Quote Originally Posted by Reverend Joe View Post
@Sasaki, I think you're oversimplifying the issue here. I think you are overlooking the fact that good art does not automatically bring fame.

Example: Scott H. Biram. Even on an eye-to-eye level with the Black Eyed Peas, he's much better: his lyrics are much better-written and his message is more universal. The reason he is not famous is because he doesn't fit into the zeitgeist. He doesn't do pop, he does honest-to-god country, and even in the Country music circuit that isn't very popular.
Can't say I like that song though. Reason he's not famous is because most people don't like his music I'd have to say.

Popular songs or movies are only good in the sense that they are geared to appeal to the sound or image that has the most appeal at the moment. That's the difference between what is "truly" good and what isn't: how long it can hold up, and how universal its appeal.
This isn't the perspective I take on music though. I take a purely personal interest in it. If you like a song I'm not going to try and argue with you about whether it's a good song--that would be completely off the point. Like if you said you like bread and butter pickles I tried to argue that they were ok but that dill pickles were "truly" good.

Another example: compare the Black Eyed Peas to the Beatles or Elvis Presley. I hate both of them with a passion, but you have to admit that their continued appeal after so many decades is a sign that they struck a certain chord. If the Black Eyed Peas last as long, then they can be judged good -- but I would be surprised if they did.
Well, the beatles and elvis captured the feel of their time, but they probably get .1% of the playtime they used to because our time is different. I think this is true for all music. What percentage of classical music written do we listen to today? Art seldom lasts, that is the way it goes. It's kind of the beauty of it really. I would disagree with you entirely, if you are going to judge a song judge it by how well it strikes a chord with their own decade. That's the only real measuring stick.