Advice, opinions, pop, my thoughts
I am not fond of Westlife as a pop group. Their work is slick and well produced and they are pleasing to look at. But even, dear reader, if you do not find pop music to your taste, you surely must agree that even 'bubble gum pop' should call upon verve, energy and creative thought to appeal to a wide audience.
I find the Westlife formula of syrupy ballad after surupy ballad rather souless and calculating. To me it is definitely 'slop' rather than 'pop'.
You know how I hate to lower the tone of any thought, but here I feel I must. So here is my thought:
"If the marketing men and accountants were permitted to sell 'cli##ral stimulators to young confused girls (who have not yet found a clear and mature way to vent and express their emerging sexuality), who would buy Westlife records?"
How Westlife can be appauled for obtaining 10 no.1's, which in my view are conceptually all variations on a very narrow theme, is a shocking to me.
To have Westlife compared to Abba, the Beatles, The Rolling Stones, or even the Spice Girls is an affront to talent in the recording industry.
I know that it is fashionable to talk down the Spice Girls at the moment, but there muscially and creative range (though unashamedly pop) encompased not only sassy dance anthems, but rap, R&B, ballads, mid tempo pop, and with 'Spice up your Life' even a little bit of Samba has been subverted. Now I call that creative.
But what ever my thoughts, in this case history will be the judge.