Thoughts on Bruno Mars singing Superbowl Halftime

[Ironbreaker]

I just read the whole thread and we have two nancies fighting over who has the most 'culture'.


Thats whats wrong with America.

 

[NorthernLights88]

I just read the whole thread and we have two nancies fighting over who has the most 'culture'.


Thats whats wrong with America.

I actually laughed a bit when I read this. It's so true. As far as the Bruno Mars thing goes, it blows my mind how grown men argue for the case of "talent" that those types of acts supposedly have. Maybe they haven't heard the same Bruno Mars I've been forced to listen to. There is no talent or creativity to be found in any of it.

It's like when people try to argue that Taylor Swift is some amazing "artist" because she "writes her own music". Garbage doesn't automatically become quality art because you write it yourself. All commercial music is about one or more of the following topics - partying, getting drunk, money/materialism, whining about relationships, and self pity fests. I don't understand how so many people aren't sick of these very worn out subjects in music yet. Then you have the defense arguement that "sometimes what the song is about doesn't matter, it's just about how the song/singer sound". I honestly think that's a bad arguement as well. There's virtually no real instruments in modern pop music, it's all computerized crap, and most commercial bands these days that do play instruments suck at it. Too much autotuning of voices, and whiny, annoying voices even when it isn't used, for the most part.

 

[RobBase]

Choosing from a small group of realistic options - Daft Punk.

 

[IndyAndy]

Well; hopefully - unlike New Orleans & Beyoncé - the local power grid won't be drained to the point of blackout by his Lip-Sync-O-Tron 5000!

In all seriousness, I agree completely with NorthernLights88's post about how the Halftime Show has become a joke in general.

Now; if you're asking me who I would love to see play, well...

2014 will be the 40th anniversary of the release of Rush's debut album.

 

[NorthernLights88]

you haven't made a convincing argument that he was a bad choice, but that's business as usual for you.

Allow me to quote some Bruno Mars lyrics for you that I know not by choice, but from having been forced to listen to commercial music on a fairly regular basis. This is paraphrasing slight, as I'm not going to bother looking it up.

1) I should'a bought you flowers, and held ya hand. Should'a given you all my hours, while I had the chance. Take you to ever party, 'cause all you wanted to do was daaaaance. Now my baby's dancin', but she's dancin' with anotha man."

2) "I would do anything, foe ya! (yeah, yeah) Jump in front of a train, foe ya! (yeah, yeah) Jump off of a plane, foe ya! (yeah, yeah) Even catch a grenade, foe ya! (yeah, yeah) Oh you know I'd die foe ya baaabe, but you won't do the same!"

These are sung in a tone like he's about to break down and start crying. There are no real instruments to be found, just pre-recorded computer beats and samples mixed around. The lyrics don't get any deeper or more complex on any of his other songs, including the rare more upbeat ones, nor does the instrumental integrity (or lack thereof) ever get any better than that. This is all about pushing a cheap, quickly made product to people with short attention spans, primarily the young audience that has never taken the time to learn the patience to appreciate music (or any art for that matter) that requires any talent or integrity.

Keep in mind, this is coming from a guy who is 24 years old who went through a phase of listening to modern mainstream music from his late teens to about age 20, so I'm not some old fart who hasn't ever even given the newer top 40 radio crap a fair shake. I know what it's about and why it's a waste of time. It is 100% about them pushing a cheap product to mindless consumers who buy based largely on hype, what they think will make them "cool", and feel accepted. There is still good music being made these days, but it's mostly pretty underground and independent stuff, with very few exceptions ever breaking into the mainstream.

 

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

^ Yeah....basically what he said ^

 

[mcro_rave_2001]

Allow me to quote some Bruno Mars lyrics for you that I know not by choice, but from having been forced to listen to commercial music on a fairly regular basis. This is paraphrasing slight, as I'm not going to bother looking it up.

1) I should'a bought you flowers, and held ya hand. Should'a given you all my hours, while I had the chance. Take you to ever party, 'cause all you wanted to do was daaaaance. Now my baby's dancin', but she's dancin' with anotha man."

2) "I would do anything, foe ya! (yeah, yeah) Jump in front of a train, foe ya! (yeah, yeah) Jump off of a plane, foe ya! (yeah, yeah) Even catch a grenade, foe ya! (yeah, yeah) Oh you know I'd die foe ya baaabe, but you won't do the same!"

These are sung in a tone like he's about to break down and start crying. There are no real instruments to be found, just pre-recorded computer beats and samples mixed around. The lyrics don't get any deeper or more complex on any of his other songs, including the rare more upbeat ones, nor does the instrumental integrity (or lack thereof) ever get any better than that. This is all about pushing a cheap, quickly made product to people with short attention spans, primarily the young audience that has never taken the time to learn the patience to appreciate music (or any art for that matter) that requires any talent or integrity.

Keep in mind, this is coming from a guy who is 24 years old who went through a phase of listening to modern mainstream music from his late teens to about age 20, so I'm not some old fart who hasn't ever even given the newer top 40 radio crap a fair shake. I know what it's about and why it's a waste of time. It is 100% about them pushing a cheap product to mindless consumers who buy based largely on hype, what they think will make them "cool", and feel accepted. There is still good music being made these days, but it's mostly pretty underground and independent stuff, with very few exceptions ever breaking into the mainstream.

i've always heard the direct opposite that Mars doesn't use any technology to make his instruments or his voice better and that is why his live performances sound just like his radio performances, and that is something that can't be said for many new artist today.

 

[beardown07]

He's already thinking of all the cocaine he can buy from this gig.

 

[NorthernLights88]

i've always heard the direct opposite that Mars doesn't use any technology to make his instruments or his voice better and that is why his live performances sound just like his radio performances, and that is something that can't be said for many new artist today.

I will fully admit that I can't confirm to an exact T to what extent technology is used in the production of Bruno Mars songs. I avoid hearing anything about the personal lives of celebrities, especially ones that suck. I had a buddy arugeing to me the other day that Kesha is intelligent despite her many insanely stupid songs loaded with autotune and lyrics about getting tanked/partying/D's because he heard "she got high SAT scores and claimed to sneak into college history classes while she was in high school because she just loved learning". I don't care if any of that is true, it doesn't make her horrible music any better. The same principles apply to Bruno Mars and all other artists. They could be completely terrible people yet still make good art. Is every random person out there who tries to make music using minimal technology, just intruments and raw vocals without any technology beyond recording devices also good at it? Of course not. For every legitimately extremely talented musician in the world, there are tons who are only moderatly good at it and even more who flat out blow.

Think of it like football. How many people in the world could play middle linebacker at the level that Ray Lewis did in his prime? How many Peyton Mannings and Randy Mosses are hanging around town, but just weren't interested in making millions to play a game? Obviously, people with talent on that level are very few and far between. Same goes for music.

To finish up the topic of Bruno Mars though, he obviously does use some comupterized beats and samples in at least some of his songs. What isn't is simplistic crap anyway, and like I said before, his technical skill at vocals is so overrated it's not even funny. He sounds like he's about to break down crying and/or have a seizure when he's singing. People just love how over dramatic it sounds.

 

[MrMoJoRisin63]

I never heard of him until yestreday, but my wife said I am not missing anything.

 

[NorthernLights88]

I never heard of him until yestreday, but my wife said I am not missing anything.

Your wife is right. Unless you have the musical tastes of a 15 year old girl, you will not enjoy that talentless hack.

 

[NorthernLights88]

Honestly, to anyone saying that they don't like Bruno Mars but respect him as an artist, check this out and tell me if you still feel that way - Bruno Mars camp asked Breakbox's label if Mars could do a cover of his song "Baby, I'm Yours". Breakbox and his label said no. A couple months later, Mars and his label did what they wanted despite being turned down, and although not a direct cover, put out his song "Treasure" that is a clear cut rip off of "Baby I'm Yours". Breakbox called Mars out on this. Listen to the two songs side by side if you don't believe me.

Yeah, Bruno Mars is SUCH a good and original artist.

 

[SoCalWizFan]

I never understood why they never gave Metallica a shot at it. They're pretty mainstream by now, and they can put on a hell of a live show.

I would either go with them or Green Day. Both of them have lots of relatively mainstream material to work with, put on a great show & would not fall into the "70 yr old" ban (e.g. Rolling Stones, Who) who could not deliver. However - the problem with getting anyone like this is that the NFL would probably demand some prerecorded music that would result in resistance by the bands & a potentially disappointing show.

 

[Bunkamania]

I watched him perform on SNL the other night and saw a brass section on stage with him. Not too sure how much of his music is pre-recorded beats but, he is worth a listen or two here and there.

If I could put a band up as the Super Bowl halftime performance it would be Guns N' Roses.

 

[JDM]

The half time show is time for a smoke break. I don't care who they play because I won't watch it.

 

[Smart]

Honestly, to anyone saying that they don't like Bruno Mars but respect him as an artist, check this out and tell me if you still feel that way - Bruno Mars camp asked Breakbox's label if Mars could do a cover of his song "Baby, I'm Yours". Breakbox and his label said no. A couple months later, Mars and his label did what they wanted despite being turned down, and although not a direct cover, put out his song "Treasure" that is a clear cut rip off of "Baby I'm Yours". Breakbox called Mars out on this. Listen to the two songs side by side if you don't believe me.

Yeah, Bruno Mars is SUCH a good and original artist.

You realize that nearly every artist considered to be among the greatest ever have stolen at least some material from other bands, right? The Beatles had to give Chuck Berry songwriting credit on "Come Together," as one of just hundreds of examples.

I don't know what your problem with him is. He writes his own songs. Some of them are pretty decent ("Just the Way You Are and "When I was Your Man" are good songs (and your snippet calling out the latter's lyrics are funny, as the snippeted portion is actually quite good lyrically; "Grenade" is not a good song)). He write's other people's songs as well. I'll bet you half the people calling his style out liked Cee-Lo's "Fuck You," for example. Or Travie McCoy's "Billionaire." And while I personally hate the song, I know a lot of people who can't stand Bruno Mars who like "Young and Wild and Free," apparently unaware that is him as well. He's a good live performer.

I'm really not a huge Bruno Mars fan, but your hatred is hilariously misdirected when 95% of modern artists are worse and less talented.

 

[SoCalWizFan]

I watched him perform on SNL the other night and saw a brass section on stage with him. Not too sure how much of his music is pre-recorded beats but, he is worth a listen or two here and there.

If I could put a band up as the Super Bowl halftime performance it would be Guns N' Roses.

That all depends on what exactly you mean by "Guns N' Roses? If it was the entire band including Axl & Slash (will never happen) that would be great. Even a Velvet Revolver type setup would be good. However - if it is the version with Axl & a bunch of hacks - no thanks.

 

[NorthernLights88]

You realize that nearly every artist considered to be among the greatest ever have stolen at least some material from other bands, right? The Beatles had to give Chuck Berry songwriting credit on "Come Together," as one of just hundreds of examples.

I don't know what your problem with him is. He writes his own songs. Some of them are pretty decent ("Just the Way You Are and "When I was Your Man" are good songs (and your snippet calling out the latter's lyrics are funny, as the snippeted portion is actually quite good lyrically; "Grenade" is not a good song)). He write's other people's songs as well. I'll bet you half the people calling his style out liked Cee-Lo's "Fuck You," for example. Or Travie McCoy's "Billionaire." And while I personally hate the song, I know a lot of people who can't stand Bruno Mars who like "Young and Wild and Free," apparently unaware that is him as well. He's a good live performer.

I'm really not a huge Bruno Mars fan, but your hatred is hilariously misdirected when 95% of modern artists are worse and less talented.

I'll be honest with you, I don't even know any of the songs or artists you mentioned besides Cee-Lo and his song "F*ck You". I thought it was a decent song. Again I have to ask you though, how can any self respecting, grown man sit down and enjoy listening to "When I Was Your Man" by Bruno Mars? I said it before, it's just a bunch of Disneyland white knighting bullcrap, and his singing style is WAY overdramitic in it. I just can't stand the guy's voice, it's so whiny, you might as well be listening to Fall Out Boy. I already explained why just him "writing his own songs" doesn't make him talented... 14 year old girls "write their own lyrics" all the time, and 99.999% of them are terrible at it...

If I hand you a turd and say "but I made that myself" when you call it crap, it would still be a turd. Same goes for Mar's music. I honestly think that in order to enjoy his type of music to the point of going out of your way to listen to it purposefully or consider him a truly respectable, memorable act, you'd have to be pretty unventurous in your music endevors. As for your Beatles comparison... Please, you named 1 song of the band that revoltionized rock and infuenced countless bands, where they actually gave credit to another band where credit was due. My example of Mars with his song "Treasure", he flat out stole the whole flow of the song from Beatbox, without giving him credit, after he was turned down to cover the song. Comparing Bruno Mars to the Beatles is just stupid, and I think you know that.

As far as my "hate" (sigh... The whole "you're just a hater" is such a whiny, cop out, played out concept) for Mars goes, please spare me. I've heard his enough of his crap enough times to know that at the end of the day, regardless of how he and his production crew make it, it sounds every bit as cheap, corny, and lacking talent and creativity as most other mainstream acts. I don't hate the guy as a person, I'm just baffled as to how grown men can get hung up on music that aimed primarily at early 20's women and teeny boppers. Even if you still consider Mars listenable, you have the internet at your exposal. Seriously, go look for some bands/artists that aren't shoved down our throats by top 40 radio constantly, whether they be older music or underground/indie artists. There's an endless plethora of artists in the world FAR more talented than Bruno Mars could ever hope to be, you just need to look harder for them than turning on your local top 40 radio station. Popularity alone does not equal talent.

 

[Clayton]

Honestly the only time Ive seen Bruno Mars is during the VMAs because I wanted to see the Miley Cyrus crap. The only thing I grabbed from Mars' performance is that he wants you to roll on ecstasy before listening to his music.