Shakira

[Dreamer128]

I agree that her lyrics (in English) aren't all that great. Still, she isn't all that bad [img]smile.gif[/img]

[Melusine]

Originally posted by Kaltia: Did you know A1 write most of their own songs too? And Avril Lavigne strums simple chords on her guitar? If we follow your thoughts, why shouldn't slipknot be number one, they do everything themselves. Shakira sucks. Face the music, however badly written it is Note: writing music does not equal "good".

No, but I'd like to see YOU try it. The music may be awful, but it DOES sell. If it's so damn easy, why doesn't everybody do it? Regardless of whether you like Shakira's music, I think it's cheap to say she has no talent just because she writes popular songs with hit-potential.
Of course popular music is usually short-lived and with no real musical value, that doesn't mean there aren't any popular singers that have some talent. Personally I think there's FAR far worse stuff in the charts than Shakira. If she can actually write songs like that Objection tango, I applaud her.
Of course what you said DOES go for most popular acts, I am not at all denying that. I for instance completely agree about Avril Lavigne, whom I saw singing live on the telly a while ago. I know streetcats who can carry a tune better than she did - and that look more appealing, too. However, strumming a few chords on her guitar is a far cry from composing an entire song, so that's not comparable. Oh, and sorry Fred, but the Cheeky Girls and TaTu will not do at all, either.
Not everything that's popular is automatically horrible, is what I'm saying. Nirvana used to be terribly popular too, you know, to name a band I recall you liked. [img]smile.gif[/img]
As for Slipknot, they ARE number one in the sense that they are far more popular than any metal band could hope to be a couple of years ago, and with less talent too! I saw Slipknot live on a festival several years ago (that is, I gave them a couple of bored glances while I was making my way to the bar [img]tongue.gif[/img] ) and back then it was inconceivable that a band like them would EVER become popular enough to make it into the charts.
Any type of music can become popular - that simply means even the less good bands in that genre will get listened to. It doesn't make the entire genre useless.

Anyway, I'd like to know what all the other people here who profess to hate certain types of music listen to themselves. Barring people like Grojlach or Barry The Sprout, who do seem to 'listen outside the box', you probably listen to popular music yourselves! It may not be hyped up enough to make the charts, but it's often not especially original or revolutionary either.
I listen almost exclusively to classical music and I would say that there aren't a lot of modern bands who have as much as a drop of the sort of genius the great composers had. But you don't see me pronouncing all pop music to be useless tripe.

[ 04-12-2003, 05:11 AM: Message edited by: Melusine ]

[Kaltia]

@Mel-I am not blessed with either art or music. But several of my friends are, and having been dragged to the music block enough to listen to Bryony's re-working of this song or that song I think (not trying to be snobby, I really do think ) I know what talent, and good writing, is.
As for Slipknot, it's the teenagers who think "Oh my God, they wear masks and chop up goats, they are so cool!" they like the image, not the music.
Yeah, I know Nirvana were popular. I grew up listening to Nirvana; my mother constantly played it (and Hawkwind) around my house. She still does, when I haven't stolen the CD
I prefer smaller, less known bands. The thing is, sensationalised bands (I've noticed) tend to crack up under expectations.

[johnny]

If all she does is shake da booty, it's fine with me, but please...please.... don't let her sing.

[Firim Silraven]

Originally posted by Kaltia: Quote: Originally posted by Firim Silraven: LONG MAY SHAKIRA STAY AT THE TOP OF THE MUSICAL WORLD

Did you know A1 write most of their own songs too? And Avril Lavigne strums simple chords on her guitar?
If we follow your thoughts, why shouldn't slipknot be number one, they do everything themselves.
Shakira sucks. Face the music, however badly written it is
Note: writing music does not equal "good". There were people claiming Hear'say were all "talented", for heaven's sake! [/QUOTE]Yes A1 wrote most of their own songs, and good on them. Caught In The Middle was a good pop song. I'll admit that even though I'm not a big fan of pop. And does Avril Lavigne strum simple chords? If she's advanced enough, which she is, then yes they'll be simple for her. But look at Eric Clapton - Wonderful Tonight contains the simplest chord progression known to man - G D C D. A slight variation at the end of each verse, but those were the only chords used by a man who is hailed as a guitar genius. It doesn't matter what the chords are, as long as they make a good song. If you're going out to create a song with complicated chords just to look good, you're a fool. Even greats like Clapton, Page and May use a capo to make the fingerings easier.
As you say, why shouldn't Slipknot be number one? They're all talented as well, even if I don't like their music (I can't stand it and they're basically popular because of a load of kids jumping on a metal bandwagon) I can admit that they must have talent to be able to come up with it, even if the singing is just screaming and the guitars are so distorted that it's impossible to make out what chords they're playing or what any riff actually sounds like.

Writing music doesn't always equal talent, but writing good music, with a strong melody and emotive lyrics does. This is what Shakira does, and has done for 16 years. If you bothered to listen to her lyrics, you might realise that. I admit, Whenever Wherever isn't the greatest piece of songwriting but if you listen to some of the great lines in other, more meaningful songs, you'll see that she is a great lyricist, especially considering that English is her third language. I wish I could understand Spanish because most people claim that her Spanish lyrics are much better than her English ones. A lot of the songs are certainly better. If you listened to Donde Estan Los Ladrones, you'd find that Shakira really can do rock. It's what she grew up with, it's what she loves, and she executes it as well as any woman. Would you call Alanis Morissette or Sheryl Crowe crappy little pop stars? I think not.

And as for telling me to "face the music" because "Shakira sucks", respect other people's opinions and try and actually listen to some of the music before knocking it. Even if you think you know what talent and good writing is. I've been around music my whole life thanks to my sisters, I've been a musician and songwriter for 10 years and I have many musician friends, some who are just starting in music and some who have been involved for over 30 years, professionally and as a hobby. I know what talent and good writing is aswell.

[Cristian]

ok many replies=)and yes im originally From colombia Bogota but live in sweden for the moment and how can you say she sings bad listen to the spanish songs her voice is a god gift

[Spelca]

I don't really like Shakira. I don't really know why, but her voice annoys me. It's like someone scratching their nails on the walls... that's how I react to it. She may be tallented and all that, but I still get in a bad mood if I listen to her songs. Sorry. [img]tongue.gif[/img]

Edit - just grammar.

[ 04-12-2003, 04:23 PM: Message edited by: Spelca ]