Super Bowl Halftime

[gamecockcat]

I was told in the Taylor Swift thread that Kendrick Lamar was an artist. I have heard of him so I'm watching it right now.

I've played music for >45 years so I'm not an uneducated hack. I see not much artistry in what I'm watching. Mainly a drum machine with a few synth chords thrown in every so often. No melody from the vocalist, just rapid fire rhythmic rhymes. I don't expect pop music to rival Bach and Mozart. But this type of 'artistry' really seems like least common denominator type stuff.

Serious question: how do any of these types of artists distinguish themselves? There is not singular musicianship, choreography, melodic content, etc.

I won't say it sucks. There's just nothing to it. I would put it alongside modern art where the artist just randomly throws paint on a canvas and declares it 'art'.

In 25 years, will Kendrick Lamar music be remembered or still be influential? I would highly doubt it.

 

[Someguywhodoesntlikeyou]

I am 50 years old and know enough to understand that Kendrick Lamar is one of the greatest Hip Hop artists of all time.

My opinion?

If you don’t understand it you’re probably too old.

 

[PickSixKing]

I'm getting in my seat early for the replies. I know there will be some good ones 🍿 😅

 

[ukalumni00]

It’s rather impressive how guys like Lamar can write, memorize, and spit out so many lyrics at such a fast pace. It takes a special talent to do that whether you like that type of music or not.

 

[WildcatFan1982]

 

[Someguywhodoesntlikeyou]

Whether you like rap or not it’s rather impressive how guys like Lamar can write, memorize,
and spit out so many lyrics at such a fast pace. It takes a special talent to do that whether you like that type of music or not.

I agree.

 

[PhDcat2018]

Samuel l Jackson looking like Apollo creed before drago killed him

 

[Irish Beck]

You're hearing 30 seconds to 1 minute of entire songs and analyzing them like a freshman in college. Take that into consideration.

 

[Caveman Catfan]

I am too old. I see the NASCAR commercial using The Who and I think of the excitement that music stirs, regardless of age. The halftime show was boring to me. I wanted to like it, but I definitely am too old. Oh well.

 

[Caveman Catfan]

BTW, I see the cancer commercial with the kid and I love the music.

Don't call it a comeback, I been here for years…

 

[Someguywhodoesntlikeyou]

I am too old. I see the NASCAR commercial using The Who and I think of the excitement that music stirs, regardless of age. The halftime show was boring to me. I wanted to like it, but I definitely am too old. Oh well.

And that excitement you feel for the Who?

That’s what people 20, 30 years younger than me and you feel for artists like Kendrick Lamar.

I remember reading about how the parents of the Bobbysoxers thought Frank Sinatra’s music was the worst thing in the world and moral depravity.

 

[Irish Beck]

You just asked if the hottest artist in rap/hip hop who is already considered top 5 all time would be remembered in 25 years.

The chiefs offensive line is better than that take.

 

[Caveman Catfan]

And that excitement you feel for the Who?

That’s what people 20, 30 years younger than me and you feel for artists like Kendrick Lamar.

I remember reading about how the parents of the Bobbysoxers thought Frank Sinatra’s music was the worst thing in the world and moral depravity.

Most kids I know love that Who song.

 

[Someguywhodoesntlikeyou]

Most kids I know love that Who song.

And Not Like Us is a cultural phenomenon.

It’ll be remembered in the same way by younger generations who will pass it on like The Who’s music.

 

[WTF Cat]

I never thought I'd hear anything worse than Yoko Ono.

I am wrong.

 

[Caveman Catfan]

And Not Like Us is a cultural phenomenon.

It’ll be remembered in the same way by younger generations who will pass it on like The Who’s music.

I know the song. I am not sure your point. I come out and say I am too old and you act like you made the point. LOL

 

[I am stupid]

Removing all opinions on the music itself there wasn't much to it. Nothing spectacular or really exciting that you've come to expect from the halftime show.

So I wouldn't say it was terrible, but nothing really good about it.

 

[Irish Beck]

I know the song. I am not sure your point. I come out and say I am too old and you act like you made the point. LOL

He's saying the nostalgia you feel for the who will likely be felt by Kendrick fans in a similar time frame. He's not just saying you're old, hes saying the music has the same merits, regardless of your taste.

 

[gamecockcat]

I'm sorry. But what I just witnessed had nearly zero musical talent on display. It's impressive that he can recite that many lyrics so quickly. But there are individuals who can recite 500 digits of pi - that doesn't make them mathematicians, does it?

You can say I'm old and this isn't music for me. Okay. But, objectively, what part of that performance was musical? The drum machine is rhythmic. Fine, that's musical. Melody? None.

And what makes KL 'one of the greatest hip hop artists'? How is he better than all the others? What does he do better? I really have no clue how you'd tell the difference between artists if all of them use no melody and very limited instrumentation. There are hundreds of pop songs that use G-C-D but you can tell them apart by the melody and instruments. If every rock song was played like Johnny B Goode, how would one band be judged better than the rest?

 

[DrH. Lecter]

It’s rather impressive how guys like Lamar can write, memorize, and spit out so many lyrics at such a fast pace. It takes a special talent to do that whether you like that type of music or not.

True. Talking fast is something very few people ever accomplish.

 

[hmt5000]

I've heard of Lamar but know nothing about him. I used AI to ask a few questions. He has 5 albums and sold a total of 10.2 million albums. I don't think he's as popular as people think.

On the other hand... The Rolling Stones have sold 250M albums worldwide. I feel like this is one of those things where people tell you something is popular when in fact, you don't know a single person who thinks that. LOL.

 

[gamecockcat]

You just asked if the hottest artist in rap/hip hop who is already considered top 5 all time would be remembered in 25 years.

The chiefs offensive line is better than that take.

So tell me WHY he's going to be remembered in 25 years. Is it because his music is so memorable? You hum along to the melody? Serious question - why would his music be something that lasts? How is it different from contemporaries who WON'T be remembered?

 

[WildcatFan1982]

I've heard of Lamar but know nothing about him. I used AI to ask a few questions. He has 5 albums and sold a total of 10.2 million albums. I don't think he's as popular as people think.

On the other hand... The Rolling Stones have sold 250M albums worldwide. I feel like this is one of those things where people tell you something is popular when in fact, you don't know a single person who thinks that. LOL.

Album sales aren’t the same as they are now. That’s actually a terrible comparison. More people watched ‘my mother thr car’ than pretty much any show now. Quality isn’t the issue there

 

[Irish Beck]

33 billion streams says there's something to Kendricks music, but I'm not going to convince you guys.

Rap songs are typically a simple drum beat a d repeated melody/phrase, this has been the case since the first sample dropped.

Weird how a certain group is so up in arms about this.

 

[JumperJack]

The phenomenon of aging white guys desperately trying to stay hip by latching onto the latest mass production is always amusing.

 

[BristolCat]

You can say I'm old and this isn't music for me. Okay. But, objectively, what part of that performance was musical? The drum machine is rhythmic. Fine, that's musical. Melody? None.

Objectively though, the argument you're making has been made by the older generation about the younger generations music for literally hundreds of years. Even into the era of "Classical" music you first referenced when Baroque music was abhorrent and unlistenable over some other orchestral genre for reasons that nobody remembers anymore. The kids who love Kendrick will hate whatever their kids listen to the same way our parents hated Metallica and Nirvana and their parents hated The Who and Zeppelin, and their parents hated The Beatles.

Knowing this is a common human phenomenon, wouldn't it make more sense to just shrug and say "I can tell other people are into it and good for them. I don't get it but that's okay." As opposed to trying to make this argument that your generation is the first to actually reject their children's art for legitimate reasons? Isn't it far more likely the same thing that's been happening for hundreds of years and not that we're more sophisticated than the kids?

 

[hmt5000]

Prince still GOAT halftime show. NFL had a run of good shows and I honestly can't remember but a couple recently. Bruno Mars is the last one I remember being impressed with.

 

[vhcat70]

Whole thing lacked diversity.

 

[DrH. Lecter]

He's saying the nostalgia you feel for the who will likely be felt by Kendrick fans in a similar time frame. He's not just saying you're old, hes saying the music has the same merits, regardless of your taste.

And you no doubt believe a banana duct taped to a wall is a brilliant example of modern art.

 

[DrH. Lecter]

View embedded media

Prince still GOAT halftime show. NFL had a run of good shows and I honestly can't remember but a couple recently. Bruno Mars is the last one I remember being impressed with.

I was at the Bruno Mars - Red Hot Chili Peppers Super Bowl. It was a good one.

 

[hmt5000]

33 billion streams says there's something to Kendricks music, but I'm not going to convince you guys.

Rap songs are typically a simple drum beat a d repeated melody/phrase, this has been the case since the first sample dropped.

Weird how a certain group is so up in arms about this.

I listened to rap my whole life. This isn't as good as Too Short, NWA, Big Daddy Kane, Marley Marl, Digital Underground... I think you want to put a label on people for having taste. LOL.

 

[DrH. Lecter]

Whole thing lacked diversity.

Certainly a fine example of a DEI show.

 

[KY_Kid]

I love when people say, "it's not for you."

Yet, they serve it to you, and complain because "you" don't like it.

Hypocrites lol.

 

[Irish Beck]

So tell me WHY he's going to be remembered in 25 years. Is it because his music is so memorable? You hum along to the melody? Serious question - why would his music be something that lasts? How is it different from contemporaries who WON'T be remembered?

I don't listen to Kendrick Lamar's music but am familiar with his hits. The people who only listen to this type of music and critique this type of music routinely list his songs as both memorable and influential. Many people put his Good Kid M. A. A. D city album as an all time great.

I'm more likely to listen to death metal than hip hop but I can respect another art and artist from afar.

There are definitely good melodies in his music but this show was either poorly planned or rushed because it showcased some songs that don't translate well live and the performance lacked any Wow factor. And, as lineskicat mentions, rappers typically need the other artists that the collaborated with to mix up the fact that their music is generally one person talking over a beat.

 

[WildcatFan1982]

I love when people say, "it's not for you."

Yet, they serve it to you, and complain because "you" don't like it.

Hypocrites lol.

lol wtf? 😂

 

[Irish Beck]

And you no doubt believe a banana duct taped to a wall is a brilliant example of modern art.

Considering Shinedown was the first example of bands you listen to, this is pretty rich.

 

[gamecockcat]

I am 50 years old and know enough to understand that Kendrick Lamar is one of the greatest Hip Hop artists of all time.

My opinion?

If you don’t understand it you’re probably too old.

What is there to understand? I don't 'understand' free form jazz or a lot of progressive rock music. I don't understand Mozart's use of secondary dominants and diminished chords to voice lead, but that doesn't mean I can't hear the melody, rhythm and musicality of the musical piece. That doesn't mean I don't identify musical ability. I don't think I'd ever like hip hop. That's not the point. My point is that there is so little musicality involved in the music as to make it virtually indistinguishable from other artists in that genre.

 

[Irish Beck]

I listened to rap my whole life. This isn't as good as Too Short, NWA, Big Daddy Kane, Marley Marl, Digital Underground... I think you want to put a label on people for having taste. LOL.

Did you really just put Too Short?

I'm dying.

 

[SWFLwildcat06]

More often than not, SB halftime shows just don’t turn out very good. There have certainly been a few exceptions, but this wasn't one of them.

 

[KY_Kid]

lol wtf? 😂

See Matt Jones tweet above. He said if you're a white dude past 25 then the half time show isn't for you. Well, don't be surprised that those people don't like it, and express their opinion. Don't try to shame them for it, just so everyone can live in an "it was awesome" echo chamber.