A Year In Pop: 32

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

The UK's Number! One! Pop! Stars! Kleerup (and some Swedish mate of theirs) did quite well last week. This week there's the return of Kanye West with his Daft Punk sample, and some other stuff including the first top 40 hit for sophisticindie croonster Richard Hawley. Why not spend your elevenses ticking?

[Poll #1038904]

(All year in pop polls are open until the end of the year. Your investments may go down as well as up.)

Comments

Re: Stronger

[ninebelow.livejournal.com]

Or indeed how it makes him different to 90% of pop stars?

You're right, its no different. It's just when I first became aware of him he seemed quite interesting and then recently I've seen a couple of interviews with him acting like a stereotypical arogant cock. I should have learnt by now.

Re: Stronger

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

"stereotypical" of what? hip-hop? Arrogant public personae are totally essential to hip-hop though, I love all the bragging and boasting that goes on and I wouldn't call any of the protagonists nobs because of it. I do think Kanye is very interesting, while also being v arrogant, because of his preppier background, and the way he engages with Big Issues - he's very flaky about them, the way he wrestles with his sense of morality (about Christianity, blood diamonds &c &c) is really compelling.

Re: Stronger

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

This is why I don't like him Lex - his "wrestling" is just beating himself up a bit then doing it anyway AFAICT, not v interesting for this listener, I expect a track with him "wrestling" over buying Peruvian asparagus in Waitrose before long.

Re: Stronger

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

That's exactly what I identify with!

Re: Stronger

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

Sure but you don't even BLOG about it much less make ponderous hip-hop tracks.

Re: Stronger

[ninebelow.livejournal.com]

Stereotypical of the way most successful musicians act when they are interviewed. Like everything is beneath them. Now you are right that this is part and parcel of the game but I do find it a turn off. Perhaps i am just a bloody hippy.

Re: Stronger

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

I never mind how people act in interviews! And I really like popstars acting as if everything is beneath them on record, it's better than being a wimp.

I do have a bit of time for braggadocio

[ninebelow.livejournal.com]

Good arrogance: Proper bragging like "My hip hop will rock and shock the nation/Like the emancipation proclaimation" or "Flowing like Christ when I spit the gospel." Those are both outrageously overblown comparisons which is what makes them so great.

Bad arrogance: monosylabic contempt whilst wearing sunglasses.

Re: I do have a bit of time for braggadocio

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

Great braggadocio: Lil' Kim's "my kitty-kat so mean it turns dudes into rapists".

........... is the only response to that really.

Re: I do have a bit of time for braggadocio

[chezghost.livejournal.com]

Lil Kim = the Chris Morris of hip hop