Pop Talk - General Music Discussion

[Hejira]

A performance between two music titans like this, so in sync with each other while maintaining their individual style. Once in a lifetime really.
Something like this will not be replicated ever again.

[Hejira]

(She could just do this and kill all the Superbowls BTW, but that's just my delusion I suppose).

[Hejira]

At least we got this iconik moment out of the lackluster GOAT performance.

And looking back that wasn't a bad performance either, much better than that cheesy BET awards mess. Very solid vocals, no one else could replicate that fast singing while maintaining TONE.

My fave WBT performance remains this one:

She was amongst the lambs, she shines when she's with her extended family.

[Goldmoney]

LOL those CB performances where she lipped 50%, the shenanigans.
Although my grandma who was an avid Oprah stan converted after that 2003 Mariah show though, she told me "That woman can sing", I was like yes gran, I know, I've been telling ya'll since 93.

At least we got this iconik moment out of the lackluster GOAT performance.

[Hejira]

I do love that performance btw, a lot. She sounded great when she sang live. What irritates me is that she lips parts she doesn't need to...that's the whole issue with her. She doesn't NEED to lip anything, she's talented enough to sing her songs fully live.

Anyway, let's turn the thread before this becomes MariahMix again...not that it already isn't

[Hejira]

My Saving Grace on Oprah was live.

I mean like I said 50% of it was and she sounded great when she was live, but that climax was a sign of things to haunt the lambs for years to come. That wasn't live sis.

[stevyy]

My Saving Grace on Oprah was live.

[Hejira]

All of Kween’s Oprah performances (except the first one) are lackluster because Kween of the Universe Oprah is such an intimating force.

LOL those CB performances where she lipped 50%, the shenanigans.
Although my grandma who was an avid Oprah stan converted after that 2003 Mariah show though, she told me "That woman can sing", I was like yes gran, I know, I've been telling ya'll since 93.

[Goldmoney]

All of Kween’s Oprah performances (except the first one) are lackluster because Kween of the Universe Oprah is such an intimating force.

[Hejira]

Is this the GOAT performance you’re referring to?

That arrangement was a choice.

Yeah. Although I have to say it was worse in my memory. But she was really hoarse and out of breathe and that arrangement was cheesy as hell yes.
My least fave era was 2008 when it comes to her live vocals, overall that was incredibly underwhelming. That Bye Bye at Oprah
I feel she's been in a good place vocally when it comes to her TV performances lately though, I loved the Caution performances. She's feeling herself again and I'm not dreading it when she's scheduled on a big show now the way I did earlier.

[Goldmoney]

Is this the GOAT performance you’re referring to?

That arrangement was a choice.

[Hejira]

Yeah, most pop divas don't have that many "great" albums. Other than Shakira with 5 stunning-level albums I can think of Madonna having more with 7 (Like A Prayer - Erotica - Bedtime Stories - Ray Of Light - Music - American Life - Confessions On A Dance Floor)

Being consistently creative with music is one of the hardest things ever. Sometimes we forget during the 'fun' of all these stan wars the brilliant things these artists have done in their careers. Even the most respected musicians don't have discographies where every album is beyond 4 stars. So yes, we must respect those who managed to do so for multiple decades. To even have the chance to still be making albums after already releasing so many is a huge feat.

(I'm not talking about those who released 6 albums in 20 years where only 1 was actually well received of course)

[Hejira]

But this SB set

mixed with this Kween

would have been the biggest slayage ever. (tho I would swap out TMB for MIH)

They should have asked Kween to perform anywhere from 06-09 instead of those boring, dusty dad rock acts.

I mean Mariah has had some brilliant performances for sure but it seemed like for every brilliant another 3 cringey followed.
I remember when she slayed those WBT performances on the promotional trail and than that tragic BET performance came along.
It's difficult with her unstable voice/nodules I suppose. She can't really rely on it even if she has 10 days of vocal rest. She's lucky when she's in great vocal shape and when she knows she is, she's confident.

[MrLeonix]

It's more than the average popgirl yes. And honestly even the greats don't have consistent quality discographies.
My fave Tori has a 7 album brilliant streak and started to decline rapidly after. 5 back to back great albums is a HUGE accomplishment.

Yeah, most pop divas don't have that many "great" albums. Other than Shakira with 5 stunning-level albums I can think of Madonna having more with 7 (Like A Prayer - Erotica - Bedtime Stories - Ray Of Light - Music - American Life - Confessions On A Dance Floor)

[Goldmoney]

I mean it's obvious she couldn't pull of a Superbowl, I don't think she even wants to. She's great at her concerts, that's where she shines. Her televised stuff always disappoints because she's simply too self conscious about the cameras. People think she's a terrible live act because she actually is most of the time during her televised performances. It's a shame cause better tv performances could convince people to go see her live on tour where she actually IS good.

But this SB set

mixed with this Kween

would have been the biggest slayage ever. (tho I would swap out TMB for MIH)

They should have asked Kween to perform anywhere from 06-09 instead of those boring, dusty dad rock acts.

[Hejira]

Yep, this one was always among the best tracks from "Oral Fixation Vol 2" to me ... This era was IMO the last time Shakira was truly musically deep, artistic and interesting.

Her recent stuff hasn't been that good but the way she slayed with this sequence of albums: Pies Descalzos - Donde Estan Los Ladrones - Laundry Service - Fijación Oral Vol 1 - Oral Fixation Vol 2 (1995-2006) was just stunning. 11 years of musical slayage.

It's more than the average popgirl yes. And honestly even the greats don't have consistent quality discographies.
My fave Tori has a 7 album brilliant streak and started to decline rapidly after. 5 back to back great albums is a HUGE accomplishment.

[MrLeonix]

I disliked "How do you do" quite a bit when it came out and revisiting it now it's my fave from the album. I like how the bridge is slightly demonic.

Yep, this one was always among the best tracks from "Oral Fixation Vol 2" to me ... This era was IMO the last time Shakira was truly musically deep, artistic and interesting.

Her recent stuff hasn't been that good but the way she slayed with this sequence of albums: Pies Descalzos - Donde Estan Los Ladrones - Laundry Service - Fijación Oral Vol 1 - Oral Fixation Vol 2 (1995-2006) was just stunning. 11 years of musical slayage.

[Hejira]

That also became the issue of Madonna as well. The last time she slayed a televised performance was at Superbowl HT Show. After that, everything went downhill until the train wreck that was Eurovision. It's sad because she's actually great at concerts, same goes for Mariah i guess.

I suppose that's true but Mariah has been struggling with TV performances MUCH longer. I remember cringing 90% of her tv performances since 2003. Madonna started losing her spark not long ago, I think because she wants to do more than her body allows her to do.

[Hejira]

Anyway, I wanna talk a little more about Shakira. It's kinda bizarre how much I'm enjoying her Oral double project so much more compared to when it came out. Maybe I didn't really understand the message of the whole project I don't know.
Both albums are really, really good. So experimental, diverse and interesting.

I love the lyrical idea of "Costume makes the clown". She's talking about how her man likes her naturally but how she feels more confident being glam because to her the costume makes the clown. Very interesting, perhaps slightly controversial concept.

I disliked "How do you do" quite a bit when it came out and revisiting it now it's my fave from the album. I like how the bridge is slightly demonic.

[spiritboy]

As for Jennifer Lopez, the woman is a clever business woman, she built herself an empire, she's more an entertainer than singer but who cares? She just signed a touring deal with Live Nation and as long as she can tour, she'll be fine.

[spiritboy]

I mean it's obvious she couldn't pull of a Superbowl, I don't think she even wants to. She's great at her concerts, that's where she shines. Her televised stuff always disappoints because she's simply too self conscious about the cameras. People think she's a terrible live act because she actually is most of the time during her televised performances. It's a shame cause better tv performances could convince people to go see her live on tour where she actually IS good.

That also became the issue of Madonna as well. The last time she slayed a televised performance was at Superbowl HT Show. After that, everything went downhill until the train wreck that was Eurovision. It's sad because she's actually great at concerts, same goes for Mariah i guess.

[Hejira]

I mean it's obvious she couldn't pull of a Superbowl, I don't think she even wants to. She's great at her concerts, that's where she shines. Her televised stuff always disappoints because she's simply too self conscious about the cameras. People think she's a terrible live act because she actually is most of the time during her televised performances. It's a shame cause better tv performances could convince people to go see her live on tour where she actually IS good.

[MrLeonix]

Yeah, Mariah won't ever pull a Super Bowl performance and she's been a fiasco for the last 12 years, long gone were the days since she was relevant with new material (outside of the Xmas song).

However.. Despite all of that, Mariah is withiout a doubt a bigger music legend than J.Lo. I mean, the Multiple Diamond albums, a long career, huge historic / all time sales, lots of #1s, Multiple Grammy awards, a big comeback album. Obvisouly she's placed higher than J.Lo in the music's hierarchy.

J.Lo is more of a socialite big media / social media celebrity, so she's very relevant as a public business woman. But when it comes to solely music achievements she isn't really that big. Her sales are not that impressive, she was never a big album seller compared to her peers, she never won a Grammy, she doesn't have a hit era on radio since 2002, her music is always panned with terrible reviews, and most of her singles flop. But like I said, she does have a big celebrity brand which is different than being an actual music star.

[aRat]

Some get Superbowls, others get #1's.

JgLObal has both

[Hejira]

The goats are still seething at JLO post SB I see

They must be pressed at the fact that JLO performed there while their fave will never get invited coz she can't carry a show like that to save her life

Some get Superbowls, others get #1's.