FROGGO

Oh, believe me, I think that's a great thing. I am so ready for a throw-back album and everything that's been released so far has had on-point production. I'm definitely ready for it, I just worry that it's going to be the kind of album with killer singles and filler-everything else, as is the case with most debut albums of Disney/Nickelodeon stars. You're right, she looks damn fine in the shots we've seen so far! It's just so odd that she perpetually looks 13 when she's capable of looking like this.

September 3rd, that's 3rd quarter boo I am so ready for an album of Mariah knock offs and late 90s/early 00s Rnb influenced jams She also takes the whole Lolita look to an entirely different level that Lizzy/Lana has never done This is super interesting that you mentioned this. I think I'd add on that she's also black, but in a non-threatening way. It's interesting to think about the code-switching she's obligated to do because she's chasing success through a pop-oriented route and not a hip hop one.

I don't know what it is, I just can't get behind an artist that consistently says, "I want to be a legend". The consistency in which she says this and in which its evident makes it seem as though her music is an after-thought; she's chasing that legend status first and foremost. I really and truly believe that of Beyonce. I just don't understand why someone would have that be their primary focus instead of their craft and work, but hey, to each their own. Her albums have a tendency to be mediocre (except for 4, I'm a sucker for old school R&B ) I think Beyonce's artistry is sorely lacking. As you mentioned, she's not particularly creative. She's not a risk taker. She's the epitome of safe. She's too concerned with maintaining her current stature within music to ever do anything outside of the box, and to me, that exemplifies the "music is an after-thought, legend-status is of utmost importance" she seems to hold near and dear while making decisions. I just really think her music is suffering at the result of it. She doesn't need to have hits, but churning out mediocre album after mediocre album certainly isn't helping her cause imo. I totally agree with you on her being the most driven artist in the industry right now. If I had Beyonce's drive, holy fuck, I could have a Phd right now. Or have published 4 novels. Or own my own business. Or be one of the most successful people in my area of expertise, whatever that may be. We'd all be crazy successful if we had her work ethic

Best track off the album imo

Christ, I feel the same way. I think her discography is terribly overrated and overhyped, and her "saving grace" -- her ability to perform and put on a show -- really isn't all that great as it's been made out to be. She is NOT the female Michael Jackson, imo. While she is a great technical performer; hitting every mark, every note, carrying herself with the "perfect" amount of sass, etc, it all seems very calculated, and not at all genuine. Every move she makes seems so deliberate, the way she moves her body (not sure how to describe it, she's technically doing the moves correctly but doesn't move like an actual dancer), her voice, although brilliant, can be so affected in its delivery, portraying perfect amount of pain, the perfect amount of playfulness, the perfect amount of forcefulness. Perfect, perfect, perfect. I don't know. Her interactions with her fans and banter while on stage seem so insincere, right down to the way she smiles, throws her head back and laughs, and that single tear that falls as she looks off into the distance while performing something that "moves her". It's as though there's something kind of robotic that's holding her back. It's as though her fixation on her image and appearing a certain way transcends to the stage and effects her delivery. I just can't get into it, as much as I want to and as talented as she undoubtedly is. I've just never once gotten the impression that she gets truly lost in her performances. I feel like Britney at her peak, Freddie Mercury, two very different artists from one another -- are those on par with MJ for putting on a great fucking performance. Beyonce doesn't deserve to have her name mentioned in the same sentence as him. I touched a bit on her legendary, iconic status here. Basically, her team marketed her as a ~legend~ and ~iconic~; these were not bestowed upon her through the usual means of time passing and retrospection as they ought to be be. Funny how carefully worded press releases, demands for media outlets, and certain marketing can give someone a title and status that should only be earned in time and not as a hungry grab for a crown the public never set upon their head, if that makes any sense. ANYWAY, I said a lot more than I was meaning to and I only popped in here to mention a couple of op-ed pieces I feel hit the nail on the end in regards to both Beyonce's and Rihanna's career. The first touches on what @@elllipsis mentioned about her lack of notable songs despite her supposed status in music... Beyonce: An Icon Who's Struggled to Make Iconic Music? AND Like She's the Only Girl in the World: The improbable, unstoppable success of Rihanna -- Choice quote: "Mariah, Whitney, Beyoncé, Gaga—these stars feel like stars. Rihanna feels like something else: a one hit-wonder several dozen times over." (What is this accuracy? What a succinct way of putting it.)

oh! looks like a great read!

MAKE THE THREAD! ENCOURAGE MORE SHADE

DEAD at no one anticipating Rihanna

fixed! thank you!

I actually changed it. Go nuts, guys

POLL ADDED! I look forward to reading everyone's shade so don't hold back!

Not at all basic, anyone that loves and appreciates the duo of Long Way 2 Go and Me & U could NEVER be described as basic Please, Godney and The Greatest Pop Album of All Time should not be associated with these lessors and flops. I'll make a mental note to include her in the next batch of updates! (Although I'm not really a fan tbh... )

OK, perhaps the title is misleading and I'm not actually advocating any Stan Wars but WHATEVS. (It you wanna make gentle jabs, I'm all for that, just keep it cute). The last quarter of 2013 is sure to be fucking insane with all the major pop girls releasing or being rumoured to release an album. Let's recap: Katy Perry - October 22 - PRISM Lady Gaga - November 11 - ARTPOP Rihanna - November (rumoured, probability high) Britney Spears - Nov/Dec Beyonce - December (rumoured, probability not-so-great imo*) Which albums are you excited for? Which albums not so much? Which artists do you wish for nothing but a flopping album and failing-to-chat singles? Do you think those that are not confirmed entirely (Rihanna/Britney/Beyonce) will be pushed back to avoid competition with Katy and Gaga? Who do you think will be most successful and who will be the least? *I think that there is no way in hell that Beyonce will be releasing an album this year because she quivers at the sight any of competition and you KNOW her ego could not handle less than spectacular debut sales / album singles. I know we have the "What albums are you anticipating?" thread and we have individual artist threads but I figured this would give us the chance to talk about the upcoming mindfuck we will be experiencing with an influx of music from the most major artists in the world (sans Taylor Swift).

Some more I thought of: - Remember that incredible run of PCD singles from their debut? (Don't Cha, Stick Wit U, Beep, Buttons, I Don't Need a Man, Wait a Minute) - Kat DeLuna's Whine Up is one of the greatest summer hits of the 00s - Danity Kane, such an amazing girl group (get dem #1 albums) - 06/'07 gave us Avril's and X-tina's last non-flop albums (seems like so long ago...!) - JoJo, poor girl, is unable to release an album because of her shitty Blackground record contract

UGH THIS PERFECT SONG And L.A.M.B. was such a solid pop album. I don't think Gwen will be making another solo album any time soon; she's working on a follow up No Doubt album.

Thanks for the info @@elllipsis! I'm inclined to go with Iggy on the multiple album versions; I'm just not a fan of different editions for various regions and re-releases and deluxe versions and certain store-only versions (i.e. Target). Such money-grabbers, I love the idea of releasing the one, complete, perfect version as intended by the artist and having that be that, especially in this day and age. I'm sure if must be frustrating for some heavily-involved, hands-on artists to have their dream album art, packaging, songs and track order done up only to have what you deem to be the finished project -- as according to the concept you developed and spent months/years on -- be sliced apart and repackaged to someone else's specifications. Or I suppose, even worse: being forced to release a single you feel is not representative of your work. Just another way the industry takes the agency out of being an artist, but that's what happens when you make a deal with the devil. Anyway, It really is a pity that she doesn't get a say in this.

Oh. Well I suppose I can always make it a bonus track on iTunes, but it's gonna suck not having that on the physical edition.

Welp. I will reserve judgment until I hear it in full.

...But where is Bounce?

Her interviews are an absolute delight. She's incredibly eloquent, intelligent, and well-cultured (in terms of being into the arts). It's really quite refreshing to see an up-and-coming pop girl (she's basically pop at the end of the day, imo) be so outspoken, honest, and so smart. (Why so many artists choose to hide or downplay that part of themselves, I'll never know). Love it.

Christ, I love this outfit Wherever are the fucks sis?

Let us take a second and think about all of the pop girls that fell off the face of the earth with no follow-up albums (or incredibly floppy albums ): Favourite artists of this era? Favourite albums? Favourite songs? Any artists I missed? Discuss!

I legitimately don't understand what is being said. Please note that I: ...never said that Mexicans were a minority, nor implied that simply by way of being "non-white", one is a minority. (What is this logic??) ...I never made any comment about the style of dress Lana chose to wear for Tropico, nor have I made any mention of her culturally appropriating anything in relation to Tropico. I have not criticised Lana once in regards to Tropico. ...I made a specific point of using the term "visible minority" and not "minority", which means something different. ...The only point I did make was about those not in a position to question the validity of the criticism of cultural appropriation doing so. I never said anything more. Please refrain from putting words in my mouth. I have not commented specifically on Tropico or appropriating Mexican culture and I would appreciate if any replies or mentions to me acknowledged this.