h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Pop Idol=Mass Hysteria
who knows why anyone felt the need to phone vote for these Karaoke "singers"
there has to be better people out there, with much more talent.
I can only think people like getting involved-because really-Will Young and Gareth Gates would have been laughed off at my local pub.

Hello

I think your comments regarding Will Young and Gareth Gates is a little harsh.

"I can only think people like getting involved-because really-Will Young and Gareth Gates would have been laughed off at my local pub."

I don't understand what you're saying here ?

People who voted for them, were only voting to get back at the people in your pub who would laugh them off stage???

I've seen many live bands in the local, just because, we hear them playing instruments, or singing their own songs, doesn't mean that they are fantastic. Take for example, Oasis, I personally cannot understand the hype, but many people, will go to a live concert, and say how brilliant the songs are, (and they might well be, they're just not me), but none of them ever say, 'That Liam can't sing can he' which he can't... Just because they sing their own stuff, doesn't make them great singers.

I watched most of the Pop Idol shows (I'm sure I should have been doing better things on a Saturday, but I lead a tragic life) and in my opinion both Will and Gareth (Although I never voted for anyone during the show's run) can sing very well indeedy...
Because of the way they went about becomming singers, people frequently dismiss their ability as singers/entertainers.
Although I'm not a fan of either men per se, and I won't be buying the drivel that they're singing, I can still accept that they have great voices, and will be getting much air time on TV and radio.

I think it's a shame, that the music companies involved will be having Will sing, such well, crap. He has a fantasic voice, and if he were to sing songs, say more like, but not necessarily the the same as, the kind of songs David Gray sings, people would be able to hear, his distinctive (IMHO) voice, and give credit, where credit's due.

I'm not a fan of opera, but I can quite happily admit an opera singer has a beautiful voice, without harping on about the singer's lack of song writing ability, or their lack of skills with regards to playing an instrument.

I think to discredit anyone as an artist, purely on the way they 'climbed to the top' is, well just

Have fun and enjoy!

I just think that if there wasn't the hype for pop idol, people would not think either will or gareth were anything special.
I don't belive in anyone who covers other peoples worth listening to-maybe once they have established themselves but not using hackneyed old oft covered "karaoke" songs-and do you really believe anyone voted for their singing? it's all been about their looks!
It's not that I care about the "Manufactured" aspect-it's just that I really have heard much better singers, and they have not got the acclaim they were due!
and as for Oasis... No Beatles=No Oasis

and one final thing-no offence, but IMHO Will Young has one of the worst voices I have ever heard-regardless of what he sings.

Hey there

I do think that a lot of people only voted in the final because of the election style campaign that was going on prior to it.

However, I for one, am not the kind of person who gets all excited about something purely because the tabloids want me to. I happened to think, when I first heard Will sing (sometime in the final 50 I think), that he had a great edge to his voice, and I was pleased to see him do well. If you don't like the sound of his voice, that's each to their own

I personally don't think much for the current trend, for manufactured groups, and singers. You do seem to get a lot that have average voices, who have been given their contracts by record companies, trying to sell a 'sexy' image to kids. Take That for example, although since leaving Robbie Williams has managed to do very well for himself. He's shown that he can write songs, and he's proved himself to be a great entertainer. I personally don't think he can sing to save his life, and I find him extremely arrogant, but I respect the fact that he's good at what he does, which is entertaining people. Whether or not he'd have got there without the help of the boy band he was in, well, I doubt he would.

I think really it boils down to the money available, for a group who may well be extremely talented, they will have a hard time getting themselves heard, when currently the major labels are mainly interested in putting together the next 'big thing'

I'm sure I had a point to this posting, but I tend to ramble on, and get sidetracked... Sorry..

Have fun and enjoy!

what do you feel about "old" stuff-do you think groups/music/etc have always been manufactured or do you think it is possible for people to actually meet and make a group AND it get anywhere??
I don't mean based on anything the media says-I just mean in your opinion.
I also meant to say, I don't care if music is made by boybands etc--I only care that it is worth listening to-coz there's so much stuff that is

Hello again Primord

I like all sorts of music, I like some of the older stuff as well.
I really like The Stranglers, I think that the lyrics to their songs, are not really impressive, and I don't think much of the singing, however I find that all together I like them quite a bit. Which is strange but there you go. I was brought up listening to The Beatles (my dad was a huge fan) I don't like many of their songs really, but I think as song writers, musicians, and singers they were fantastic. I think they deserved all the fame, and success that they achieved. They came from nowhere, they hard to work damned hard to get themselves noticed, and they had real talent. They enjoyed longevity, not because they were 'manufactured' and paid for by a record company, but because they worked hard, and were talented.

I do think that the way people react to current pop stars does depend a lot on their personal musical tastes. Take for example the trend for garage music at the moment. I cannot even find it in me to look for a single redeemable feature to that genre. Most of it is simply samples from other people's tracks with an off beat, beat thrown in to make it 'wicked en it'. Crap. IMHO most of it is just crap.

On the other hand, I am a really big fan of dance music (not the stuff that gets into the charts ) and although most artists from that genre don't 'write' lyrics, or even music for a particular instrument. I really admire them as artists in their own right, for the way that they can make some, fantastic (sometimes stirring), and melodic music, by electrion means. They might not be musicians by the technical definition of the word, but they still have to have some musical ability to create from scratch, something that will get everybody in dance clubs dancing.

I'm not sure if this is what you was asking em really. You're probably wondering what the hell I'm on about, but don't worry so am I

So what kind of music, groups or singers, do you like?

Have fun and enjoy!

Me?
I like any old rubbish-
dance trance pop and rock---as long as it's half decent.
The group I used to be most into was Queen-and of course I'm dreading the "Lindsay" from Brookside (can't remember her name!) covering Brian May's Too much love will kill you"
I s'pose I just don't like covers (hastily running into hiding over "but didn't Freddie Mercury do "the Great Pretender?" )
But then I'm just a narky old fogey!
calls for an old moaner smiley
will do?

ps-love Golden Brown

hi there.

being of a tender age (20) would like to say this. to me the hype with Gareth wss alot to do with his looks and thhe fact he has a stammer. This is not said to be cruel, but it is true to a certain extent.
Will young has a great deal of talent, and he will go far, but what we do have to wait and see is if his talent is ruined by staying in the pop strain of music.

You aked what the favorite band is, i would have to answer westlife, and before you shoot me down in flames, i do not enjoy the "poppy" aspect of there music and stay away from the chart music they do, but on their current albumn there is some amzing songs.
to me music is in the ears of who listens, music stirs something inside you that words alone will not do. You know what i mean, you will hav heard a song that has brought a tear to your eye or made you laugh

I have many problems pop idol as a process not the pop idols (come on most singers given such a break would grasp it with both hands + its hard work). The top prize was was meant to be a record contract for the winner, however there were 6 contracts given out so what was the point in the show?

The point of the show was to save record execs thousands on promoting new artists, save them auditioning and looking for new talent, saving them the risk of a failure (who could fail with such publicity) while all at the same time getting you the punter to pay twice (premium phone lines to pay for the show and then buying the records).

All in all the pop idol idea shows how cynical, greedy and lazy people are in the music industry, they are probably laughing at us while rolling in the filthy cash they have made. To top it all off they are going to repeat the process.

Problem is genuine talent is being ignored to develop quick success for immediate consumption, when the artists record sales drop they are cut loose. What record companies should be doing is nurturing real talent to have long careers which will make more money and better musuc in the long run (No offence will/Garath can sing but surley they should be backing singers to more talented acts).

thats the kind of thing I mean-and on the subject of music + age-I too am a 20 something---liking pop (or not) is not an age thing---it's taste.

sory did not mean to offend you in any way.
i have to admit i am a music addict, i have cable t.v which is always on one or the other music channel depending on the mood. i have to admit though will has just lost it for me with the new single!! its is yet anouther copy. now i would have given him some respect if he had at least brought something origional out this time. but he couldnt wait around long enough to do that.

no offence taken!

same here on the cable musicchannel front!
light my fire=very damp squib!

light my fire = sacrilidge! to top off an awful cover the video sucks eggs too.
adeios Will..... welcome pop clone #66118894 (a summer hit and christmas single model....warning must replace after 1st Jan 2003)