<p>Have you ever known someone who was really into the distinction between Starbucks coffee, or Caribou coffee, or Dunkin Donuts coffee, or some other brand of coffee? And could tell really small differences and were quite particular about which one they preferred and didn’t prefer? And then someone else was like … “Yeah, well, it’s all pretty much coffee to me.”</p>
<p>That’s how I, as someone non-musically talented, sees it. You’re talking about differences that I’m hypothesizing are really only noticeable to people who are music aficionados. I think for the great average unwashed (and I’m including myself here), close enough is close enough.</p>
<p>So, just because I’m curious on your comments (especially those outraged by Taylor’s voice and awards)…</p>
<p>How are Grammys decided? What are the considerations of the folks who “vote” on the awards? Certainly many of them are in the music field. Certainly they have heard her.</p>
<p>And her fans. They are not all 12 year olds. She has sold oodles of CD’s, downloads and sold-out concerts. </p>
<p>Apparently, many many many people - skilled and non-skilled see AND hear something they really like.</p>
<p>R124687, I think you are jealous. You can’t stand that your kid (with great pitch, I am guessing) isn’t getting the attention TS is getting. All I can say is that however they did it, they seem to have corrected her pitch issues on her albums. Maybe they did something electronic, or maybe she did a LOT of takes, or maybe she finds it easier to sing on key in the studio. And pitch is only a part of what makes a song or a musician great to listen to anyway. A lot of very famous singers have had downright wierd voices - - Janis Joplin? Joe Cocker? And the aforementioned Bob Dylan? Who never needed pitch because his songs were all monotone…</p>
<p>I too don’t get Taylor Swift. While she may fill a niche for teen girls, as another poster stated, I don’t think it is worthy of all the praise and awards that she has received. Aren’t you at the very least suppose to be able to carry a tune if you are a singer? So much better talent around.</p>
<p>Some musicians are made to sound very good in the studio because of all the electronics. BUT you can’t lie or change the truth LIVE.
TS is good in studio, not so good Live.
I don’t think she has staying power… True talent will always prevail in the long haul.</p>
<p>This is an interesting turn. I’ve already said I’m a fan though I acknowledge her lack of singing chops. But, unless she has a Lindsay Lohan-like personal implosion, I absolutely think she has staying power. Her turn on SNL was quite impressive, and she’s about to come out on the big screen, in the star-packed “Valentine’s Day.” I think she’ll be around a while.</p>
<p>Re staying power: Swift is essentially the only artist to have established herself as an arena draw other than as a TV star since the collapse of the music industry. Provided she doesn’t run herself off the rails like Britney Spears, or retreat to some ashram with the millions she’s made already, Swift is pretty much here to stay as long as she wants. Remember, she can always lip-synch if need be with her pitch-corrected vocals.</p>
<p>Re true talent: Some of those who succeed in popular music have true talent and some don’t. But I can go to clubs in my city and see heartbreaking talent week after week from people who will never be able to quit their day jobs, and will ultimately have to give up their dreams. Great, pitch-perfect, charismatic singers. Great writers. People with unbelievable technique. Not only SOME of them will not prevail in the long haul. ALL of them are not going to prevail in the long haul.</p>
<p>(cross posted with JHS, with whom I agree)
Since when is “musical excellence” a hallmark of success in pop music? There are much better writers in country/pop music (such as Patty Griffin) and much much better singers (Alison Krauss comes to mind) but they will never have the draw that some one like TS has. She is really cute and her little dittys are singable. My D teaches voice and all the preteen and teen students want to sing her songs…because they CAN.
And yes her voice is electronically manipulated because she simply doesn’t have the ability to sing on key in a live setting. That bothers me, but it doesn’t bother most pop music fans at all.</p>
<p>And I don’t watch the Grammys because the cringe factor is much too high. Take a look at the people who have won in years back (Dylan did not win until he was way past his best work) and you will come to see that that they are as important as the Academy Awards. And that’s not sayin’ a whole lot.Sometimes work I like wins, but most times not. It is all about marketability.</p>
<p>Staying power as a writer, yes. As a singer and appealing to the audiences over time, I don’t think so.
Yes, you are right, there are many out there in the little arena who have talent that will have to give up there music career. But TS was catapulted to the top,she is going to have to try to stay there. Not an easy feat for someone that we are already talking about not being able to stay on key, not just on CC but on all the media outlets.
Time will tell.</p>
<p>When could Madonna ever sing? She sure faded!</p>
<p>And Britney Spears – a complete train wreck, and with no discernible talent, ever, but do you think she couldn’t get promoters to back a tour tomorrow if they thought she would actually show up?</p>
<p>I think Taylor Swift is adorable and talented but agree that she really just can’t sing. She is so off key that she isn’t even completely correctable in the studio. Even her recordings are just not melodious. I felt very sorry for her last night. She was particularly, undeniably awful -even with Nicks working so hard to sing a note that would correct Taylor’s but it was a losing battle because Taylor was all over the place. Faith Hill also struggles mightily to stay on key, but it doesn’t affect her appeal. </p>
<p>That being said, Taylor was great on SNL and CSI. She is approachable and vulnerable and very charming and she writes songs that appeal to the most sought after demographic - teenage girls. </p>
<p>Lady Gaga can really sing and showed it last night with Elton John. I prefer listening to Taylor Swift over Andrea Bocelli, however. I don’t find anything appealing about his voice. Don’t get me started on Dave Matthews. I tried to listen with an open mind after another thread in which he was praised, but nope - I don’t get it. He is so awkward and not only chewed his words last night, but ate them.</p>
<p>“Regarding Pink, I read that her intent was to prove a point–that singers who claim they must lipsynch or use backing tracks in live performances because of their physical exertions in big production numbers are full of baloney. Yay Pink!”</p>
<p>Ahhh! That makes sense! I was also impressed by Beyonce’s stamina. Was SHE singing?All that physical exertion and singing or not, she did not seem out of breath. </p>
<p>I thought Lady Gaga was AMAZING singing live on SNL, and I had NO respect for. or maybe no notice of her before that…but last night she looked like she had some sort of altered mental status at the podium…or maybe that wasn’t her?</p>
<p>Kudos to Jamie Fox for not being ashamed to use a voicebox thingy .</p>
<p>As a mom of a young teenage girl who absolutely idolizes Taylor Swift, I have her songs playing in my house (and due to that fact playing in my head) constantly. Last night was the first time I had seen her sing live. Unfortunately I had to see and hear it with my daughter. As we watched and listened, she sat glued to the TV, huge smile on her face, loving every minute of the performances. Meanwhile I was dumbfounded. Horrible. It was the worst performance of the night. (well, maybe not the absolute worst, Eminem and Co. topped her later). </p>
<p>When the performance ended, (Did we need two separate songs?!) I wasn’t about to burst my d’s bubble, but I could tell even she, the lover of all things Taylor, knew it was bad. The look on my face eventually brought out the, “Don’t say anything, Mom!” phrase we all know and love. Oh well.</p>
<p>Some of these young singers of today are full of so much hype and so little vocal substance (Miley Cyrus is another one). I am too much of sucker for just a great voice- rock on Susan Boyles of the world!</p>
<p>As a mom of a young teenage girl who absolutely idolizes Taylor Swift, I have her songs playing in my house (and due to that fact playing in my head) constantly. Last night was the first time I had seen her sing live. Unfortunately I had to see and hear it with my daughter. As we watched and listened, she sat glued to the TV, huge smile on her face, loving every minute of the performances. Meanwhile I was dumbfounded. Horrible. It was the worst performance of the night. (well, maybe not the absolute worst, Eminem and Co. topped her later). </p>
<p>When the performance ended, (Did we need two separate songs?!) I wasn’t about to burst my d’s bubble, but I could tell even she, the lover of all things Taylor, knew it was bad. The look on my face eventually brought out the, “Don’t say anything, Mom!” phrase we all know and love. Oh well.</p>
<p>Some of these young singers of today are full of so much hype and so little vocal substance (Miley Cyrus is another one). I am too much of sucker for just a great voice- rock on Susan Boyles of the world!</p>
<p>Instead of being a pop star, let’s imagine Taylor Swift had said “I can’t sing. I’m always off key. Everyone on CC says so.” and so placed herself on a CC trajectory instead of going to Nashville. She’d be what now? An anonymous sophomore at some local college? Instead she is writing and singing songs, thrilling millions of teenagers and some of their parents, traveling the world, selling tons of records and concert tickets, winning awards on TV, moving into acting, making a lot of money, and getting talked about by three quarters of the population of this country. </p>
<p>I’m generally a huge proponent of higher education, but I have to say I think she has made the right choices so far - off-key singing and all.</p>
<p>How true Coureur. I think some are under the mistaken impression that a Grammy rewards intrinsic talent. They reward commercial success and have done that for years now. For those who want to see talent rewarded, watch the Kennedy Center honors.</p>
<p>A University or conservatory education has never been the best path to pop star success. Most of the kids are involved in music at the university level do not share those aspirations.</p>
<p>By the way,last night I spoke with a nominated producer who attended the program. He said the experience was painful at best.</p>
Sure, but commercial success and talent used to go together much more often, and therefore there was no need to choose between the two in giving out honors. The best way I can express the difference between the pre-MTV era and now is to point out that the Monkees never won a single Grammy, and were only nominated once (for “I’m a Believer”)–even though they were commercial superstars.</p>