Is this for real?

Squonk

Reading a newspaper article about a South African singer/songwriter

Here is a excerpt

"...The Backstreet Boys were front runners in inspiration...the song writing mastery behind their work was genius..."

Almost fell off my chair ?

But I suppose inspiration is inspiration no matter where it comes from!

Another amazing thing is how all these "artists" claim now that Robin Gibb was the hugest thing in their lives.

DonovanB

who is this singer/songwriter/12-year-old-boy/hack?

singemonkey

The Backstreet Boys' material was very cleverly written. Deliberately commercial is not the same as incompetent.

Bob-Dubery

singemonkey wrote The Backstreet Boys' material was very cleverly written. Deliberately commercial is not the same as incompetent.

Yes. Their big hits were written or co-written by Max Martin who is about as close at it gets to a sure-fire hit in this day and age. He's been behind a lot of hits for a lot of people, including Pink, Katy Perry ("I kissed a girl, and I liked it"), Britney Spears, Bon Jovi, Celine Dion and Ace of Bass.

I think he's banal, but he knows how to push the "hit" button inside of the public head, and he's done it repeatedly and over a lengthy period of time.

Squonk

singemonkey wrote The Backstreet Boys' material was very cleverly written. Deliberately commercial is not the same as incompetent.

No quite what I was on about. I just found it strange that someone would mention the BSB as their inspiration to become a musician, I have read many biographies and articles and this is a first.

The first music that I bought was the Beach Boys, but If I had to mention inspiration it would have to be Jimmy Page. There I have said it in public, Jimmy made me play guitar!

I don't doubt that a lot of Pop Music is cleverly written, But if it was me in the Interview I would have mentioned the songwriters as well.

singemonkey

Yeah. I guess I know what you mean Squonk (although perhaps the guy just never new the name of the songwriters - I have no idea who wrote a bunch of Elvis tunes that have been a big inspiration). It's just that in some ways more SA bands should be listening to pop song-writers. It's disappointing when you see a lot of live bands which have all their stuff together - good playing, tight, etc. - but don't have a single good song. It really makes me wonder what their process is when they sit down to write. Or do they just jam until they have sufficient chord changes to make up a three minute number?

AlanRatcliffe

singemonkey wrote It's just that in some ways more SA bands should be listening to pop song-writers.

+1. I can appreciate a well crafted pop song and love it when I hear someone who manages to pull off pop with enough music behind it to keep my interest.

Hammeron

Hard pop
Heavy pop
Black pop
Death pop
Thrash pop
Melodic Death pop....
It's all Pop n' Roll to me.
{Maiden have some really cool metallic pop songs IMO}

Highway-Chile

I get what you are saying but my take on it is........ if music is going to reach inside you and grab you by the gut, and tell you....this is what you are.....this is your path......I don't think it matters what type of music it is that speaks to you. I also don't think you will necessarily write similar sounding stuff to that which really inspired you in the first place. You may, but....you might go off in a completely different direction as well.

Jack-Flash-Jr

Highway Chile wrote I get what you are saying but my take on it is........ if music is going to reach inside you and grab you by the gut, and tell you....this is what you are.....this is your path......I don't think it matters what type of music it is that speaks to you. I also don't think you will necessarily write similar sounding stuff to that which really inspired you in the first place. You may, but....you might go off in a completely different direction as well.

singemonkey

Jack Flash Jr wrote +1

Jack-Flash-Jr

singemonkey wrote
Jack Flash Jr wrote +1
+2

+3 I'll stop there.

strataxe

X-rated Bob wrote
singemonkey wrote The Backstreet Boys' material was very cleverly written. Deliberately commercial is not the same as incompetent.
Yes. Their big hits were written or co-written by Max Martin who is about as close at it gets to a sure-fire hit in this day and age. He's been behind a lot of hits for a lot of people, including Pink, Katy Perry ("I kissed a girl, and I liked it"), Britney Spears, Bon Jovi, Celine Dion and Ace of Bass.

I think he's banal, but he knows how to push the "hit" button inside of the public head, and he's done it repeatedly and over a lengthy period of time.

thats why it all sounds and is so similarly shyte. I've read somewhere that you get sofware that analyse songs, so you take the best hits, and analysie style, beat rythm etc and write new stuff according to that, and you might make a hit. Was a few years ago though. the scary part is, all above S U C K!