I just read a really bad "review" of my music. It made me laugh. Don't get me wrong, I totally appreciate constructive criticism. I WANT to know if I suck. Many awesome people have been straight up with me and told me where I can improve. This just made me scratch my head:

This isn't very good at all. Poor writing, amateurish recording and horrible vocals.

Ok, ok. Amatuer recording. DUH! I know that, but horrible vocals? Do I sound like a chainsaw? I know I'm not Mariah Carey, but I'm not tone def either...

Poor writing? Oh come on! I know I got some good little ditties in there. People I really respect and admire have told me so. I know it ain't jazz, but still, I've got decent melodies imo.


Anyway. What is the worst review you've gotten? AND do you wonder if your friends are telling you you're good just because they are your friends?

Don't take it to heart... just cos some sucker doesn't like it - who the hell are they to judge?

I'm very anti 'Critics' anyway. A great man once said 'wouldn't it be nice if people just told you about the stuff they dug?' or words to that effect. Instead of which, someone (most likely a talentless turd) decides to piss all over your work.

I'm guessing that the good comments outweigh the bad and you know in your heart when you've written a good song or recorded a good track.

I don't think your friends would lie to you - not the true kind anyway. Keep doing what you do, just the way you do it and...

... if it ain't broke, don't fix it

I don't care if people talk shit about my music because I'm making it better everyday. I wonder about the person who has time to listen and tell you how bad it is.

It also gives me a point of comparison in a couple of years when I can listen back and say to myself, "man, I did suck and why did I use so much Wah pedal"

Oh yeah - edit

I just listened to all of my stuff over the last year and I've got 18 good ideas to work with (which I'm building into songs) but I use the Wah way too much.
[This message was edited Thu Jan 22 7:27:41 PST 2004 by Slave2daGroove]

VinaBlue said:

Who gave you the review?Are they qualified?Are they professional musicians?Dont matter though,keep doin what ya love.

While this person was likely just trying to be hurtful rather than offering an honest critique it's worth getting used to the negative opinions as some people will go for that angle when you open yourself up and invite comment.

I had one guy at Soundclick just tell me that he was bored with a song and that he didn't like it, but didn't go into detail. Of course, this guy was in a band called Anal Pudding and peddling a song called "Jon Benet was a Hot Piece of Ass" so I'm kind of glad he didn't like it. Some people just don't like certain genres of music so they bash it. Don't worry about it - we like your songs here!

wish some1 told me that. I never recieved one really other than good constructive "what u need 2 work on is" criticism, especially Otan, he really went out of his way and i really really liked that. I guess my brother though.

When I was first starting out he said, "all your beats sound the same." Because I used Linn Drum samples in mostly all my old songs. Now he just says it is good and nothing else, although he despise of my singing.

crazyhorse said:

I don't know who this guy was, he posted on my message board at soundclick and didn't really identify himself. Its funny though, I mean, this guy could be a jazz freak or a Justin Timberlake fan!

The coolest thing is when someone you feel inferior to, encourages you. You know they have the right idea. It's all about watering the seed. I mean, if you plant a garden, does it make sense to shade if from the sun and not give it any water?

On the other hand, I KNOW my equipment is not the best and my recording abilities leave something to be desired. Everyone starts somewhere. I'm doing the best I can, and I do love what I do. Every step is a learning process.

MD7 said:

Yeah, I know. I'd say the feedback I get is maybe 10% negative, usually with some kind of advice on how to improve. This one just made laugh, because I KNOW I'm not that bad! But you're right, I am asking for people to tell me what they think, good or bad. The cool thing is I can handle it better than when I first got a "bad review". It's all a learning process.

artist08 said:

Thanks hon.

I have never thought that anyone's music on this site was horrible. I do hold my tongue about some things, because I do not want to sow any discord. But, everyone here has great talent in one area or another. Isaiah's strength is his beats. My strength is my concepts. Lewis' strength is bass guitar, Vina's STRENGTH is her vocals, etc. I emphasized vocals as your strength, Vina, because that person was a completely false to judge your vocals as horrible.

I just had a couple dudes over at the NPGMC tell me that I suck because I sound like Prince and that because my stuff sounds like older Prince outtakes, and that I should "get a style". LOL. So, don't be offended. It's just natural selection working for them.


Peace,
JD

And also, just remember Vina, some of our biggest supporters friends are very harsh critics of our music, and you know what I mean by that.


Peace,
Jason

Flashpointe said:

Me too, but PLEASE tell me privately if something I do is all wrong. When it comes to people I admire, I want to know what they think.


You don't like my music?



Just kidding. That's funny though, because I think my vocals (and my recording skills) are my weakest points.




Yeah, I saw that. I thought it was quite rediculous. I mean, some people complain about Prince not being what he used to be, then you come along doing it like he used to and someone ain't happy about that either.

You know I think you're the BOMB, J.

Flashpointe said:

That's why I was talking about the really cool people who are light years ahead of me that have continued to encourage me. Those are true angels and true artists. It's like Sheila said in that documentary The Prince of Paisley Park. She said this about being in Prince's band: You don't really get put down. He puts everyone up on a pedestal and says "You can do this, if you want to. If you don't want to then that's fine too."

Hey Vina!

I wouldn't sweat it, personally...
I've had people call me Prince junior and tell me to develop my own sound to my face. I really don't understand this person's criticism--I find your music pretty interesting! Just remember, no matter where you go and what you do, there are always going to be people who have attitude with your stuff...

I kinda see it as being completely naked and exposed to the world and someone's critiquing your "privates"---just not a very comfortable thing..

Heck, Prince is one of the baddest musicians to hit this planet and yet, there are plenty of people who say his stuff sucks, yet when you hold his music up to their's--no contest...

It's all apples and oranges and you've got my vote







Jshua

u can not please anyone but yourself in this life. do your thing girl. u can only be u. I love your cornacopia of sounds and electronica. Your voice is very sexy and honest. Your keyboard playing is very creative and spontaneous. So the heck with the haters. I'm sure alot of people on this site really don't care for my music and I really don't care. I do what I do and that's that. Be true to yourself and the real u will shine through and one day someone ( a stranger ) will tell u how your music just took them 2 'cloud 9' and u will see that your work is not in vain.march on my sister...play on playa.

talmuzic said:

I, personally, can't say that about anybody here.

talmuzic said:

WORD

Flashpointe said:

I'd say the worst criticism I ever received was on this site... the whole "Crackerpalooza" episode.

Between that, and the from my very first song post ever on this site - those two were pretty harsh... I'd rather piss somebody off than get a frickin YAWN. And the mo[expletive deleted]er that posted it never ever ever came back to say why they didn't like the song.

Well, and I've had some serious critics at www.garageband.com. If you want HARSH, BLUNT criticism, if you're up to it, go post your songs over there. You'll REALLY find how good your stuff is. Those folks don't pull their punches. But it's cool - it's a blind test - they don't tell you WHO you're listening to while you evaluate the song. VERY helpful in some ways - especially in thickening up your skin.

otan said:

See, but that guy had issues, even though he was in denial about it.

Damn. Isn't it amazing how that shit sticks with us and they probably don't even remember what they did. Y'know, with this one I think he just saw the newest thread list and posted. He probably didn't even listen to the song.


I think I'll work on getting my tracks done better before going over there.

yeah. but...

the constructive criticism they give over there is amazing - you know how I provide specifics on eq settings, amount of reverb, panning, crap like that? I got that from folks over at garageband.com. A lot of the folks on there have gone from home-recording enthusiast, to demo-studio client, to studio-producer. I got a TON of information from a guy who was willing to e-mail me back and forth after his initial TRASHING of my song. (provided, it WAS a bad recording of a BAD song)

otan said:

Makes sense. I really like how you give feedback. I'm afraid my equipment isn't sophistocated enough to keep up with specifics like that, but maybe I should go over there. I'll wait till I finish up the songs I'm working on now. The newer ones are recorded better than my 99 demos.

Thanks man, you rock.


[This message was edited Fri Jan 23 6:15:54 PST 2004 by VinaBlue]

oh yeah my partner said about "Grrove Simplistic" (collabo with psykosoul) "Whoever is in the background doing falcetto needs 2 give it up, but nice song though".

paisleypark4 said:

psykosoul said:

well at least he played it back 2 times

Don't worry about it Vina!It happens to all of us. What's so funny about negative comments is that you can remember and can never remember all off the positive comments! I've been performing since I was 2. I've had six negative comments about my art,period(I'm including singing/songwriting/composing,dancing,and acting) and numerous positive comments...but those stupid little negative plant seeds of insecurity that are hard to get rid of.And used to think about them everyday...and as my grandma used to say about bullies...that's what they want you to do..they just don't like you for some crazy reason or they're jealous,forget them. I just had to think about like this...all the auditions in which I successfully made whatever I was trying out for,all the awards,and all of the cool people that have been nice to me can't all be high on crack.I must have a morsel of talent somewhere. Have you ever seen one of these biography shows where someone didn't get rejected and insulted within an inch of their lives before they made it? They don't like you because you sing too well,you sing too badly,you're too big,you're too skinny,you're too pretty,you're too unattractive. I know people that think Mariah Carey(you mentioned her) can't sing! There are people that don't think Halle Berry is beautiful!You can't please everyone...so don't try to.

Vina, I like the stuff i heard. I think you voice is sincere, & thats all that counts...nice too.

Hey- I usually get the two extremes all the time. The only time I got lukewarm responses was on here. Which is cool, that everyone is being cool. BUt for the most time I get the: "your voice is horrible..." or "what the hell is up with that broken guitar sound..." or "your songs are too simple..."

But for all of those I get postive ones. So to answer your question: i get so many bad reviews I can't pick my worst one. I'm amazed that we get such a good turnout when we play, & we sold all of our EP's...so i guess there is some crazy people out there who actually dig us.

All & all for everyone who hates your stuff, there is another who will love it. Thats where you want to be anyway. Thats good art...

just my 2 sense

Nero

I treat everyone equally worthless.

Just kidding.

Just like any craft, there are way too many levels to base any sort of judgement on whats good and whats not.

In any form of art, you can't do this. Who is to say the Van Gough is better than Gary Larson (the far side). You sure can't measure it by success. Vincent boy couldn't sell a thing, never got along with anybody and died broke. Gary Larson made a carreer off his "doodles". So who is the better artist?

Lots of people beat up on Dreamfirstborn for his music, but I'll be a monkey's uncle if his lyrics aren't more thought provoking than most I've seen come across my desk. Now that's my opinion and his and everyone else's work here is objective.

You can't say who is better. The fact that paisleypark4's song moved Camille is proof of that. The way salles song moved me and so many of the other songs did not.

You all can ROCK someone, right?

hey VinaBlue if you took every bad word said about DreamFirstBorn, Jew HRH Gregory Alive There be so much shit pile on that u all could climb it to the top and touch the stars.

but u know what... He is still amazed by u all.

So don't give up.


don't listen to the voices on the outside listen to the voice on the inside. thats the voice thats gonna lead u on this amazing adventure. so sing my sweet darling VinaBlue sing like a bird that just does it for the beauty of the sun.


Electric Purple,
Prince

ElectricPurple said:

That was really beautiful. I mean that. As crazy as I think you guys are sometimes, I totally admire your resiliance and creativity.