Catching Up With the Kids 6/1/11
Occasionally I browse the pop music world/charts/blogs and see what the kids are listening to. Sometimes I am pleased with what I find, most of the time I am not. This is a journal of my discoveries.
Catching Up On: Wacka Flocka Flame
Although Pitchfork gave the album an 8.0, I really don’t understand the appeal. Â This guy’s lyrics are unintelligible, and frankly, when I can understand them, they’re pretty simple. Â And while that’s not necessarily a dealbreaker for me (I did give Wiz Khalifa a thumbs up several days ago), the melody and production don’t really add any plus signs for me. Â This radio hit, which I’ve been unable to avoid lately, is jawdroppingly atrocious.
Catching Up On: Big Time Rush
Apparently this is a tween sensation that’s been around for years on Nickelodeon, but this is the hit that will cross them over to the pop radio masses, Bieber style. Â The tune itself is pretty catchy, it’s good for a Friday night club run, though I could do without the continuing destruction of the legacy of Snoop Dogg.
Catching Up On: Mindless Behavior
Another R&B-based boy band, they all look 14 years old and are produced pretty slickly and whathaveyou. Â Watch the video, and you can tell they all think they’re Usher, but it doesn’t hide the fact the melody is straight-up Disney. Â And the lyrics, a romantic homage to texting your honey, are just pretty damn hilarious.
Catching Up On: Fabolous
Now to the good stuff: while I’m not necessarily “catching up on” Fabolous, who has been awesome for years, this new single is banging. Â This is what the rap radio game needs right now, an elder statesmen showing everybody how it’s done.
Catching Up On: Swizz Beatz
Hardest beat on the charts right now, and it needs to be on the radio more. Â In the same vein as his collaboration with Jay Z in “On To the Next One” (even the video is similar), Swizz keeps it simple and LOUD. And remember Eve? Yeah, she’s on here too.
