Fun Question: What Do You Think of Today's Music?

[Owen]

This is a tricky question as there's multiple types of music currently in the mainstream, mostly being pop. A lot of songs have a funky feel to them. However, rap music has completely changed into "trap" music. It has no artistic value, it's just loud and has a loud beat. To be honest I enjoy listening to it when I have a subwoofer :D

Here's a few examples of today's most popular songs:

The Weeknd - Can't Feel My Face (mostly liked by all ages for its artistic value, hidden messages, and great lyrics) = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KEI4qSrkPAs
Adele - Hello (liked by most people because Adele) = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQHsXMglC9A
Fetty Wap - Trap Queen = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_kF4zLNKio
Drake & Future - Jumpman (A song about their sponsor Nike) = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiM5ARaexPE

Justin Bieber has completely changed his style of music, his latest album was produced by Skrillex (who has moved away from the banger dubstep to more modern EDM) and to be honest I like his new music. A lot of people can say that now. Props to you biebs, 6 months ago I hated you ;D https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRh_vgS2dFE

Lastly, the EDM charts are being destroyed by the Chainsmokers and Major Lazer. What do you think of today's music by the given examples?

[Harold Mansfield]

I'm old school House. Detroit and Chicago where it started. Same with Rap. From the beginning. I'm also quite a bit older than you, so of course I think a lot of music today is crap.
But I still listen to House radio and podcasts and the sources I listen to are still authentic and a lot of the back in the day artists are still around producing good stuff. And that's pretty much all I listen to.

I haven't listened to commercial radio in at least 8 years and if you put one of today's pop or popular rap artists right in front of me, I wouldn't recognize them as being anyone. Put a House music artist or producer in front of and and I'll likely tell you their entire resume".

It's not just the music itself, but the entire way it's distributed, played and especially radio is a dead format. Not because it's not viable, but because it's been ruined, white washed, programmed, molded, and all of it's credibility is completely gone.

[Freelancier]

I'm a child of the 70's, so I really don't like most of the synthesizer-driven music. Read recently where it's now producer-driven, with the producer coming up with a beat and then handing the beat to a writer who gets paid to come up with the words. And then the "performer" records it, gets paid a penny or three for each sale, then takes that out on the road where the real money is made.

I also read where a good DJ can get paid $100K for a night's work. That's insane, but if that business model works for whoever is paying, I don't fault them for it.

What I realized a couple of years ago was that the producers who created the type of music I liked to listen to all ended up moving over and are now making country music. It's 70's pop with a Nashville twang, similar production values, similar style of writing. So that works for getting newer material into the listening rotation.

[turboguy]

When I was a teenager a million years ago I could listen to music 24 hours a day and not get my fill. Now I rarely listen to music. I don't much care for the newer stuff but some is fine. I am not into Rap music at all and if I do listen it is mostly oldies from the 80's or earlier. I make some long drives and more prefer listening to CNBC or some talk show on my satellite radio.

I tend to think a DJ would have to be pretty exceptional to get 100K for a nights work. I used to be pretty good friends with a DJ that is in the Rock and Roll hall of fame and he got about $ 500.00 for a night and maybe 2 grand for a New Years Eve. He was more into oldies which might not draw the crowd that someone more up to date would but was also credited with being one of the main reasons people like Smokey Robinson and Little Anthony became successful and he could draw in a crowd.

[Fulcrum]

All I can say is (another shameless plug for this band)


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ugwl46p7vvk

And Biebs? You guys can keep him Owen.

[Owen]

Another AMAZING artist is Sam Smith. He's one of my favorite (if not my favorite) male artist (that isn't a rapper, I like rap it's my guilty pleasure).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCkpzqqog4k

[CCAdamson]

90% of the time these days all I listen to is talk radio whether it be Dave Ramsey, Rush, or the local sports station. When I do listen to music it is a mishmash of almost every genre.

[Fulcrum]

Sam Smith? Meh.

Doesn't hold up compared to the pure raw vocal talent of:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhvaDJTUmrU

Or the only 2 covers of GNR songs that don't sound like nails on a chalk board:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mytxVdkAZrc

Sound is off in the recording, but had to include the best guitar soloist ever (caution explicit language):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMKwP0mC_TY

[LogansWalk]

I grew up with bands like Led Zeppelin, The Who, Van Halen, Montrose, Rush and just can't find anything new these days that I like. People tell me all of the time there is great music out there but I just haven't been able to find it - and don't even get me started on country music these days.