Sex, Drugs, And Bubblegum Pop (Week 50)

Sex, Drugs, And Bubblegum Pop is the most outlandish column on UTG. Written by Mr. Jayce, vocalist for Secret Secret Dino Club and all-round funny guy, this column isn’t as much about the music as it is the experiences people in the music industry have.

WARNING: This column does and will continue to contain content some readers may find offensive. If you don’t have a sense of humor, this column is probably not for you.

I’ve been a fan of pop music for as long as I can remember. I’ve never cared about looking indie or hip or into counter culture really. I’m not ashamed of that at all. I write what I like and that is Pop. Unfortunately, I feel like pop (not pop punk lol) has been under attack.

Being in a punk rock band, there’s really only one way to break through and that is through rigorous touring. I have nothing against that, and I love that mentality. Pop, however, is a much different can of worms. There are very few avenues for a new pop artist to catch a break. Sadly now it seems to be limited to two options. Money or YouTube covers.

You can quote me on this, more pop artists get signed from lip synching covers on YouTube than anything else. If you make a video of yourself singing a song that is currently a hit song and you have enough people watch it, that alone can get you a major record deal. A record deal which is basically just a way for record labels to take your fans and sell them songs written by writers like myself. With a new crop of YouTube stars every few months, YouTube is a constant farm that creates mediocre talent with a huge fan base. Poor sounding productions of songs people already know with questionably tuned vocals and no charisma beyond the webcam, the YouTube generation has made the most awkward group of pop stars in history.

Combine YouTube with shows like “X Factor” and “American idol”, pop music has turned from people caring about quality original music and talent, almost into a pity party. People cry on the X factor because they are sad about being bullied in school, so you feel bad for them. No matter how bad they are at singing, you cast your vote for them. Talent has been completely replaced by manufactured stories and feelings. Since when was music a place you go to feel sorry for people? Music is where you go to escape, not listen to some shitty high school talent show act who cries because she gets made fun of for wearing plaid and Avril Lavigne’s terrible shoe line to school. If you go back in the day to “Showtime At The Apollo” and put any of the acts that were on X factor last night on that stage, they would get booed off within in seconds.

Start listening to music because you like it, not because you feel bad for someone or you are trying to help someone. Music is your escape and you shouldn’t have to deal with other people’s problems to listen to it. Don’t put up with second and third rate musicians and singers.

Mr. Jayce

James Shotwell
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One Response to “Sex, Drugs, And Bubblegum Pop (Week 50)”

  1. SongsAboutSouls says:

    I really enjoyed your thoughts on music today , sadly this is reality where talent isnt needed to get by.