When it comes to quality music, who are you going to take: the O'Jays or Ne-Yo? Michael Jackson or Lil' Wayne? Perhaps the younger performers I use as examples here have the common sense and humility to admit that they could only hope to aspire to the example to the example those greater entertainers have set. But considering how empty-headed the music of Ne-Yo and Lil' Wayne is (no funk, no soul, doesn't make me want to move, intellectually offensive, wouldn't sell me a cash advance if I were a Madoff victim), I have serious doubts as to whether they can see beyond the overblown pigs' trough of their own hype.
Even Jamie Foxx, who should stick to comedy and biopics, fancies himself worthy of dressing like the departed Michael Jackson and moonwalking as a "tribute" during the 2009 BET Awards. The Jamie Foxx moonwalk is yet another tacky and tasteless testament to the lack of imagination on the part of television networks. I'm curious as to whether he was cajoled into doing that, or whether it was his own idea. Either way, everyone loses. Cash loans for a critical thinking class would be in his future, but I'm sure he thinks he's too cool (and rich) for school.
And the fans back me up
Check out some of the user comments left on Entertainment Weekly's live blog of the 2009 BET Awards. Nearly all of them are critical of the entire event. "Boring" and "tacky" are just two of the words used to describe a listless show that was punctuated only by a touching tribute Janet Jackson gave for her departed brother Michael (see video below).
Many fans say Beyonce sounded tired, and she was the headline performer. Certainly not enough to distract us from the "Beat It" monstrosity that not only was tasteless, but offensive. Do they need emcees to continually scream "make some noise?" And are sheeple dumb enough not to know when to applaud anymore? Or perhaps the truth is that they're smart enough to know when to WITHHOLD applause. Take a look at what's going on here and see how sour and hollow this sounds. Sticking with videos of the "King of Pop" in his glory days would have been both more appropriate and a more fitting tribute to his legacy.
I think what we have here is a lack of real talent in the over-commercialized hip-hop world. There are too few skilled artists. Unless individuals with talent start to hit the scene, this music will die before its time.
Class in a vacuum
Janet Jackson and family patriarch Joe Jackson attended the BET Awards in order to simply be a part of a presentation honoring the legacy of Michael. Joe, who was known to be a harsh taskmaster, sat beside the ubiquitous Reverend Al Sharpton at the event. Apparently moved by the tribute, Joe Jackson told the media "I wish the world had recognized him when he was living. Right now, he's bigger than ever. But I wish he was here to see all this, to hear all this."
Then Janet Jackson took the stage before a brief video tribute aired. It was an emotional moment that resonated, a tonic that almost made viewers and attendees forget the slap-dash production put on by the failing BET Network. Janet said, "My entire family wanted to be here tonight but it was too painful. To you, Michael is an icon. To us, Michael is family. He will forever live in all of our hearts. On behalf of my family and myself, thank you for all of your love, thank you for all of your support. We miss him so much. Thank you so much."
Jamie, Jamie, Jamie
You can act. You can do some comedy. You can dance. You can sing. You are talented - don't destroy your career with bad decision-making like this ever again. Michael Jackson is a pop music god. Imitation isn't the sincerest form of flattery when the body's still on the cooling board.
Speaking of good music, I have to refer to America's past, present and future. Jazz is an original art form with a history of talented musicians who testified as to its greatness. That the youth of America - African-American or otherwise - has lost touch with this vital, living music is criminal.
What passes as music for too many youths today, while slickly produced, seldom has any kind of social conscience. It's brainwashing bump and grind. It isn't tribal, it isn't sexy and it definitely won't get you anything that lasts longer than a small sugar rush. Give me Ben Webster playing "My Romance" and I'll show you what real sex sounds like. In-your-face booty shaking and gangsta talk are peacock feathers poseurs use to cover their no-talent backsides. In the event you've already spent your album advance on Cristal for your bathtub, try a cash advance for the cash loans you'll need for music lessons.
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