Do Looks Matter?
January 30, 2007 by Jo Minor
Call it looks. Call it physical features. Call it bodily appearance. Call it whatever you want, but looks really have figured quite imminently in the music of our generation.
The biggest, and most obvious proof of this, would be the stars of mainstream music today. Justim Timberlake. Fergie. Paris Hilton (she isn’t in mainstream music for her singing talents). Britney Spears (not so much today, but damn, she was huge - pun intended - not too long ago).
Anyone - and I mean anyone, can argue about their singing skills - but not many, including myself, can argue about the way they have been marketed and packaged, ever so attractively, by the corporate bigwigs behind their big desks in their big offices.
The fact remains that looks DO sell.
This fact drives a huge proportion of the mainstream music industry (or pop music, in layman’s terms). I was actually pretty fuckin’ surprised when that white-haired guy won the American Idol - sorry, but his name escapes me now. Ah yes, Taylor Hicks. Taylor has the charming persona of a performer who tries harder than his better looking brethren - just so he can safely float above the cold, frigid waters that is the music business. And surprisingly, he won the title of American Idol - beating other better (and younger) looking contestants who would, without a doubt, appeal more to the fans of pop music.
I have to say that this American Idol incident was a fluke.
There was simply no denying Taylor’s talents as a singer and well-rounded performer, and he managed to scrape through because he is way more versatile than his one trick pony peers. His raspy, bluesy voice and down to earth persona was way more appealing than the other dime a dozen pretty boy and girl next door types.
American Idol aside, the music industry counts on the pretty faces mentioned above to make big bucks.
Paris Hilton doesn’t write her own songs, and survives on the damned autotune functions in the studio mixers. Justin Timberlake has nothing to do with the beats in his songs - that’s the job of a certain guy named after a popular shoe brand. Fergie would be pretty much useless without her being in some irritating silly-named band and her sex appeal. Yet, they have the lion’s share of radio play around the globe - giving the impression to millions of people that they are the bee’s knees when it comes to belting a tune - when they are merely vehicles of ridiculous profits.
That is exactly why it sickens me to see thousands of people, who are naturally gifted in music, are completely ignored by the media.
Ask a teenager on the street if they have ever heard of The Carpenters, or Jimi Hendrix. Sadly, they’re long forgotten and only survive within the hearts and minds of real music aficionados who know, and care about, some of the greatest talent the music world has ever seen. Damn it, Karen Carpenter was one amazing singer with a great voice! RIP Karen, and thanks for the amazing music!
Call me an old dinosaur - at the ripe old age of 23, no less - but I know real talent when I hear one. Be it in pop, blues, rock or metal - talent is undeniable, and it would take a tone deaf moron to not appreciate the classics of yesteryear. It deals me an extreme amount of pain to see people nowadays ignoring the fact that great music does exist, outside of the narrow scope of our radio stations. All they need to do is get themselves into a decent record store and check out some classic albums - nothing newer than music made in the 80s! - to see what the hell I’m ranting about.
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