POP TRUMPS: Week 9

[katstevens.livejournal.com]

The rules are here but it couldn't be simpler. 10 is the highest, 0 is the lowest, if you really don't know then go for 5. Giving reasons for your scores in the comments is encouraged!

This week our pop trump contestant is also at the top of the charts with a certain lady friend of his. He's got an ego the size of a planet and a colourful array of knitted jumpers - but how good is he at being a pop star?


Kanye West

[Poll #1161925]

Justin Timbersnake ratings:
- Singing voice/musical ability: 7
- Consistency: 7
- H0TTness: 7
- Dancing Skillz/Visual: 8
- Chart success: 8
- Extra-curricular activity: 6
- Party Animal Rating: 5
- Eccentricity: 2
- Legacy: 5
- Best track: Cry Me An River

Comments

Kanyeticks

[katstevens.livejournal.com]

Singing/Musical Ability: I really don't rate his rapping AT ALL! His style is very much personality-driven than technically-driven (which I think makes for good pop, but yes anyway)
Consistency: pretty even actually
H0tt: doesn't do it for me but not rough by any means (tho he has scary eyes!)
Dancing/Visuals: MUCH ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT HERE.
Chart: not sure about this one - I haven't really got much idea of his success stateside, but the stuff he's released over here has def had mixed results from Incredibly Popular ('Stronger') to stuff that's dropped out of the top 40 almost immediately.
Extra curricular/Party Animal: If guesting on dudes' tracks counts as extra-curricular then he scores highly, but does he do anything apart from music? I have no idea! Zero clue about Party Animalling.
Eccentricity: much better score here thanks to the reams of arrogance/daft sunglasses. However you still get the impression that he is Totally Sane underneath it all, so just an 8 here.
Legacy: I think this is his winner - I think Kanye has WAY more crossover appeal to dudes who wouldn't normally listen to hip-hop (hahahaha Kanye = the gateway drug!) and I'd be VERY surprised if he retired any time soon so there'll be plenty to come.

Re: Kanyeticks

[hoshuteki.livejournal.com]

Oh I guess I rated the daft sunglasses on the visual scale rather than the eccentricity. However, I agree that I don't think he's particularly insane, in fact he seems pretty grounded, so despite the odd moments (which come across as trying too hard at times), I gave him a 5 for that.

Re: Kanyeticks

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

you're right about 'Jesus Walks' btw - that any song with those sentiments can get me, an avowed atheist, feeling all emotional, is testament to its strength. Also, immense beats. PREACH, BROTHER.

Re: Kanyeticks

[koganbot]

This is like my reaction to Brooke White's version of "Let It Be"; not only am I an atheist, but I despise the song anyway, for a number of reasons, the invocation of Mother Mary, which somehow seems cheap, and the idea of "letting it be" just thrown at you: there certainly are times when "let it be" is the right choice, others when it's the dishonest one (e.g., the "change the things you can" is as crucial as "accepting the things you cannot change"), and again it just feels like invocation rather than an attempt to deal with struggle. And I've not liked the way Paul sang it. But Brooke not only carried conviction, but gave the song the struggle and release the words failed to give it.

(I also like "Jesus Walks" a lot. Just what's been on my mind a lot is how people his sensibilities are unlike mine seem to be doing a far better job of making good music than the people whose sensibilities are a closer match.)(Of course, this has been on my mind for about 27 years, actually.)

Re: Kanyeticks

[koganbot]

People whose sensibilities, that is...

[I really need to read before I post.]