Quote:
Originally Posted by marleyisalegend  disclaimer: albums sales DO NOT equal talent
good management+good cheek-bone structure+nice abs=high record sales
i pose this question any time an artists' success is used to determine their level of talent. if they recorded the same exact songs, peformed them the same exact way, but were overweight and ugly would they still be as successful?? |
Um, okay. The circular logic here is maddening.
Nobody suggested that because Westlife is successful they are talented, or that because they are talented they are successful. I guess that's where you lost me right off the bat. I can discern you don't think they're talented, which is fair enough, everyone's entitled to their opinion.
You were surprised they still had a record deal and were touring, so Alex informed you that they sell a shitload of records. He included his opinion that he found the band to be entertaining pros, and obviously millions of other people agree with him, hence the band is very successful. However he did not suggest they are talented because they are successful. He informed you that they are very successful and indicated that he thinks they are talented. Two different things.
Obviously album sales do not equal talent (or lack thereof), that's been the case for at least 50 years. There are talented success stories, lucky success stories, and plenty of talented people who can't sell records.
Pretty people are more successful at enjoying pop music careers. That's also been the case for 50 years. Are all successful people pretty? No. Are all pretty people successful? No. Is prettiness a factor in whether or not someone can be successful? Yes.
However, looks don't have anything to do with talent either. But that appears to be the barometer you use to judge whether someone is talented:
Quote:
Originally Posted by marleyisalegend i pose this question any time an artists' success is used to determine their level of talent. if they recorded the same exact songs, peformed them the same exact way, but were overweight and ugly would they still be as successful?? |
If someone performs the same songs the same way then what difference does it make what they look like? Will an equally talented good looking person be more successful with the song? Yes. But what does that have to do with anything?
Pop music is by its very nature meant for mass consumption. More attractive products sell better. A pop music singer isn't required to be talented and never has been, but they are expected to be attractive. A talented songwriter is required to create successful pop music, and most pop music isn't written by the singer. So you appear to trying to make lemonade out of an artichoke and a can of hairspray.
By the way, many successful pop artists had absolutely
horrible management. My favorite example of this is TLC, who at the height of their popularity had to declare bankruptcy. So you've oversimplified whatever argument you're trying to make to the point that it doesn't make sense.
