5 ms·

Um, perhaps it's because the entire entertainment industry views tenors as having talents that are worth developing, and baritones as disposable extras? (Barit

Um, perhaps it's because the entire entertainment industry views tenors as having talents that are worth developing, and baritones as disposable extras? (Baritone here. We ARE disposable extras. But can't they pretend at least a little?)

mkhpalm 7y ago
What about country, blues, etc?
- kevin_thibedeau 7y ago
  Country is mostly autotuned pretend singers now.
  - puranjay 7y ago
    A friend called country "cowboy hip hop" in that it focuses a lot more on lyrical ability than actual singing skills
    - jghn 7y ago
      The whole Lil Nas X flap couldn't more fit what you're pitching here
    - zapzupnz 7y ago
      Lyrical ability? Pick-up truck, tight jeans, down by the river, drinking whiskey. Where's my grammy?
      - dymk 7y ago
        Ex took it, along with the dog
        masonic 7y ago
        No, that's Blues
      - puranjay 7y ago
        I mean it's not like mainstream hip-hop deals with hard hitting themes and complex lyrics.
  - throwaway8879 7y ago
    I do like Sturgill Simpson and Chris Stapleton, though they're probably not mainstream/radio country. Somewhat related - I don't know much enough bluegrass to distinguish between good and bad bluegrass, but I really like Billy Strings, who I discovered recently. He's great.[0] [0] - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6CyQftidOw https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6CyQftidOw
  - mkhpalm 7y ago
    With a lot of the music played on tv and radio, sure. Same old recipe where friendly corps are trying to capitalize on "pop music" they can pump out with their many song writers, hand crafted stars, contracted labels, and the handful of companies that own every radio station across the country. Never been a good barometer of where everything is headed IMO. There seems to be this resurgence of not-that-stuff coming out. Sturgil Simpson, Brent Cobb, Colter Wall, Cody Jinks, Jason Eady, Tyler Childers, etc. (there are many) I say this as somebody who has never been a fan of country. Some of the most interesting stuff feels like its in their category. But I do agree almost none of it is what I've ever heard on the tv or radio. Not much new there, in my experience.
vonseel 7y ago
Maybe tenors are seen as worth developing because it is so much more rare than a male baritone? I’m not sure your hypothesis has any weight, but I do sympathize with you ;). OTOH, I suspect many of the falsetto and high male voices are more successful in an autotune era because of the sweet sauce that even a small application of autotune gives a vocal recording. The Weeknd’s mixing engineer has professed to using a little autotune on everything because that’s what people are used to hearing, i would be surprised if other popular artists aren’t using at least a little autotune for flavor. It really stabilizes and adds a sweetness to an otherwise shaky or weak falsetto / high male head voice.

mkhpalm 7y ago

What about country, blues, etc?

kevin_thibedeau 7y ago
Country is mostly autotuned pretend singers now.
- puranjay 7y ago
  A friend called country "cowboy hip hop" in that it focuses a lot more on lyrical ability than actual singing skills
  - jghn 7y ago
    The whole Lil Nas X flap couldn't more fit what you're pitching here
  - zapzupnz 7y ago
    Lyrical ability? Pick-up truck, tight jeans, down by the river, drinking whiskey. Where's my grammy?
    - dymk 7y ago
      Ex took it, along with the dog
      - masonic 7y ago
        No, that's Blues
    - puranjay 7y ago
      I mean it's not like mainstream hip-hop deals with hard hitting themes and complex lyrics.
- throwaway8879 7y ago
  I do like Sturgill Simpson and Chris Stapleton, though they're probably not mainstream/radio country. Somewhat related - I don't know much enough bluegrass to distinguish between good and bad bluegrass, but I really like Billy Strings, who I discovered recently. He's great.[0] [0] - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6CyQftidOw https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6CyQftidOw
- mkhpalm 7y ago
  With a lot of the music played on tv and radio, sure. Same old recipe where friendly corps are trying to capitalize on "pop music" they can pump out with their many song writers, hand crafted stars, contracted labels, and the handful of companies that own every radio station across the country. Never been a good barometer of where everything is headed IMO. There seems to be this resurgence of not-that-stuff coming out. Sturgil Simpson, Brent Cobb, Colter Wall, Cody Jinks, Jason Eady, Tyler Childers, etc. (there are many) I say this as somebody who has never been a fan of country. Some of the most interesting stuff feels like its in their category. But I do agree almost none of it is what I've ever heard on the tv or radio. Not much new there, in my experience.

vonseel 7y ago

Maybe tenors are seen as worth developing because it is so much more rare than a male baritone? I’m not sure your hypothesis has any weight, but I do sympathize with you ;). OTOH, I suspect many of the falsetto and high male voices are more successful in an autotune era because of the sweet sauce that even a small application of autotune gives a vocal recording. The Weeknd’s mixing engineer has professed to using a little autotune on everything because that’s what people are used to hearing, i would be surprised if other popular artists aren’t using at least a little autotune for flavor. It really stabilizes and adds a sweetness to an otherwise shaky or weak falsetto / high male head voice.