The Backstreet Boys.

Haha. I gotta admit I got caught in the boyband craze, and I’m sure that doesn’t come as a surprise. But now they’re back, albeit missing one member, and their music is just as solid.

But what does this era hold in store for them? We never really noticed how or when it happened exactly, but the boyband era is over. Back then, you could sell albums just for being a boyband.

Although there are a handful of BSB songs that I am not ashamed to say I still like now (like Set Adrift On Memory Bliss), it just seems that the music scene won’t be as accepting as it used to be. Or a boyband, that is.

I heard their new song “Inconsolable”.

It’s like the music that doesn’t offend you, but you don’t really go out of your way to listen to. An “okay” song. That filler song on your iPod shuffle. You get the idea. But kudos to them for still being around.

Technorati tags: backstreet boys, boybands

Our favorite martial arts funny man, Jackie Chan, will be singing for the official countdown to the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics.

I’ve actually never heard him sing, but apparently he’s released some albums before. I guess he can’t be bad if he’s doing the official countdown.

He’ll be singing the Mandarin Chinese song “We Are Ready” composed by award-winning Peter Kam. Now, to a fan of his movies like me, that’s something to see.

Technorati tags: jackie chan, mandarin, beijing, summer, olympics, 2008, peter kam

If you’ve seen the MTV Video Music Awards, you may remember that the Gym Class Heroes won the “best new artist” award. Okay I’ll be honest, I hadn’t heard of then till their latest album, so in my mind, they really are a new band.

But as many of you know (and as I found out), they’ve been around for 10 years now…just not in the mainstream. And now that they’re out there, they’re considered a “new artist”.

Actually I don’t know all that much about the Gym Class Heroes, and while I’ve tried out one album, only about 4 stuck with me. Not to say they’re bad, but anyway that’s besides the point. They said in an interview that they don’t like to overanalyze their music, so they have some freedom and don’t keep trying to fall into some category. This makes me think about the other artists who’ve had careers before going mainstream. The tendency, as music history dictates, is that once they get out there, they change (or even “compromise”) their musical style to fit the mainstream.

It can be a good thing, I know, but there’s a fine line I guess between giving up what you were originally about and just trying to reach more people. And either can be good or bad, depending on the artist and the situation. I hope that makes sense

Technorati tags: gym class heroes, mainstream, band, music

A survey by Blender Magazine reveals Sting as the worst lyricist, making special mention of The Police’s 1980s hit Don’t Stand So Close To Me and If You Love Someone Set Them Free.

He beat other artists such as Rush drummer Neil Peart at number 2, Creed frontman Scott Stapp at number 3, Oasis guitarist Noel Gallagher at number 4, and Dan Fogelberg at number 5.

Even Led Zeppelin’s Robert Plant (number 23) and Paul McCartney (38 for Ebony and Ivory) got in the list.

Funny how these are all hits anyway.

I mean that not as a social commentary. I mean, I guess nobody really cares, including myself. I agree though, good lyrics make a good song, but in the end, it only takes that people can relate — in any way, to a song. And that’s enough to make it a hit.

Classic rock never needed smart lyrics. Just my opinion. ;P

Technorati tags: music, blender, magazine, survey, worst lyricist, lyrics, writer, sting, rush, creed, oasis, led zeppelin, paul mccartney, police