-of-age song.

5. For a bubblegum manufactured image, "The Monkees" put out some stuff that sadly gets overlooked. "For Pete's Sake", "Zor and Zam", "Salesman", "Love is Only Sleeping", there's a lot from their 3rd - 5th albums that is their own and is worthy.

6. How come nobody ragged "The Partridge Family" for being a manufactured image? The same folks who conjured up "The Monkees" came up with that show, and quite obviously only Shirley Jones and David Cassidy were doing the real stuff. Probably Susan Dey as well, but it's been forever since I sat through the show. No wonder Danny Bonaduce ended up beating up people and calling himself a Republican... wasn't he also arrested for shoplifting at some point?

7. Of Sonny and Cher, it was clear Cher had the better talent as a singer. Of course, by 1989, she lost it. Those outfits... :puke: Funny, he too became a republican. What is it with hippies ending up as republicans? Trying to make good on those 1960s songs about rejecting society, returning to the wilderness and such by dismantling everything now?! :7

8. How come MC Hammer, a guy who ripped off other peoples' music (esp. Rick James' "Superfreak"), played it on what must've been one of those $80 keyboards sold at Target with the in-built selection tracks, and added lyrics of which all of them tell us how great he apparently is, ever got popular? It's no wonder the Gangsta movement, who saw him as a sellout for doing all those commercials, ended up making songs attacking him and later doing commercials as well...

9. Why does everything feel homogenized, packaged, and programmed these days? In the past, human effort had to be spot-on for a song to sound right. These days, a computer could replace 4 of the 5 band members and be precise with every single note. Were the people of the 1960s correct, with all those stories about computer goof-ups and how computers would take over our lives?

10. How many more people can write songs about the same thing: Sex? You know, it's always about longing for someone, pining over the loss of someone (usually death, divorce, looking for prostitutes, or breaking off because of infidelity, incest, or bestiality - the latter option can often be found in the genre known as 'Country' music.) Mind you, the other hot topic (violence - inciting violence) is typically ignored.

[mvd]

1. A couple really do make no sense to me

:P

Paul Revere And The Raiders are one of my most underrated artists. And outside of dance and boy bands, plenty of music avoids that kind of processed sound. Dance is sometimes good anyway, as I love Madonna - and a few Britney songs are irresistible despite her lack of talent. Finally, I guess life does have some major themes that don't change.

I do love those Monkees, though! :hi:

[Deja Q]

2. Agreed, in ways

Paul Revere & the Raiders' music was easily 9/10 when not 10/10. The lyrics 8/10 easily. The vocals? They're a bit off key at times, especially when it's two guys singing rather than the lead only.

"Just Like Me" is an all time classic, though...

Brit's "Toxic" is superficially enjoyable...

Dance can be good in the right mood; but a few weeks ago I was hyping up the electronica group "Freemasons". Popping in the CD today - the energy wasn't there.

I'ms till debating buying the Doors 2-disc set (22 songs, half of which I've heard on the radio and are eclectic but excellent... but yet that band always seems overrated to me.)

[mvd]

3. Yep - sometimes flawed vocals can be ok

Depends on the music, I guess. Paul Revere didn't try much that annoyingly strained their vocals. Besides "Toxic," I also like Britney's "Baby One More Time," "Lucky," "Brave New Girl," and "Everytime." As far as the Doors go, personally I would buy it. I like them a lot, and some of their songs were growers for me.

[Joe Fields]

4. here goes...

I am a fan of both the monkees and the raiders, and have seen them in concert. You are correct, but the raiders put on a more exciting show.

I would let Nancy Sinatra walk all over me with her boots anytime. Her voice isn't great, but it is better than the above mentioned women.

Sanjaya should NEVER have been around.

Anyone who appreciates the song "Lather" is okay in my book.

I make no apologies for being a dyed in the wool Monkees fan.

Susan Dey didn't need to sing, but I always had a thing for Shirley Jones. But I don't believe that Boyce/Hart wrote any Partridge material, and that is why the Monkees had so much better music.

I think I'll skip M.C. Hammer.

Personally, I believe that music, while it may not be completely dead, is on life support, and a do not resussitate order has been placed.

You got something against bestiality?

[mvd]

5. There's this perception that music is on life support but..

I don't agree. There's some good stuff on radio, but radio just scratches the surface. I've found a lot of artists I like by really looking around. I've tried discoveringartists.com, MySpace, cdbaby.com, XM radio, free download of the week on iTunes, etc. Now the recording industry is really suffering with album sales. I've done my part in keeping it alive - lol.

[Deja Q]

6. True...

those clips of Paul Revere/Raiders on youtube were rather energetic...

Nancy's voice is underrated. I just listened to "Sand" and she does more than speak the words, which she is known for doing. I think she got famous for her legs and the strength of the lyrics she sung.

Well, bestiality is kinda gross... Besides, no sheep wanted to be around me anyway... :rofl: (bad joke)

[Joe Fields]

7. I was just kidding about the bestiality.