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May 23, 2013

Why Does Elton John Hate TV Talent Shows?

by Jean Bentley, posted Oct 19th 2010 10:00AM

Sir Elton JohnThough his name was tossed around this summer as a possible replacement for Simon Cowell on 'American Idol,' Sir Elton John probably wouldn't have said yes if he were actually asked to fill the cranky Brit slot at the judges' table.

According to the BBC, John said he is not a fan of televised talent competitions. "I don't want to be on television," John told the Radio Times. "It's become boring, arse-paralyzingly brain crippling. I like Simon Cowell, but what he does is TV entertainment."

John didn't stop there -- he also criticized former British 'X-Factor' winners Leona Lewis and Alexandra Burke. "TV vaults you to superstardom and then you have to back it up, which is hard," he said. "Leona Lewis and Alexandra Burke are at the mercy of the next song they can get."

And everyone's favorite 'Britain's Got Talent' darling, Susan Boyle? John said she's "an endearing phenomenon," but "might not understand the rigors of show business."

He did have kind words for pop stars Lily Allen, Amy Winehouse and Lady Gaga, who write their own music, but he wasn't so kind to the rest of the lot. "Songwriters today are pretty awful, which is why everything sounds the same," he said. "Contemporary pop isn't very inspiring."

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J

He's totally right. It's a struggle to find a good singer or band
nowadays that doesn't sound like a factory manufactured en mass
copycat piece of plastic tripe. It's like all the radio stations now
are committed to payola do or die. And the music video market is
embarrassing.

I still have yet to purchase one CD from an AI alumni.

If you pay attention to most songs out today, you too can be a
millionaire. Just follow this formula: 4/4 time, open with a catchy
but easy to understand hook, make sure there's guitar in it of some
kind, only go for an even number of measures but make it quick, go
into the verse and take down everything but the vocals and a bass/drum
combo or a guitar or keys, add a layer of music right before the
chorus, have all the instruments come in at the chorus, down again to
a verse but add one extra instrument to make it complicated, take it
to the verse, change it up and make it different to lead into a guitar
lead, lead guitar riff over chorus with maybe a change but don't risk
it, take it to a shortened verse with just vocals, then go into the
chorus full on with lead guitar then end the song on either a fade or
vocals if you want a haunting end. Cut. Auto tune. Done. Congrats,
you've just made your own song. Leave it at 120 bpm and you'll do
fine.

And they call it the gravy train...

October 19 2010 at 3:22 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
J

He's totally right. It's a struggle to find a good singer or band nowadays that doesn't sound like a factory manufactured en mass copycat piece of plastic tripe. It's like all the radio stations now are committed to payola do or die. And the music video market is embarrassing.

I still have yet to purchase one CD from an AI alumni.

If you pay attention to most songs out today, you too can be a millionaire. Just follow this formula: 4/4 time, open with a catchy but easy to understand hook, make sure there's guitar in it of some kind, only go for an even number of measures but make it quick, go into the verse and take down everything but the vocals and a bass/drum combo or a guitar or keys, add a layer of music right before the chorus, have all the instruments come in at the chorus, down again to a verse but add one extra instrument to make it complicated, take it to the verse, change it up and make it different to lead into a guitar lead, lead guitar riff over chorus with maybe a change but don't risk it, take it to a shortened verse with just vocals, then go into the chorus full on with lead guitar then end the song on either a fade or vocals if you want a haunting end. Cut. Auto tune. Done. Congrats, you've just made your own song. Leave it at 120 bpm and you'll do fine.

And they call it the gravy train...

October 19 2010 at 3:18 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
ChaoZ

More importantly, since when did I start agreeing with Elton John?!

October 19 2010 at 1:01 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply

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