Music - at the end of the day - is about entertainment, if it does not provide that, no one is going to listen. Some like the "serious" end of music - some dont, some like some performers - some like others. However if we end up trying to (almost) turn music into some philosphical creed, we are loosing the point, its about Entertainment.

If I like the music, and am entertained by it, I'll buy it. If I think the performer is a jerk - whichever part of the spectrum they come from - I'll probably regress into a human being, and not buy it.

These award ceremonies are now - by in large - commercial vehicles, not a vehicle for the so called "serious" musician. I guarantee any award created for "serious" musicians, will over time, degrade to the point where the declared best "serious" musician will be merely a commercial co-incidence.

Most people will look at the results of such events, and note the result with curiosity and chat about their particular favorites, but thats about it for most people. They are not some Holy Grail of music, never will be, and I doubt the majority of people think they are either.

"Well who are you to judge what is good? Just don't listen if you don't like it. Just hit the BACK button"

Forgive my laspe in memory, I'm trying to remember if I said that? Nudge me a little cause I have no time at the moment to back track to my comments but will later.

(Ok, am I now falling into the group you chastised in your last article?

Same here. I'll refer then I can understand what you're referring.

see I HAVE a degree in music

Good for you!

You've basically just done the equivalent of saying that a guy that swallows multiple colors of paint and then pukes it up on canvas is a great painter - particularly if he wiggles his ass just right in the process

Lets face it, entertainment is in the eyes and ears of the listener, viewer, etc, so to speak. What I might find entertaining, might bore you to tears, as it seems to do here. Being a mom my pallette is very varied and ecompass Elmo and Big Bird and The Bratz as well as Yugiyo (my son will kill me for spelling that wrong, anything Japaness, (his tastes) and includes my daughter's (the older one) love of her varied interests as well. So my taste may not be as sophisticated as others but I do know what I like and I like Justin's dancing, even though his singing may not be as wonderful as say, Enya or Gordon Lightfoot, both of whom I enjoy listening to, he does know how to entertain the masses and has improved over the years.

Sorry. Pet peeve.

! Quite alright. We're all allowed one or two or three! And they, the producers name it "Music Awards".

The fact that you say he's worth every penny he's paid is an affront to all real musicians everywhere

I made that comment in conversation with my hubby, when we were watching the show last night, (he put up with my tastes in programs and actually sat through it while I watched!) we speculated about the money they as entertainers make and my comment was obviously he is worth every penny he earns because of what he can do. Regardless of whether he can read music or not, write music notes, or not, he does write songs, as his success has proven. My comment wasn't to insult anyone at all. Sorry if you felt that way.

He's a whore, and you're buying him. And don't get me wrong, it isn't just Timberlake - it's 97% of mainstream musicians. It's no longer about who can play - it's about who can dance. WTF?

Sad, but a true comment. That's what society likes, they feed into what they want and dishes it out and society eats it all up, otherwise, they don't make anything, plain and simple!


And Ock, for God's sake lighten up a bit man, it's just the MTV Music Award! I know, you can't stand it, but hey, it's MTV! Did you expect any different?

I know that, and have great respect for those who DO have the ability I lack.

As do I. I'm really going to have to go look at that article to see who I chastise!

Damn, Ock. I think Justin Timberlake is a great ENTERTAINER/musician/dancer/whatever. Lots of people do.

Me too!

but I watched MTV's clip of Britney's performance. It was terrible. Her hair looked gross, she moved around like she was on tranquilizers or something, and the lip-syncing was totally off.

Exactly!!

She is NOT fat. She has had 2 kids in 2 years and she looks great considering

I agree on this front! I won't bother to talk about her post baby body, it's just not fair to do that to any woman.

Once upon a time there were musicians who communicated through music. It wasn't all about image and how well they danced. There was worth placed in melody, lyrics, and innovation. Sadly, the musicians are getting older and are taking the next path after life. Too few musicians make it onto the radar screen any longer because it is overwhelmed by the entertainers with their flashy clothes, newest dance moves, and managers hawking their wares. The entertainers lip-sync the words while a studio recording, enhanced to the point of making the most tone deaf sound somewhat close to pitch, plays in the background. Why was it such a big deal when Milli Vanilli was exposed as not singing on their recordings or in their performances? This is routine today.

Very true!

As Ock said, if you are entertained by this then call it what it is. Please do not insult me and other musicians by calling this music and the entertainers musicians.

You know, I don't know why the confusion, I did not name the program, MTV did. Perhaps I should have said the MTV Video Music Awards, which is the full name for it.

He's not being a music snob at all. He IS a MUSICIAN! Justin Timberlake is NOT a musician. I really don't care what lots of people think. Just because the MASSES think it does not make it right. Timberlake is an entertainer.

Yea, he is bing a music snob. Sure seems that way! But I digress.

And I do feel sorry for Britney in a "how sad" sort of way.

I believe that's the general concensus!

Give me Morrison and Santana

They are both on my playlist!

The masses don't want music, they want entertainment. There is no room for an unentertaining musician. If the musicianship is entertaining in and of itself, that's great - otherwise, you have to add something to it. And then you have the real entertainers, the ones who only have music so they can dance to it...

True!

Same with music and entertainers... if you're not one, you'll get confused between the two

I guess at this point, I need my dictionary to decipher for me! Oh boy...!

For the sake of the above erm... discussion, how about a definition:

mu·sic
–noun
1. an art of sound in time that expresses ideas and emotions in significant forms through the elements of rhythm, melody, harmony, and color.
2. the tones or sounds employed, occurring in single line (melody) or multiple lines (harmony), and sounded or to be sounded by one or more voices or instruments, or both.
3. musical work or compositions for singing or playing.
4. the written or printed score of a musical composition.
5. such scores collectively.
6. any sweet, pleasing, or harmonious sounds or sound: the music of the waves.
7. appreciation of or responsiveness to musical sounds or harmonies: Music was in his very soul.

By the above definition, Justin, Britney et al aremusicians as the voice is also an instrument. Now, I'm not saying they're good or even adequate musicians, in MY opinion, but there is no denying their common-denominator appeal. Pop music, after all, is still music.

I lament for all the great musicians I've known in my life who have never achieved the recognition they richly deserve but I certainly don't hold it against those lesser musicians who have attained some success. Yes, it is frustrating and can also be so disappointingly crushing but I learnt long ago to put those ill feelings aside and concentrate on taking as much pleasure as I can from being the best musician I can be, even if I'm only playing for my own enjoyment.

Pop music, after all, is still music.

It is, even though not many people like it. My hubby's fav style of music are those from the old days, the groups like The Dells, The Stylistics and others. I like them too but they are not all I listen to, he listens 99% to them, 1% to Reggae! Pop music is unfortunately the most popular genre right now, and don't quote me on that because I have no figures, it's just my humble opinion!

I lament for all the great musicians I've known in my life who have never achieved the recognition they richly deserve but I certainly don't hold it against those lesser musicians who have attained some success. Yes, it is frustrating and can also be so disappointingly crushing but I learnt long ago to put those ill feelings aside and concentrate on taking as much pleasure as I can from being the best musician I can be, even if I'm only playing for my own enjoyment.

Very well said Mark! It is frustrating, but finding pleasure in what you do, that's the best part!

Music - at the end of the day - is about entertainment, if it does not provide that, no one is going to listen. Some like the "serious" end of music - some dont, some like some performers - some like others. However if we end up trying to (almost) turn music into some philosphical creed, we are loosing the point, its about Entertainment.

I almost forgot you Zydor, very well said!

My point it is and was entertainment, lots of pop, lots of rap, lots of rock and quite a melee inbetween! I didn't like everything about it, hence my tongue-in-cheek opinions and I just could not get over Britney's nonperformance, and neither could anyone else who had seen the show.

If you notice, not many musicians do go to this music award show, unless they are really desperate for attention and trying to promote their art. And their's nothing wrong with them trying to do that at all!

I haven't paid much attention to any award shows since I realized that the bands I like don't even get nominated, much less win anything... or are even asked to perform.

 

Congratulations on knocking mine off the Top Ten Blogs!

I haven't paid much attention to any award shows since I realized that the bands I like don't even get nominated, much less win anything... or are even asked to perform.

A lot of people don't tune in anymore because of this. Plus they always only pick the pop bands because their records sell the most of course!

Congratulations on knocking mine off the Top Ten Blogs!

! I noticed that yesterday when I saw my name on the sidebar and I wondered what I did....! But among the Top 10 Users...Cool!

There was once a time when I would look forward to the VMAs. It seems like I have totally lost interest in it, though. Of course, it doesn't help that I don't watch MTV anymore.

As for the music discussion...gosh, I just listen to whatever tickles my fancy...sometimes it might be Justin, sometimes it might be Bach, sometimes it might be a Mexican musician. I don't really sit down and think, "Hmmm...is this someone worth listening to?"

I just groove to whatever moves me.

I just groove to whatever moves me.

Nothing wrong with getting lost in the music!