heathilly said:

Everyone is well aware Bruno is the world greatest cover artist. They just all accept it and don't question it. Bruno is very middle of the road you'll see no one really hates him or likes him there's no strong held emotion attached to him he essentially has no real identity. Who is the Bruno mars behind the mask of other artist the world may never know.

I think that the artists of today have a more difficult time blazing their own trail and being pioneers than artists like Prince, MJ, Springsteen, Stevie Wonder, Madonna, Joni Mitchell and so forth. There are fewer things that haven't been done. For example, when Michael Jackson made the "Thriller" music video, the music video was a pretty new medium. The music video medium has been around for 35+ years now, so there's less ground to break.

--

Prince was able to break a lot of boundaries, especially relating to sexual content in his music. Prince made Head; Do Me, Baby; and Darling Nikki. George Michael made I Want Your Sex. There is a point at which songs become so explicit that the explicitness negatively affects the song's popularity. When a song is too explicit to be played on the radio, TV, at sporting events, or at the Grammys, it's going to suffer in the popularity department. When Prince came on the scene, no one had reached this ceiling of sexual explicitness, so he had more territory to explore in terms of pushing sexual boundaries. Just like there isn't much of the world that remains uninhabited or untouched today, there is less territory for pushing boundaries in popular music today.

--

Today's artists really have to be good at reusing and recycling what already exists in order to make something new. Bruno is very good at the resuing and recycling. I think we have to adjust our expectations to the reality that there is less ground to break in 2017 than there was in 1987.

[Edited 4/2/17 16:34pm]

206Michelle said:

heathilly said:

Everyone is well aware Bruno is the world greatest cover artist. They just all accept it and don't question it. Bruno is very middle of the road you'll see no one really hates him or likes him there's no strong held emotion attached to him he essentially has no real identity. Who is the Bruno mars behind the mask of other artist the world may never know.

I think that the artists of today have a more difficult time blazing their own trail and being pioneers than artists like Prince, MJ, Springsteen, Stevie Wonder, Madonna, Joni Mitchell and so forth. There are fewer things that haven't been done. For example, when Michael Jackson made the "Thriller" music video, the music video was a pretty new medium. The music video medium has been around for 35+ years now, so there's less ground to break.

--

Prince was able to break a lot of boundaries, especially relating to sexual content in his music. Prince made Head; Do Me, Baby; and Darling Nikki. George Michael made I Want Your Sex. There is a point at which songs become so explicit that the explicitness negatively affects the song's popularity. When a song is too explicit to be played on the radio, TV, at sporting events, or at the Grammys, it's going to suffer in the popularity department. When Prince came on the scene, no one had reached this ceiling of sexual explicitness, so he had more territory to explore in terms of pushing sexual boundaries. Just like there isn't much of the world that remains uninhabited or untouched today, there is less territory for pushing boundaries in popular music today.

--

Today's artists really have to be good at reusing and recycling what already exists in order to make something new. Bruno is very good at the resuing and recycling. I think we have to adjust our expectations to the reality that there is less ground to break in 2017 than there was in 1987.

[Edited 4/2/17 16:34pm]

that's the thing, when those artists were breaking ground, or had high creative output, they didn't achieve that w/in the pop realm, they were shaping their talent and matured their sound before they were thrusted into the pop world.

when everything becomes pop driven, that's when the bubble bursts.

[Edited 4/2/17 16:50pm]

206Michelle said:

214 said:

This album is likely to get nomination for Album of The Year next year at the Grammy Ceremony, but to me it's not fair that his first album got a nomination and his second album did not; it's unfair because Unorthodox is a much better album than the first, for that matter is his best album.

24K Magic should definitely be nominated 4 Album of the Year.

I don't think is good enough to earn a nomination. Unorthodox deserved it, but it didn't happen.

206Michelle said:

I disagree all the pioneering artist are in hip hop have been so for like 20 years now. But if that's not your thing you wouldn't know it or appreciate it.

heathilly said:

206Michelle said:

I think that the artists of today have a more difficult time blazing their own trail and being pioneers than artists like Prince, MJ, Springsteen, Stevie Wonder, Madonna, Joni Mitchell and so forth. There are fewer things that haven't been done. For example, when Michael Jackson made the "Thriller" music video, the music video was a pretty new medium. The music video medium has been around for 35+ years now, so there's less ground to break.

--

Prince was able to break a lot of boundaries, especially relating to sexual content in his music. Prince made Head; Do Me, Baby; and Darling Nikki. George Michael made I Want Your Sex. There is a point at which songs become so explicit that the explicitness negatively affects the song's popularity. When a song is too explicit to be played on the radio, TV, at sporting events, or at the Grammys, it's going to suffer in the popularity department. When Prince came on the scene, no one had reached this ceiling of sexual explicitness, so he had more territory to explore in terms of pushing sexual boundaries. Just like there isn't much of the world that remains uninhabited or untouched today, there is less territory for pushing boundaries in popular music today.

--

Today's artists really have to be good at reusing and recycling what already exists in order to make something new. Bruno is very good at the resuing and recycling. I think we have to adjust our expectations to the reality that there is less ground to break in 2017 than there was in 1987.

[Edited 4/2/17 16:34pm]

I disagree all the pioneering artist are in hip hop have been so for like 20 years now. But if that's not your thing you wouldn't know it or appreciate it.

I'm unsure to which hip hop artists you are referring. Are you referring to more experienced artists like Snoop Dogg, Eminem, and Jay-Z or newer artists like Future, Drake, and Kendrick Lamar?

jaawwnn said:

babynoz said:

Could you elaborate on the bolded? I'm not sure which song you are referring to?

I agree that he isn't quite there yet with his own sound, but I have every confidence that he will get there sooner rather than later.

The Message by Grandmaster Flash, I don't think there can by any doubt the backing track is influenced by it.

No, I was thinking of a different song.

Scorp said:

206Michelle said:

I think that the artists of today have a more difficult time blazing their own trail and being pioneers than artists like Prince, MJ, Springsteen, Stevie Wonder, Madonna, Joni Mitchell and so forth. There are fewer things that haven't been done. For example, when Michael Jackson made the "Thriller" music video, the music video was a pretty new medium. The music video medium has been around for 35+ years now, so there's less ground to break.

--

Prince was able to break a lot of boundaries, especially relating to sexual content in his music. Prince made Head; Do Me, Baby; and Darling Nikki. George Michael made I Want Your Sex. There is a point at which songs become so explicit that the explicitness negatively affects the song's popularity. When a song is too explicit to be played on the radio, TV, at sporting events, or at the Grammys, it's going to suffer in the popularity department. When Prince came on the scene, no one had reached this ceiling of sexual explicitness, so he had more territory to explore in terms of pushing sexual boundaries. Just like there isn't much of the world that remains uninhabited or untouched today, there is less territory for pushing boundaries in popular music today.

--

Today's artists really have to be good at reusing and recycling what already exists in order to make something new. Bruno is very good at the resuing and recycling. I think we have to adjust our expectations to the reality that there is less ground to break in 2017 than there was in 1987.

[Edited 4/2/17 16:34pm]

that's the thing, when those artists were breaking ground, or had high creative output, they didn't achieve that w/in the pop realm, they were shaping their talent and matured their sound before they were thrusted into the pop world.

when everything becomes pop driven, that's when the bubble bursts.

[Edited 4/2/17 16:50pm]

Well there ya go, the environment that the artists must create from is different today. Do A&R budgets for artist development even exist anymore? A lot goes into an artist developing their sound and when the biz does not prioritize development it makes it that much harder for them to have the freedom to experiment, but that is not entirely on the artist.

No one including Bruno will tell you that he is doing anything groundbreaking and profound. As I have said several times already, I am glad that he cares enough to make the effort.

We all know he isn't there yet, but his efforts give me hope that he will grow artistically, that's all.

Graycap23 said:

babynoz said:

Spot on! That is the very reason I am not worried about Bruno. He pulls it off where others have tried and failed.

Actaully he doesn't pull it off........that is the problem.

Looky who's on another Bruno thread? Imagine my shock!

babynoz said:

Scorp said:

that's the thing, when those artists were breaking ground, or had high creative output, they didn't achieve that w/in the pop realm, they were shaping their talent and matured their sound before they were thrusted into the pop world.

when everything becomes pop driven, that's when the bubble bursts.

[Edited 4/2/17 16:50pm]

Well there ya go, the environment that the artists must create from is different today. Do A&R budgets for artist development even exist anymore? A lot goes into an artist developing their sound and when the biz does not prioritize development it makes it that much harder for them to have the freedom to experiment, but that is not entirely on the artist.

No one including Bruno will tell you that he is doing anything groundbreaking and profound. As I have said several times already, I am glad that he cares enough to make the effort.

We all know he isn't there yet, but his efforts give me hope that he will grow artistically, that's all.

This is true.....

Graycap23 said:

MotownSubdivision said:

Graycap23 said: Explain how he doesn't.

Simple.....that music doesn't sound good or speak to me in any way, shape or fashion.

Was that clear enough?

206Michelle said:

heathilly said:

Everyone is well aware Bruno is the world greatest cover artist. They just all accept it and don't question it. Bruno is very middle of the road you'll see no one really hates him or likes him there's no strong held emotion attached to him he essentially has no real identity. Who is the Bruno mars behind the mask of other artist the world may never know.

I think that the artists of today have a more difficult time blazing their own trail and being pioneers than artists like Prince, MJ, Springsteen, Stevie Wonder, Madonna, Joni Mitchell and so forth. There are fewer things that haven't been done. For example, when Michael Jackson made the "Thriller" music video, the music video was a pretty new medium. The music video medium has been around for 35+ years now, so there's less ground to break.

--

Prince was able to break a lot of boundaries, especially relating to sexual content in his music. Prince made Head; Do Me, Baby; and Darling Nikki. George Michael made I Want Your Sex. There is a point at which songs become so explicit that the explicitness negatively affects the song's popularity. When a song is too explicit to be played on the radio, TV, at sporting events, or at the Grammys, it's going to suffer in the popularity department. When Prince came on the scene, no one had reached this ceiling of sexual explicitness, so he had more territory to explore in terms of pushing sexual boundaries. Just like there isn't much of the world that remains uninhabited or untouched today, there is less territory for pushing boundaries in popular music today.

--

Today's artists really have to be good at reusing and recycling what already exists in order to make something new. Bruno is very good at the resuing and recycling. I think we have to adjust our expectations to the reality that there is less ground to break in 2017 than there was in 1987.

[Edited 4/2/17 16:34pm]

Excellent post and well said.

With everything said, Ill always believe authentic music is possible if we just believe. No doubt in my mind its a more rewarding experience

206Michelle said:

I'm talking about all of them and the culture at large. When people are lamenting the death of music it usually rock music and sometimes pop music. But there's been a lot classic albums dropped sound evolutions etc. In hip hop for the past 20 years. People are using an outdated scale to measure pop culture and music of the past to measure the present. For example how consciousness rap was replaced on a mainstream level with gangster rap or how dr dre created a whole new soundscape with the synthesizers. The style dress change from baggy clothes to nice fitting and designers with Kanyes rise not to mention his classic run of albums. Also his battle with 50 cent basically put nails in the coffin that was gangster rap. Topically moving on to people with everyday problems which defiantly is what gave drake ground to stand on. What about the young money cash money empire that was on fire in the late 2000s with lil Wayne and Drake and Nicki Minaj they were always on the radio. What about puffy and dre and jayz expanding outside music with clothes and headphones etc. Becoming near billionaires. What about Soulja boy or xxxtentacion cult like fans pushing them into the mainstream from the internet. There's still much new ground being broken but you people are measuring with an outdated measuring stick. Music itself is much less important today than it was back in the day. There now exist many more forms of entertainment for people to enjoy music is the background noise to all of that. People don't focus on one artist they listen to playlist. Artist aren't just about making music there about building empires and being business minded.
[Edited 4/3/17 7:55am]

206Michelle said:

Calling All My Lovelies is my favorite track on the album. That song is FIRE! It's my new jam! Speaking of interpolation, CAML reminds me a little bit of another song, but I can't think of the other song.

[Edited 4/2/17 6:55am]

I got Alicia waitin', Aisha waitin'
All the eesha's waitin' on me

YAAS

Scorp said:

With everything said, Ill always believe authentic music is possible if we just believe. No doubt in my mind its a more rewarding experience

It is definitly a more awarding experience but given the quality of pop music that we have out now, Bruno ranks high on the spectrum and while he might not be innovative, it is good he is introducing these old genres and sounds to this generation while still adding his twist to it. I must rather bop my head to his music while driving compared to 95% of everything else on the radio. I don't understand why some of yall are sooo criticial of his music when there are other pop stars who make much worse pop music who deserve your criticism. At least Bruno sits down and writes his music and tries to be some what creative without how he presents these sounds.

[Edited 4/3/17 9:04am]

mjscarousal said:

Scorp said:

With everything said, Ill always believe authentic music is possible if we just believe. No doubt in my mind its a more rewarding experience

It is definitly a more awarding experience but given the quality of pop music that we have out now, Bruno ranks high on the spectrum and while he might not be innovative, it is good he is introducing these old genres and sounds to this generation while still adding his twist to it. I must rather bop my head to his music while driving compared to 95% of everything else on the radio. I don't understand why some of yall are sooo criticial of his music when there are other pop stars who make much worse pop music who deserve your criticism. At least Bruno sits down and writes his music and tries to be some what creative without how he presents these sounds.

[Edited 4/3/17 9:04am]

this is the thing about this entire situation, not with no individual artist but as a whole.

see, we've been led to believe that we need today's contemporary artists to "remind" us how good those sounds were from yesterday.

it's an easy rationale to conclude because we can see as clear as day, the music is not as good as it used to be....there's no doubt about that .....

BUT, the thing is, we don't need a contemporary of the present moment to remind us of anything because..................................................that music has always been there for us to seek and find on our own.

For just about every song that's every been made, every great song that's ever been made, we can go and listen to it on YouTube, becauase somebody is always uploading something...YouTube has been in existence for over 10 years and the music is there.......

And before Youtube, the music was accessible at local record stores, the vinyls were always there.

The music never left.......the problem was, the artists who was making all that exceptional music, as this pop music machine really took off and was catapulted to the forefront during the late 80s, the only way it could stand, they had to exploit was was created outside of its realm by phasing out the presence of the very artists whose music it was exploiting.

And when that happened, the natural continuum was blocked, and this is what forced and compelled the artists who would follow to travel back to the past to help shape their music presentation.

It became about taking the road less travelled, not just by the artists but by the music industry as a whole.....

we've also been led to believe the very music that's being mimicked as being "old" but it's really not old because it's proven to have been the greatest musical period that ever existed because everyone from all genres are gravitating back to it, but that period should not have stopped in the 70s and 80s, it should have continued

it's not really about reminding us...it's about interpolating or sampling what's already been done because of the hard work it takes to create on that level

that being said, I believe that things can turn around for the better....because of artists from decades ago can achieve the high level, then current and future generations can too.

babynoz said:

jaawwnn said:

babynoz said: The Message by Grandmaster Flash, I don't think there can by any doubt the backing track is influenced by it.

No, I was thinking of a different song.

Huh? You asked a question and I answered it.

jaawwnn said:

babynoz said:

No, I was thinking of a different song.

Huh? You asked a question and I answered it.

I know. I was just saying that I had the wrong song in mind. I was thinking of this song.

babynoz said:

jaawwnn said:

Huh? You asked a question and I answered it.

I know. I was just saying that I had the wrong song in mind. I was thinking of this song.

ooohhh, ok then!

mjscarousal said:

Scorp said:

With everything said, Ill always believe authentic music is possible if we just believe. No doubt in my mind its a more rewarding experience

It is definitly a more awarding experience but given the quality of pop music that we have out now, Bruno ranks high on the spectrum and while he might not be innovative, it is good he is introducing these old genres and sounds to this generation while still adding his twist to it. I must rather bop my head to his music while driving compared to 95% of everything else on the radio. I don't understand why some of yall are sooo criticial of his music when there are other pop stars who make much worse pop music who deserve your criticism. At least Bruno sits down and writes his music and tries to be some what creative without how he presents these sounds.

[Edited 4/3/17 9:04am]