"Guilty pleasure" songs and singers

[Lazario]

Problem much?

Also, I didn’t mean to imply that you have to watch/listen to everything to comment, but to frame your comments to show that--no--you don’t have the authority to judge everything they’ve done.

Yes, I have a problem. It's about the way anyone can remake anything these days and a bunch of people who don't care about the original try to hand all the praise involved in the creation and the meaning of the original onto the people remaking it. Whether it's movies, music, television, etc.

You think I don't have the authority to judge this show? Than you don't have the authority to say any of Glee's performers did a better job than the original artists on any of the songs they've covered.

Fair?

[Disney's Divinity]

Actually, in most cases I have heard the original (that's what happens when you use songs that everyone's heard). That’s where the comparison comes from.

Edit: I'm surprised this is getting serious though. After the Tangled thread, I've stopped taking much seriously here; I'm just playing with you.

I agree that today is a "remake" culture, but instead of getting angry, I just enjoy the few, imo, good things that come out of it.

[Lazario]

I agree that today is a "remake" culture, but instead of getting angry, I just enjoy the few, imo, good things that come out of it.

And I don't want to stop that. I would just rather see people give credit where it's due. I don't see that happening in the case of Glee. For example, what about the UD'er here who actually claimed Glee outdid The Rocky Horror Picture Show? Did that person just go- "well, I didn't get it"? Or, "well, I didn't like it"? NO, they said it was in fact terrible and that, "GEE, GLEE WILL DO IT BETTER- I CAN'T WAIT!" Like some doofy, bug-eyed child in a cartoon parody (don't make me get a pic, 'cause I can and it will just creep you out). Kids today are being sent the message that because any company with money can sell you a New Version of something older that you can actually support it by bashing the previous version. And like sheep, they baa. Right on cue.

[Elladorine]

Actually, in most cases I have heard the original (that's what happens when you use songs that everyone's heard). That’s where the comparison comes from.

What's interesting for me is that Glee has become a way to introduce my husband to a lot of songs that he was never exposed to (he can't be blamed as he grew up in a non English speaking household). While he's aware that they're all covers (minus the episode with the original songs of course), he's maybe only familiar with 20% of the music. As for myself, I've found that I can sing along with 95% of the songs performed on the show. It's always interesting to hear the new versions of songs I already know. Sometimes I love the voices and the new takes on the music, and other times it feels watered down and does little more than remind me of how much better I like the original versions. I don't see the show as the greatest thing ever but I do really enjoy it for what it is, especially story and character-wise. And I think the featured music is typically fun and works great in the context of the show.

I agree that today is a "remake" culture, but instead of getting angry, I just enjoy the few, imo, good things that come out of it.

In a sense, I think we've always been a remake culture, although I agree it may be more prevalent now than ever. I don't think there's anything wrong with enjoying something for what it is as long as one is aware of what they're experiencing. Sometimes I really like the performance of a remake, and on the other hand I think the music industry in general takes itself way too seriously anyway . . . not that I don't think particular artists are not artistic, mind you. But when so many singers/"artists" don't even write their own music to begin with . . . well, I don't see anyone claiming that Glee "owns" these songs or had any part in creating them. Is anyone claiming they're doing anything but remakes? And when it comes to what the kids think . . .

And I don't want to stop that. I would just rather see people give credit where it's due. I don't see that happening in the case of Glee. For example, what about the UD'er here who actually claimed Glee outdid The Rocky Horror Picture Show? Did that person just go- "well, I didn't get it"? Or, "well, I didn't like it"? NO, they said it was in fact terrible and that, "GEE, GLEE WILL DO IT BETTER- I CAN'T WAIT!" Like some doofy, bug-eyed child in a cartoon parody (don't make me get a pic, 'cause I can and it will just creep you out). Kids today are being sent the message that because any company with money can sell you a New Version of something older that you can actually support it by bashing the previous version. And like sheep, they baa. Right on cue.

Do you really believe Glee avidly sends the message that the original versions need to be bashed in favor of the remakes? I think it's more that they're doing tributes, there's even on-screen discussions of the power the original artists had in many of the episodes. And yes, I realize that they're also cashing in on songs that have already been proven to be hits but I think that's sort of the nature of the beast; it's not like they're even pretending to do original material.

And what should anyone expect from kids? It's not as if things have changed a lot, at least not since I was a kid myself; the younger set will always be sheep, will always be drawn to the shiny new versions of whatever our pop culture offers. Every generation goes through it, with the older set often looking on in disgust over their ignorance of bygone eras (which is often just a lack of exposure/experience).

[Goliath]

I'm sorry, I just think this is an incredibly beautiful song. But it is a guilty pleasure.

<object width="480" height="390"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/MLxTE ... ram><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/MLxTE ... 1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="480" height="390" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>

[Lazario]

And I don't want to stop that. I would just rather see people give credit where it's due. I don't see that happening in the case of Glee. For example, what about the UD'er here who actually claimed Glee outdid The Rocky Horror Picture Show? Did that person just go- "well, I didn't get it"? Or, "well, I didn't like it"? NO, they said it was in fact terrible and that, "GEE, GLEE WILL DO IT BETTER- I CAN'T WAIT!" Like some doofy, bug-eyed child in a cartoon parody (don't make me get a pic, 'cause I can and it will just creep you out). Kids today are being sent the message that because any company with money can sell you a New Version of something older that you can actually support it by bashing the previous version. And like sheep, they baa. Right on cue.

Do you really believe Glee avidly sends the message that the original versions need to be bashed in favor of the remakes? I think it's more that they're doing tributes, there's even on-screen discussions of the power the original artists had in many of the episodes. And yes, I realize that they're also cashing in on songs that have already been proven to be hits but I think that's sort of the nature of the beast; it's not like they're even pretending to do original material.

And what should anyone expect from kids? It's not as if things have changed a lot, at least not since I was a kid myself; the younger set will always be sheep, will always be drawn to the shiny new versions of whatever our pop culture offers. Every generation goes through it, with the older set often looking on in disgust over their ignorance of bygone eras (which is often just a lack of exposure/experience).

Actually, my original argument was just that Glee is too lame for all the hype it gets and that a couple decades from now (again, if we make it that far), the vast majority of people will bash the living hell out of it (ala, I'm sure, the beautlful job a guy like The Nostalgia Critic did on Full House: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FlD8KQbR6bY ) and have a field day with those who liked it. And the music lovers of the pre-Backstreet, pre-Britney, pre-Ricky Martin 90's probably wouldn't believe it actually took wars and terrorism and the destruction of the American presidental election voting system and an economic crisis and Kidz Bop to bring us culturally to such a dark place that we would embrace something like Glee.

That's all.

If I've honestly made a mistake in judgment about the show's treatment of the original work and artist, I will own up to it. As I would and do any / all other mistakes.

[Goliath]

Oh please, cut the Glee crap!

[The_Iceflash]

Oh please, cut the Glee crap!

I'm probably going to regret saying this but I think we do need a Glee-hate thread.

I'm sorry, I just think this is an incredibly beautiful song. But it is a guilty pleasure.

<object width="480" height="390"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/MLxTE ... ram><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/MLxTE ... 1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="480" height="390" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>

ooh! I like this!

[The_Iceflash]

Guilty Pleasure song of mine:

<iframe width="425" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/7WsncNuKY-g" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[Elladorine]

Lazario - No problem, I'm not trying to be offensive or start an argument, just trying to offer my point of view. I personally don't know much about the hype since I don't follow the fan base, and I didn't even start watching the show until just last month. I can also appreciate you backing your opinions rather than just slamming the show for the sake of it. And for the record, I couldn't even stomach Full House back when it was the most popular show among my classmates.

Oh please, cut the Glee crap!

Maybe that's best left for the actual Glee thread? But to get back to what this thread is really supposed to be about . . .

I'm sorry, I just think this is an incredibly beautiful song. But it is a guilty pleasure.

Woah, what year is that from, 1988 or so? I probably haven't heard it since the late 80's but I can still remember every word. There are several songs from that era I'd personally call guilty pleasures. Off the top of my head . . .

Look Away, Chicago - They were awesome in the 70's, got kinda cheesy in the 80's and I admittedly like the cheese, lol.

We Built This City, Jefferson Starship - Another band that was awesome in the 70's that turned into 80's radio schlock. And it's actually a song about not selling out by a band that sold out!

Pretty much anything by Air Supply - I even learned how to play "Making Love Out of Nothing At All" on the piano back in the day, lol.

Heart, Bad Animals, Brigade (yes, the entire albums), Heart - Yet another cool 70's band that got horribly cheesy in the late 80's and early 90's. And I loved them so much that I wanted to be Ann & Nancy Wilson.

* * *
Hmm . . . when I think about it, maybe the reason I like these songs so much is that they take me back to a whole other era when music first became an escape for me. When I stop and really listen to them now, it's kinda embarrassing . . . but that doesn't make me enjoy them any less.

[Lazario]

I'm probably going to regret saying this but I think we do need a Glee-hate thread.

Oh please, cut the Glee crap!

Maybe that's best left for the actual Glee thread?