2012: The Game Changer for new, unpredictable music?
Recently, I have found myself becoming increasingly frustrated with the lack of originality the so-called ‘breakthrough’ musical artists of 2011 were supposed to possess. I will not pretend to be a music expert, but like most people, I am overly fond of my iPod and enjoy a good dance in my pants, so to speak.
But 2011 seemed to bring with it an onslaught of predictable, bankable and risk-free music from top record labels in the form of Jessie J, Adele, Rihanna and co. Now, that is not to say I do not like any of these artist’s music, or agree of their talents to a certain extent (hey, I went to Riri’s tour, or sexshow if you will), but it does mean the airwaves were pumped full of ‘Price Tag’, ‘Rolling in the Deep’ etc so much that I find myself asking if I ever really liked these songs, or in fact was brainwashed in to doing so (some form of Stockholm Syndrome, perhaps?). Jessie, for instance, (and bless her, she is somewhat of a scapegoat for my torrid ramblings) has been dubbed Queen on the ‘Nu-Boring’. When her first single, ‘Do it like a Dude’ crashed on to the scene, she seemed like the UK’s answer to Nicki Minaj. Fast forward over her other releases and her music seems watered down, completely disjointed from her debut single and leaves it sticking out like a sore thumb, or rather, an empty promise of what could have been. I am sorry Jessie, but if it wasn’t for your trademark look, I am sure i would confuse you with Natasha Bedingfield.
Obviously, this links back, like EVERYTHING, to our disastrous economy, and record labels not being able to take as many risks for fear of complete ruin, but that isn’t my ears fault. But hopefully with the darkest economic days behind us, 2012 may be a game changer. Reading in the Evening Standard this week about Goyte’s single ‘Somebody I Used To Know’ having over 45 million views on youtube compared to Jessie J’s Domino (the current no.1 may I add) trailing behind with 17 million, it does beg the question have we become somewhat saturated with polished, perfected and down-right boring expensive videos and meaningless drivling lyrics such as ‘pull me like a base drum spark me like a rhythm’. Goyte, on the other hand, needs no bells or whistles, and rather engages the viewer with his eerie and cleverly executed video. And guess what, its working.
I do hope my dislike for Jessie J’s music doesn’t offend, and as always, personal opinions and all that. But if you, like me, you are starting to look for more thought-provoking and less empty musical-stylings this year, please do suggest away and share the love. Here are a few of my new top picks by the way:
This is a little older, but a new find for me:
About Helen Coakley
Style & Then Some 
That Goyte song and the vid are really good. I heard that the new Maccabees album is really good, and the 2 Bears album (those guys from Hot Chip) – they’re both on my download shopping list for today.
You must recommend when you listen to them! x
Love it! Great links! I’m addicted to this song at the moment, it makes me very happy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zsyjS_vJfkw&feature=youtube_gdata_player
Did you see the article in the Guardian about the ‘new boring’ music, Helen? http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2011/oct/08/adele-new-boring-ed-sheeran
I agree in general about some of the more generic pop sceners, but I also think there’s a lot of reeeally exciting stuff going on in British music at the moment. I wrote this response to the Guardian piece a while back: http://sophiecaldecott.blogspot.com/2011/10/bad-romance-with-british-music.html
Ah Soph I love your response article. I do agree there is a lot of talent, but unfortunately they seem to be more of a ‘high-risk’ to the big cheeses and therefore are not given the same treatment as more bankable artists. I feel a change in the general public’s outlook though, a revolution if you will 🙂 And I love that BOY song, makes me feel SO SO Summery!
Also, I haven’t heard much of Lana Del Ray’s music, but this track’s pretty good: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HO1OV5B_JDw I’d like to see where she goes.
I do love lana, she is an example of someone who will emerge more in 2012, coming on the scene at the end of 2011. Although she may be in trouble after her disastrous SNL performance: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6I5ti0-GCE
She said it was due to having ‘personal issues…’
Oh dear, yes! I hadn’t seen that – it looks like she’s really nervous and doesn’t know what to do with herself. I think the way the internet has made some people famous really quickly means that musicians haven’t had to perform as much as they should sometimes, which is a shame. That’s why I have so much respect for bands like Mumford and Sons who really get into the performing thing, developing their music as they play live. They are brilliant performers – there’s something really genuine about that kind of music, you can’t fake talent when it sounds as good live as it does recorded.