Is music today a bit shït?

Atari Jaguar

Not to go all "BACK IN MY DAAAAY!" but whenever I hear some of what's popular today I get a little sad.

It's all a bit shït, for one. I find it's rather repetitive, seemingly always about the same subject. And always one genre... fake voices and synth instruments. What gives?

infogiver

A bit? You are joking? The whole thing is tragic.
I was watching TOTP2 Wham special tonight and it's sad to say that any of their bubble gum pop (sneered at at the time) is better then anything in the charts at the moment.

Noveight

Depends on your taste, but there's loads of good stuff being produced that doesn't make the top 40, or top 100 for that matter. Just takes some effort to root through Nikki Minaj and Arianna Grande wannabe's singing about arse shaking.

I'd consider this to be a masterpiece of recent times.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqiH0ZSkM9I

Atari Jaguar

infogiver wrote: »

A bit? You are joking? The whole thing is tragic.
I was watching TOTP2 Wham special tonight and it's sad to say that any of their bubble gum pop (sneered at at the time) is better then anything in the charts at the moment.

Just had a peek at the charts for the first time in years and aside from the obvious Christmas songs I can't make out who these artists are. And such ****e song titles, "a letter to my ex"... fcuk off?

Noveight wrote: »

Depends on your taste, but there's loads of good stuff being produced that doesn't make the top 40, or top 100 for that matter. Just takes some effort to root through Nikki Minaj and Arianna Grande wannabe's singing about arse shaking.

I'd consider this to be a masterpiece of recent times.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqiH0ZSkM9I

It's of a slightly higher caliber but not for me. Is there no one around like years ago no? Disturbed, AC/DC, Zeppelin, etc. Have artists in that vein died off?

Xenji

It has been for the last 20 years.

JupiterKid

Pop music today is definitely much poorer than in the past - say, 25 or 35 years ago. If you look at the charts for 1986 and 2016 the latter just doesn't compare.

Saipanne

Yeah, it's not great, compared to classic eras. No matter the genre, music of the last fifteen years does not stand up to the classics.

Atari Jaguar

They can't take away my classics. That's all that matters.

Although I do wish that the "curse of 2016" had taken some of the ****ehounds as opposed to decent musicians.

topmanamillion

I`d be right in modern pops age demographic but I just cant listen to any of that crap.
If you compare music by decade and look at what was being produced in the 50s, 60s and 70s when: Bob Dylan was writing poetic protest songs, Johnny Cash was standing up for Native Americans and playing concerts in front of prisoners, ACDC and Led Zeppelin were defining Rock music, Motown was making stars out of Smokey Robinson and Arethera Franklin as well as a host of other talents not to mention The Beatles, The Stones etc etc etc.....
.
Its completely over commercialised now. Its all about putting out a song that will be well received in night clubs by teenage girls and lads trying to get off with said teenage girls.

I`m talking about artists and singers from 50 years ago and most people will be familiar with them. I honestly cant see Nicki Minaj even being remotely talked about in 50 years. To compare the classics and legends to modern music, its the difference between a home cooked meal and a take away.

tonycascarino

For sure and I am under 30. Music has definitely gone backwards. To have rap ''music'' and that sort of muck topping charts regularly is an absolute embarrassment to music. Any sort of an eejit is getting a grammy these days. Nicki Minaj, Jay Z, Kanye West and all those other 'musical geniuses' that helped to destroy music can seriously piss right off.

maestroamado

music has changed so much over the years and the fact that there is decline what was traditionally "the album" not really good for the music industry overall.
i am too old to to comment on "club music" of the more recent music my pick would probably "Amy" but she is sadly lost to us.

bnt

As you get older, it's tempting to say "it's all gone a bit rubbish", and it's just as tempting for young people to say "that's what you old farts always say". But something's gone really wrong in the last 15-20 years. If you've grown up in that period, it seems to me that you've missed out on so much. I've spoken about this to younger colleagues at work, and sent some of them Spotify playlists, and they're just unable to handle it.

Part of the problem seems to be how music is consumed these days: who today actually sits in one place for 45 minutes or more, paying full attention to an album? Not having it on in the background while doing something else on the computer, or on earbuds while working out, but putting all your attention in to listening and understanding what's going on?

PS for the young folk: by "album" I mean not just a bunch of single songs thrown together on a CD or a playlist, but a series of songs that have been selected and sequenced by the artist, in such a way that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Sometimes there's an overarching concept linking them all together, but that's optional. It's an art form that is gradually dying out. There is some hope, though e.g. Beyoncé's 2016 album Lemonade is a concept album that (reviews say) takes the listener on a journey through her background and influences. I haven't listened to it, but reading about it makes me think I should - which is encouraging.

Lawless_IRE

Chainsmokers. Martin garrox. Nicky minaj. Arianna grande...its literally like playin music from squeezy rubber chickens

The J Stands for Jay

Atari Jaguar wrote: »

Not to go all "BACK IN MY DAAAAY!" but whenever I hear some of what's popular today I get a little sad.

It's all a bit shït, for one. I find it's rather repetitive, seemingly always about the same subject. And always one genre... fake voices and synth instruments. What gives?

Are threads today a bit ****?

Pawwed Rig

Funnily enough I was just thinking the other night that I cannot name any song released in 2016. I have really lost interest to a huge extent after years of shyte and to think I used to live for music. I am probably a relic

Optimalprimerib

For about 3 months this year , we were able to listen to radio stations in work, so I kept myself up to date with the current hits.

As these songs would be repeated consistently, they would actually grow on you over time. Although Justin Bieber/grand et al were kept to a minimum at my station of choice.

That privilege was then removed and I lost touch with the charts. So now I'm in the same boat, thinking the music is crap again and when I look at the biggest hitters on spotify in 2016, I recognize none of them.

Drake as the most listened to artist?? Good god, we are in trouble. Never heard of him before this and listening to his rubbish, I will not hear any of his music again.

LordSutch

Atari Jaguar wrote: »

Is music today a bit shït??

In the main, YES.

There are of course glimmers of light, but most of the mainstream stuff is total pants in my opinion.

Sam Kade

Atari Jaguar wrote: »

Not to go all "BACK IN MY DAAAAY!" but whenever I hear some of what's popular today I get a little sad.

It's all a bit shït, for one. I find it's rather repetitive, seemingly always about the same subject. And always one genre... fake voices and synth instruments. What gives?

It's fully sh1t, nothing but whiny fcukers singing repetitive songs.

andekwarhola

Wouldn't really buy the idea that good music isn't still made in a lot of genres but when you see a big 80s star passing away you realize there's a relative paucity of interesting, inventive mainstream pop these days.

That said, as somebody pointed out, maybe it's down to my age and the way I now consume music. These days, I, like most people, regulate my music environment so there's less chance of listening to chart stuff for extended periods of time and mainstream music simply doesn't have the central place in culture for young people that it once had.

nice_guy80

Autotune has killed music

It's all about demographics now anyway.

deco nate

McGaggs wrote: »

Are threads today a bit ****?

Not any were near as bad as what passes as music nowadays ....

deco nate

Ohh has for the days of a good concept album. Instead of the ****e we get today.

Chancer3001

Music right now is good. In alsmot ever genre

Trad - kila

Irish songs - high kings

Pop - newest justin bieber. Rihanna. Beyonce. Arcade fire. Coldplay. Amy winehouse.

Power ballads - adele.

Rap - jay z lil wayne eminem

Rock - we still have rolling stones tours. Gnroses. U2 still touring.

Theres a shizton of quality music being produced. Obviously not all of it is good. But all of it never was.

There are artists and songs nowadays that will be listened to in 50 years.

jimmy blevins

What gets played on the radio at the moment has never been more samey. Having said that there's plenty of great acts at the moment.

The J Stands for Jay

I think everyone is jumping to the wring conclusions and asking the wrong question. You should be asking: "Why is commercial radio in Ireland so irredeemably ****e?"

jimmy blevins

It's a case of there being more choice, yet with it comes increased competition with margins getting squeezed resulting in nobody taking any risks by playing generic crap.

deco nate

Chancer3001 wrote: »

Music right now is good. In alsmot ever genre


Pop - newest justin bieber

There are artists and songs nowadays that will be listened to in 50 years.

**** off with yer BULL****!!!

Arcade_Tryer

Xenji wrote: »

It has been for the last 20 years.

Saipanne wrote: »

Yeah, it's not great, compared to classic eras. No matter the genre, music of the last fifteen years does not stand up to the classics.

I guess the early 00s golden era of indie rock music never happened. It was all an illusion. #FakeMusic

deco nate

McGaggs wrote: »

I think everyone is jumping to the wring conclusions and asking the wrong question. You should be asking: "Why is commercial radio in Ireland so irredeemably ****e?"

And the answer is dob owns too much of the stations....

Rothko

Look beyond the charts. There's loads of great music being made today.

dodzy

Atari Jaguar wrote: »

Not to go all "BACK IN MY DAAAAY!" but whenever I hear some of what's popular today I get a little sad.

It's all a bit shït, for one. I find it's rather repetitive, seemingly always about the same subject. And always one genre... fake voices and synth instruments. What gives?

Compare this with this.......

That'll hit home.

RobertKK

Sia is an excellent modern day talent. So is Taylor Swift, who is self made and these would be huge stars in any age of modern music.

I listen to a lot of music both old and new.

mzungu

I'm sure there are probably some great bands plugging away on the gig circuit that do not have mainstream acceptance and/or appeal because they have not been marketed properly. The trend now is more towards trying to get a few hit singles to tie a lacklustre album together and the rest can be supplemented by being photographed falling out of some London nightclub followed by selling the story about the stint in The Priory to some gossip mag.

Say what you will about Britpop, but it was the last exciting musical movement...even if a lot of the hype was manufactured by Melody Maker and The NME. There was still quality bands in there and the charts were full of them on a weekly basis. That indie movement in the early to mid noughties was all image with absolutely no substance behind it, and Melody Maker and The NME can be blamed for this too. The quality of mainstream has been in decline for quite some time.

mzungu

RobertKK wrote: »

Sia is an excellent modern day talent. So is Taylor Swift, who is self made and these would be huge stars in any age of modern music.

I listen to a lot of music both old and new.

Looks like somebody started the New Year celebrations a bit early :P

the evasion_kid

Problem is today we have fastfood music,with Simon Cowell and the likes being the McDonald's of music...

tomwaits48

Did someone mention Disturbed in the same vein as AC/DC?? Lol

conorhal

mzungu wrote: »

Say what you will about Britpop, but it was the last exciting musical movement...even if a lot of the hype was manufactured by Melody Maker and The NME. There was still quality bands in there and the charts were full of them on a weekly basis. That indie movement in the early to mid noughties was all image with absolutely no substance behind it, and Melody Maker and The NME can be blamed for this too. The quality of mainstream has been in decline for quite some time.

Britpop was the last great movement in music because the way we consume music has changed so much, back in the early 90's you were either Blur or Oasis, queue riot.
I can't imagine the public taking up a band like they were taking up call to arms any more. I can remember when people would actually queue up overnight outside HMV to be the first to get a major album release.
Technology has rendered that kind of collective experience obsolete, but it has also atomized the scene making it hard to gather an audience at the level that a band enters the public zeitgeist. The only way to do that now is post pictures of your arse and start a twitter spat that makes the gossip pages. That's why most of the big names in the business right now are also the most internet savvy when it comes to generating media about themselves, which is also why I know who Justin Beiber or Miley Cyrus are, but I couldn't name you a song associated with them.

joewicklow

I'll just leave this here,

jh79

tomwaits48 wrote: »

Did someone mention Disturbed in the same vein as AC/DC?? Lol

Exactly are Disturbed not a crappy nu metal act. Heavy metal for frat boys.

fryup

Pop music died the day S.A.W arrived on the scene

TerrorFirmer

To be fair I think music is perfectly fine these days and I enjoy a lot of it across different genres and find it pretty healthy. I think most people just don't seem to grasp the simple truth that simply not liking it does not magically and objectively make it shit. Simpsons summed it up pretty well with this, and this very conversation has been happening repeatedly over the past few decades - not just regarding music, but other mediums of entertainment too, particularly film.

Because the alternative, which is what seems to be the implication around here, is that the chart hits are just talent less drivel being mindlessly consumed by braindead, consumer driven zombies eager to lap up any old garbage. It's convenient.... but not really true. The same argument is often made about the modern film industry and the past 'golden era', which remarkably coincidentally, is almost always the 70's and 80's as well.

Times change. You can move with them or don't, the older stuff is there for you to forever more appreciate, but let others like what they like without acting like an ass.

Pawwed Rig

Music died on April 5th 1994.

Austria!

I think pop music is better than ever. There's a fantastic appreciation of subtle dynamic changes, a wonderful incorporation of rappish elements (Ed Sheeran's Nina, the newest one from 5th Harmony, Starboy), insanely good production values. Actually thinking about it, I believe MMLP and Eminem show influences a lot more than people realise. While there's prominent shared features like Autotune and lyrics about partying, I think there's as much or more diversity in music as there's ever been.

I think genuine rock is not as good, however. In terms of that Alt-rock and sort of indie stuff Alt-J and Daughter are quite good. But there's no smashing pumpkins or Nirvana or Oasis like there was 91-96.

Also, Drake and Lil Wayne remain popular for some reason.

Dirty Dingus McGee

Maybe Rock Music is just going out of fashion.It happened to Jazz where it was far more mainstream in the past but isn't anymore.

Surely eventually everything was going to sound like something else as there is only so much you can do with any art form so the lack of supposed originality was bound to occur at some stage.

Music doesn't seem to be anywhere near as important to people as it used to be.It seemed to define who people were in the past where it seems television and professional sports teams have taken that mantle away from music to a large extent.

Trekker09

Louis Walsh killed popular music

dd972

What I've noticed is that music seems to be an online thing now as opposed to when everyone knew what was in the top 10 or watched TOTP, for instance, I don't know any One Direction or Justin Bieber songs but know all the Take That ones and I don't even follow pop music.

mixery

rock music is passè defnitely, and majority of indie is crap. i don't see any significant sub-genres developing within them.
reggae declined in popularity.
rap music grew immensely(replacing jazz/funk to an extent).
everything electronic is huge.
and there's an abundance of anything alternative + millions of small musicians. instruments are super cheap, and with social media + platforms like soundcloud anyone can share their work/get noticed.
music is still very very good, but it's moved on from radios, and for the better.

you just have to look a bit - this Slovenian guy for example in my opinion has a magnificent feel for music.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-ZjzTKiG4M

Omackeral

Lots of whiney old people on here. Plenty of good music still out there.

Ulysses Gaze

Omackeral wrote: »

Lots of whiney old people on here. Plenty of good music still out there.

I'd agree...you just need to look around to find it is all.

Relying on the charts is a waste of time.

bnt

fryup wrote: »

Pop music died the day S.A.W arrived on the scene

Maybe, but most of the younglings here will have no idea who or what S.A.W. was! Me, I blame AutoTune.

Pete Moss

tomwaits48 wrote: »

Did someone mention Disturbed in the same vein as AC/DC?? Lol

Yep. Plus they threw Disturbed in there with Zeppelin as well :rolleyes: