So I guess You don't really have to have talent, As Long as your good Looking and Hott... Damn no wonder why Britney Spears is so Famous I can just hear the conversation of a up and coming star today ...

"U Don't have to have talent to be star, That's ridiculous, who has talent these dayz? All I have to do is wear skimpy clothes and shake my azz in my video, I know my music doesn't have a point to it, but The Pulto brothers produce it, it's already a hit, who cares if I know how to read a music scale or not, I'm Fierce Dammit. Just make sure I walk into the party with P Diddy on Saturday night, I need the publicity"
[This message was edited Sat May 10 21:55:30 PDT 2003 by DigitalLisa]

you didn't ever have to be talented to be a star. i don't know where people got the idea that talentless pop stars is a recent phenomenon. it's been happening since there was pop.

AaronSuperior said:

True dat. I think maybe we didn't care before cuz we were younger.

stymie said:

I think the advent of the music video revolution exacerbated the exaggerated importance of image in music. Plus it lets the lesser talented (or non-talented - pick one) get by easier without having to prove their mettle on stage in a live setting. A record can potentially go multi-platinum without the performer setting foot inside any arena in the world, and it's most likely mainly because of a video. Old Schoolers busted their asses to prove their skills on stage, and promote their record in the process. They didn't have radio AND video. A lot of today's generation doesn't have to go that route.

I don't even want to get started on this subject , but I totally agree. This is why I almost hurl every time I turn on the radio, or happen to skip by MTV with the remote when I have the TV on.
Case in point, look in the dictionary under "no talent pop stars" and you'll find Madonna listed first.
[This message was edited Sun May 11 5:12:46 PDT 2003 by minneapolisgenius]

minneapolisgenius said:

Agree with you 99.9%. Just switched the celebrity in your quote. Besides that, you're absolutely correct! :LOL:

XXX said:

Yeah, I forgot about Eminem. I could easily pick many others to fit into my generic description. Madonna just popped into my head for some reason. I just don't get the hype about some "artists" i.e. Eminem, etc.

I disagree with you about Madonna, there is no way I would describe her as 'talented' (that word is thrown around WAY too much) by any means but I think her 80s albums are really fantastic in their own right. As far as eminem goes...

WatchThemFall said:

I know a lot of people here disagree with me on the Madonna thing, but it's also probably because I never liked her or her music, even back in the day. So, I was never a fan anyway.

I just REALLY do not get the whole Eminem hype though. I can see why people are big Madonna fans, (to each his own) and have been since the beginning, but Eminem?

you don't have to be a star, baby...to be in myyy shooow...sowwy, that just popped into my head when i seen the title of this thread.

anyhoo, it does seem like u don't really have 2 do shit in order 2 become a star in the music world nowadays.

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

I thought about that too.

minneapolisgenius said:

Actually, I like some of her early dance music, but was never really a fan. I agree with your comments.

It's always been that way, since there was pop music. Music Video just made it worse.

"Don't think your star has to shine for me to find out where you're coming from...What is a beauty queen if it don't mean I'm your Number One?"

DigitalLisa said:

Yeah. Look at Madonna! As soon as she busted out the cones, that was it.

the difference with back in the day is that you didn't get a 5 Year Run unlike now when you didn't have much from jump.but I also believe that when Today's SuperStar's are having to share the same Writers,Producer's,etc.. with the 3rd&4th Tier Acts it makes it seem out of wack.also Videos have flipped the script for better or for worse depending on how you sit with this.I've always noticed Wack Acts but back in the day they had there 15 Minutes&were done but nowadays a 15 Minute act from back in the day is looking like a Legit Hit act.Standards changed&also Technilogy open the door wide open.also the Industry has changed in that alot of these Acts do Music,Film&TV making them look like Triple Threats of Talent.Very Manipulative.I Remember when it was a Big deal for a MJ or Prince at making a Film.but here you got a Usher or Will Smith knocking out Music,TV&Film among others&while not carrying the same amount of Talent as MJ&Prince the Dollars to expand are more now&a different era of acceptance on some levels.

It's a known fact that you don't have to have real talent to be a star. Look at J.Lo, Madonna, Britney. I could go on and on. The list could be never ending. That's why I get so pissed off when people put down real artists/musicians like Bob Dylan, Prince, Santana, the Rolling Stones, the Beatles etc. These people have real talent that they were born with. People like this with real talent get labelled as "has beens" just because they are getting older and don't have top 10 hits anymore. These types of people should be respected at all times for their natural musical talents and the contributions they've made.

AaronSuperior said:

So true.
It's all in the packaging and the presentation.
The promoters are probably youth-psychologists.
They know how to appeal to that group 9-16.
That group probably buys the most "what's happening now" CDs.
Once the numbers go up, fame follows...although most often
short-lived.
Melody

kisscamille said:

You know,all this Madonna bashing is sooo tired.Madonna HAS talent.Could an un-talented person star in a well-received film like 'Evita'? Could an un-talented person write a song like "Like A Prayer"? Could an un-talented person make an album like 'Ray Of Light'? It's hilarious watching people try to examine Madonna and her success,concluding that she has no talent but just "got lucky",or "follows trends",or (write your own theory here).Madonna has worked her ass off for over 20 years.Nothing was handed to her.She didn't have any famous brothers,or any other kind of "connections" to get where she is today.She made it on her...talent (imagine that).

Supernova said:

Well put, Supernova. We don't always agree, but we see eye-to-eye 100% on that. To add to it, music videos have furthered the already rampant practice of ageism in the music biz; exploiting the young and hungry and furthering the agenda of the "biz" in general. Groups in the 80s like the GAP Band and Van Halen used their live performances as their music videos, whereas now its all about the girls, the expensive cars, etc. or complete and utter silliness and low brow humor or the "sampling" of a scene from a famous movie reinacted by the "performer". All are feeble attempts to compensate for lack of talent. The general corporate idea is "keep it trivial" and keep 'em distracted and they won't CARE that the artist has no talent. They will be replaced soon by another one just like them anyway.

Davideye - no offence to you. I know you are a huge fan of Maddies, but I do not consider her to be talented as far as acting and singing goes. She is a good business woman and has always known what she wants and has gone after it, but IMO she is not talented. She knew exactly who she needed on her side to get to where she is. She has tried to shock us for years in order to gain attention. She has shoved her sexuality in our faces and because she's a woman, people have noticed her and have kept her in the limelight partly due to her casual, free way with sex. Her mouth is nasty and that has also gained her some attention. She is an attention getter, not a talented actor/singer/songwriter IMO.

One big song (usually written by someone else) a flash video and PRESTO! you're a star!

What a load of frickin' Shit!