I Don’T Wish To Sound Like My Dad Or Grandad, But.....

[thesshhh]

How miserable and samey is most of today’s pop music? Hardly any decent tunes, inaudible lyrics, stupid hand movements that suggest they affect the voice but of course they don’t, predictable dance routines especially by female artists in barely there outfits that make a mockery of the Me Too style campaigns.... How much of it will you remember with affection, even play, in decades from now?

[Calicogirl]

Probably very little, I can't stand most modern mainstream music and I'm young- probably why I always go for older men- they have huge and impressive playlists :)
Seriously I don't think I could bear being in a car with some people's playlists, it would drive me to a homicide.

[fiction-factory]

Ask me in decades from now. I have always liked music and am happy listening to current stuff although I do still enjoy the 60s/70s stuff from my early years

[Mamyalynne]

The charts don't have much memorable in them , you have to rootle about to find new sounds to like.

[Cloverjo]

Most modern music sounds a bit ‘bleh’ to me, with a few exceptions. In my day, my dad moaned that my favourite male singers all looked like girls.
A decade before that punk was all shouty noise.
I expect your dad’s dad moaned about his music. It happens with every generation.

[237SJ]

I would struggle to find a song that reminded me of the hot summer of 2018. Or 2017, 2016 ..you get my drift.

[fiction-factory]

I remember Top of The Pops fondly but when i watch the old shows on BBC4 I realise how much dross there was in the charts (with just the occasional gem) in the early 80s too.

[douglas9401]

I never knew you preferred older men Calico, you've never mentioned it before.

Whiney, nasal Rhianna clones and street sweepings trained to bob around at roughly the same time do not a music industry make.

[retrocop]

When Glenn Miller died (we think?) then music and song went with him. :-)

[Calicogirl]

Whuddathunkit eh Douglas, you live and learn :) x

[fiction-factory]

>I would struggle to find a song that reminded me of the hot summer of 2018
I could name a few-2018 One Kiss, In My Feelings, Nice for What
2017- Wild Thoughts
But we are not the generation the music industry is targeting with this stuff. It's generally targeted at 12-19 years old, pretty much as it always has been.

[237SJ]

There is good music around. The trouble is, music these days has to be sung by good looking people with a good vid to go with it. MTV started that culture. It is out there but you have to search.

[thesshhh]

237SJ, please provide links to what you think are great tracks today

[Ken4155]

Let's face it, by and large the charts have always been a tad insipid no matter how far back you go. Unless, of course you are into a particular genre - punk, new wave, synth, etc. Can't remember the last time i bought a single - many of the bands i listen to don't release them. Must have been in my early teens.

[Theland]

What is" Grime," and, "Drill," music?
Are these just some of the benefits of multiculturalism?
Loadacrap ter me, "man,"

[tonyav]

Seriously I don't think I could bear being in a car with some people's playlists, it would drive me to a homicide.

Same here.


Everyone's tastes are different whether it be music, comedy or fashion etc. Most of the pop music of today I find to be dross though imo.

[douglas9401]

The trouble is, music these days has to be sung by good looking people ......

The prosecution calls Paloma Faith, Florence Whatshername and Rory Charles Graham to the stand.

[andy-hughes]

It's an easy cliche to say that pop has been on a downward spiral, but I made exactly this point a few months ago.

Modern pop is seriously over-produced, and lacking in anything approaching originality and memorability.

My local community station probably plays about one in three from the chart of today, and they are always whiney anonymous women maoning down their noses, and then having their voices vocoded into oblivion.

I am not being an 'old man' here, I am a professional music writer, and although pop is not my field, I do obviously listen with interest, and I do despair at how identikit pop has become.

I know it's not supposed to change the world, but being identifiable one from another would be a move in the right direction!

[andy-hughes]

Ken - // Let's face it, by and large the charts have always been a tad insipid no matter how far back you go. Unless, of course you are into a particular genre - punk, new wave, synth, etc. Can't remember the last time i bought a single - many of the bands i listen to don't release them. Must have been in my early teens. //

As the owner/driver of a Vintage Disco roadshow, I have analysed and downloaded every song that's danceable from 1960 to 1989, and there are thousands of them.

Yesterday, I decided to incorporate the 90's into my shows to widen my customer base, and it's amazing how few memorable tracks there are to find. I am delighted not to have to venture past the year 2000, the law of diminishing returns is clearly in place here.

[Jordyboy9]

My answer to the best for music will always be the50s
No contest as far as I can see,but then again to each his own.

[Rockrose]

This comes round every year, my parents used to complain about the stuff I listened to in the 80's and 90's and one day my granddad said to my dad - 'we used to complain about the rubbish you listened to in the 60's and 70's'.
Basically whilst its not your taste it is the taste of the current crop of youngsters or else it wouldn't be played.