IT'S NOT THAT BAD

so I was reading an article about the worst albums and songs of 2008 and can't help but feel some music critics are a tad negative and general when they critise certain aspects of the music industry.

For those of you who haven't read many music critiques recently, the rough jist of this article and the general opinion held by many of my friends, is that commercial songs are rubbish and this year has seen a sharp increase in the amount of these types of songs and acts created.

The main arguement against ' commercial songs' is they lack soul and are aimed at the lowest common denominator. An article I recently read highlighted Katy Perry's I Kissed a girl, and Beyonce's 'If I Were a Boy' as the highest profile offenders of this crime. Their intention to shock and the basic narrative of the story being based on outdated and super imposed stereotypes of obvious targets, such as cheating men and confused teenage girls make them easy targets.


I would agree with this arguement to a point. The stories are hardly compelling and won't be challenging Bohemian Rhapsody in most peoples all time favourite songs. But to call these songs bad is wrong.

They are liked by people. Katy Perry's song and many similar songs have all done well this year and I don't mind them, and my favourite band is currently System of a Down.

Is this music snobbery on the behalf of music critics and many of my friends, come to think of it? Possibly, granted everyone has the right to an opinion, especially in the choice of Noise they choose to intake, but to call all these songs drivel is wrong.

The issue I think is quite different. It's the lack of follow up songs and hidden jems produced by the same artist that is what really gets peoples goat. Once you listen to the one song in the album that you have heard on the radio, in a club on the tv, you are unlikely to find another song that is either wholly different or better than the released single.

At this point I might state that I don't buy many albums, but I do listened to them.


The thing that makes songs, albums and artists like Michael Jackson and many other less amazing artist so popular is when you listen to their albums you can usually find at least one more song which wasn't released as a single which you find just as good. I'm thinking primarily of the whole of Metallica's Black Album and Snow (Hey Oh) from the Red Hot Chilli Peppers Stadium Arcadium.


I think this discovery point is what gets music junkies excited and earns artists cudos in their eyes. Abit of variety and depth for fans and listeners to study can make all the difference and give these obviously commercial artists a touch more credibility.

Obviously the name of the game of these artists and record labels is to both make money and entertain, not to earn the respect of audiences who don't buy their product, so it's unlikely much will change. But i do hope this degredation of pop music and those involved in it stops.

It's pop music and does what it sets out to do, be popular. It's always existed and always will, I hope people can accept it and appreciate it for what it is.