Why are many popstars average singers?

[Quark 7,085]

o<(0_0)>o

Today I made a thread asking about how good of a singer Kesha is. And I realized the many popstars, specially most of today's popstars, are average singers. With the exception of Gaga, Beyoncé, Adele, Arianna, and Demi Lovato, everyone else's vocal abilities are very average. I mean you can't tell me that Britney Spears, Katy Perry, Taylor Swift, Selena Gomez, Kesha, Justin Bieber, Madonna, Ellie Goulding, Charlie XCX, Lorde, Miley Cyrus, and Rihanna are above average singers.

[Shipper 12,876]

Because they look GOOD, they are visually easy to market and sell, and they will do whatever the music industry wants. As for the singing part, there's always auto tune and they can still sell bop songs that way. That's just my opinion and I don't necessarily agree those singers you mentioned are above average/average.

[Bonkers 28,036]

BonKers top reasons:

1. You don't need a great voice to sing pop music. 
2. X factor
3.  Some singers like Madonna aren't gifted singers, yet their voices have a really unique and enjoyable "tone".  Madonna has a truly iconic sound even though she has average abilities.
 

[Wenli 826]

Autotune makes things much easier compared to the past.

[andy232000 9,870]

you dont need to have talent to be famous anymore. not that these ladies dont, they do, but anyone with a hot body and pleasing image can sign a contract, sing into a mic and get their voices fixed. its not like it used to be where you only had your talent to get you places 

[Lord Temptation 11,209]

They know someone who knows someone who...

[ARTPOPisaChoice 946]

 

1. Singing isn't everything when it comes to pop music. Sometimes your ability to write a catchy hook is more important than your ability to sing it.

2. A lot of the best singers aren't charismatic enough to be pop stars / don't want to "waste" their classically trained vocals on singing pop music

3. Attractiveness 

[Voltaire 4,531]

Automobiles.

Some cars will be "classic" 30, 40, 50 years later.

Most cars will only be valued while they're new and fresh. Never to be a "classic" or "collector". In fact, they sorta just blow 5 years later all together and people are sometimes not sure if they were ever good at all.

Many cars can sell well without the best of engines, or leather seats, or the best of sound systems: but they still sell millions. 

Pop stars are like automobiles. Some will go down in history as classics, some will only be popular while current, some sell well but have the economy interior and base-model engine. Some were sorta always embarrassing. (PT Cruisers are the car version of Meghan Trainor- faux retro and inexplicably popular)

(Meghan Trainor as a car ^)

 

[Bad Bromance 5,809]

2 minutes ago, Voltaire said:

Automobiles.

Some cars will be "classic" 30, 40, 50 years later.

Most cars will only be valued while they're new and fresh. Never to be a "classic" or "collector". In fact, they sorta just blow 5 years later all together and people are sometimes not sure if they were ever good at all.

Many cars can sell well without the best of engines, or leather seats, or the best of sound systems: but they still sell millions. 

Pop stars are like automobiles. Some will go down in history as classics, some will only be popular while current, some sell well but have the economy interior and base-model engine. Some were sorta always embarrassing. (PT Cruisers)

 

I loved your analogy!  

On Topic:  I think @ARTPOPisaChoice hit the nail on the head with his response.

[PunkTheFunk 123,508]

Nothing new though -- this has been the case for quite a while now. The last time mainstream artists were required to have exceptional singing abilities was the 1950s imo.

[Quark 7,085]

1 minute ago, PunkTheFunk said:

Nothing new though -- this has been the case for quite a while now. The last time mainstream artists were required to have exceptional singing abilities was the 1950s imo.

Actually up until the 80s, and maybe even the 90s most pop stars were very good singers.

[ARTPOPisaChoice 946]

10 minutes ago, Bad Bromance said:

I loved your analogy!  

On Topic:  I think @ARTPOPisaChoice hit the nail on the head with his response.

Thank you! 

[Bebe 16,807]

A huge booming voice just isn't part of the genre....

I mean, it would be like Opera singers or Jazz singers looking at Rock singers like "What's with the grunting and technique here?? These people can't sing like us!"

Pop vocals are generally very simple which makes them easy to sing along too. There are instances where singers/performers can make a good song with limited vocal ability, in some instances it's not about how big your voice is but how you use it.

Lily Allen for example is not a strong singer, but she uses her voice well and has very clever and witty lyrics that she writes herself. Lorde is not a Whitney type, but she has an interesting voice and uses great harmonies and writes like poetry. A great voice just isn't necessary in the genre of Pop.

Even looking at Gaga's earlier work, it can hardly be compared vocally to C2C and her recent performances. Gaga didn't need to have a huge voice in her early pop stuff because it's not part of the genre, it's not what people look for or expect from a pop track.

 

 

[Bad Bromance 5,809]

10 minutes ago, ARTPOPisaChoice said:

Thank you! 

You're welcome, honey bunny!!

[Jesse Pinkman 4,660]

12 minutes ago, Bebe said:

A huge booming voice just isn't part of the genre....

I mean, it would be like Opera singers or Jazz singers looking at Rock singers like "What's with the grunting and technique here?? These people can't sing like us!"

Pop vocals are generally very simple which makes them easy to sing along too. There are instances where singers/performers can make a good song with limited vocal ability, in some instances it's not about how big your voice is but how you use it.

Lily Allen for example is not a strong singer, but she uses her voice well and has very clever and witty lyrics that she writes herself. Lorde is not a Whitney type, but she has an interesting voice and uses great harmonies and writes like poetry. A great voice just isn't necessary in the genre of Pop.

Even looking at Gaga's earlier work, it can hardly be compared vocally to C2C and her recent performances. Gaga didn't need to have a huge voice in her early pop stuff because it's not part of the genre, it's not what people look for or expect from a pop track.

 

 

Exactly. I'm tired of people bashing popstars for vocal abilities as if that's a huge part of the genre. Good popstars require great production, catchy lyrics, a great image, and performance skills.

Popstars should be judged by their abilities to perform, write, and their marketing capabilities. Madonna isn't the best vocalist, but look at the areas in which  she makes up for it. Of course you should be able to hold some notes, but not everyone is a Gaga, Beyoncé, Mariah, or Adele. That's what makes them one of a kind.