SeventeenDayze said:

I'm a little more bother about the fact that there has not been a *NSYNC reunion album.

EmmaMcG said:

SeventeenDayze said:

Hey girlie, good to see you here! Well, I have to disagree. The point that I was making is that often times (and throughout music history) mediocre artists who copied black music were considered much better than what they truly were. I don't think Usher is overrated but I think he's more of a performer than he is a singer. He just has a very loyal fan base and he started really young so he has been around a long time. I'm not saying that there aren't any overrated black artists but I'm saying that white artists who, for example, try to style themselves as "soul singers" can be mediocre but still have the benefit of being marketed a certain way. But, a white artist who is a singer in a different genre would have a harder time getting promoted a certain way because the music industry seems to love white artists who imitate black singing but who happened to be mediocre...

What you're saying is correct. There have been many white artists who have gotten famous for copying black artists. Elvis being the most noteworthy. It doesn't necessarily mean that these white artists aren't good though. Elvis, as an example, was one hell of a performer and he could really sing. Some of his early stuff from before he was famous is outstanding. Then, there are other white artists who imitate black artists and get it all wrong. I wouldn't put Timberlake in that category though for the reason that I don't see him as doing black music. He's a pop act. A male Britney Spears, albeit one who actually sings live. He's not like a Marvin Gaye or a James Brown. He's not soul or RnB. He's a poor man's Michael Jackson. I don't particularly rate him, he has some good songs, but most of his stuff doesn't appeal to me. But I think it's a misconception to say he rips off black artists. He's overrated as all hell, but not any more so than Lady Gaga, Britney, Usher or anyone else from his generation.

Well I think I have to disagree again. For a lot of black folks from past generations Elvis was given accolades that were based on colorism. There were black artists who created a sound and weren't properly paid for it and then Elvis comes along and now people call him the "king" of a genre that he wasn't a pioneer in. I think that's the main reason why many people get upset. Also, please never put Justin in the same sentence as Michael Jackson. The fact that Justin almost exclusively uses black producers (Timberland) and also tries his hardest to imitate a black sound is swept under the "pop music" rug becuase he can't possibly sound authentic enough to be a soul singer.

When it comes to white artists I think the ones who have an authentic "soul" sound would be Michael McDonald and George Michael.

SeventeenDayze said:

EmmaMcG said:

SeventeenDayze said:

Well I think I have to disagree again. For a lot of black folks from past generations Elvis was given accolades that were based on colorism. There were black artists who created a sound and weren't properly paid for it and then Elvis comes along and now people call him the "king" of a genre that he wasn't a pioneer in. I think that's the main reason why many people get upset. Also, please never put Justin in the same sentence as Michael Jackson. The fact that Justin almost exclusively uses black producers (Timberland) and also tries his hardest to imitate a black sound is swept under the "pop music" rug becuase he can't possibly sound authentic enough to be a soul singer.

When it comes to white artists I think the ones who have an authentic "soul" sound would be Michael McDonald and George Michael.

I was agreeing with you about the likes of Elvis getting accolades by doing music pioneered by black singers My argument was that it doesn't change the fact that he was good. He had amazing stage presence, second only to Little Richard in his era, and could sing his ass off. Its not his fault that certain parts of the world were backwards and championed him over his black contemporaries. I do think that the Timberlake situation is different though. He may use predominantly black producers when not producing himself, but is that not because he chooses to work with his friends? I still don't see his music as being "black" though. I know if you want to be technical about it, most genres originated from black people but JT isn't unique in being a white man doing that brand of pop. I've never seen him claim to be a soul or RnB singer. I have seen interviews were he's professed to being a big Prince fan and even that he based his FutureSexLoveSounds album off of Prince. Maybe that counts as him trying to replicate black music but if he's a fan of this sort of music, why shouldn't he try to do it? It's no reason to hate the guy. He's only doing the kind of stuff which influenced him. Not liking his music is fine, I don't like most of it either, but not liking him because he's a white guy doing black music is a bit much.

What I'm saying is that Timberlake gets unnecessary praise for being mediocre. If all things were equal and he were black there' just no way he'd be on that level of fame. He's not even that widely loved as Prince or MJ but people have the nerve to put him in the same sentence. My experiences as a black American and seeing how the music industry operates in the same way as the larger American society shapes my experience. I think many whites will defend Timberlake without being able to call him out as being a "culture vulture". In my opinion and from where I'm sitting, he's basically someone who tries to copy a sound but fails but he gets the benefit of being called a pop artist instead of being a mediocre soul singer. He absolutely tries to imitate a black sound, there's just no denying that. Black music and cultural artifcats are so widely appropriated that no one bats an eye at it. I promise you if a bunch of black Americans decided to open up Italian restaurants in Italy then you better believe there would be an uproar because Italian food is something near and dear to the hearts of Italians. The entire world's musical landscape has been touched by Black American artists but we seldom get the recognition for it. Then you have phonies like Timberlake who is subpar, like others, but gets praised as if he's done something fantastic.

You and I will have to agree to disagree but believe me I've seen this kind of situation over and over again.

He aiight. he got some good songs here and there, but he is just a much of a product from the Timbaland and Pharrell machine as some other big names from the 90's. He put the right people behind him (with the right money) to make his songs good. Plus some of his personality shows on the albums, not all of the artists that those two work with come up with stuff like he does so he has a hand in the production process for sure.

Personally he seems a little arrogant and Hollywood. Like one of those guys who was a pretend jock or pretend funny man to get ahead. Like...something is missing but he is taleneted. He doesnt have vocal chops like his former bandmate JC but he had the it factor.

SeventeenDayze said:

Revolution said:

JT has talent and charisma. Nothing like what Prince had, but he has more than most in this generation. He's a step down, but isn't everybody?

He writes music and plays instruments and puts on a wicked live show. The 20/20 experience 2-disc album is so good.

EmmaMcG said:

SeventeenDayze said:

What I'm saying is that Timberlake gets unnecessary praise for being mediocre. If all things were equal and he were black there' just no way he'd be on that level of fame. He's not even that widely loved as Prince or MJ but people have the nerve to put him in the same sentence. My experiences as a black American and seeing how the music industry operates in the same way as the larger American society shapes my experience. I think many whites will defend Timberlake without being able to call him out as being a "culture vulture". In my opinion and from where I'm sitting, he's basically someone who tries to copy a sound but fails but he gets the benefit of being called a pop artist instead of being a mediocre soul singer. He absolutely tries to imitate a black sound, there's just no denying that. Black music and cultural artifcats are so widely appropriated that no one bats an eye at it. I promise you if a bunch of black Americans decided to open up Italian restaurants in Italy then you better believe there would be an uproar because Italian food is something near and dear to the hearts of Italians. The entire world's musical landscape has been touched by Black American artists but we seldom get the recognition for it. Then you have phonies like Timberlake who is subpar, like others, but gets praised as if he's done something fantastic.

You and I will have to agree to disagree but believe me I've seen this kind of situation over and over again.

That's fair enough, I've gotten to know you enough that I know you're genuine in your beliefs and I'm definitely not going to try change them. Like I said, I agree with most of what you say. The bits I don't agree with is just a difference of opinion and I'm not going to argue my point with a friend just to defend someone like Timberlake.

Hahaha don't worry I totally understand. That's the beauty of these message boards is that we can all share our opinions and it's a good thing. We don't have to agree but we can open each other's eyes to the perspective of the other person. But, one thing we CAN agree on is that Prince is amazing!