[dreamcrushed]

Originally Posted by Yoo Bin

The fact that it's average makes it good. Let's be serious. Who wants to hear a song that puzzles their brain all the time? Not me that's for sure. Americans like songs that they can relate to/understand and of course dance too. You're trying to put in the Japanese way but you can't do that simply because they're two different markets that cater to 2 different fans. There are hardly any artists in America that have deep lyrics. If you were to ask me, [some] hip-hop artists and soul artists are the only ones who I can say have the deepest lyrics.

This one big gross generalization. There cannot be possibly one type of fan or one type of artist for every nation. That's beyond ridiculous! Please, look outside Top 40 radio, then think about this. And, of course you threw in the obligatory "some" qualifier for hip-hop. Again, look outside of Top 40 radio. Yeesh.

I agree with some of what you said but you can say how bad those Stargate songs are all you want be the general public likes these types of songs. Blaming them for making music thats constantly getting artists #1 singles or in the top 20 or 30 isn't untalented nor easy at all. Even the generic songs crash and burn.

Okay, so I blame the public and StarGate. I still think that what they do can be accomplished on a laptop by anyone with a sense of rhythm and the right setup.

Also, I don't think Hikki producing is that good. It's great that she can even produce but I don't think it's top quailty just different. IMO, even tho I luv Exodus death, it wasnt that experimental. She had only like 4 tracks that were experimental but the rest was just good mainstream songs. If she had arranged this song, I think it would've been similar as to the Stargate arrangment for the simple fact that About Me has the similar vibe as to CBTM.

All of this really comes down to opinion. About Me, IMO, does not have a similar vibe at all. I'd say 8 of the 14 tracks were experimental in their own ways (Opening, The Workout, Tippy Toe, Hotel Lobby, Animato, YMMWTBAM, Crossover Interlude, Wonder 'bout). Pop does not always equal mainstream. Top 40 radio is mainstream. I cannot imagine any of those on the radio (which doesn't mean they couldn't be on radio... from my perspective, they just wouldn't fit). Also, as for her producing, it says a lot when the only standout of Timbo's tracks on Exodus was the one he remixed (going off of her ideas!). She (and Teruzane) produced everything on Ultra Blue, and she produced Heart Station entirely. Those songs pale in comparison to anything ever done by StarGate in terms of overall quality and musicality. But this is opinion. Round and round we go...

All of this posting and quoting is making me dizzy, but it's really nice to have an actual discussion going.