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April 09, 2007
Flattery, or Mockery?
Yeah, it's another Hot Air link. What can I say? AP seems to spend all of his time online, and the results are pretty good.
Allah has posted two videos for "My Humps." The original Black Eyed Peas version, and the Alanis Morrisette cover. Both, of course, are terrible because the song itself is terrible. Of the two, however, Alanis' version has the virtue of being funny. (I should add that those with more sensitive sensibilities should heed Allah's strong content warning)
This story, about the predictions of continued decline in the music industry, is related.
LONDON (Thomson Financial) - The music industry faces another two years of declining compact disc sales that will not be offset by new revenues from music downloads, the Financial Times reported, citing a new report from Enders Analysis, a media research company.The record companies are blaming the boogeyman of illegal downloading for their problems. What the Alanis cover/parody points out is that perhaps they should instead look at the type of music that is being recorded and admit that to a great extent - it all sounds the same. In an attempt to capitalize on the original sound of hip-hop, record companies have killed it through overexposure.The company predicts that overall music sales by 2009 will be half their level at the peak of the CD boom.
Global music sales are forecast to fall to 23 bln usd in 2009, down 16 pct from last year and far below the peak of 45 bln usd in 1997, according to Enders.
The report blames the industry's ills on the continuing effects of digital technology, which allows consumers to store large quantities of music on computers, and to cherry-pick tracks, rather than buying albums. Rising broadband penetration has also made legal and illegal music downloading easier.
There is little original about the Black Eyed Peas, and Fergie is about as talented as a cat having its tail stepped on. Alanis' video is an attempt to point out the absurdity of modern music, and she does a good job - even if her version is quite annoying on its own.
I wonder when (or if) the record companies will figure out that it's not illegal downloading that's harming their industry. What's keeping record sales low is that music is no longer interesting. Maybe that opinion makes me a geezer-in-training, but it's clear to me at least that "My Humps" won't have the same lasting power as anything by The Beatles or even a few 80s songs.
Memo to record companies: you want to sell more albums? Promote better music.
Posted by slublog at April 9, 2007 10:58 PM
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Comments
I agree that 'My Humps' will prove not to have the timeless-classic staying power of, say, the 'Milkshake Song.'
Posted by: JohnW at April 10, 2007 09:50 AM
Which is, of course, a classic.
Posted by: Slublog at April 10, 2007 10:12 AM
I completely agree, about 80-90% of mainstream music either sounds the same as everyone else, or is conveniently talent free.
Posted by: Anonymous at April 10, 2007 12:01 PM
I loathe "My Humps" so much it's almost painful. I have found that I listen more and more to the "Classic Rewind" station on Sirius Satellite Radio - rock music from the 70s to mid 80s. Boston. Aerosmith. Steve Miller Band. Dire Straits. Fleetwood Mac. ALL have stood the test of time. And songs like the aforementioned will, hopefully, fade to obscurity - soon, very soon.
Posted by: Kris, in New England at April 10, 2007 03:48 PM
Don't kid yourself. In 20 years ago people in their late 30s will be talking about what great songs they are. Look at all the crap that was around when we were kids that people coo and sigh over now.
Posted by: Farmer Joe at April 12, 2007 07:21 PM