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PopGAF |OT5| We Are Bionic, So Damn Bionic
- Thread starter royalan
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Soulscribe
Member
The idea of "evolution" is thrown around a lot here, and I think it's become more of a buzzword than something that people really want from big pop acts. An artist that is constantly evolving and changing will lose any appeal that's unique to themselves. Only if you evolve so much that the idea of evolution is integral to your artistry (Madonna, David Bowie, Prince) then that appeal can stay. Otherwise, that's never the case. Contrary to popular belief, listeners tend to gravitate towards established artists not because they happen to have ANOTHER hit single on iTunes, but because that artist tends to have a single established sound that, if popular with a certain audience, will consistently be pursued and listened to.
Justin Timberlake established his sound through only two albums, and while one had a more acoustic sound while the other was heavier on synths, they both channeled a single, very pronounced type of music that's his and his only. The idea that we should be expecting a departure from that pronounced sound only because "evolution" sounds like a positive characteristic... that's counterproductive to Justin building his capital in music and actually holding some reverence in the field. I'm hoping The 20/20 Experience stays within that umbrella of sound and style that made him so appealing in the first place, and the fact that you would hate his new album because it sounds similar to an album that was critically praised to hell and back says more about your warped perception than his music.
The reason I gravitate to Gaga and Beyonce is because in a very short period of time, they set a pedigree for themselves through a very defined style. Yes, Gaga sounded like Gwen Stefani at first and Beyonce sounded like any given Brandy/Monica/MJB R&B crooner, but what makes them such big influences today is that they stuck with that general style and claimed it as their own. Now I have certain expectations for their future projects because of the style they've claimed and maintained so far, so to leave that behind and suddenly turn everything they worked for on its head would kill a lot of my appreciation for them. I can rely on them sounding a certain way, and I know I'll be happy with the material once it finally comes out. So yes, I hope JT's new album follows the trajectory set by FSLS and Justified because that's the reason I'm listening to it in the first place. If you want it to sound like a 180 degree shift then you're obviously not invested in the artist.
Love ya sis!
That gif could smash.
It just needs the right context.
Fuck, I hope it smashes
What the f**k you say about Gaga? I'll f**king beat the f**k out of you.
This is a lovely post and it's a shame that it's being paid dust. Continue to preach Soul sista.
Wafflecakes
Member
That gif could smash.
It just needs the right context.
Fuck, I hope it smashes
It should. I find it hilarious.
The very idea that Bieber thinks he can intimidate someone is priceless.
EatChildren
Currently polling second in Australia's federal election (first in the Gold Coast), this feral may one day be your Bogan King.
Sasha Grey is super cute. Too bad her porn is awful.
Soulscribe
Member
Thanks sis <3
Nemesis_
Member
You can do much better.
YOU HAVE REMINDED ME
FutureSex/LoveSound
SexyBack
MyLove
LoveStoned
What Goes Around...
Damn Girl
Summer Love
These are the songs I use from FS/LS, and I don't know why but I am not feeling this vibe in the stuff that has so far come from the Metacritic/20 experience. Maybe it's because the new stuff just sounds more.....clean? I don't know. It's no where near as synthy or grimey or just downright dirty.
I posted my earlier paragraphs but I think you paid them dust too >_>
Evolution does not have to mean rapid change, in most cases it means slow and measured change, and yes, Beyoncé is a good example of that. An artist who does 180s from album to album is probably just desperate. Justin, however, is taking no risks with this project. It's been such a long break that he is a now a legacy artist. Look at No Doubt's last album. It was okay, had a bop or two, but they were never going to match their creative peak after being out of the game for that long. It happens to a lot of artists who take extended hiatuses. It happened to Eminem. They rely on something familiar, and it's only with the followup to their comeback that they reestablish themselves as a creative force. Sure, a once-in-a-generation talent like Fiona Apple can pull off the comeback album creatively, but for most mortals it's out of reach. Maybe album #4 from Justin will shit on everything, but the 20/06 Expiration Date is not going to.
Supermanisdead
Member
Oh and
and the stage, which I don't think was posted
I mean I don't like ha but how exclusive is the middle part *.*
RIP... I thought this was Vita Ora before I scrolled down.
But that stage, I LIVE.
Nemesis_
Member
Tell ha, Cory.
The Idler Wheel... is simply on a level that most artists cannot fathom.
Nemesis_
Member
Where is the music tho?
Bey stays promoting a tour while paying her next album dust.
Didn't you hear? It's a 4 tour
Repaying you for all the hits you missed due to her real and authentic pregnancy.
Soulscribe
Member
The fact of the matter is that any follow-up to Futuresex/Lovesounds, no matter what the content of it may be, IS a risky decision. FS/LS is a once-in-a-blue-moon type of project, and I like to think of it as a "back to zero" type of album. When music like that seems to be a very obvious peak, there's no reason to try and top it. Rather, it makes so much more sense to simply forget it happened, and release an album whose inspiration is based simply on the artist's muses than trying to make people think LESS of his/her last album. The 20/20 Experience has a sound similar to Justified and FS/LS (as it should), but more importantly this new album seems to be wanting to stay out of their way. Trying endlessly to top your last project is a shitty idea because you're inadvertedly trying to shame your own past work.
I haven't thought of The 20/20 Experience in the context of how it compares to FS/LS; the industry has changed dramatically since then and even if the album was quintessentially BETTER nobody will ever say so. FS/LS has established itself around here as his magnum opus, just like The Fame Monster and Blackout did. What I've learned from recent music trends is that bigger isn't always better, and while the strategy of trying to outpace and outdo FS/LS may have worked in 2008 (See "I Am... Sasha Fierce"), that's simply not the case now. People are much more receptive now to understated efforts so the climate is much more forgiving to songs that aren't trying to out-song the rest.
Nemesis_
Member
Soulscribe
Member
Haha no I read them I just didn't directly address them coz I don't necessarily disagree. I think he pushed himself harder than a normal artist would to release a new album only because so many people wanted him to, but I don't necessarily think that because of that, his music isn't inspired or any good.
And I love that his new music is a bit mellower. The reason I've been listening to Justified so much more than FS/LS recently is because the latter is a bit too edgy for my taste. That's why Suit & Tie is one of my favorite songs of his.. it's just chill and throwback. Everything but that lousy intro and Jay-Z's verse are fabulous. Especially that chorus. Mmmm.
If I have a problem with Justin Timberlake's music it's that he doesn't know how to edit. A song that's really good enough being 3 and a half minutes doesn't need a minute intro and a two minute outro. That seems to be the case with this new record and I have a feeling I'll be pressing that skip button a lot (like I did with FS/LS) to get to the goods. FS/LS has such low plays on my iTunes because of it, lol.
BEYDIT: God damn that stage looks wonderful. I wish the ticket sites didn't fuck up the pricing/distribution so whorishly so that I could have bought mine. $200 tickets for behind-the-stage nosebleed sections? I love you but not that much gworl.
That said, where the FUCK is my Mrs. Carter announcement?? Or rather, where the fuck are my dual singles?? Being a Bey stan has been so up and down this year. Mostly up, but still. I'm never had to be down.
Slay us, queen
LOL - have we gotten bitchy tweets from Azealia over this yet?
Nemesis_
Member
Hopefully the better artist will remain classy and ignore it.
EDIT: I can't believe she was shopping the same area I was working. I could've met Azealia. T_T
kitchenmotors
Banned
Yaaaaaaas, new AlunaGeorge video. Ready to be slayed.
now wait
I had forgotten that black rapunzel was Azealia's thing.
I dare her to try it with AlunaGOD
Azealia would destroy that squirrel-voiced gworl and her friend.
Really? I think she's far messier than that.
Soulscribe
Member
She's been messier, lol. Her going after *that* would be one of her more sensible outbursts tbh
In other news, I've noticed that this entire past week I've been playing these songs in my car on rotate:
Bad Romance
Catch My Breath
Diamonds
Mirrors
Night Of Your Life (feat. Jennifer Hudson)
What kind of valiant re-emergence from Bad Romance tbh. And Diamonds still getting played consistently. Something about that song is just <3
Supermanisdead
Member
azealia IS that messy. expect her to rap over attracting flies and release a video. this may be before or after she delays her album again.
nnnhhgg has anyone but madonna been teasing it?
Matt_
World's #1 One Direction Fan: Everyone else in the room can see it, everyone else but you~~~
This thing isn't for two months is it?
Why tease something so far in advance. It better be spectacular
nnnnnn
Maybe I'm underestimating that cunt's ability to twitter beef.
Steven Klein is the other person who has been teasing a lot.
Right! They need to stop. SK is even saying that many people may not like it so why make a big deal about it
I don't know why y'all are getting so excited over some shit you KNOW is just going to be a wack-ass, black-and-white-ass, ambiguous-ass, commercial-ass video for some shit y'all have no intentions of buying, or some boojie-ass fashion-ass show y'all have no intentions of going to.
Matt_
World's #1 One Direction Fan: Everyone else in the room can see it, everyone else but you~~~
This pop draught had left us hungry for something.
Crumpet Trumpet
Banned
Bieber must be a member of PopGAF
And he just read the last few pages
And he just read the last few pages
Soulscribe
Member
I don't know why y'all are getting so excited over some shit you KNOW is just going to be a wack-ass, black-and-white-ass, ambiguous-ass, commercial-ass video for some shit y'all have no intentions of buying, or some boojie-ass fashion-ass show y'all have no intentions of going to.
YAAAAAAAAAAAS SCALP HA
Madonna's videos are as black and white as the public's opinion of her. Over iT.
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