Why is Madonna so overrated?

thedarkness · 01-14-2012, 06:58 AM

The reason she's overrated is because the media choose to make her so. Its only partly the medias fault, as they are only giving what they believe the public want-you can blame her rather large fanbase that has grown over the years. The quality of the music (or at least rave reviews of her initial major label album and singles-you can argue over which was the real reason depending on whether you are a fan or not).. may have helped that along. The record label may have pushed her in a pop direction, and along with imagery on the edge of acceptability at the time, it certainly worked. The media hype is all set to start once again as her new album is released this year-although I dont know exactly how edgy the visuals to her album will be this time around

shes getting on and sales may not be what they once were, but in 2012 and recent years anything can happen

sopsych · 01-14-2012, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Engine

If you care to validate all of my first paragraph you can do some googling and you'll find that some people thought she 'sounded black' while others claim that this was a myth that she, herself, unleashed. It's the media so who knows really? Regardless, she was known for her voice before anybody knew what she even looked like (I'm talking about pre-first solo album). Granted, it didn't take too long for her financiers to realize that consumers would be even more interested in her body and she was happy to oblige.

Racialism and sexism aside, I totally disagree that her voice was thin and underwhelming in her early years. You need to listen to her first few solo albums and point out how this is true if you want to change my mind. While she capitalized on some ingenious music producers, her voice was exceptional. That's what initially made her interesting even more than her looks and the synth tracks that she sang over.

Someone who describes Madonna's voice as "exceptional" isn't likely to be swayed by anything. All I know is that her voice sounds like a teen's on much of the first album (high-pitched, not resonant) and that it seems to give out on the chorus of songs like "Borderline." There was improvement on subsequent albums.

Also, yes to whoever posted the Stevie Nicks picture, I forgot her and she was one of the most successful 80's American pop female artists, but she was older and initially her music wasn't pure pop.

Engine · 01-15-2012, 03:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wisdom

Someone who describes Madonna's voice as "exceptional" isn't likely to be swayed by anything. All I know is that her voice sounds like a teen's on much of the first album (high-pitched, not resonant) and that it seems to give out on the chorus of songs like "Borderline." There was improvement on subsequent albums.

Also, yes to whoever posted the Stevie Nicks picture, I forgot her and she was one of the most successful 80's American pop female artists, but she was older and initially her music wasn't pure pop.

I'm totally swayable so go ahead and sway me.
Their voices have different pitches, true, but I don't see how Nicks was a better singer than Madonna in any way. Less range. Less emotion. Nicks was basically just a background/ensemble singer in a super-boring band in her heyday and ultimately, Fleetwood Mac/Stevie Nicks is infinitely more overrated than Madonna.

sopsych · 01-15-2012, 10:07 AM

I wasn't comparing Madonna to Stevie Nicks. I think Nicks is a better singer - for example, more emotional (listen to "Stand Back") - but no, she's not a great singer, either. Madonna's voice has been criticized a lot because (unlike Nicks) she's believed to have achieved based mostly on her sexuality. I disagree somewhat with that perception, but it is what it is. Pop singers in general aren't great singers, but I think Madonna started out below-average for the genre.

starrynight · 01-16-2012, 02:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wisdom

Pop singers in general aren't great singers, but I think Madonna started out below-average for the genre.

That's a huge generalisation. I'm sure there are many bad 'rock' singers too. In fact music in a more pop style probably depends more heavily on the vocal, so they can't allow the vocal to be weak so easily.

sopsych · 01-16-2012, 09:52 AM

Well, yeah, pop singers usually > rock singers.

blastingas10 · 02-05-2012, 06:21 PM

That halftime show is why

RMR · 02-05-2012, 06:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blastingas10

That halftime show is why

I personally thought the halftime show was great. The halftime show is just what it says it is-- a "show," and I thought it was pretty amazing. Certainly not up to the performance that Prince put on a few years ago, but I enjoyed Madonna's better than The Who's and Paul McCartney's.

**Frownland** · 02-05-2012, 06:43 PM

That half time show...some things just can't be unseen.

NSW · 02-05-2012, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RMR

I personally thought the halftime show was great. The halftime show is just what it says it is-- a "show," and I thought it was pretty amazing. Certainly not up to the performance that Prince put on a few years ago, but I enjoyed Madonna's better than The Who's and Paul McCartney's.

This.

The half time show was awesome. Madonna did a great job, much better than most of us anticipated me thinks. The bit with LMFAO was cute and her singing "Like A Prayer" with CeeLo was sweet too. I was not disappointed at all.

01-14-2012, 06:58 AM	#131 (permalink)
thedarkness Groupie Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 20	The reason she's overrated is because the media choose to make her so. Its only partly the medias fault, as they are only giving what they believe the public want-you can blame her rather large fanbase that has grown over the years. The quality of the music (or at least rave reviews of her initial major label album and singles-you can argue over which was the real reason depending on whether you are a fan or not).. may have helped that along. The record label may have pushed her in a pop direction, and along with imagery on the edge of acceptability at the time, it certainly worked. The media hype is all set to start once again as her new album is released this year-although I dont know exactly how edgy the visuals to her album will be this time around shes getting on and sales may not be what they once were, but in 2012 and recent years anything can happen Last edited by thedarkness; 01-14-2012 at 09:33 AM.

02-05-2012, 06:43 PM	#139 (permalink)
Frownland SOPHIE FOREVER Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: East of the Southern North American West Posts: 35,541	That half time show...some things just can't be unseen. __________________ Studies show that when a given norm is changed in the face of the unchanging, the remaining contradictions will parallel the truth. d e a f b o x

01-15-2012, 10:07 AM	#134 (permalink)
sopsych Music Addict Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: indoors Posts: 722	I wasn't comparing Madonna to Stevie Nicks. I think Nicks is a better singer - for example, more emotional (listen to "Stand Back") - but no, she's not a great singer, either. Madonna's voice has been criticized a lot because (unlike Nicks) she's believed to have achieved based mostly on her sexuality. I disagree somewhat with that perception, but it is what it is. Pop singers in general aren't great singers, but I think Madonna started out below-average for the genre.

01-16-2012, 09:52 AM	#136 (permalink)
sopsych Music Addict Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: indoors Posts: 722	Well, yeah, pop singers usually > rock singers.

02-05-2012, 06:21 PM	#137 (permalink)
blastingas10 Music Addict Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 2,126	That halftime show is why