The ULTIMATE question: Why do people "really" hate boy bands?

[stonythug]

Here's a quote from one newspage that had a big article about the history of boy bands

"After NKOTB bombed and R&B became a trend (TLC, All-4-One), Transcontinental Records guru Lou Pearlman decided to resurrect what would bring him lots of money. Calling in Johnny Wright and his wife Donna, they held auditions for what would be the new trendsetter in music since Milli Vanilli-The Backstreet Boys. Nick Carter (the fresh one), Howie Dorough (the sweetie), Brian Litterell (the cute one), A.J. McLean (the rebel), and Kevin Richardson (the older brother) signed on the dotted line in 1996. And Generation Y was born."

Hmmm...sound pretty manufactured to me. I don't care if they did know each other, that wasn't why the band got started. They didn't create the group, the group was created.

And it goes on to say later in the article
"Pearlman didn't stop there-oh yes, 'N Sync just has to be mentioned. In 1996 Pearlman brought together five other boys, exported them to Germany where they scored big and where they recorded an album. After seeing what happened to BSB, Pearlman schooled 'N Sync to avoid BSB's mistakes. Within a year, 'N Sync was sky-rocketing in the charts (Backstreet took about four years). After covering up for BSB at an episode of "Disney's In Concert" (BSB backed out at the last minute), N'Sync, as well as Justin Timberlake and JC Chasez, became a household name. The group can harmonize?and they are not denying that they're a boyband."

Boy well that certainly doesn't sound like they came together out of their own free will either. I think some 13 year old girl has been feeding you lies my friend. They don't want to admit that they were put together and coached and got singing lessons, but they did and that's the truth. They are not artists, they are not musicians, they're entertainers and should be called such. A product like anything else you'd buy. As far as being able to sing, wow so they found one person who could sing and had good looks, congratulations. Can I sing, no not really, but I can't play the guitar either, yet I know that Jimi Hendrix is a god while my roommate is just a hack. My ex-girlfriend is a vocal major at USC and when we were together I did meet a lot of male singers who blew these guys away. Sure they can sing, but not that well(there's usually that one ugly one that is actually an ok singer) and certainly not better than Eddie Vedder or Maynard. If you compare them to crap then maybe yeah they don't look like bad musicians, but if you compare them to actual artists, they suck. Wasn't 2Ge+ther that band that was put together by Mark and Brian and MTV as a joke but they actually became popular? If so then the only reason they put that fat guy in there was because it was a joke and no one thought they would be taken seriously. They don't even use their real names in that band, they're all actors, just like every other boy band. As for writing their own songs, I'm sure they get some "advice" from real song writers or pay them off to allow them to use their songs without giving credit. Even if they don't, the lyrics in their songs are about nothing and just meant to be catchy. There's no substance at all. If you can't tell the difference between these bands, and bands who actually have something to say, then I feel sorry for you because there's so much music out there that can be more than just a catchy tune.

 

[stonythug]

Hoeboy you prove my point. You admitted that the background singers can't really sing very well and yet you ask why I complain about them not playing instruments. If they can't sing and can't play an instrument why are they called musicians? Yeah in other bands the background singers aren't always the best, but that's because they're not a singer, they're a guitar player that's singing or a drummer that's singing. They aren't in the band for their voice, they're in the band because they can play an instrument. These guys are singers that can't sing.

 

[Hoeboy]

mem, but isn't that considered just your taste in music? people who hate boyband seems to not only hate the music but to go as far as hating the band with a passion.

stonythug,

"They didn't create the group, the group was created."

now were you there when the label company picked who would be in the group? how did you know that the boy band didnt give feedback on who they thought would make good candidates based on them knowing each other?

"They are not artists, they are not musicians, they're entertainers and should be called such. A product like anything else you'd buy."

yes that is true. but that's again based on individual taste. when you see boy band publicized on the news, how many times do you see them being praised as artists? although i like their music, i recognize true harmony and talent. for example boyz2men is the only r&b group that i'll ever recognize as being able to harmonize. i know you're trying to stick up for the other hard working artists out there but never once have i really heard anyone praise boy bands as being better in terms of singing than other groups. its usually more about their good looks and girls. yes it's a marketing ploy. but business is business. everything needs a hook.

"Wasn't 2Ge+ther that band that was put together by Mark and Brian and MTV as a joke but they actually became popular? If so then the only reason they put that fat guy in there was because it was a joke and no one thought they would be taken seriously. "

I'm not sure about that but they got popular for a reason right? so what is this stereotype that boybands only are successful by their goodlooks and excellent marketers?

"I'm sure they get some "advice" from real song writers or pay them off to allow them to use their songs without giving credit. Even if they don't, the lyrics in their songs are about nothing and just meant to be catchy. "

are you really "sure?" dont use personal assumption as facts. you're making a big accusation there based on your biased point of view. i didnt take an argumentative writing class for nothing about the lyrics, yes i admit some songs dont really make any sense. but some songs requires some personal experience to relate to. and some just require u to interpret it in your own way. if you want straightforward meaning, there's country. and if you really despise songs cuz they make no sense, then there goes hip-hop, rap, rock, etc. hip-hop/rap is just a lot about bootie banging, hoe thrashing, cash money bling bling. but do you see as many people hate hip-hop/rap artists with a passion as boy bands? and for rock n roll, punk rock, etc, is there any meaning to a lot of the songs, where most of the lyrics could be fit into a 3 line paragraph???

"If you can't tell the difference between these bands, and bands who actually have something to say, then I feel sorry for you because there's so much music out there that can be more than just a catchy tune."

yes I know what you mean. i recently started listening to country. like i said i'm very open to music. unlike all the other categories, country draws you in with meaningful words, not beats. but then again take a step back and look at the music industry as a whole. tell me a majority of them are not in there JUST for the money and fame? i've seen artists in all genre of music who could care less about their music but to turn out a record every month just to make money. so how come boy bands are hated soooooooo much for this? you know its not like they are an exception out of the whole music industry.

 

[Deeko]

Stonythug, did you actually read that thread I linked to? THAT is how they stared. Of course Pearlman is gonna claim that he was the sole thing behind them, it makes him look better. THEY STARTED ON THEIR OWN. Pearlman picked them up afterwards. And you know what, the backround singers CAN sing. 98 Degrees is a true quartet, so every part is important. NSync, well, JC and Justin are better than the others, but Lance and Chris are very important to their harmony. They can sing well. Joey isn't great, but he isn't that bad either. All of the members can sing well, just not as good as Brian. So yes, they can sing. 2Ge+her, well, they aren't a real group. They were in an MTV movie that was a comedy about making up a boyband. They now have a series on MTV. They have 2 CDs, but they aren't a serious group.

Hoeboy, yea, I like Westlife. You also should go to my link to the other thread, it shows there how they were really started.

 

[stonythug]

Even when they were advertising "Making the Band" the said that Lou Pearlman was the one who made the Backstreet Boys and N'Sync. He chose the group members not them, therefore he created the band, not them. Plus it says so right in the news article. Are you trying to argue that they didn't audition and weren't picked, but rather formed themselves? Cause if you are, you're wrong and I'd like to see one piece of evidence that says otherwise. I've seen a lot of articles talking about how they were picked and had to audition and it was 100% Pearlman's decision and not theirs. He made them.


"I'm not sure about that but they got popular for a reason right?"

Yeah they got popular cause becoming popular has nothing to do with music or art. This is the epitome of what I'm talking about. This band was formed to show how lame and stupid boy bands are and mock the way that they are made and get popular. I listened to a segment about them on NPR and never do they claim to be any kind of band or artist, yet you use them as an example. Look you asked why I "really" hate boy bands. I've given you some very good reasons. They are not artists and are called such, people claim they have talent, when they don't. You've admitted these points, and now you're just trying to justify why you should be able to like them. I never said you couldn't like them, I don't care what you listen to as long as you don't call them musicians and don't call what they do art.

"and if you really despise songs cuz they make no sense, then there goes hip-hop, rap, rock, etc. hip-hop/rap is just a lot about bootie banging, hoe thrashing, cash money bling bling. but do you see as many people hatehip-hop/rap artists with a passion as boy bands? and for rock n roll, punk rock, etc, is there any meaning to a lot of the songs, where most of the lyrics could be fit into a 3 line paragraph???"

You just wrote off every hip-hop, punk, rap and rock group as not having a meaning or a statement. I'm sorry but I just lost about all respect for whatever opinion you were trying to make. Like I said if you can't tell the difference then I feel sorry for you, and now I feel sorry for you. Rage Against the Machine makes a statement with their songs(rock). Jurassic 5 makes a statement(rap). A Tribe Called Quest makes a statement(hip-hop). Operation Ivy makes a statement(punk). So do the Beastie Boys, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Violent Femmes, the Sex Pistols, The Dead Kennedys, and so many more. Like I said, I truly do feel sorry for you because either you haven't listened to the right music, or you just didn't get the message. Please show me one boy band that's saying anything worth while in their songs. Show me one that isn't singing about teenage love, or heartache, or wanting to be with someone. They don't exist because their music has no meaning. I hope you didn't get an A in your argumentative writing class because so far you've been backtracking 100%. Look at what you're saying now, that I shouldn't hate them because there's so much other crap out there. I hate all the crap, they just happen to be the loudest, smelliest, pile of no talent crap that gets attention. If you start another thread saying, "Why do people "really" hate rap artists that don't say anything" I'll tell you why I hate them too, but there are actual rap artists out there who are trying to make a statement and aren't just in it for the money. Boy bands are in it only for the money and attention and not because they give 2 $hitz about the music.

 

[Cretin]

I don't like the music. I listen to jazz, rock, alternative, blues, punk, and maybe a little on the heavy metal side. I like a lot of old stuff and new stuff. But I do not like "boyband" music. Because it isn't MUSIC! Music has real instruments and real talent. Not just some manufactured sound.

If a band is just about an image and music videos, they are not artists and shouldn't be categorized as musicians.

I am not insulting people who listen to this type of "music", nor am I insulting the "music" itself, but I really don't like it, and I don't see anything good about it. No I am not jealous of them, why would I be? I would not want to be in their place, thank you very much.

Cretin

 

[Deeko]

Did you go to my link yet? I garuntee you they did not audition and they created themselves. Goto lycos or something, search for "history of nsync" or something like that. Every site will tell you that. It's quite a coincidence that Brian and Kevin are cousins if they just auditioned....and that Nick and Drew are brothers. Amazing isn't it? Here's the link again if you've forgotten.

 

[stonythug]

I did do a search, that's where I got the quotes from my other post which said this



<< Calling in Johnny Wright and his wife Donna, they held auditions for what would be the new trendsetter in music since Milli Vanilli-The Backstreet Boys. >>



Now if you can find me a page that isn't written by some 13 year old girl that says they formed on their own I will be impressed. On three different pages it said that he held auditions and picked them. Did you ever think that he got brothers in the band because that would help the image? Didn't NKOTB have a couple of brothers in it too? Maybe he's just following the formula. Maybe they did know each other before, it still doesn't mean that they formed themselves. Am I arguing with a couple of 15 year olds here. I'm really starting to think this is futile cause you're obviously not getting the point I was making and nothing I say seems to be getting through. Do you still think I hate them because I'm jealous?

 

[Deeko]

No, I'm 16, does that make my opinion unimportant? I think I know a bit about music, especially popular music, as I am a DJ. And you think I'm not getting the point? You people don't like them for no apparent reason. There is absolutly nothing wrong with them, or liking their music. They write most of their songs, they can sing, and they formed the group themselves. And they have good music. Whether or not you like it is not a big deal. I don't like rock, but do I find anything wrong with rock music? No. Do I claim that they aren't musicians? No. You have no real reasons why it is wrong for people to like their music. I will go look for a site with their official backrounds. I went to NSync's site, they did not have an extensive backround there, but it said that they formed a quintet, and said NOTHING about an audition. I'll be back.

 

[loup garou]

<< I'll be back >>




We'll miss you! No, really...

 

[Deeko]

http://previews.net/Billboard/8359.htm
There! Nsync was not manufactured. Taken from Billboard's site. I think they're accurate. *Note, it says Lance was added and they were complete, in order to find Lance, Justin asked his vocal coach to help him find a bass for the group, and they found Lance. NOT through an audition.

Billboard did not give details on how the other 2 were formed, but it said nothing about an audition, so since I was right the first time, it's safe to say what I said in the thread I linked to is completely accurate.

 

[prontospyder]

I don't care about their background, private lives, or the companies that promote them...just as long as I get some cool tunes on my way to work and drive home to keep me awake. And these boy bands have some songs that are pretty good.

 

[stonythug]

<< No, I'm 16, does that make my opinion unimportant? >>



No, but it definitely explains some things.



<< I think I know a bit about music, especially popular music, as I am a DJ. >>



But do you know anything about good music? Artistic music? Music that actually means something? I could go buy DJ in a box tomorrow and it wouldn't make my taste in music or my opinion any better.



<< They write most of their songs, they can sing, and they formed the group themselves. >>



All false for the majority of the boy bands. Most don't write their own music, they're only better than average singers, and like I said they didn't form themselves.



<< And they have good music. >>



There you go calling it that again. That's why I hate them, because people call it music. Listen to Cretin, it's not music. These people have no musical talent besides having poor to ok singing voices. If you put these guys on a stage with someone who actually went to school and studied voice, they'd be laughed off the stage. Just like if you put them up there with Michael Stipe, Eddie Vedder, Maynard, or even Boys 2 Men(although I'm not a fan of theirs). Yes they pick one guy who can usually sing pretty well and the others ones usually can't.



<< I don't like rock, but do I find anything wrong with rock music? No. Do I claim that they aren't musicians? No. >>



That's because you can't. You can't because they write their own music and they play their own instruments, if you ask me that's the definition of a musician.



<< You have no real reasons why it is wrong for people to like their music. >>



Now to quote myself



<< I only take offense to the fact that they're called a band and classified as music >>



I don't care at all that you like them or listen to their songs. Like I said, I only take offense to the fact that you compare them to real artists when they aren't artists at all. I never said it was wrong to like their &quot;music&quot;, just to classify them as artists. I'm leaving work now, so I guess I'll have to continue this at a later time.

 

[stonythug]

Sorry buddy, I got my info off of a news site, not a billboard site. They're trying to sell records, the news site isn't, guess who's biased? I'll trust the news site, especially since it explicitly states that Backstreet Boys auditioned. It also said that Pearlman

<< brought together five other boys... >>

(talking about N'Synch check out my post for the full quote)

You'll need a reliable source, I don't turn to the Billboard when I'm looking for information. You have no idea who wrote that page. It could have been a fan for all you know.

 

[loup garou]

Stonythug, I know what you mean about being a DJ. My roomate has been a DJ for the past 7 years, and he has the worst personal taste in music ever. Utter crap.

 

[Deeko]

No offense, but you are really showing ignorance.

What does me being 16 have anything to do with this? Really, explain it to me. Yes, I do know alot about music. My specialty is mainstream, but I was in Jazz band and Jazz Research 2 years ago, so I know plenty about music itself. Oh, right, I have about $2K worth of equipment, that's quite a &quot;DJ in a box&quot;. And anyone can have the equipment. If you suck and have no taste in what people want to hear, you won't get parties.



<< All false for the majority of the boy bands. Most don't write their own music, they're only better than average singers, and like I said they didn't form themselves. >>


I don't need to go over this again. If you didn't hear me the first 18 times, you won't hear me now.

Explain something to me, HOW IS IT NOT MUSIC??? Because you don't like it? Does that make it not music? Give me REAL reasons, not the BS you've been spewing so far.



<< That's because you can't. You can't because they write their own music and they play their own instruments, if you ask me that's the definition of a musician >>


I could if I wanted to, but then I'd be lowering myself to boyband basher levels.


Look, I don't care what your news site says, I KNOW that they weren't manufactured, you can be an ignorant piece of shei&szlig;e all you want. Your loss, cause you're the one that will be believing false information.

 

[Deeko]

<< Stonythug, I know what you mean about being a DJ. My roomate has been a DJ for the past 7 years, and he has the worst personal taste in music ever. Utter crap. >>


What does personal music preference have to do with anything? It's what you play, not what you like. Oh, here's my most recent top5 most requested songs:
1) Limp Bizkit - Rollin
2) NSync - It's Gonna Be Me
3) Vengaboys - We Like To Party
4) BSB - Shape Of My Heart
5) NSync - God Must Have Spent

Hmm...the very music you are bashing is dominating that list. But I must be really bad, if I, oh ya know, LIKE the music that people are requesting.

 

[Deeko]

I've gotta go, my sister needs the computer to type a report, I'll continue you shoot down more arguments later

 

[ForeverSilky]

<< I don't care what your news site says, I KNOW that they weren't manufactured, you can be an ignorant piece of shei&szlig;e all you want. Your loss, cause you're the one that will be believing false information. >>


What you just said just totally contradicted itself. You refuse to acknowledge a NEWS article, then base you base your &quot;facts&quot; on some small paragraph on a billboard site that is written by some mystery person (could be you for all we know), and because you say you just know they weren't manufactured. YOU'RE the one that's being ingnorant.

 

[loup garou]

One quick question -- who are the constituents of these parties you are hosting?

 

[smartt]

They remind me of barbershop quartets, or quintets... whatever!

 

[DaLeroy]

Deeko

Compare these boy bands to real bands. AC/DC, Pearl Jam, Korn, Metallica, Pink Floyd, the list goes on. They play their own instruments and they can sing!!! Ever heard Bon Scott sing??? 'slightly' better than these new-age over marketed boys they are now producing. The bands you like are a marketing ploy, nothing more, aimed at young teenage girls. Nothing wrong with that, but they aren't real musicians, they are just over commercialised bands. I'm not sure where you live, but down here if you turn on 2 of our main radio stations, that all you hear, day in, day out. The same mindless 'music', there songs overplayed 4 times a day. You should go out and listen to some real bands, and you'll see what MUSIC is about. Personally, I couldn't care what you listen to, it's your choice, but it can hardly be classified as decent music, especially considering it's target audience.

Your list of top 5 songs defintaly shows that the parties you host are for young teenagers. No one I know would have a party and have that list as the top five. People would walk away from the party (make that RUN away ) It's mindless, it means nothing. All it is, is a slightly 'catchy' tune and lyrics about teenage love. Meaningless really!!!!

 

[stonythug]

Ok man, I give up. You're right boy bands are the greatest thing ever to happen to music. Their legacy will live on forever. Ten years from now people will be talking about how they revolutionized music and they were the cornerstone of a whole new generation of artistic creativity. What does you being 16 have to do with anything. Apparently a lot, ask me in 5 years and then maybe you'll have a clue. I'm tired of arguing with you, I think I've proved my point and you haven't proved yours. I could tear apart your arguments forever, but now that I found out you're so young, I really don't feel the need to. These bands are targetted at your age group so you shouldn't feel bad listening to them. However, just because a group is popular, that doesn't make the music good. If you want to continue to believe whatever it is you want to believe, go ahead. I know it's not true and so does everyone else who has any appreciation for real music. You say you know a lot about music and yet you stated that rock/rap/hip-hop/punk is without any meaning. That alone shows how little you know. Maybe one day you'll wake up and realize how crappy these bands are and that they're a black eye to every true artist, but I won't be holding my breath. You have a great time listening to your songs.

 

[zippy]

Almost all of their songs sound the same. Both between bands (I can't really tell BSB from n'Sync from 98degrees) and between songs within one bad! Plus, they exude cockiness and are so freakin' material. Plus, singing a chord through every song, the whole song does NOT impress me!

 

[StickHead]

Deeko, if you went to my high school, I'd definatly have to kick your ass. Sorry.

And you know nothing about the music industry. What is this $2000 DJ box, a very overpriced boom box??