[QUOTE]
Originally posted by Steeltrap
I just don't see this. It is a marketing, not an artistic, nomination. But then again, the Grammys and American Music Awards often, IMO, don't take artistic merit into consideration.
Sidebar: Aretha Franklin has worked in many stylistic idioms. She even did jazz in the 1960s, and her 1960s Atlantic work was the best.
When will Ashanti (and for that matter, people like Mariah Carey, Jennifer Lopez, Whitless) do jazz or standards albums? At least Natalie Cole's doing jazz now, and I think someone like Anita Baker could do jazz, great vocal instrument.
Aretha and Natalie have grown as musicians. I just am not seeing that potential for today's singers. [/QUOTE
Steeltrap...the new contemporary artist today are really into pleasing the crowd and the $$$$. Anita Baker, Natalie, Sade are more into doing what they love and how they are feeling. That's why we hear sooo much remix going on. What I mean is like all the songs ( well 75% of them) have been re-makes of the old groups like: the police, eurythmics, james brown, psychedelic furs, whodini, diana ross, and alot of motown originators. My husband says it is talent and I tell him it's not.
Jennifer Lopez when she stated out was dancing all in MC Hammers face when he appeared with Fab 5 Freddy on some show (I can't recall) she did that just to get some recognition now if MC Hammer asked her for a dime she crouk
in his face. They do whatever to get that recognition.