Vapid Super Bowl Performance

[Evanforbass]

honestly, if you can't get into "I Can't Feel my Face" or "Blinding Lights" you may not have a pulse. I'm not a pop guy, I'd always prefer a Tom Petty or U2 halftime show, but I can acknowledge well-made music and talent. Say what you want about the SB performance/production, but The Weeknd is a great artist.

 

[JKos]

Autotune is literally used on almost every single major label track produced. It is completely ubiquitous. You'd have to turn off your radio completely.

He did use the word "noticeable."

 

[Basslice]

Autotune is literally used on almost every single major label track produced. It is completely ubiquitous. You'd have to turn off your radio completely.

Not really. But if used subtly a little correction it is not noticeable. For many it is "The Sound" and can make anyone (probably even me) into pop quality radio vox. That's where I draw the line. Again, I am not asking for approval. There is plenty of music that I like. And no, I don't tune into pop radio, or top 40. Just not my thing. My son likes it and knows my limits.

 

[baileyboy]

I had never heard of The Weekend until the Superbowl. I watched reruns of Happy Days instead.

 

[InhumanResource]

Interesting. I listened on a nice setup and it sounded really good.

That actually was Springsteen? We convinced ourselves it was a lookalike. Why would they have Springsteen, someone identified with New Jersey, act like a midwest farmer? That's why we thought it wasn't actually Springsteen.

that’s been his image for like forty years!

 

[BarfanyShart]

I can only explain for me. There is no quicker way for ANY song to get turned off instantly for either of the two following infractions:
1) The N-Word, regardless of who said it. It ain't cool and I find it highly offensive.
2) Any noticeable use of auto-tune, pitch correction in vocals.

That is just me. I am not asking anyone to agree or disagree with me. So it is no surprise that I don't know who he is. Not my kind of thing for reason #2.

#1 isn't applicable, at least, I'm sure not applicable to any of the Weeknd's radio hits.

as to #2, there I think we have a problem. The whole Alt-R&B subgenre he occupies is lousy with heavy digital vocal manipulation. The guy's a monster singer, don't get me wrong, but the aesthetic he's going for is this futuristic, gritty, romantic, urban vibe.

 

[deff]

Not really. But if used subtly a little correction it is not noticeable. For many it it "The Sound" and can make anyone (probably even me) into pop quality radio vox. That's where I draw the line. Again, I am not asking for approval. There is plenty of music that I like.

Some form of pitch correction subtle or otherwise is used on almost every major label recording. I'd argue there isn't a country song out on the radio today without it. It doesn't matter if you don't believe facts.

 

[Basslice]

Some form of pitch correction subtle or otherwise is used on almost every major label recording. I'd argue there isn't a country song out on the radio today without it. It doesn't matter if you don't believe facts.

I think the key here is "noticeable". And believe it or not, there are performers out there that have fantastic voices without trickery. That is also a fact and it doesn't matter if you believe that.

 

[deff]

Pitch correction is much, much more common than most people think. You'd actually find it hard to pick a record off the Billboard Top 100 that doesn't have pitch correction at all. Vocal pitch correction isn't just “hard correction” (the late 2000s T-Pain sound) anymore. Major labels practically insist on at least some form of it will all pop music. I'm not into it either.... It's just a fact. If you listen to modern radio it is literally splashed all over the entirety of it.

 

[PennyroyalWe]

vap·id; /ˈvapəd/;
adjective
offering nothing that is stimulating or challenging.

I say vapid because it was a bunch of people dancing and marching around to pre recorded music. Some segments were clearly not even live and pre taped.

It is not an assessment based on my liking it disliking his music. It was another of a long series of performance pieces that are becoming more about visuals and style over any type of substance. I don't have any trouble understanding much of anything.

Anyone that actually plays an instrument should be concerned about the future of performing artists.

That’s why it’s the half time performance, not half time concert. It’s not supposed to be musically impressive Or representative of the highest levels of musicianship, it’s just supposed to be a spectacle, just as football is a spectator sport. People are there to watch and be wowed, not listen.

 

[Altitude]

This thread is ironic because a bunch of people are claiming to display their indifference to football, the Superbowl, and the Weeknd - but in reality the posts are passive-aggressive criticisms of people who like those things.

 

[DJ Bebop]

Not really. But if used subtly a little correction it is not noticeable. For many it is "The Sound" and can make anyone (probably even me) into pop quality radio vox. That's where I draw the line. Again, I am not asking for approval. There is plenty of music that I like. And no, I don't tune into pop radio, or top 40. Just not my thing. My son likes it and knows my limits.

 

[Quinn Roberts]

You've posted a bunch of award-winning/influential/acclaimed/successful artists. Those people have definitely played half-time shows.

But why doesn't The Weeknd, who in his own right has been successful/infuential/acclaimed/award-winning rate as a "top artist", though? You can look at the list of awards he's been up for/won if you need to.

List of awards and nominations received by the Weeknd - Wikipedia

Normally I keep my opinions on artists to myself, but I'll just say a quick comparison of the aforementioned artist's lyrics compared to this Weekend person is quite revealing. Why is it so hard to make a compelling song without being overtly vulgar in today's day and age? Not that artist's like the Stones didn't have some darker/cruder lyrics from time to time, but at least they were more witty and subtle. I'm in my early 20s too so it's not even an age thing for me. I just flat out don't get it; nor would I want to.

 

[DJ Bebop]

This thread is ironic because a bunch of people are trying to display their indifference to football, the Superbowl, and the Weeknd - but in reality the posts are passive-aggressive criticisms of people who like those things.

 

[Panek]

Springsteen, tales of honest working people as told by rich recording artists. So real his ax is relicked. If you can fake the authenticity the rest is easy.

People hate "relic'd" instruments but love the so-called "Boss". Go figure...

 

[Evanforbass]

The Buccs dominated the game. Their defense completely shut down Mahomes' offense. 0 TDs, just 3 field goals.

With the Buc's pure domination of KC's offensive line, TB couldve started their third string QB and won.

 

[Altitude]

I like the Weeknd. I'd record or tour with him in a heartbeat, what fun music.

Last night wasn't his best showing ever. It had to be tough to balance playing to the quasi-audience and playing to the camera, which was different than any other Superbowl.

 

[BassDad1964]

It would have been better if someone actually had been given a bass and been told, "You got 15 minutes kid...make it count."
I had a whole line up of bass riffs.

 

[BarfanyShart]

That’s why it’s the half time performance, not half time concert. It’s not supposed to be musically impressive Or representative of the highest levels of musicianship, it’s just supposed to be a spectacle, just as football is a spectator sport. People are there to watch and be wowed, not listen.

I've actually tried to point this out to people about the halftime show in the past. You think about the halftime at a big college game, it's 80% visual, and the goal of the band's music is to hype up the crowd by rapid-fire playing snippets of tunes people recognize.

 

[JKos]

Given that his vox were mixed slow [sic] low

Maybe because I don't care about the lyrics I didn't even notice that.

that’s been his image for like forty years!

Oh. I have never not associated him with New Jersey.

This thread is ironic because...

...a bunch of people who complain about not being able to make money playing music are complaining about someone who has made a lot of money playing music.