The wife and I are in our 50s, and we listen to a lot of new stuff. If we don’t have MTV (out of Taiwan; lots of good new Chinese artists, but Western stuff also gets played a lot) on, then the radio’s playing, and there are no classic-rock stations. So we actually are familiar with a lot of new work. Believe me, it’s not because we’re older that we don’t like Kanye.
Not really. 90% of music today is complete crap; that is absolutely true. However, 90% of '60s music* was crap, too. The remaining 10% is what people will wax poetically about and how “today’s music” is just nowhere near the level of blahblah. The 90% doesn’t get played much anymore** and has faded away, leaving people to think that the good 10% is 100% of what was produced.
The 1920s American book scene was filled with crap that no one (save libraries, scholars or collectors) remembers, but most people will focus only on Faulkner, Hemingway, Sinclair and Fitzgerald. The fact the 20s had these (and other) amazingly talented authors doesn’t change the fact their works were only a small percentage of what was published that decade.
- Insert decade/year/genre/whatever of your choice.
** Which is funny, because often the most popular songs are in that 90%. Take a look at charts for any year before, say, 1980; a decent number of the songs on any chart will be unrecognizable (or “oh, that’s that song that’s in (commercial/tv show/movie”) to just about everyone under, say, 40 (and those over 40 may still not remember 'em).
No one said you had to like Kanye if you listen and enjoy to new music. People have different tastes and preferences. There are a lot of bands/musicians that are Good* that I don’t personally care for and don’t feel like I “should”. But I’ll also acknowledge that the artist(s) do have true talent; it’s just not used in a way that makes music I don’t enjoy. Just because I don’t like someone’s music doesn’t mean I think they suck or are talentless.
- for any objective(ish) measure, like musical complexity, great lyrics, innovation, etc.etc.etc.
The nostalgia filter. In 30 years my generation will be pining for the good old days of 2010 while our kids accuse us of being old and boring. sings Elton John “It’s the ciiiiiircle of life…”
“We’re bigger than Jesus” is endearing now. Was it at the time?
And did he actually say “I didn’t regret it”? The article sure doesn’t quote him as saying that. I’m not sure I trust the source without an actual quote.
Did Kanye bring it up again?
Too true. Although i might say 13-25 might be more accurate.
You shouldn’t have been that person. Whatever she’s done doesn’t excuse his actions. I’m not sure the article isn’t being spun to make Kanye look like a dick, but even if some of those quotes are out of context, he’s still sounding somewhat dickish…whether or not Taulor “started it”. That’s irrelevant.
You really shouldn’t be this person either.
I really doubt this will turn off most of his fans. When does this behavior, or worse, turn off fans?
You’re probably right. But the guy really needs a little bit of tact. Some sort of governor. He kind of comes off as a 14 year old hipster who is so sure that his taste in music is the only one that matters (not a rare quality here for that matter). The passion is admirable, the narrow-mindedness, not so much. A little graciousness would go a long way,
But I’ll have to check out his latest. I’ve keep hearing good things about it.
I tried to like Blackout, but Britney’s voice really grates. Way too nasal. I much prefer covers of her songs.
I don’t like R&B as a general rule, just not my thing, and I don’t like much of the music that’s been produced in the last 20 years (some exceptions of course).
He might be an ass and I’m even feeling kind of sheepish in saying it, but damn if he can’t write a tune.
So he hurt some C&W singer’s feelings? I think I’ll get over it. It’s a lark and I hope he keeps on putting out great tracks.
Yes. I was just pointing out that our dislike for Kanye is not automatically an age issue. In fact, it’s not even a talent issue. We’re simply not willing even to give this jerk a chance. He’s forfeited that with his over-the-top childishness. I guess it’s similar to what many people feel for the likes of, say, Mel Gibson these days, a genuinely talented person who has alienated a large proportion of a potential fan base.
Herp derp! Double negatives: 1, me: 0. “it’s just not used in a way that makes music I enjoy”, obviously.
“For there ain’t no one for to give you no pain.” Now, those are lyrics.
Yeah, but did Lennon throw a hissyfit every time someone criticized him, or he didn’t win an award?
I think Kanye’s problem is that he likes to dish it out, but he can’t take it.
(I would LOVE to see him take on someone who could – and would – kick his ass. Not because I wish the guy ill. But just because I’d find it amusing, in the “pull up a chair and pass the popcorn” kind of way)
Kanye West doesn’t care about white people!
I think you’re probably right. I listen to a lot of current music and love it; then I listen to a Top 20 countdown show or something and think 19 out of the 20 songs are terrible. Then I get recommendations from youse guys and get more good current music. I think where older people get stuck is that they think what is playing on the radio is all there is to new music.
*And I can’t fight this feeling anymore.
I’ve forgotten what I started fighting for.
It’s time to bring this ship into the shore.
And throw away the oars forever.
…And if i have to crawl upon the floor.
Come crashing through the door.
Baby I can’t fight this feeling anymore.*
It’s people like Kanye and Britney and Taylor and their little public spats that make me realize that getting older and losing touch with popular culture isn’t really a bad thing at all. Honestly, I wouldn’t recognize even one song that any of the 3 have put out. Or maybe the song itself might ring a bell, but I’d have no idea who put it out.
I’m fine with people saying that Kanye’s too good to care about his antics. But I don’t like it when people downplay what he did. He didn’t like the results of a contest, so he threw a hissy fit, interrupted live TV, and took away that one moment where you’ve actually know that people like you. If any other person did that, they’d be banned from the contest, and in serious jeopardy with their job. Since the guy gets a pass, I find myself wishing karma would bite him.
Honestly, I think Ms. Swift has every right in the world to capitalize on this guy’s douchebaggery. In fact, I wish she’d have been able to do a lot more. She’s probably the only one in a position to actually inflict social punishment on the man. She could provide what karma won’t.
Then again, all I know about Kanye comes from that the George Bush thing, South Park, the VMAs, and this thread. And I wrote him off back with the first thing. I figured that would be about the same level as at least the first Mel Gibson thing, except I didn’t know the guy was supposed to be popular in the first place. Generally, I assume people pulling stunts like this are losing the limelight.
But from what y’all have said in this thread, I’m putting this guy on the Glenn Beck scale (at the low end, but still there.)
Scratch that–he should probably be on the Michael Jackson scale. He refuses to grow up.
He’s Adam West’s son, right?
“If I wasn’t drunk. I would’ve been on that stage longer,” sure as hell sounds like, “I don’t regret it.”
Yes I did notice 
but still wanted to say that the cultural history of the world is all about “accounting of taste”. I would go even this far and state that without discussion on cultural tastes of all kinds there would be no need for Internet. I mean, even discussion on Linux vs. Windows vs. MacOS is in it’s core a discussion about cultural values represented by computer operating system. So, yeah, I’ll never get tired of this kind of discussion mostly because it is an opportunity to expand your horizons if it happens that a particular taste catches something inside of you.
Can’t fight this feeling anymore - cow style.