I hate to defend bad music, being an elitist musical jerk, but I feel like I sort of have to. Rebecca Black’s “Friday” has gotten so many vile comments toward it that I have to laugh at the hypocrisy. (I would also like to point out that this girl is 13 – it’s not like she has a ton of life experience that she can use to impart valuable knowledge on the world.) To show you what I mean, here are some of the lyrics for “I Gotta Feeling” by the Black Eyed Peas.
I gotta feeling that tonight’s gonna be a good night
That tonight’s gonna be a good night
That tonight’s gonna be a good good night
Tonight’s the night night
Let’s live it up
I got my money
Let’s spend it up
Go out and smash it
Like Oh My God
Jump off that sofa
Let’s get get OFF
I know that we’ll have a ball
If we get down
And go out
And just loose it all
I feel stressed out
I wanna let it go
Lets go way out spaced out
And loosing all control
Fill up my cup
Mozoltov
Look at her dancing
Just take it off
Lets paint the town
We’ll shut it down
Let’s burn the roof
And then we’ll do it again
Someone please tell me how that’s any better than “It’s Friday, Friday, gotta get down on Friday.” What, because BEP are more established? Because “it’s fun and catchy and you can dance to it?” So, the second anyone puts out something slightly more mediocre than what already exists, everyone acts like they have committed a mortal sin. If anything, it underscores how one can simply shit out a song and it will be a big hit, so long as it’s “catchy.”
Are we just angry that “Friday” more or less points out exactly how insipid music has gotten? Hell, I’ve been bitching about it for years and everyone thought I was being “mean” or “bitter.” (Yes, I’m bitter because bands that are ridiculously talented and mean something emotionally to people will never get as much recognition as the semi-attractive “fad of the week” band.) How can you blame Ark Music Factory for wanting to cash in on the mindless dreck that already exists? If you want music that has more substance, go find it and buy it. Go to their shows, buy their merch, request their music on the radio. The music industry responds to your demands, people. If you keep requesting songs simply due to their “catchiness” or their dance beat, that’s all the industry will pump out.
At any rate, Rebecca Black is getting a nice chunk of money in her college fund, so I doubt she really cares how people feel about her song.
I think part of it has to do with the fact that Rebecca was simply given that opportunity by her parents. She put in no work and no sacrifice and gets rewarded. I agree that the music industry is a complete joke but Rebecca Black takes it to a whole new level – she is completely devoid of talent or appeal.