Something said in the pub

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

by thenipper:

"I think Lily Allen and Amy Winehouse have killed Xenomania style pop, in the same way Britpop killed off Take That."

(I paraphrase)

Let's talk about....THE ZEITGEIST of BRITISH POP.

Comments

[chezghost.livejournal.com]

he may be right. Allen and Winehouse get to proclaim themselves 'not boring' like Tunstall and co, 'not plastic' like Girls Aloud and co - and they're feistier/mouthier than anyone else in British pop at the mo which counts for a lot (press coverage etc.).

it's a shame (for me) that with such relatively strong personalities that their music has to be so retro.

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

Is there a link between the strength and the retro-ness tho? Do they draw strength FROM the retro-ness (I'd argue yes!)

[byebyepride.livejournal.com]

ding ding ding! Yes. I think you're spot on here.

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

Yes - if you've already "won" (or sidestepped) any musical arguments before they started then you can spend a lot more time on the personality stuff I guess!

[pot80.livejournal.com]

They are certainly marketable in the US because they have the retro thing going for them. Faux soul and badass tats is certainly an easier sell than the "group of random models singing" model in the US.

[koganbot]

Not so sure about this: think Pussycat Dolls. Of course in the U.S. all celebs except for Kelly and those married to Tom Cruise get to be badass tats, sooner or later.

[pot80.livejournal.com]

Another thing you should note is that Allen and especially Winehouse have enjoyed success in the United States. They translate fairly well over here, whereas you can't even hope to find Girls Aloud et al in even the best import bins.

Winehouse is really blowing up over here! It's kinda cool actually. (Tunstall has had a few hits too, but she's in another realm, what we'd call AAA/Adult pop.)

[chezghost.livejournal.com]

how's Bedingfield doing? i feel she may be some sort of spanner in the works

[pot80.livejournal.com]

Oh, her song "Unwritten" was a MASSIVE hit on Adult Contemporary and mainstream pop radio. "These Words" and "I Want To Have Your Babies" have done okay too.

[bengraham.livejournal.com]

Tunstall is not boring. Take that back! She may not get into bitch rants about fellow pop stars (actually, she did slate Dido a couple of years back), but she has an interesting background (living with an adoptive family in the Scottish highlands), and she gives interesting interviews - I know, I've interviewed her, on subjects ranging from disability to growing up in the outdoors (without television or even music) to American boarding schools (she attended one). She also regularly talks proudly and publicly about her large lesbian following.

I will not tolerate any Tunstall-bashing in this community. If you must bash female pop singers, pick on Joss Stone or Corinne Bailey Rae!

[chezghost.livejournal.com]

sorry ben but disability and growing up without TV and music = BORING (i keeed i keeed ;) anyway i think i was saying more that Allen and Winehouse differentiate themselves from Tunstall's MOR type stuff which is often seen as boring by...um, John Harris? ah