Pop Idols - A Disgrace To Musicians Everywhere?

A wildly popular trope in Japanese Pop Music is the "Idol Singer" — a teenage or early twentysomething female performer, chosen for her cute and attractive image and sunny personality more than for her actual singing ability. Idol Singers are recruited by multi-level audition processes, manufactured and managed by Japanese media companies, and ruthlessly discarded after a few years of cranking out formulaic hits. Sometimes, idol singers don't actually sing (like Milli Vanilli).

Naturally, every Japanese schoolgirl dreams of becoming one. Those who used to be one are often Broken Birds.

From the Trope Article, "Idol Singer."

They're majority loved for they looks and charms, but not for what is supposed to matter. Autotune sings for them and I think they even fake dance act.

From what I heard Pop music doesn't sound good. It's not even "Real Music." From all around the world.

There are a few Pop Songs I do like. All in all, I'm just not sure.

edited 13th Jan '11 2:59:18 PM by asiacatdogblue

I don't see why their very existence should pose as a problem to any other musicians. It's not like they stop good music from being made.

But yeah, manufactured acts are a minor irritation at worst. I'm more disturbed by some of the culture surrounding Japanese idols, which seems rather unsavoury to me, than I am bothered by the idols themselves.

edited 13th Jan '11 5:35:46 PM by BobbyG

"Real Music."

I stopped reading here.

What Bobby said.

I don't really know anything about idols, all I know about them is what I read in Strawberry Shake Sweet, and if they're all like that, that okay with me!

Oh, and would that mean Justin Bieber is the American equivalent of an idol?

Despite being Canadian?

Fine then, the WESTERN equivalent. Happy now Mr. (or Mrs.) picky?

He's a teen idol, so I'd say he was a close equivalent.

I'm with Wicked on this. If listening to this sort of crap makes people happy then let 'em.

I mean, I rather doubt people would otherwise be listening to anything I'd approve of.

Sometimes, idol singers don't actually sing (like Milli Vanilli).

Aside from Milli Vanilli, how often does this happen?

Like....two or three times. :|

I can only think of the above example and Ashley Simpson of the top of my head.

Well, in the case of Ashley Simpson, she was, as far as I know, caught lip-synching during an ostensibly live performance. A fair number of people do that; Cheryl Cole and (I think) Justin Bieber did it when they performed on the most recent series of The X Factor.

My apologies for not being specific; what I wanted to ask was whether or not many pop stars other than Milli Vanilli been caught not singing on their records?

Oh, I don't know.

Not that I agree with the whole "Pop Idols are EVIL" thing, anyway.

Not that I agree with the whole "Pop Idols are EVIL" thing, anyway.

Yeah, I've never really understood that. Fair enough if you're not keen on their music, but the "Pop Idols are EVIL" mentality is really quite immature.

Aye, and I'm not really the bastion of maturity myself, but seriously. The whole "let's ship Justin Bieber to Somalia, lol" thing is just....why?

A lot of performers lip-sync during live shows when their game is off, I believe.

As long as they actually sung the song at some point (in the studio or wherever), though, I'm not bothered by it.

^^ Obviously it's the work of a bunch of trolls manipulating whiny twelve year olds who think that "Every Rose Has It's Thorn" is a thrash metal song.

edited 15th Jan '11 3:29:21 PM by TheGloomer

What gets me is that the top rated comment on every music-related video on Youtube says something to the effect of "This is REAL MUSIC! Not like that manufactured Lady Gaga n Justin Bieber crap! [X genre] will NEVER DIE! Thumbs up if u agree."

There's been rumors that Britney's last couple of albums have been sung by a stand-in.

merton: Oi, I know.

I don't really like modern pop music, but even I think it's paranoid and reactionary the way people talk about it.

Oh, except Justin Bieber. That's completely justified.

edited 15th Jan '11 8:06:52 PM by DonZabu

IMO, he's just boring, not terrible. I suppose it's worse if - say, you work in a place that plays a lot of top 40 radio over the speakers and have to listen to "Baby" 10 times a day.

But meh. The Hype Backlash against him is the same shit everyone was hearing about the Jonas Brothers a year ago.

edited 16th Jan '11 10:57:52 AM by Wheezy

And in a year, he will be exactly where the Jonas Brothers are now.

Who are the Jonas Brothers?