Commercial music... is it really worth getting upset over?

[johnnie]

I've read all the threads on Ashlee Simpson and many more threads in the past dealing with the "no talent hacks" and I am wondering if there really is a reason so many people get so passionate about commercial music.
That kind of music has been around forever and in my opinion it should be around. I have seen footage of The Beatles lip syncing, The Who, The Stones and so many other legendary bands. There is a story of Pink Floyd doing a show and Syd just sat there instead of lip syncing so Roger had to do it. It has been done a lot in the past.
I can understand how someone can be passionate about their love for their music because I believe that music is one of the most personal expressions a person has. I even remember calling Prince a hack because he was using drum machines for a while and I thought that was a huge sellout. I was never a Prince fan and when he started with the drum sequencers it seemed to validate my dislike for him. It took me a few years to understand that commercialized music is a valid form of entertainment and just because it's not my cup of tea, it has every right to be around as the music that I personally like. I can now see that Prince has a lot of talent and I can appreciate what he did or is doing. That's just one example.
What's your thoughts on commercial pop music?

[tompea]

1. Not Forever: Deceptive Digital Technology is the Tidal Wave

tecnology does so much more in the digital age than we ever realized in this regard. artists who use the devices in the link below have no integrity.

of course, few admit to doing it.

at the time that i wrote the piece at the link below, i honestly felt that it was the definitive piece on the secretive use of "autotuners". amazingly dishonest technology.
http://itsjustcommonsense.blogspot.com/2004/08/from-dinah-washington-to-britney.html

tom pea
http://itsjustcommonsense.blogspot.com/

[johnnie]

2. I'm aware of autotuners

I've used them in the studio. Once in a while if a singer hit a sour note I would use it to fix the note or whatever. I've also used it for bad instrument notes. It's a lot easier to hit the one note with this software than it is to rerecord the whole bass track or to punch in that one note.
Of course this technology can be abused, and often is. Slap back echo was used a lot in the 50s to cover up for the singers lack of perfect vocals and in the 60s many groups double tracked their vocals to give it a richer sound and it also helped to cover up some flaws.
Integrity is a relative term I believe. Some people thought that Todd Rundgren's early use of computer technology was a terrible idea, I'm sure some said that he lost all integrity. If you as a listener of music don't care for the music that is manipulated to make a sell-able recording, no one forces you to listen.

on edit: Forgot to say, that is a good article btw.

[tompea]

3. thanks

from a fellow music type person thanks for reading.
i acknowledge your points, and have myslef used autotuners to take care of the stray note in the studio.

i just feel that the degree to which their use is becoming accepted, at least inside the industry, crosses a new line.

thanks again
tom pea