After what can be described as an extended sabbatical (7 years!!) I am back to blogging all things music. Many of you who visited and commented on my blog so many years back I want to say thank you and hopefully I can entice you back. There will be a few changes, including music reviews, appreciation/biography posts, music content, upcoming artists, crucially music news and general riff raff so I hope you come along and join (re-join) the ride!
So what has happened in music in the last 7 years?
Well Beyonce is still as popular as ever remaining unchallenged by the likes of Rihanna, Katy Perry and Adele. Oh yeah and Adele, blimey! She sells more than anyone could have imagined. Rihanna’s singing is still so-so (listen to higher from her new album!) but she still sells and releases a few bangers, “We found love”, “Diamonds” etc, but Ri Ri I still love you.
Justin Bieber has taken the world by storm and by storm I literally mean he has shocked me to the core. I mean at first I didn’t like the guy and his music, only natural right? Then all of a sudden the last few years his music has gotten good (wtf?!?!) he goes from Baby to Love yourself and Confident, I aint complaining they are some good ass tunes.
Chris Brown unfortunately has not quite recovered from the madness that I covered all those years back. At one point he looked like he might be sane, he released some bangers. “Loyal” and “New flame” come to mind. We can all admit even though Chris may be a little bat shit crazy (please don’t sue me) but he can still produce some good stuff.
Where do I start with Drake? I think the flack he gets for being soft is incredibly harsh. He makes some tunes which appeal to all, what’s the problem? “Forever”, “One Dance” and “Hotline Bling” are such good songs it’s unreal. Rap for me has been in a sad state in the last few years, in fact it’s kind of disappeared. The days of Tupac, Biggie, NWA and the like are of course long gone, but such a sharp decline makes me quite sad. Anyway!
Perhaps the biggest star to appear out of nowhere (I know arguably I’m talking crap), SIA! Everything she touches (sings) turns to gold. Her voice is quite unreal, her songs are catchy and her image is on point.
Sooooooooo, 7 years of music in a short few paragraphs obviously do it no justice. I covered Bieber, Rihanna, Beyonce, Sia, Adele, Chris Brown and Drake, but there are so many missing acts. David Guetta changed music for a while, allowing so many DJs to become prominent. But not only that, acts like Avicii gained a lot from this. One Direction revived the boyband genre, their songs are largely inoffensive so I won’t comment. Forgot to mention talent shows, how terrible have they been? American idol and x factor have both gone, The Voice is gimmicky as anything and not particularly any good. At least in the UK X Factor has survived (for now!) but something needs to be down about these competitions they are done so terribly and the talent is often ruined.
Please leave comments below on all the acts you think have been particularly good over the last few years and all those who I have missed out and watch out for new posts! And listen below for what I consider the best song of the last 7 years.
Frank Ocean how I love thee, never leave us again….
The Music News Room 