Saturday, May 26, 2007

The song has not remained the same....

I am appalled. I am also disgusted and angered, hence this blog. CNN.com has posted an article regarding overweight or less than glamorous singers. It is titled, "If you're a female singer, you'd better be sexy". It discusses the latest trend in the world of music for an up and coming artist. If you want to be a star... you must look the part or you'll get nowhere.


This is an outrage. I realize that sex sells. Unfortunately. But there is more to a song than the cover girl singing it. I have recently posted a blog about the sexual objectification of women that could only be termed a diatribe on this subject. Music producers are no longer marketing talent. They are no longer unveiling the hidden gifts of unknown wonders whose work often changes the face of music. Rather, they are changing the faces of those who make the music.


Oftentimes it isn't even really music that's made... it's computerized garbage. Put a hot sexy chick on the stage in shocking and revealing attire, hand her a microphone and turn the computers on. This is music now. And you can't play if you don't look like a Bratz doll or a Barbie.


Many of the performers today are hugely lacking in talent, morals and worse than this... common sense. Need I mention (with a disgusted groan) Britney Spears or Jessica Simpson. I also hate that most of 'their' songs are not written by them and are mostly about sex. Get over it already. Sing about something other than how hot you are, or how you could turn his world inside out if he sleeps with you. You're worth more than that. I think. I may be wrong about that with the two names mentioned above.


But I digress. Music means so much to us because it defines those moments in our lives that are significant (quick... song from your first dance, song that was yours/your first loves, song that you played a hundred times and you still aren't sick of it, song that you got married to, song you sing to your kids/mom sang to you... ) and the list goes on. Music is the voice of our souls... of our lives. It reaches into our hearts and clarifies that which we do not understand, or sometimes expresses those sentiments or thoughts that we cannot get across, or that we want to revel in. I love many kinds of music. But none of it is the computer generated trash being sold to me by a tawdry tramp who doesn't have the capability to draw an audience unless she is flaunting all of her goods to them.


No thank you. So Shakira's hips don't lie... I could care less what her hips are doing, and I was sick of the song the first time I heard it. Do I gather from the song or her lackluster video that she's got talent? That she is conveying emotion? (Stay with me here guys, I'm not talking about physical urges... I'm talking about emotion... two feet higher... ) What about respect? How is any of that supposed to play in when music is being mass marketed to hormones instead of hearts and minds?


The promotional fools and music hustlers... excuse me, producers, who try to make us believe that this is what we want, what is hot, and what is good... are all waaaaaaaaaaaaaay off in the dark corner of left field. It's a quick buck. A flash in the pan.


That is not what makes a legend, nor is it what legends are each made of. It takes so much more than that. Want to know what a real legend is? Want to know what real talent is? Check this out...


Real Legends:




Miss Aretha Franklin

















photo courtesy of Palacetheatrect.org


Miss Ella Fitzgerald



















photo courtesy of msnbcmedia.msn.com


Miss Judy Garland

















photo courtesy of musicals101.com


Miss Patsy Cline















photo courtesy of heavens-gates.com


Miss Barbara Streisand















photo courtesy of facade.com


Miss Bette Midler









photo courtesy of mtv.com
The following site has an important message from Miss Midler about the tragedies going on in Darfur right now, and as I feel very strongly about the horrors happening there, I would ask that you visit the site and support the efforts to stop those waking nightmares.


Back to it...


The women shown are legends. Real, talented, amazing legends who have changed music history with their work... and some of them have gone beyond the music arena to display incredible talents in other works. They did not allow themselves to be portrayed as worthless sex objects only to be forgotten when the next hot chick stepped up to the stage.


The women shown have not cheapened themselves to further their careers... they have not been a poor role model for all the young girls idolizing them and aspiring to be like them someday. Do you want your daughter looking up at the TV with adoring eyes that are focused solely on Ashlee Simpson and sighing reverently... "I want to be just like her when I grow up!"


Don't get me wrong, beauty is great. Most everyone likes beauty. But it does NOT define a person, nor does it determine the greatness of their talent, or the future of their success. Beauty does not equal quality by a long shot. Not by a long Nevada highway mile. Neither does age... one of the most stunning talents of our time is little Holly Stell... you might remember her having sung a duet with Andrea Bocelli.


I say to those producers who believe that normal looking young talent won't make it because they don't fit into your perfect little molds of silicone and botox... get a clue. You want to produce a legend? Look deep. Look further down than skin deep. Make a difference in the history of music. Take the likes of Melinda Doolittle and LaKisha Jones and change the way we look at the world.


Scarlett

9 comments:

Unknown said...

Thanks for the link. I appreciate the compliment. It's been a while since anyone new linked me. I'll be back to read more. Keep on bloggin'.

Wanderlust Scarlett said...

Absolutely! Loved your blog! Thanks for coming by.

Scarlett

Unknown said...

I wish you could post this globally where the whole world, or at least our corner of it, could get a revelation. I believe if they did, we could save the music industry from itself. If sex doesn't sell in this industry, maybe they'll try talent instead. This was inspiring and scary all at once for those of us that have little girls that don't leave home without the MP3 players and ipods. I strongly agree with you on this one...maybe post a picture of you by this to prove your point, you can "bee" beautiful without using it to seduce the world. Love you sister!

Wanderlust Scarlett said...

Renee... I know exactly what you mean about this being scary... I see the tramps flitting around in the media now and it scares the heck out me... what is our world coming to? Or going to... in a hand basket...
I think with good guidance from parents and role models, though, the younger generations will be ok, and realize that talent has nothing to do with beauty, and sexy does not equal beautiful.

...as far as me, no pictures, just lots and lots of comments...
Thanks for your comment!
Love you!

Scarlett

nyc/caribbean ragazza said...

You hit the nail on the head. I prefer Shakira's earlier Spanish music before she dyed her hair to crossover.

I am not a music snob. After all I like Mariah Carey. However, Ms. Carey unlike Britney, can sing and she writes or co-writes her own material.

Don't get me started on Britney.

Wanderlust Scarlett said...

Hey! Thanks for coming by NYC.

I do like the music that Shakira made before she sold out; she truly does have great talent, but it's all lost in glamour and sex appeal now. Such a shame.

I love what Mariah Carey used to do too... she was a beautiful lady and a great talent once, not sure what she is now. She went down a weird path for a while, and I don't know where she's headed with the one she's on. When she was married to Tommy M. she was class all the way... 100% the real deal, but after the divorce she wasn't even close to that. I guess we will see.

I hear you on Britney, and of course... your favorite pet peeve, Paris. She kind of falls into this, in a way. Not a musical way, just a useless tramp way.

Well... it's getting crowded on the soapbox, so I'll hop off for now..


Scarlett

Anonymous said...

It certainly looks like the puppet strings have been pulled so hard that they have snapped. Look at the teen idol crisis Hollywood is being faced with. Young girls fallen from grace?? Or is there spirits calling out for immediate attention. One can only take a detour for so long, before they are called back to their path.

Anonymous said...

ps. l enjoyed reading your blog.

Wanderlust Scarlett said...

Cleopantha,

A fall from grace indeed.
Hopefully, with strong guidance from better role models, some of these girls will find the right path again.

Thank you for coming by, I am very glad that you did, and humbled that you enjoyed my blog.

Scarlett