"I'm worried we've spiraled into a Sweet & Low period"
I'm unapologetic in my opinion that music today is more vibrant and fun than it was 10-15 years ago... but I have to say I'm very disappointed that this is not transferring over to the stage. Theatrics and spectacle alone does not make one sound or perform like a star... unfortunately an alarming number of those old enough to know better seem to have forgotten this. Making things even more worrisome is we have a new generation coming that has never known what real "sugar" tastes like. I'm serious when I say this worries me ... it's not just hyperbole.
It may be coincidental that the Sweet & Low star is gaining a stranglehold in a period directly after the passing of the greatest Pop Star of the last 40 years... but I think there's a connection. Of course the move towards counterfeit superstars goes back before MJ's passing... the minute MJ left the stage and became a full time TMZ item the opening was there. The music industry had already been taking short cuts for close to two decades but now they were in a pickle... failing to develop and nurture talent at the expense of short term profit meant the bench was thin and in some cases completely empty. The so-call "Neo-Soul" movement boasted of a return to musicianship and "real" songs but it didn't have any of the pizazz that could fill the void left by the greats of yesterday. Of the two that did one was a dude basically doing arena karaoke and the other was a woman with a lack of radio friendly hits. And Hip-Hop... We all know Hip Hop had the personalities but fell pitifully short as a genre that could produce quality live acts.
It was clear the slack would have to be taken up by those closest to MJ's pop tree... The Boy Band off-shoots, Usher, sister Janet and her clones. Thing is all these acts could mimic the moves & theatrics of MJ but to a varying degree all fell short of the substance that sustained Michael all those years.... talent and the drive to create.
Now here we sit about 10 years later with a new crop of "stars"... the difference is these performers have also been inspired by the failed replacements of the post MJ era. That "middle" generation did a respectable job at times but it was still a long way from what any of us over 40 became accustom to when we were young. My worry is the further we move away from the age of the stage, the more bloated and fake it's going to get. We have people today going into a frenzy anytime they see outrageous outfits, lifts, pyrotechnics, and a gang of people on stage... proclaiming it the "best shit ever" and throwing out GOAT status based solely on the spectacle. Old heads you can't be afraid to step up and call this bullshit for what it is. Sitting out there and co-signing shit you should know better of just to avoid grumpy old man jokes isn't helping anyone. Step up and share the knowledge you have... if you have a niece, nephew or younger brother or sister show them what performances used to be about. Get out those old video tapes or forward on some links... and if Prince comes to your town, go out there and get them a ticket so they can witness with their own eyes what a real live show looks and SOUNDS like. It might be too late to turn this back but that doesn't mean you are supposed to give up and just accept a substitute as the genuine article. It's up to us to teach the children that just because it's sweet doesn't mean it's sugar.
"Re-Elected Bitches" _________________________________ Reunion Radio Podcasts Bringing Together Five Decades of R&B/Funk/Soul/Dance
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