-
09/16/2011 4:36:00 AM
I'm not trying to be a jerk here, but the clips that you sent me reinforce my feelings towards Ke$ha much than they change them. Those songs are primitive, unoriginal, and overproduced. Singing about your trashy, hard-partying ways is simply not new or innovative in 2011. The trope has been beaten to death.
-
Charles 02/26/2011 12:01:00 AM
Thank you.
-
paulus 02/24/2011 9:19:00 AM
Okay. Just listened to "Backstabber." If that's the cream of her crop then you, me, and everyone we know is fucked.
-
Thaye 02/23/2011 2:33:00 PM
"Suppose you had access to beats that were more appealing"
If you neither find her music appealing nor like her personality/public persona, then why do you keep coming back here and bothering about her? You crack me up.
Instead, you should make better use of your time and look up the kind of music you actually like. You do have very easy access to it, you just obviously prefer to rant about music you DON'T like. I personally don't spend any of my time indulging in the things I dislike nand rather choose to not care about/ignore them, but maybe that's just me. Everyone has different priorities.
-
Charles 02/23/2011 4:35:00 AM
"If there were a girl to say all the dirty things to you while using an interracial beat, then she is that one girl..."
OK. But suppose you just didn't give a s**t about such a girl?
Let's go one step further and suppose that a large chunk of Top 40 music consists, and has long-consisted, of hot girls saying dirty things to you over "interracial beat[s]"?
Suppose you had access to beats that were more appealing, that also employed a variety of styles and influences, and were about subject matter other than the outrageous sexual exploits of these out-of-control, young hotties?
These are among the many considerations for which Mr. Barr has failed to account.
-
02/22/2011 7:09:00 PM
I totally agree, she is like a cute and deaf phenomenom.
If there were a girl to say all the dirty things to you while using an interracial beat, then she is that one girl......I haven't heard her use NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC nor Catholic when talking of "lovesick crackheads."
-
Charles 02/22/2011 6:24:00 AM
I would definitely agree that there's a lot of cynicism involving Ke$ha, but that's more on the part of the out-of-touch music industry executives constantly churning out these cookie-cutter acts like Ke$ha.
The fact of the matter is that Ke$ha simply isn't that talented. She does not write songs with interesting lyrics or memorable melodies.
There's always some trashy pop star producing overtly sexual dance BS and cheesy love songs. It's not genius. It's not original. In fact, that makes-up about 90% of the music industry these days.
Yours is a celebration of commercialism and conformity.
-
Thaye 02/20/2011 11:18:00 AM
"if you're actually sitting there thinking that in forty years, people are going to be singing Ke$ha songs, that she'll be thought-of in the same vein as Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, and the Beatles"
I didn't say that, but whatever.
You are too trapped in your own false convictions, so I guess there is nothing more to expect from you here than cynicism and hairsplitting. If I had a feeling there was, then I hadn't served it to you in my last reply anyway, but you're a hopeless case.
Keep dwelling in ignorance and narrowmindedness, have fun with that. I still advice you to take off the blinders someday, though.
-
Charles 02/19/2011 5:52:00 PM
I don't know how old you are or how much music you've listened to, but if you're actually sitting there thinking that in forty years, people are going to be singing Ke$ha songs, that she'll be thought-of in the same vein as Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, and the Beatles, you are sadly mistaken. Those bands could all sing, play instruments, and write songs, three things that Ke$ha can't do.
In reality, Ke$ha isn't even the next Cyndi Lauper or Madonna; she's the next Samantha Fox. She's the next O-Town. She's the next Lindsay Lohan, (musically speaking).
Ke$ha is the musical equivalent of Kraft Mac & Cheese: you pop her out of the cardboard box, add a little milk and powdered cheese, throw it in the microwave, and voila! Dinner.
-
Thaye 02/19/2011 11:03:00 AM
First of all, I have to say it's interesting and very revealing how you avoid responding with a single word to the actual content and point of my last reply, but rather choose to quickly change the subject and fall back to uttering stereotypical nonsense instead ("those of us who weren't born yesterday") and again a bunch of unjustified assumptions ("Ke$ha is [...] manufactured, disposable", "cynical, soulless, corporate trash like Ke$ha", "writers like Brian Barr who are completely lacking in any musical knowledge").
It's funny how people like you, who have the nerve to act all big and cocky when they're really astoundingly ignorant about the subject of discussion, don't even have the little decency to admit when they are proven wrong by somebody who just knows better. You couldn't bring yourself to do this although I was trying all this time to be as respectful as possible with my replies anyway, to make it easy for you. That's rather pathetic and weakness of character, and I think you should know this if you don't realize it yourself. Don't expect mature and responsible people to take you seriously should you display such a behaviour in real life.
Anyway, maybe you still want to reply to my former comment in your next reply. I'll repeat the questions you left unanswered:
- How are the last 3 links I gave you and "Goodbye" in particular- that's the acoustic recording I explicitly pointed out to you- overproduced? Or do you want to take back/rephrase that statement?
- How is "Animal" (second song in the 7 song list I offered) primitive and unoriginal? Or do you want to take back/rephrase that statement?
- After having listened to these 7 songs, do you agree that not all of Ke$ha's songs are about partying? (There are several more on Youtube for whom this is also true, btw.)
//
Now after having dealt with this, I think I can pick up on your most recent comment.
//
Take care what you write! I think Ke$ha is alright and she's clearly my favourite among all "pop artists" right now (tbh, she's the only one I care about). But I never said that I consider her a genius. (Maybe I will in the future when she proves worthy of it, that can't be decided yet.)
In my very first comment, I merely expressed my opinion about that interesting comparison of early Madonna with Ke$ha, and how I feel about Ke$ha in general. I subscribed to new comments because of course I was interested what other people would comment on such an article. I knew that, eventually, some pressed music snob would drop by to release his built up daily load of hatred and ignorance towards anything that gets recognition among the youth and the so-called and btw ever-shifting "mainstream". And right I was, because along came... you.
Important sidenote: I guess you are aware of the fact that 40 years and more ago, bands like the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd etc. that we today call ingenious and ground-breaking, which they clearly were, were considered mainstream music and trash by older generations and music snobs when they first appeared?
And before you snap (I know what you're thinking right now): this is not an attempt to compare those bands to Ke$ha. That would be illegitimate; it would be like comparing the work of an eccentric, experimental contemporary painter or sculptor that just broke into the public's attention a few months ago to classic works of Michelangelo. The young painter/sculptor is not necessarily bad or untalented only because he cannot yet compare to the old master of past times. He may not become another Michelangelo (that's close to impossible), but he might eventually find his justified and acknowledged place as an artist over time.
And, just to make this clear to you again, I'm not saying that this will happen with Ke$ha. For all I know, her second real album (her last release was just an EP to her first album) might go nowhere for anyone and flop and she'll fade into obscurity. But it COULD happen. You never know when a relatively new artist that you mocked and laughed about for one or two or more years into his young career suddenly takes you and almost everyone else by surprise and comes up with something of real substance and ingenuity. Getting recognition for that is much more rare and difficult today than it was 40 or 50 years ago- at least that's the impression I have-, because music has segregated into so many more different genres and styles than existed back then (whose supporters often oppose each other). So I think you can't possibly reach audiences of all genres with an album any more and have an equally large impact as, for instance, the Beatles had in their time. But a GOOD album will still raise eyes across stylistic borders, this is what I mean.
And that can happen anytime, coming from ANY artist out there and earning him respect. Probably "even" Ke$ha.
-
Charles 02/19/2011 6:54:00 AM
Listen, if you've really done a lot of music listening, and after listening to everything that was out there, you decided that Ke$ha was the end-all and be-all, that's fine. To those of us who weren't born yesterday, Ke$ha is the latest in the line of manufactured, disposable electronic dance-pop.
In order to be a "genius," one must break new ground. To be a"musical genius" entails that an artist either add something breathtakingly new to the musical lexicon, or that they execute their performances at an exceptionally high level.
Sing-talking song after song about how you like to get drunk and party is not groundbreaking in 2011, nor is singing saccharine, auto-tuned ballads about missing your "unshaved" [sic] boyfriend.
It's so sad to realize that there are so many people out there who can't actually tell the difference between quality, heartfelt music and cynical, soulless, corporate trash like Ke$ha. Worse is that in a publication that purports to have some semblance of credibility, you have writers like Brian Barr who are completely lacking in any musical knowledge, and yet are given a platform to sing the praises of these hacks.
-
Thaye 02/19/2011 4:47:00 AM
Sorry to have to reply to this one more (hopefully last) time, but how are the last 3 links I gave you and "Goodbye" in particular- that's the acoustic recording I explicitly pointed out to you- overproduced? And how is "Animal" (second song in the 7 song list in my last reply) primitive and unoriginal? Its lyrics are actually pretty good and deep when you try to interpret them.
Also: I'm not sure if with "singing about your trashy, hard-partying ways" you were talking about Ke$ha's released singles thus far (because if that's the case then I don't disagree on the most part and you can ignore the rest of this paragraph), or if you were referring to the songs I posted links to. The context of your comment makes me think that the latter applies. If it does, then show me just one among all those songs that is about partying. I don't mean mentioning partying, because I realize that the lyrics to "Hungover" mention a party, but being ABOUT it. (You don't have to actually try, you won't find one.)
Not all songs by far that she ever recorded are about partying.
Besides those two quotes from your last reply I don't dispute anything else you wrote, because it's all just opinion. I dare say that my opinion about Ke$ha is definitely based on more actual knowledge about her and her music than yours, but that doesn't matter now. Just please stop assuming things when you don't know whether what you say is true, and we're fine.
-
Charles 02/19/2011 12:12:00 AM
I'm not trying to be a jerk here, but the clips that you sent me reinforce my feelings towards Ke$ha much than they change them. Those songs are primitive, unoriginal, and overproduced. Singing about your trashy, hard-partying ways is simply not new or innovative in 2011. The trope has been beaten to death.
If you enjoy listening to Ke$ha and her ilk, that's fine. I'm not here to stop you, nor do I think I could if I tried.
The point I'm trying to make is that, although it might be hidden from you, there exists a not-insubstantial population of people who have had it with music like Ke$ha. We've heard enough about Ke$ha on MTV, Rolling Stone, 106.1 KISS FM, MOVIN' 92.5, TMZ, Us Weekly, Perez Hilton, "Saturday Night Live," late night talk shows, and awards shows.
Do we really need a 1200-word feature piece about "The Genius of Ke$ha" in Seattle Weekly? The only genius I see surrounding Ke$ha is marketing genius.
-
David Stoesz 02/18/2011 1:22:00 AM
It's definitely not an either/or proposition, but I just discovered Amanda Blank, and she is what I wanted Kesha to be:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1D9hA1tWIw
I'm not arguing though ... music is about love.
-
Thaye 02/17/2011 11:40:00 PM
Your reply shows the same ignorance that your first comment did. I know I'm probably asking for too much, but all I wanted you to do was to actually look up what Ke$ha has to offer BESIDES her mainstream songs that were released as singles. If you don't have the decency and tact to do so yourself before continuing to ignorantly rant about her after I subtetly urged you to do so, then I'll be more exact for you.
"She doesn't sing many actual notes, but rather talks and mumbles her way through her performances."
If by this you wanna say that she cannot sing, then please watch these:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8C61w4nWg9Q
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MWyvO-EATKE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mB7QPCCwui8
"To compare a no-talent like Ke$ha to Cyndi Lauper is beyond ridiculous."
I already made clear that I wasn't comparing Ke$ha to Cyndi Lauper (as if it hadn't been clear enough in my original comment). I don't understand why you continue saying so.
"Additionally, when I say Cyndi Lauper wrote songs, I don't mean Lauper showed-up drunk at the studio where five producers had already programmed her beats, and shit-out whatever the contents of her drug-addled, emotionally-stunted mind happened to be at that moment in time."
Ke$ha has written songs not only for herself, but also for several other artists over the years. I doubt that this would have come to be if she wrote her songs the way you suppose she does. Don't you think so too?
"There's a melody that's nurtured and developed. The song speaks to universal themes of love, longing, and emotion. We're lucky if a Ke$ha song features three different notes in its melody..."
Love, longing and emotion? Proper singing? Here you go. (The last 3 are very different from her usual musical style btw, in an arguably good way. And link 5 is an acoustic recording.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnmY2srJ6uI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBGCSTvLdNE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-_2J1u54Cs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afSKSzxhmts
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_Wof32u1-Q
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0fvRZg1bqw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lfp-mt-gXvU
"If you guys want to eat shit and say it's filet mignon, that's your business. Just don't expect that everyone will go along with this flight of fantasy."
I don't really expect anything from you, believe me. All I want you to do is to stop mocking somebody you don't even know anything about. That's ignorant and not exactly nice and respectful.
I'm looking forward to another reply. I would welcome it if we could talk about this in a respectful way here. Please try to be less offensive this time and more serious and considered instead. The ball is in your court.
-
Charles 02/17/2011 7:16:00 PM
Ke$ha "writes" her "songs" with three to five other people. She doesn't sing many actual notes, but rather talks and mumbles her way through her "performances."
It's sickening to think that that the person who wrote this "article" might have actually been paid to do so. To compare a no-talent like Ke$ha to Cyndi Lauper is beyond ridiculous. Cyndi Lauper actually wrote a few really good songs. (The comparisons between Lady GaGa and Cyndi Lauper and Madonna are equally as ridiculous, as Madonna, too, had some decent songs with actual structure and melodies once upon a time.)
Additionally, when I say Cyndi Lauper wrote songs, I don't mean Lauper showed-up drunk at the studio where five producers had already programmed her beats, and shit-out whatever the contents of her drug-addled, emotionally-stunted mind happened to be at that moment in time.
"Time After Time" is a classic. There's a melody that's nurtured and developed. The song speaks to universal themes of love, longing, and emotion. We're lucky if a Ke$ha song features three different notes in its "melody," and who really cares how much this dumb bitch likes to get drunk and party? I sure as hell don't.
I would like to point-out that I don't consider Madonna or Cyndi Lauper to be musical geniuses by any stretch. The point here is that Lady GaGa is completely pedestrian, mediocre dance-club-pop music, and Ke$ha is mindless, soulless, talentless drivel.
If you guys want to eat shit and say it's filet mignon, that's your business. Just don't expect that everyone will go along with this flight of fantasy.
-
Thaye 02/17/2011 1:09:00 PM
It's sad that I even have to point this out to you, Charles, but you should do a little
research and give artists a chance before you dare to judge them.
You wrote that Ke$ha's music is written for her by others, that she doesn't play instruments, and with the last bit of your sentence I assume you meant to say that ALL her songs are autotuned and have bad lyrics. The thing is: all of this is wrong. Most notably you should know that Ke$ha has written every single song herself. She's not just a disposable and replaceable puppet.
You also mis-read my comment. I made an attempt to compare Ke$ha to early Madonna, not Cyndi Lauper, so it's the other way around. And I didn't even do this without reason, but because the Madonna/Cyndi Lauper comparison was made in the article before, which gave me the impression that the author was intentionally suggesting to the reader to apply this comparison to Ke$ha (Madonna) and, arguably, Lady Gaga (Cyndi Lauper). If you look at the exact wording of that sentence, then I don't see what else the author should have intended with it. What he's trying to say was pretty obvious to me.
Stop being narrowminded and judgemental. Thank you.
-
Charles 02/17/2011 5:50:00 AM
Would it kill you guys to hire at least one writer who has the slightest clue about music? I've never seen an argument with more failed premises than "Admit it: The first time you heard Ke$ha's breakout hit "Tik Tok," you were interested... 'Tik Tok' most definitely made you sit up and listen."
No. To some of us with functional eardrums and the most minute semblance of taste, Ke$ha is yet another trashy bimbo who can't sing on pitch, and does nothing more than regale us of her lascivious and partying ways.
What's wrong with you people? Stop acting like generic corporate trash like Ke$ha has any meaning beyond the sales she generates for the coked-up, corporate-dominated music industry that randomly decided that this was the time to push Ke$ha on the public. There's no "genius" behind Ke$ha. There's no "genius" behind having your music written for you, playing none of your instruments, and churning-out auto-tuned crap with the lyrical maturity of a nine-year-old.
And comparing Ke$ha to Cyndi Lauper? Bitch, please! Can you point-out to me Ke$ha's "True Colors" or "Time After Time"?
Good god, you people are f**king lame.
-
Brian Barr 02/17/2011 2:36:00 AM
I'm right there with you, Thaye. I've got nothing against Gaga either...love her. But there's been something extra intriguing about Ke$ha from the word go. You're right...if you really listen to her songs, she displays an awesome versatility. But you just have to listen. Like I mentioned...her "Backstabber" song is proof enough. Hipster music snobs everywhere would eat that shit alive if Ke$ha wasn't a mainstream "pop star".
Can't wait to hear what's in store for the future!
-
Thaye 02/16/2011 11:49:00 PM
"When Madonna first came out, everyone thought Cyndi Lauper was the great artist and Madonna was the trampy slut."
I can't help but take this as a comparison to Ke$ha (equivalent to Madonna) and Lady Gaga (Cyndi Lauper). I'm pretty sure that it's supposed to be read like this anyway?
And I must say I like this comparison. I've got nothing against Gaga. But I honestly and by far prefer Ke$ha for her overwhelming personality and attitude and the variety and versatility she shows in her songs. If Ke$ha actually turns out to be a modern-day Madonna or something comparable to that, then I'll be the first to throw "Suck it! I knew all along that she's got it in her!" in everyone's face. Because I have honestly been a fan of Ke$ha ever since I got to know her.
I wish her good luck on her current tour, and strenght and inspiration for this year. I am already looking forward to a new album, probably by fall/winter 2011. I seriously cannot wait to hear what that's gonna sound like. I'm hoping for, and expecting, surprises.
