Twilight and Jonas Brothers: A rant

[Reverend Joe]

@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. 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. I do agree with you that Beethoven is not the same thing as modern music, and that it is the product of some snobbery, becuase you have to learn what to appreciate before you can truly appreciate it, namely the extraordinary complexity involved in creating classical music. A better example of truly good music would be traditional folk music, which, although it has not gotten the historical attention of classical music, has proven its worth by its long and pervasive history, even if it does change gradually over time.

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.