MTV

This blog is in response to the discussion question about "How did MTV influence the promotion of popular music during the 1980's".

I think MTV had a huge role in promoting music through their television program. They would play popular music and their videos which gave watchers a chance to see and hear the music which then lead to bands and artists gaining popularity. I think music videos are great when it comes music because they show a "story" of the lyrics instead of just listening to the music people can view it instead. It gives an opportunity to have things cleared up maybe about the message that the video is trying to portray. I also think its fun as well because not only do many bands and artists sing but they also dance and have cool choreography. Even though MTV was racist in the beginning by not playing certain music i think that in the end by overcoming that it helped out their program tremendously.

MJ.. King of Pop

I think MJ definitely deserves the title King of Pop. I also believe that it is important to discuss whether or not he is or is not. I believe everyone has their own opinion about the matter but i think he deserves it. He is one of the most successful and influential artist of all time.

The guy had so many achievements throughout his career way to many to list (http://www.michaeljackson.com/us/michael-jackson-achievements). Even though he went through a lot of things outside of his music career the term king of pop i believe only has to do with his music career. Even though i am not really a Michael Jackson fan i will give props to where props are due by calling him the King of Pop.

BET

Black people struggled for years to get their music played on MTV. As a result, Black Entertainment Television (BET) was created to give African Americans a channel where they could have their music played. BET was supposed to represent black culture in America and broadcast to the rest of the world. Well, it completely failed. BET has done nothing except promote social crippling stereotypes of blacks in America, through shows like Cita’s World, BET Uncut and Count down to lock down. Even the networks staple show 106 & Park has been turned into a knock off TRL. The show does not represent any aspects of black music and lifestyle, instead it seems like they sold out to pop culture. BET even failed when it came to honoring maybe the most important black artist ever, Michael Jackson. Michael’s death happened just days before the BET awards. BET had a chance to be the first network to honor Michael’s great legacy. With all eyes on the BET Awards, BET fell flat on their face. The award show was a mockery instead of an honoring. The show was full of bad performances and presenter awkwardness. It seemed like the show was rush and thrown together at the last minute, which it was. Country Music Television (CMT) has done more for black culture than BET.

Music Television without Music

I remember everyday I would run from the bus stop home after school so I could catch the last minutes of TRL. I would MTV for hours until I was tired of it, then I would turn to VH1 and watch more videos. I didn’t listen to a lot of radio growing but I was introduced to artist through there videos. VH1 and MTV introduced me to artist such as Bon Jovi with their for video for “Its My Life” and Red Hot Chili Peppers with their “Californication.” I loved music videos and thus loved MTV. But I’m not here to talk about that.
My question is since when did MTV stop playing music videos?
How can you be title Music Television if you don’t show music? I still greatly enjoy watching music videos. Also, the art music videos has been kept alive by artist such as Kanye West. But it seems as music video aren’t as important to company anymore. At the end of the day, we live in capitalist society and money makes the world go around. With that said, MTV & VH1 see more money in creating reality television shows than showing music videos. Its true and to a certain extent I rather watch “Making the Band” than the latest Soulja Boy video. Even these companies are not really promoting artist videos anymore, I hope artist still see the importance in making music videos.

Not to Beat a Dead Horse...

...but i'd rather discuss Michael rather than other topics. In response to other people's posts claiming Mike is no doubt the "king of pop," i would like to argue a bit. I agree that Mike did a lot of charity work, but he also had millions upon millions to wipe his fanny with. And all charity work was focused exclusively on the "kids," because Mike was focused exclusively on "kids." And people did focus on Mike's good aspects when he died, but people ignore what an absolute farce he was in the years prior to his death. Again, when comparing Mike to John Lennon, there is no comparison. Maybe most students in this class are unaware, but the country literally went into mourning when lennon was murdered. I believe that there was even a moment of silence across the country. Ive had adults tell me that they broke down and started crying when he died. O, and Lennon was murdered, coming from the studio, to make actual music. He didnt die of a speculated coma-inducing drug concoction or whatever MJ actually died from. I love how the molestation accusations arent really a "big deal" because of charity work. Ignore the priest fondling your son because he "means well" or "is a man of God." I dont hear anybody ever arguing that OJ is still the best running back despite some silly "accusations." OJ is just as likely to have beheaded his ex as Mike is to have enjoyed fondling little boys. Even in prison, everyone agrees that child molesters are the foulest form of filth. Yet America spits on OJ (rightly so)and ignores/defends MJ. "Yea, he may have molested kids, but the man can dance." SO??? The freak "probably" molested kids. I very much agree that no matter what i say about the man, he still made fantastic music in his prime, as i would say that, despite murdering the mother of his children, OJ was a pretty nifty running back. But why would anybody declare Michael their King? Really? Even for those that argue that Mike brought a visual aspect to his music through his performance, I could argue that his mug certainly brought a visual aspect to the music, though not one that i would describe as "kingly."

Michael J, whose to say?

I love hearing people speak for Michael Jackson as to why he did this or that. Its entertaining to hear people defend him, claiming that he did what he did simply because of a skin condition or insults from his father. Joe Jackson was no doubt physically and verbally abusive, but to say that MJ did what he did to his face because his father mocked him is silly. Michael literally mutilated his face, to the point where he had no cartilage left in his nose and dented his chin tremendously. Thats not excusable or healthy. To say that he bleached his skin to the point where my Irish complexion looks vastly darker by comparison because he "had no choice" is also funny. Ive met several people in my life with blotched skin on their body, and i would bet that none would vampirize their complexions if they had the finances. MJ was not psychologically healthy, AT ALL, and i am entertained by people ignoring that. I will concede MJ was a phenomenal performer (MOONWAlK?!, Heck yea!) and his early work sold phenomenally, but he was warped. Even assuming that the numerous allegation of molestation were not true, who has "sleepovers" with random kids? Who brings Webster as his date to an awards ceremony. I love Paul McCartney as an artist, but if it came out tomorrow that he had Peter Pan syndrome and hung around with nine year olds while trying to liquor them up, i wouldnt defend him because i love the music he previously made. I would say that Sir Paul is probably a gross pedophile who used to make good music. MJ hadnt even made anything of quality in over 15 years. Maybe your "king of Pop" pays off kids to not say that he fondled them, but not mine. John Lennon wrote, cowrote, played instruments, and sang over 250 "pop"(assuming "pop" simply means popular) songs on over a dozen albums in a seven year period. And i cant even find one allegation of child molestation or a single example of self mutilation or psychosis. He can be my "king of pop." You can keep Michael.

'80s Hardcore in 2010

For the most part, I agree with everything Taylor said in his post about '80s hardcore. However, while the definition of hardcore has definitely expanded over the past 20 years, there are still plenty of bands playing true, '80s influenced hardcore-punk, even in Buffalo. No down-tuned guitars or "heavy" breakdowns, just fast, aggressive hardcore. Here are a few examples locally and (inter)nationally:

Brown Sugar (Buffalo)
Everything Falls Apart (Buffalo)
Resist Control (Buffalo)
Career Suicide (Toronto)
Government Warning (Richmond, VA)
Social Circkle (Boston, MA)

Hardcore-punk is alive and well in 2010, and I can't see that changing anytime soon. So long as there are angry, socially-awkward kids in need of a place to go, hardcore will continue to thrive. It will never be what it was in L.A. or D.C. circa 1982, but it isn't going away either.