Should the music industry stop hiring people like Rihanna?

[Guest]

I love Queen Rih

[VenusBlackStar 1,301]

@Enigma Sweetie, you're belaboring your argument on this thread by refusing to give examples/evidence for what you're saying. It seems like you're trying to let your statements speak for themselves, but without anything to back those claims up those statements hold very little weight to them. That's why people are coming for you and repeatedly pointing out a lack of proof that you won't give.

 

I personally don't hear anything on the radio that sounds like BBHMM but I can sort of see what you mean when you talk about things sounding the same on the radio. You know, a few years after "Just Dance" came out and got attention I remember (and still think) that Cascada's "Evacuate the Dancefloor" and Jason Derulo's "In My Head" got those "Just Dance" vibes. Actually, you can sing "Just Dance" to the instrumental of "In My Head" and it kinda fits really well (I did it, give it a try if you don't believe!).

And there are things that non-Rihanna people sing that really do sound like they could be Rihanna hits, like I really think "Hey Mama" could have easily done just as well with Rihanna on it instead of Nicki. I also think Rihanna could have done "Chandelier" (if she could handle those high-@ss Sia notes) or "Best Mistake" by Ariana Grande. I do see that interchangeability in pop music. 

 

I feel though that that's because in her 10 or so years as a recording artist Rihanna has become a sort of pop template because she's shown that she's a hit machine. There was all that hype back in the mid 2000s about her because at the time she was seen as unique, some cool island chick bringing fun dance songs and adding her style to them. That was the appeal because really the world doesn't need new pop singers until they come and show us why we need them. She could hold a note, look hot doing it, and create the Rihanna "brand" that she's got now. She's entrenched in popular culture. Yeah, she doesn't have pipes that Beyonce or Gaga or Christina or Adele have, but everything else she's got and how she's marketed + those FIRE tracks she puts out sort of excuses that.

 

Madonna's not the best singer, but we love her for what she can do.

 

If you want a chick who sings who writes her own songs and focuses more on craft and artistry, try Lana Del Rey. Her lyrics are poetry, expresses themes a little more uncommon than the rest, sings like an angel, and uses live instrumentation included in the electronic stuff. All her songs might sound the same to some people at first glance but if you care a ton about artistry and craft you'll be able to easily see all the nuances.

[AbuHassan1992 766]

17 hours ago, mariomania1234 said:

The pop industry could give a damn about true artistry for the most part these days. It's all about the $$$ unfortunately.

The've figured out all they need is a marketable pretty face to sell radio fodder written and produced by a core team (Dr. Luke, Max Martin, Sia,etc.) . It's easier.

Sometimes real gems show up. We should cherish them.

it's always been like that, though. It's nothing new

[VOLANTIS 16,296]

21 hours ago, Enigma said:

The Rihanna's, and Katy's, and Selena's, are the reason why the radio and music overall is very repetitive and bland these days.

Basically what Haters said about Gaga's discography 

How Just Dance and Poker Face are the same.

How Judas and Bad Romance are the same.

How Gaga bought all her accolades. And is not deserving of them.

 

Sounds to me you're just eager to start a Hate club against Artists you don't identify with when if comes to taste. 

Re-evaluate. 

 

 

[StrawberryBlond 14,102]

I totally agree. I have no problem with pretty faces getting famous or making fun songs, but they have to serve talent with it. You can be hot and make fun music and be talented. I'm looking for the full package (though the looks don't matter, you know what I mean) but so few artists today have it.

About the looks, this one really irks me. I see so many untalented females getting record deals and amazing music opportunities based on their looks but here's the thing...a lot of them don't even get success or have one hit then fade out. And they're never album sellers. They usually end up dropped. This makes it so much harder for talented women because the industry never takes the right message away. They should be thinking: "Maybe if we signed talented women, their music might actually sell." But no, what they're actually thinking is: "If this stunning beauty can't sell, what hope does a plain jane stand of selling?" And the same for the music's quality - they think if generic rubbish won't sell, serious music definitely won't. This is why females really struggle to sell music these days - the untalented ones are getting all the right breaks with dire music and the good ones aren't getting signed or getting promotion. It's the same for male artists too, albeit, not quite as harsh. I think it's because women have a tendency to find a plain guy attractive if he sings a cute love song, so they still sell even if they're not a dreamboat.

And about the music...You know that phrase: "music can sometimes just be fun"? What follows on from it is the implication: "sometimes, music can just be bad and that's ok." The word "fun" just seems like another way of saying "bad" now. The suggestion is that because it's fun, it doesn't need to be good or have any talent behind it, which is ridiculous. There are plenty of fun songs made by talented artists. You'd think talented artists can only be serious and untalented artists can only be fun or something. It's so limiting. It also takes a real comparison to see how bad some of the generic music today is. The Edge Of Glory is an example of good mainstream music with talent behind it. As is Uptown Funk. So, I look for other fun songs around today at that level and it's very hard to find. It seems to be that a lot of artists can't do fun music without dumbing things down.

I notice a lot of people are picking up on your point about BBHMM (I don't want to quote them as I don't want to start arguments), asking you for examples that sound just like it. I think it's sad that you're being hounded about this because I find it really frustrating when people ask me examples but I just can't select a specific one. Because I review music, there's so many songs going around in my head and because I'm listening to new music all the time, things can sound samey to me but they don't to the public because they don't listen to much outside their favourites. I like BBHMM (it grew on me, though), but I totally think it sounds like a lot of other urban tracks out there. I can't think of exact specifics, it's all generalised. But that doesn't mean that we don't have examples. I eventually thought of these:

Notorious B.I.G - Gimme The Loot

Lil Kim - The Warning

Rihanna - G4L (yes, even Rihanna copies herself)

Lady Gaga - Cake Like Lady Gaga (probably the only one that sounds similar to the beat)

Dr Dre - Deep Water

I hope that helps make your argument more credible. I know not all these songs sound just like it but it's all about the themes and asthetics. I listen to urban albums all the time and they're loaded with songs like BBHMM (which is why they're nearly all rap examples). Almost every rap album has a song about going to get someone who hasn't paid for their drugs with repeated references to having someone tied up in the trunk of the car. And of course, there's always songs about how somebody better watch out or they're going to get dropped. So many interludes in rap albums actually involve the sound effects of someone being pulled out of a car, threatened and then getting shot in the head, maybe followed by dragging sounds of the body being pushed into water. Rihanna just spouted cliche after cliche with that song from every rapper in history. She's not a rapper but she's the most urban pop artist around and takes heavy inspiration from rap, so I think the examples I provided are relevant. I hope that helps make your argument more credible for the doubters.

[TimisaMonster 31,073]

Thanks...I feel the same way....however people are superficial and only care about what they see with their eyes....not  in what they hear

Shame. ...Talent buried under shallowness

[Hexxx 2,244]

BRUNO MARS???????? He's a great singer but he is no where near creative and his music is the reason why the radio is so bland. Locked Out Of Heaven still plays to this day and why i don't know why.

Rihanna may not be the best singer or writes her own material but her music is GOOD i'll take her over Bruno anyday

 

 

[Hexxx 2,244]

instead of bashing artists, why don't you give a list of "creative" artists we should listen to so that we can support them and get their music heard. i bet you only listen to Lady Gaga

[PopBitch 1,218]

On 12/10/2015 at 6:40 PM, Benji said:

I disagree.

Whilst they may not fulfil your standards to be an "artist" ... they are great entertainers and that is what the industry needs. Some of the very best writers are awful singers, some of the best singers are awful on stage etc. These guys do what many people can't and that's why they are where they are.

Take X-Factor for an example, some of the best singers fall early because they lack stage presence and that "X-Factor" .... but these ladies don't.

This.  Rihanna has put out some of the best pop songs out there.  Give those songs to someone else.  Let's see how well they do.  She's a force.  She has a great vocal style.  She's a badass.

 

Gaga is coming across so judgmental, I feel, in too many of her comments lately.  Just prove yourself by your music and stop judging others.

[Quark 7,085]

6 hours ago, PopBitch said:

This.  Rihanna has put out some of the best pop songs out there.  Give those songs to someone else.  Let's see how well they do.  She's a force.  She has a great vocal style.  She's a badass.

 

Gaga is coming across so judgmental, I feel, in too many of her comments lately.  Just prove yourself by your music and stop judging others.

The thing is that Rihanna did not make anything. For all of her hits, a producer made her instrumentals, a songwriter wrote the lyrics, and other musicians are playing the songs live. The only thing she does is sing the songs, and this would not be a problem if only she had a great voice. There is no doubt that she is very popular, but when the only thing you do is sing, you should at least be great at it (at least in my opinion anyways).

[JusKeepBreathin 19,311]

Rihanna wouldn't have gotten where she is if she wasn't any good. 

I'm fine with every one else you mentioned. Carry on.

[Prismatic 4,789]

1 hour ago, Enigma said:

The thing is that Rihanna did not make anything. For all of her hits, a producer made her instrumentals, a songwriter wrote the lyrics, and other musicians are playing the songs live. The only thing she does is sing the songs, and this would not be a problem if only she had a great voice. There is no doubt that she is very popular, but when the only thing you do is sing, you should at least be great at it (at least in my opinion anyways).

I don't think you can get the same effect if you give another artist any of Rihanna's song. Ever though she didn't write them, but she connect to them and make it sound like she actually wrote it. 

[Quark 7,085]

3 minutes ago, Prismatic said:

I don't think you can get the same effect if you give another artist any of Rihanna's song. Ever though she didn't write them, but she connect to them and make it sound like she actually wrote it. 

That is because she has charisma and is overall very popular with young people, but this doesn't really have to do with her musical skill. She is good for business though.

[AIex 3,102]

#Pray4Anti

[Princess Die 1,864]

Why single out RihRih? The same could be said about KP, NM, etc, etc.