“In the future everyone will be world-famous for 15 minutes.”
-Andy Warhol
The late Andy Warhol made that statement in the 60’s. Â And today, his prediction has come true, but at what price?
There was a time when America loved celebrities…they had such cache’ and panache. They were the symbols of what we dreamed and desired. Their talent made us pay attention, but today, celebrities can by your next door neighbor–outed on Youtube for cleaning the house in his/her underwear. Reality shows have literally forced great soap operas to be cancelled. Everyone wants to be a a clown. And real talent these days… puuuhhhlllleeeaaassseee.
The atomic question: WHY IN THE HELL ARE KIM KARDASHIAN, PARIS HILTON AND EVEN JENNIFER LOPEZ (Arrgg…RISING FROM OBSCURITY thanks to AI ) EVEN FAMOUS?!?! Not one of them has any talent–just infamy. Paris’ hustle : Her pathological narcissism. Kim’s hustle : Her big ass(for a white chick). Jennifer’s hustle : Can’t sing…can dance a little, but her too…that ass (for a Latina). As they age, do you think it’s going to matter? Not really. Honestly. They need a reality check. But P.T. Barnum said it best: ” There’s a sucker born every minute .” So tell me…how many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Roll pop?
[Sarcasm]
Help us, Lord…
I used to buy a lot of music, but I swear, I can count on both hands just how many cd’s I’ve actually purchased in 5 years.
Two words: Justin Bieber. Why is this boy famous? I don’t get it…and don’t want to. Usher saw something I guess when he discovered him, but for the casual realist like myself, I have to say that Mr. Usher is a pimp, and is GETTING PAID off of this white kid. Reality bites. And as I see it: Justin Bieber is a mediocre fluke who is only famous because: White fathers would rather their precious little white daughters screaming for him than Little Wayne.
That’s the point.
The Black musicians of yesteryear came from a legacy of “paying dues”. Many of them came up performing in live clubs before getting in the studio. They learned all the ropes about performing before touring. Older Black entertainers always helped the next generation excel to the next level–it was our culture. But during the late nineties; something happened in music. Many record companies started eliminating their Black music divisions and the mediocre talent that you see today is a result of lack of artistic development.
Ask Rhianna, Ciara, Kelly Rowland (an exception…but), none of them know how to keep an audience interested. Rhianna has had to cancel numerous tour dates due to poor ticket sales. Now when folks don’t want to hear you live–that is the ultimate insult. People got tired in the late nineties paying $19-$20 dollars for bad Cd’s. Enters Napster…and changes the game completely. The record industry got caught sleeping and it hasn’t been the same since.
Something has got to change, or the record industry is going to go the route of Enron, World Com and other businesses that forgot that “quality” matters to the consumer.
It was good while it lasted. Saw some great moments in the movies, television and in music growing up, but all good things have to come to an end and I feel that the age of the celebrity is now a thing of the past.
From The Mind of Truthangel 
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Garcinia, I do write as Truthangel in several places on the Web. Just Google my hook.
People will always respond in various ways, but what is in the heart, will come out of the “mouse.”
LOL@thatone…
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wow such a hard hitting post here, yes Black Music has deteriorated a lot. do you notice also that when white artists cover songs by black singers they (white artists) get more credit and acclaim for it? for example Celine Dion covering River Deep, Mountain High from Tina Turner and If You Ask Me To from Patti Labelle and yet Celine gets more credit for those songs
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That’s been going on forever in the music industry.
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Wow, this post is fastidious, my sister is analyzing such things, thus I am going to convey her.
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I noticed the same thing about celebs today, especially with music. I look at the biographies for some of the best singers and a lot of them started singing in church and singing in clubs, then worked their way up. The record label has more power than the artist they get to choose who gets famous and what singles are played on the radio and what songs end up on the cd. Back then I think the artists had more say and actually wrote alot of their songs. There’s only a few artists I like and I don’t really hear them on the radio, I like musiq soulchild, sammie,marsha ambrosius, ledisi, etc. I wonder the reason why we don’t hear good music like back then, I wonder is it because ppl can’t sing like that anymore or is it the record labels just don’t find them or is it the record labels don’t want to put good music out as that would get in the way of dumbing us down. Or could it be the good artists don’t get much support because they don’t play to stereotypes about black ppl and aren’t black in blackface but are real with soul and great talent.
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“black in blackface”
That’s what I think a lot of rappers are to day that’s why most of the people buying their music are WP…I just find them ridiculous, I’m starting to realize the media we watch is really for WP…LIKE ALL OF IT. that’s why they all become lighter and lighter with the more fame they get (beyonce) or they act like a fool…all the shows we watch that our black shows, except for The Cosby Show, are made by WP and are full of stereotypes unbelievablely ridiculous ones, and all of them are comedy’s. Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Girlfriends (even thought that I love these shows)…Hollywood isn’t about entertaining anyone by WP. They’re not even the majority in this world, yet black entertainers are dumbing down the music, bleaching, and acting like a fool for them.
While 49% of the US cinema audience is AA
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My late Grandfather always said: “If the world sees you as a fool; you’ll get played for one.”
Ya think…
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Today, you have people in the music industry who are not from a musical background running these companies.
Black music literally is the foundation of popular music; but you’d never know that given the lack of respect that our music gets–even from our own people.
The problem really is cowardice. Far too many Black people just give in to the disrespect and don’t do anything to counter what the fans (US) have been complaining about for years.
In life…one gets exactly what they settle for.
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This mind control thing is deep and highly effective. Have you ever notice how they say this one or that one beautiful, but when you look at them you can’t find the beauty? I often wonder if this people are real or are we just told that they are real. I don’t watch tv at all, but I know these people when I see them. I know Justin Bieber songs, and I know damn well I don’t listen to that.
Like with the clown show at the VMAs. That little girl got just what she wanted–people talking about her. I just have to wonder how much of this is real.
And would somebody do something about that Thicke dude? This person stole Marvin Gaye (I mean he stole Marvin Gaye), and negroes love his ass.
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Thicke is such a damn phony! I can’t stand him or that overrated Justin Timberfake. Have you ever read Culture Bandits by Del Jones? It’s an amazing book! He breaks down how whites copy us and get rich in the process. Back in the day it was Elvis– now its folks like Thicke,Eminem and Miley Cyrus.
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White people have been this for a lot longer than Elvis. In fact, according to Dr. Clarke they have been doing this since they first set in Afrika.
Robin Slicke is just the latest. I ignore these people.
I haven’t read that book, but it has been recommended to me before so in guess I better check it out.
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Please do. It’s a great read. It breaks it all down as relates to not only the system of oppression of our people; it also gives the knowledge that EMPOWERS the mind to destroy those who still use tactics against our people.
Knowledge is power!
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Well, I think I better get my hands on that one.
Thank sis.
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And the kicker is: Blacks help them–smiling, as if this will now give them favor with whites.
When are some of our people going to WAKE UP???
I’m sick of this…
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I feel you. We can o longer spend our money on these vultures. They steal form black people and give nothing back! Guys like Elvis,Eminem,Michael Bolton and Thicke are sad imitations of our people. They lack real “soul”. They can never be us.
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So true but Miley Skankyrus will go downhill after this. Most of today’s Pop singers lack creativity, talent and the ability thus I don’t listen to that crap. I prefer Marvin Gaye, Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, Queen to these stupid artists out today.
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I really don’t think that little girl’s acting out and being an attention whore will end. People love this kinda shit and she’ll go on to do big and trifling things.
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I can’t stand either one of them.
Have you noticed how little Blacks are even performing at these awards shows lately?
There is so much hidden racism in the music industry right now.
Black music is the foundation of all popular music, but you’d never know that.
Who’s fault is it?
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Yes, we have given it away and what we haven’t given away was straight up taken from us. Go to blues concert, no Black people in the audience (they have blues we live that everyday) but you get my point.
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Many Blues artist question why Black people have abandoned them.
Honestly, I heard Blues music everyday down here in Georgia.
Perhaps it’s because some Black folks don’t feel that many Blues artists have evolved for them…I really don’t know.
It’s a quandary.
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I don’t know either, but I do know when I listen to music I want something that makes me feel better. I really don’t wanna hear no whining.
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Me too…
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“[Rihanna] has had to cancel numerous tour dates due to poor ticket sales.”
Wow! Rihanna is such a greater singer, and performer though…That’s crazy, someone who was voted one of the top 100 most influential people in the world! She has a unique sound, I love her voice, and her style…and her hair, she reminds me of when I was in elementary-middle school and I used to change my hairstyle too much
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This was written some time ago. I think things have gotten better for Rihanna.
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And as a young person, I am not happy about about today’s Pop culture or music. Honestly I hate it. I hate most of the rappers out today like Lil Gayne, Shitty Minaj, Dick Ross, Chief Keef, 2 Chainz, Lil B, etc because their music is horrible and they lack talent and I hate their fans more than I hate them too. Their fans call me a hater for expressing my dislike for Lil Gayne, Shitty Minaj etc. I am not happy with the so called R&B singers of my generation such as Rihanna, Beyoncé etc. They are selling out and going Pop. Sad because I used to love Rihanna and Beyoncé but I am indifferent to them these days.
There is no modern artist that I hate more than Justin Bieber! He has no talent at all and is only famous because Usher discovered him and stupid White girls think he is cute when he looks like a fag to me! He should have never gotten famous ever! Thank God, he is going to be forgotten soon and end up drunk with no life saving to his name!
Most of today’s music is horrible. Miley Cyrus’ performance at the VMAs a few nights ago confirmed the reason why I listen to Michael Jackson, Queen, Led Zeppelin, Whitney Houston, The Supremes, Stephanie Mills and other oldies. Most of today’s artists lack talent, creativity and originality.
And don’t get me started on the reality TV shows like Keeping With Kardashians etc. I hate reality TV shows so much. You don’t need talent to be famous anymore, just do something stupid and post it on Youtube and you are an instant star. SMH, What happened to the good ol’ days when you had to have talent to be famous? Sad to say, I wasn’t around in the 1970s or 1980s where people had to be talented in order to famous. Andy Warhol was right that everyone will fifteen minutes in the future thanks to Youtube and reality TV.
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Kim,Paris and Jennifer Lopez are all overrated. None of then have any really great talent. And I think Justin will be forgotten in about five or six years. Rihanna has a decent voice and has had numerous top ten hits. But she mainly stays in the spotlight due to the gossip about her love life. Kelly Rowland can sing but will forever live in the shadow of Be-Yawn-ce.lol I saw Ciara perform in concert four years ago. She doesn’t have the strongest voice but that girl can DANCE! I can’t take that away from her. She and her dancers put on a hell of a show. I have to give credit where credit is due.
Bus todays celebs are different from the ones in the 60’s,70’s and 80’s. Back then you had to have REAL talent to be famous. People like Whitney,Patti LaBelle,Stevie Wonder,Luther Vandross,Marvin Gaye,Prince,Michael Jackson,Anita Baker,Janet Jackson,Temptations,Diana Ross,Rouf Tops,New Edition and Guy had real talent. Now we have no talent rappers,singers who can’t sing and reality show stars who act like fools on television. You don’t have to have a real talent in the celebrity world today. You can be famous just by doing something stupid like making a sex tape or a silly video on Youtube. Everyone seems to want their fifteen minutes of fame. I think people like Kim Kar-trash-ian are just about out of time. We can only hope.
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The problem is the people in control over the studios and music czars of today. Many wouldn’t know real talent if it bit them in the behind.
What it all boils down to is money–and the artists that are getting signed today are your novelty acts, like Bieber who can get tens of thousands of young white girls to beg their parents to take them to his concerts, by his marketing gear; and count on them to be stupid enough to rush to buy his music, ergo…the boy can’t sing nor does he know how to really perform.
It’s all hype–and when it’s all said and done; the music/entertainment industry is going to pay a high price for such lame acts as you see today.
And I agree that performers in the old days did have REAL TALENT and CLASS.
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I totally agree! The musical landscape has really changed over the years. And I agree with your point about Beiber-mania.lol
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Justin Bieber will be forgotten soon. Thank Jesus for that since I hate Justin Bieber so much. I do agree Jennifer Hopez, Kim Kartrashian and Paris Skankilton have no talent. I don’t care for Ciara but I like one song by her. I like Kelly Rowland but I wonder why she hasn’t made it big. I hate most of today’s rappers because they can’t rap worth crap and have no talent like Lil Gayne, Shitty Minaj etc.
Other than that, I prefer the oldies like MJ, Queen, Led Zeppelin, Whitney Houston, etc. I don’t like most of today’s musicians at all.
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I hear you. Most of today’s music is mind pollution. I think it kills brain cells if you listen to it too much.
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