If there’s anything that Idol wizards/pop connoisseurs Michael Slezak and Annie Barrett and I love, it’s yakking about our ridiculous obsessions (Martika songs, questionable made-for-TV products) when we’re supposed to be working, and then turning those yaks — tada! –into work.
Namely, the beyond-mondo Susan Boyle phenomenon. Our own Adam Markovitz has already posited whether some of the attention on her appearance is not, in fact, a little condescending (ohmagawd! How can a maybe-menopausal lady sing so good?!).
No doubt, Britain’s Got Talent producers sent her onstage knowing full well how Susan’s relative dowdiness would play onscreen — and are already squeezing her through the inevitable makeover machine (eyebrow-waxer powers, activate!).
To me, the loveliest thing about Boyle is her sweet lack of icky showbiz calculation — the unfortunate defining trait of nearly every other Seacrest-sidling make-me-a-star reality show contestant plying their trade today. But it also got Slezak and I wondering: how many other talented artists have been crushed — or merely failed to climb above mid-level notice — because of their looks?
He pointed to sixth-season Idol finalists Melinda Doolittle and Lakisha Jones, who placed third and fourth on the show, respectively, despite having some of the clearest natural gifts in the contestant pool. On the flipside, I give you Jessica Simpson, who looks like a Real Doll, yet continuously fails to remember the words to her own songs.
Obviously, pop music will, with a few inevitable exceptions, always be a place for pretty people — some of questionable talent, and some just genuine genetic lottery winners. (Fifty years ago, listeners may have swooned to Roy Orbison’s baritone, but Elvis had the voice and the hips.) Still, are we possibly moving towards a more democratic ideal? Zaftig, smoky-voiced Brit Adele beat out pretty little beanpoles like the Jonas Brothers and Duffy at the Grammys this year, and stars like Amy Winehouse and Lady Gaga aren’t so much conventionally attractive as seriously Working a Look.
I could ramble on all afternoon, so I turn it to you, readers: Do you feel any kind of sea change in the beauty standards of pop music, or is this all same as it ever was? Which artists you think have been held back by their looks, and which have clearly succeeded on the sole strength of the physical goods their mama gave them?
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Boyle > Britney
I’d rather sit in a room and converse with Ms. Boyle than Spears. More character and less self-absorption. The ‘Brittany’s’ aren’t that attractive once you get to know them.
Unfortunately, there is some validity to the pretty people theory. Once the novelty of “ugly ducklings” wears off, the prize goes to the pretty people.
1. It should be about talent and substance over appearace. 2. There is nothing wrong with helping someone, if they wish to make a change, improve their looks. So, no, I don’t see a major shift in more Winehouse looking artists, but maybe a shift towards more artists that have the talent and just get a little boost with their looks, like a David Cook. But please, enough with the Jessica Simpsons and Britney Spears- no talent, ONLY looks, and mostly the looks are only there because they’ve hired the right people. Hello, Gas Station Britney ain’t no bueaty queen.
Most artists like Britney Spears are so over produced in the studio you don’t even know what their real voices sound like; until you hear them live. Oh wait most even lip synch at their concerts. It would be nice for talent to win over flash and no substance more often.
video killed the radio star. casualty number one = christopher cross.
That’s the sad thing about music – instead of being about singing, it’s about image. How you look determines how many records you sell. And it dates all the way back to the 90’s with Milli Vanilli and beyond. I would be willing to bet that any of today’s current recording female artists wouldn’t make any money if they didn’t look like models.
Sadly agree that image is much more important than it should be.
Look at country music since Shania Twain. She’s talented, absolutley, but pretty much all young female singers since her have had to have the looks to get the success.
I was going to use Melinda Dolittle as an example too. She wasn’t quite the “package” artist they were hoping for on AI.
I hope that it’s changing. I think the ‘death’ of the music video is helping. I would always rather hear quality vocals than know the voice was coming out of a mouth on a pretty face.
Your “own Adam Markovitz” actually seems to be unable to comprehend that when other people like something that he doesn’t, there’s not necessarily a sinister reason behind it.
I have not purchased a music CD since, well over 5 years ago. I would purchase Susan’s CD tomorrow. Pretty people tend to hang together, and those conversations get a little OMG boring. Give me an intelligent spunky person like Susan anytime. Marketing rules the music scene and who they can get the most money from. If its Susan, they will find the slant they want to exploit and make millions with her million dollar voice. Did you know your intelligence will actually improve if you listen to Bach, Beethoven, and other classics. It’s the mathematical rhythm of the notes that triggers something in the brain. I think that is also what is happening with Susan. Her voice stirs that magical place in our brains…thank God.
aren’t there plenty of musicians who are known for more than their looks? yeah, there are some who record labels see and just want to package into a perfect shiny product, but some are genuinely talented and successful, no matter what they look like. or is that the optimist in me mistaking the few for the many…? because personally i don’t care. if you can sing, you can sing, and if you can’t, you can’t.
and before you totally discount jessica simpson, try listening to some of her first and second album, especially “i wanna love you forever”. that girl can really rock a ballad.
Susan Boyle reminds me of Canada’s famous Rita MacNeil. Beautiful singing overcomes appearance, though appearance does matter a lot in “show business”. As for singers overproduced in the studio, that is changing quickly as live performing takes on more importance as record sales decline It is encouraging that the very young new generation of singers such as Demi Lovato, Miley Cyrus, Taylor Swift and Central Europe’s Ewa Farna, are versatile and dynamic performers even better live than on record.
Susan Boyle reminds me of Canada’s famous Rita MacNeil. Beautiful singing overcomes appearance, though appearance does matter a lot in “show business”. As for singers overproduced in the studio, that is changing quickly as live performing takes on more importance as record sales decline It is encouraging that the very young new generation of singers such as Demi Lovato, Miley Cyrus, Taylor Swift and Central Europe’s Ewa Farna, are versatile and dynamic performers even better live than on record.
How can you even put those two pictures together up there? Susan Boyle is a singer. Britney Spears is a grunting squealer. There’s a difference.
Susan wanted as choir director…
http://pitchbendpost.blogspot.com/
What’s amazing to me is how many people don’t realize how little talent is necessary now to become famous. This article almost isn’t even relevant anymore. With the addition of Autotune software and digital recording with Protunes, it is no longer necessary to be able to sing (or even play an instrument) to release a pop album that will sell. It’s 100% packaging now, and MTV not showing videos won’t change that. There’s some good singers out there that become famous, but there’s much more that couldn’t carry a tune if it was on a CD. Stop being “shocked” when there’s an article about vocals being pre-recorded during live shows, or singers that don’t sing live on their albums. Unfortunately, it’s a sign of the times and the only way to correct it is to “vote” for the real singers with our wallets by buying the material we know to be created by “musicians”, not “creations”.
“Video Killed the Radio Star.” ‘Nuff said.
What an example of “beauty comes from within”. Britney, Jessica have nothing “from within”. Susan, may you always keep that beauty and that God-given gift. Be proud Scotland!
The “Beyonce” syndrome (includes: her, Britney, and all the other assorted no-talents) is why I dont buy music anymore
There’s a plethora of examples of extraordinary musical talent with less-than-pretty looks. Mick Jagger. Blues Traveller. Billy Corgan. The pics from the Jimmy Page/Robert Plant reunion a few years back. And, in contrast, being good looking actually HURT the street cred of some exceptional talent (like Peter Frampton and Rick Springfield). But then again… all I’m listing are male performers. Clearly, the female pop stars are held to a different standard.
Now that I’ve also heard Ms. Boyle sing “Cry Me a River” (recorded 10 years ago) it’s obvious “I Dreamed a Dream” is no fluke. I think Amanda Holden (BGT judge) got it right — Susan Boyle has been a wake-up call to a lot of people who’ve been putting more value on looks than talent. Sign Susan Boyle to a recording contract, drive her directly to a recording studio and tell her to sing her 12 favorite songs. The CD will fly off the shelves … guaranteed !!!
The standard is different for men and women. It only takes one example to make that case. Look at Bob Dylan– recognized for his song WRITING ability over his looks or even an appealing voice. Pop music for women is a whole other sad story. As much as I love Madonna, I think the over-sexualizing of pop singers started with her. That and MTV. In the 80s I remember being proud of Janet Jackson for not lowering herself to that level, but by the end of the decade she too had made her music videos about her hot, sexy bod and not the music. In the video age of music, sex sells and sex appeal replaced genuine talent as the focus in the world of pop music. I have seen signs of change in the last 3 years so I’m keeping my fingers crossed that the pre-packaged, model thin, barbie dolls are on their way out. Unless, of course, they can actually sing. And just maybe they’ll keep their clothes on when they perform.
I do think it’s unfair to ignore people with great talent like susan boyle just based on looks. However, it can;t be ignored that people just enjoy looking at attractive people it is just a natural tendency.. I personally like Jessica simpson and think she can sing but ppl tend to bash her and say people only care about her because of her looks.. I disagree, but check out this gallery–http://tinyurl.com/jsimpsonpics I don;t think anyone can say she’s not hot. lol
While the world has always loved to consume a “decent package artist” like Elvis, Madonna, Britney, Diana Ross etc, it also loves the triumph of the massively talented underdog. Artists/singers whose talent is so huge that their “beauty” need not be conventional. When we look at a Stevie Wonder, Celine Dion, Josh Groban, Susan Boyle or Barbra Streisand for the first time, we (for superficial reasons) lower our expectations, but when they open their mouths and we hear something so beautiful come from them, we are surprised. It is that surprise that challenges us and then we root for these artists because that surprise means there’s hope for all of us. Maybe we all are more than people may assume. Maybe there is greatness in us too.
It isn’t always about the looks for male singers. They don’t ‘package’ the guys like they do the women. If a man has the ‘pipes’ they can look pretty much however they want (i.e. Michael Buble, Pavarotti). The women have a much harder road to travel. The last female singer to get by on her voice alone was Mama Cass Elliot. No one cared what she looked like; she sounded like an angel.
“30 Rock” used Jon Hamm to hilarious effect a few weeks ago to prove that “beautiful” people are indeed given more advantages by society. Life is so much easier “inside the bubble”! If you didn’t see the episode “The Bubble,” check it on out NBC or Hulu – you won’t regret it. It’s funny ’cause it’s TRUE.
As someone who has been purchasing music since BEFORE there was a MTV(yes folks, we do exist) I flat out don’t care what a singer looks like, I pay attention to the voice. My fave is Mariah Carey; she has the VOICE and the look, but the former is far more important. The rule applies to other great singers too, back to Ray Charles and up to Alicia Keys. I might well purchase/download a song from Susan Boyle; she has talent.
As much as I would love for there to be a sea change happening, I don’t think there is. There have always been “unattractive” people who have made a success in music – just fewer in recent years.
Susan Boyle’s story has been incredibly encouraging to me – I’ve watched that video about 12 times. However, I also have to observe that while her voice is very, very good, it’s not amazing. I believe that what everyone is responding to is the story, which has hit a nerve at a time when so many are fearful about the future. This woman bravely faced her fears and naysayers and came out on top!
So, while I’d like think that the overwhelming response is a sign of a sea change, I think it is instead a response to a very human story. One that inspires hope during difficult times.
I was born in the 60’s and grew up in the 70’s.I can remember listening to music JUST for the music.We didn’t know what half(more like 75%) of these people looked like.Now with YouTube I find it (quite often more than not)funny to plug in a group or singer and see what they looked like.Paul Anka is a perfect example.If I had known what he looked like(not that he was ugly, just kind of old looking to a young girl)I probably would not have liked the stuff that was coming through the airwaves.I would much rather judge someone on how they sound then look.But everyone always falls in love with a beautiful singer, don’t we?
There are a lot of entertainers out there that are getting by on looks. Miley Cyrus may be a nice kid, but I don’t think she is a good singer. Same for Demi Lovato. Too a certain degree, I agree with Adam Markowitz. I think the judges on the show were very condescending to Susan Boyle. But he is wrong about the quality of her singing. She is a wonderful singer. Witness her off-the-cuff performance on the Today Show. It was pitch-perfect.