First of all, that's bullshit …
Sometimes you have to enjoy life's little pleasures. Even if they are trendy. In true "High Fidelity" fashion (SEE that movie, if you haven't already), I'm going to tell you about my current top five musical "these groups are so trendy, it's just terrible to think you'd like them" groups. Now, I've been accused of being a music snob. I don't really see that as the case. I think of myself more as a music connoisseur. I'll listen to just about anything at least once. I know good music. I know good songs.
The people who keep me in constant wonderment are the true music snobs: people who just cast aside an entire genre of music simply because it is labeled as popular. Um, what kind of music doesn't strive to be popular? If I am a musician, making a career out of my music, then by God I want people to listen.
But I digress. I have promised you a top five, so here you go:
1. Goo Goo Dolls - These guys get it done. They make the music they want to make, yet still get mad airplay. If you take ANY of their CDs and listen to it, you'll realize half the songs are sung by one guy and half by another. Another interesting note, the songs they put on the radio, are all sung by just one of those two guys. The funny thing about this band is that those none of those radio songs sound anything like the rest of the album, nor do they sound like the roots and origins of Goo Goo Dolls. The Goo boys decided long ago that they wanted to make a career of their music. Obviously, they knew the best way to make a career of music is to get radio airplay. So they do just that. The write radio friendly songs and pitch those to the record execs. They get to produce an album with those radio friendly tunes, but they also get to put out their other songs … the other side of Goo Goo … to a new audience that probably wouldn't have listened to them unless they heard them on the radio. Great marketing.
2. Vanessa Charlton - I can't tell if I like her Jewel inspired vocals or her Alanis look, but this chick has it going on right now. Her radio single, "1,000 miles" has been getting constant play in my computer jukebox. Hell, I know it is a girlie song, but I can't get the freakin' thing out of my head. This song has taken over the "Jay Lowe Top Chick Tune", from Jewel herself. Listen to it, and then try and tell me you aren't hooked.
3. Lifehouse - I'm probably more jealous of these kids than anything. They are 19 years old, and making the music I've always wanted to make. The vocalist has a great radio voice, and the lyrics are solid. I thought these guys might just be a one hit wonder, but they are getting it done. They tour constantly and have some good tunes. If ARGUS had been smart about it, we would have started much earlier. Not that we'd have this success, but I find striking similarities in our styles of music. Maybe that's another reason why I enjoy this band right now.
4. Ja Rule - Anything this kid touches, turns platinum. Anything. I don't even know if he has an actual album (which I'm sure he does), but I do know everyone in music is getting him as a "feature" in remixes. Why? Because he's damn good. Forget gangster rap. Forget east coast/west coast rap. Rule … Ja … whatever … plays to the party crowd. If people want to dance in the club, throw in Ja Rule. His remix with J.Lo, "Ain't it funny," is tight.
5. The ChristinaBrittanyNSync Monster - Yes. I admit it. I am a sucker for popular music. Does that make me an awful music connoisseur? No. There are different types of music for different situations. I own good music. I'd put my CD collection up against anyone's. That doesn't mean I can't enjoy bubble gum pop for what it is worth. It's fun. It makes you bounce, and it's good dance music. These kids have voices, no doubt. They can entertain, no doubt. Do they have musical substance? Maybe not. Ok, so Brittany finally wrote a song on her latest album. That's a step. But they are making songs people can enjoy.
There really is no moral here. Just don't let someone else influence your musical tastes. If you like pop music, so what. Enjoy it. That is why it is made. It doesn't mean you have bad taste in music. It just means your tastes are more popular than that music snob who sticks to his indie music.
Sometimes you have to enjoy life's little pleasures. Even if they are trendy. In true "High Fidelity" fashion (SEE that movie, if you haven't already), I'm going to tell you about my current top five musical "these groups are so trendy, it's just terrible to think you'd like them" groups. Now, I've been accused of being a music snob. I don't really see that as the case. I think of myself more as a music connoisseur. I'll listen to just about anything at least once. I know good music. I know good songs.
The people who keep me in constant wonderment are the true music snobs: people who just cast aside an entire genre of music simply because it is labeled as popular. Um, what kind of music doesn't strive to be popular? If I am a musician, making a career out of my music, then by God I want people to listen.
But I digress. I have promised you a top five, so here you go:
1. Goo Goo Dolls - These guys get it done. They make the music they want to make, yet still get mad airplay. If you take ANY of their CDs and listen to it, you'll realize half the songs are sung by one guy and half by another. Another interesting note, the songs they put on the radio, are all sung by just one of those two guys. The funny thing about this band is that those none of those radio songs sound anything like the rest of the album, nor do they sound like the roots and origins of Goo Goo Dolls. The Goo boys decided long ago that they wanted to make a career of their music. Obviously, they knew the best way to make a career of music is to get radio airplay. So they do just that. The write radio friendly songs and pitch those to the record execs. They get to produce an album with those radio friendly tunes, but they also get to put out their other songs … the other side of Goo Goo … to a new audience that probably wouldn't have listened to them unless they heard them on the radio. Great marketing.
2. Vanessa Charlton - I can't tell if I like her Jewel inspired vocals or her Alanis look, but this chick has it going on right now. Her radio single, "1,000 miles" has been getting constant play in my computer jukebox. Hell, I know it is a girlie song, but I can't get the freakin' thing out of my head. This song has taken over the "Jay Lowe Top Chick Tune", from Jewel herself. Listen to it, and then try and tell me you aren't hooked.
3. Lifehouse - I'm probably more jealous of these kids than anything. They are 19 years old, and making the music I've always wanted to make. The vocalist has a great radio voice, and the lyrics are solid. I thought these guys might just be a one hit wonder, but they are getting it done. They tour constantly and have some good tunes. If ARGUS had been smart about it, we would have started much earlier. Not that we'd have this success, but I find striking similarities in our styles of music. Maybe that's another reason why I enjoy this band right now.
4. Ja Rule - Anything this kid touches, turns platinum. Anything. I don't even know if he has an actual album (which I'm sure he does), but I do know everyone in music is getting him as a "feature" in remixes. Why? Because he's damn good. Forget gangster rap. Forget east coast/west coast rap. Rule … Ja … whatever … plays to the party crowd. If people want to dance in the club, throw in Ja Rule. His remix with J.Lo, "Ain't it funny," is tight.
5. The ChristinaBrittanyNSync Monster - Yes. I admit it. I am a sucker for popular music. Does that make me an awful music connoisseur? No. There are different types of music for different situations. I own good music. I'd put my CD collection up against anyone's. That doesn't mean I can't enjoy bubble gum pop for what it is worth. It's fun. It makes you bounce, and it's good dance music. These kids have voices, no doubt. They can entertain, no doubt. Do they have musical substance? Maybe not. Ok, so Brittany finally wrote a song on her latest album. That's a step. But they are making songs people can enjoy.
There really is no moral here. Just don't let someone else influence your musical tastes. If you like pop music, so what. Enjoy it. That is why it is made. It doesn't mean you have bad taste in music. It just means your tastes are more popular than that music snob who sticks to his indie music.
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