rpk@mit-eddie.UUCP (Robert Krajewski) (08/18/85)
I am starting to tire of all these attacks on Madonna. Dammit, I will probably never buy any of her records (unless Elvis Costello start writing songs for here), but the few times I listen to top40 radio, her songs are actually quite pleasant. For example, there is nothing stupid or offensive about the song ``Like a Virgin,'' and the drumming (by Tony Thompson, I think -- are you listening, Marcel ?) is a great example of powerful Motown economy. ``Into the Groove'' has nice harmonies and a good groove. I don't really care how ambitious she is -- and she is no position to ruin ``art,'' which really mean the pretentions that pop music (specifically, ``progressive'' white music) has to being art. I am also tired of her being marketed as a sex object, but then again most people will eventually obtain the Real Thing somehow. Just to prove to you that am I not a Madonna Wanna-Be, I like Husker Du, the Bangles, John Foxx, Aretha Franklin, Elvis Costello, John Coltrane, Mozart, and the Replacements (and lots more besides). Also, I've got a Kate Bush single (the only record by her that I own) that Doug Alan would kill for. A friend of mine who liked Madonna enough to see her in concert is also a Kate Bush fan, and HE has Roy Harper albums that Mr. Alan would, again, kill for. Obviously, my friend can't exist ! -- ``Bob'' (Robert P. Krajewski) ARPA: RpK@MC MIT Local: RpK@OZ UUCP: genradbo!miteddie!rpk
nessus@mit-eddie.UUCP (Doug Alan) (08/18/85)
> From: rpk@mit-eddie.UUCP (Robert Krajewski) > I am starting to tire of all these attacks on Madonna.... the few > times I listen to top40 radio, her songs are actually quite pleasant. Well, those stupid formulaic paintings of purple froth under a moon-lit sky or pretty little flowers they put on the walls of Holiday Inns are pleasant too, I suppose. > I don't really care how ambitious she is -- and she is no position to > ruin ``art,'' which really mean the pretentions that pop music > (specifically, ``progressive'' white music) has to being art. Tell that to real artists that lose their record contracts because they refuse to pervert themselves when the record company tells them to make their music more like that of Madonna or Lionel Richie or Michael Jackson. "Too inaccesible." "No hooks." "No market potential." And tell it to the artists that do pervert themselves so they can try to continue on with their art (whatever is left of it) at all. My attacks on Madonna as a person who provides calculated formulaic "entertainment" to the masses who have been programmed by marketing types to enjoy temporary lobotomies may not be innately justified, but as long as it is considered by record companies and the world at large to be the same business as real music and artists are forced to compete in what is seen as the same market place and thus are often hurt, my attacks are, well, ..... justified! That's not my biggest complaint about Madonna, though. What REALLY annoys me is the way the image she purposely projects, says that it's okay to be manipulative. Perfectly designed for our hedonistic, yuppie culture, huh? It's always easier to make a buck, telling people what they want to hear, than to tell them how they should be! > Just to prove to you that I am not a Madonna Wanna-Be, I like Husker Du, > the Bangles, John Foxx, Aretha Franklin, Elvis Costello, John Coltrane, > Mozart, and the Replacements (and lots more besides). Then you should have more sense than to think that Madonna makes music. Well, nobody's perfect, I guess... (Except me.) There are SF readers who will tell you that John Norman (aka GOR) is a decent writer. What can you do? > Also, I've got a Kate Bush single (the only record by her that I own) > that Doug Alan would kill for. Would have, maybe. I now have them all. > A friend of mine who liked Madonna enough to see her in concert is > also a Kate Bush fan, and HE has Roy Harper albums that Mr. Alan > would, again, kill for. Would have. I now have most of them. > Obviously, my friend can't exist ! In any case, what can I say? He has a puss-filled chancre on an otherwise good set of tastes. I have friends like that too. One does a radio show and alternates the likes of Robyn Hitchcock with the likes of Kiss. He went to see Madonna too. He says he doesn't like her music, but thinks she's beautiful. Blech. At least he introduced me to Hawkwind, Robyn Hitchcock, Nik Turner, PIL, Killing Joke, etc. "While back inside his kitchen, The bowler hatted long haired saint Cleans with soap and water, But it's really just white paint" Doug Alan nessus@mit-eddie.UUCP (or ARPA)