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Just when you thought Michael Bolton couldn't get any worse

First, no one has to like every musical genre out there. But if you don't happen to like a particular genre, that's not really a good justification for snarky snipes at people who are really excellent at performing within that genre. A lot of you don't like power ballads. Fine. That means you won't like the artists who write power ballad songs and/or sing them. We all get that.

I don't like rap, but that doesn't mean I automatically also mock and belittle the work of performers who started out as rappers who also work as actors. I won't listen to Ice Cube rap, but I've almost always enjoyed his work as an actor. Whether you like Bolton's power ballads or not, his work as an actor, even if only in cameos where he plays a version of himself, is something different and should be evaluated separately from his music.
 
Music Lover said:
From the 2000s, my music mostly consists of performers from the TV singing competition shows American Idol, X-Factor, America's Got Talent, and Britain's Got Talent, many of whom have had hits on the Adult Contemporary charts.
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I also have music from contestants who were on The Voice.
 
Avid Listener said:
First, no one has to like every musical genre out there. But if you don't happen to like a particular genre, that's not really a good justification for snarky snipes at people who are really excellent at performing within that genre. A lot of you don't like power ballads. Fine. That means you won't like the artists who write power ballad songs and/or sing them. We all get that.

I don't like rap, but that doesn't mean I automatically also mock and belittle the work of performers who started out as rappers who also work as actors. I won't listen to Ice Cube rap, but I've almost always enjoyed his work as an actor. Whether you like Bolton's power ballads or not, his work as an actor, even if only in cameos where he plays a version of himself, is something different and should be evaluated separately from his music.
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Amen to that!
 
Avid Listener said:
First, no one has to like every musical genre out there. But if you don't happen to like a particular genre, that's not really a good justification for snarky snipes at people who are really excellent at performing within that genre. A lot of you don't like power ballads. Fine. That means you won't like the artists who write power ballad songs and/or sing them. We all get that.

I don't like rap, but that doesn't mean I automatically also mock and belittle the work of performers who started out as rappers who also work as actors. I won't listen to Ice Cube rap, but I've almost always enjoyed his work as an actor. Whether you like Bolton's power ballads or not, his work as an actor, even if only in cameos where he plays a version of himself, is something different and should be evaluated separately from his music.
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I have often said on these boards that I think the music of Frank Sinatra is very forgettable but that I liked his acting - so you see, I can separate the talents quite nicely. And I don't remember criticizing Bolton's acting (I doubt I've really seen more than a minute of it anyway), just his singing. As for rap, it isn't really any form of music so no problem with those people.

So, the smaltz that Bolton sings is called "power ballads" is it? Who would have thought? Never heard that described as a 'genre'. To me it sounds a lot like opera which hurts my ears. Compared to singers like Johnny Mathis, Earl Grant, and even pop singers like Gary Puckett Bolton just sounds loud.
 
Music Lover said:
From the 2000s, my music mostly consists of performers from the TV singing competition shows American Idol, X-Factor, America's Got Talent, and Britain's Got Talent, many of whom have had hits on the Adult Contemporary charts.
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I make it a habit not to watch those types of shows. Too much glitter and not nearly enough substance. The single exception I make, and I got it not from the show but afterward on social media, was Susan Boyle's performance.
 
landtuna said:


I make it a habit not to watch those types of shows. Too much glitter and not nearly enough substance. The single exception I make, and I got it not from the show but afterward on social media, was Susan Boyle's performance.
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For me these shows are more about family time than the true talent itself. When I was growing up me, we all sat down at the table and ate our meals as a family unit. Much laughter, getting to know each other and the like was gained at this time. Sad to say, fast-forward to today and you'd be hard pressed to find even one American family that resumes this ritual. (myself included) I said all that to say that (for me) these shows have brought a time where me, my husband and our kids can come together, spend some quality time as a family (all together at one time) and bring a little of that laughter and conversation that is so missing in families today. Whenever there is a contestant like Carrie Underwood or Kelly Clarkson, some of the few that have become stars because of these shows, it's an added bonus.
 
Music Lover said:
For me these shows are more about family time than the true talent itself.
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My wife and I are now empty nesters but even when the kids were here (including two music-daffy girls) no one ever watched any of these shows. My wife used to watch Dancing With The Stars but that was very short lived.

I remember watching the first couple of episodes of American Idol but the "panel of experts" turned me off immediately. Excellent example of why video killed the radio star.

Music Lover said:
When I was growing up me, we all sat down at the table and ate our meals as a family unit.
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My parents family did too, except we never had the TV on. Instead, we got to hear my father tell us, in great detail, how things went at the office. I got to know his co-workers better than my own friends. Perhaps that is why when I had my own family we did have the TV on during dinner. Usually the news but if dinner was late then one of the syndicated shows like Home Improvement. Something the kids could appreciate.
 
landtuna said:
I don't remember criticizing Bolton's acting (I doubt I've really seen more than a minute of it anyway), just his singing.
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The title (and topic) of this thread is Just when you thought Michael Bolton couldn't get any worse, and a description of his stint as a guest star on Two and a Half Men. So maybe you didn't criticize his acting, but I was addressing the topic of the thread.

landtuna said:
So, the smaltz that Bolton sings is called "power ballads" is it? Who would have thought? Never heard that described as a 'genre'. To me it sounds a lot like opera which hurts my ears. Compared to singers like Johnny Mathis, Earl Grant, and even pop singers like Gary Puckett Bolton just sounds loud.
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I find it hard to believe that anyone who listens to much music isn't aware of the term "Power Ballad". There are lots of solo artists and bands that specialize in power ballads, at least as part of their repertoire. Bands like Journey, Foreigner, and REO Speedwagon had most of their hits in the Power Ballad genre, as did solo artists Laura Branigan and Celine Dion. Gary Puckett and the Union Gap was one of the earliest bands to achieve most of their success with Power Ballads.
 
Avid Listener said:
I find it hard to believe that anyone who listens to much music isn't aware of the term "Power Ballad". There are lots of solo artists and bands that specialize in power ballads, at least as part of their repertoire. Bands like Journey, Foreigner, and REO Speedwagon had most of their hits in the Power Ballad genre, as did solo artists Laura Branigan and Celine Dion. Gary Puckett and the Union Gap was one of the earliest bands to achieve most of their success with Power Ballads.
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On the Amazon.com music discussion boards, those bands that specialized in power ballads like Journey, Foreigner, and REO Speedwagon get put down quite often. As I tell those people there, I like what I like and I'm not ashamed of it.
 
Music Lover said:
How do you do the multiple quotes in a reply?
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The little icon in the corner that looks like a " mark in a cartoon balloon, with a plus sign, is supposed to do it. I do it the hard way. I use the regular quote function for the second quote, type what I want to reply, copy it, cancel the post, then edit my previous reply and paste the new quote into it.
 
Music Lover said:
How do you do the multiple quotes in a reply?
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Assuming a Windows machine:

1. Select "Reply with quote" (which will give you the entire quoted text).
2. Drag your mouse over the 'quote' text at the beginning of the quoted text then hit cntrl-c (copy).
3. Place an end-quote text following the text you want to quote.
4. Enter your response text.
5. Position your mouse in front of the next quoted text you want to quote and hit cntrol-v (paste).
6. Repeat above steps.

Don't forget to delete text you don't want to show.
 
Avid Listener said:
The title (and topic) of this thread is Just when you thought Michael Bolton couldn't get any worse, and a description of his stint as a guest star on Two and a Half Men. So maybe you didn't criticize his acting, but I was addressing the topic of the thread.
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You are the one who brought up Bolton's acting. I responded to your post. You seem to have a problem taking too many Viagra when responding to me. Better cut down before you blow a fuse.

Avid Listener said:
I find it hard to believe that anyone who listens to much music isn't aware of the term "Power Ballad". There are lots of solo artists and bands that specialize in power ballads, at least as part of their repertoire. Bands like Journey, Foreigner, and REO Speedwagon had most of their hits in the Power Ballad genre, as did solo artists Laura Branigan and Celine Dion. Gary Puckett and the Union Gap was one of the earliest bands to achieve most of their success with Power Ballads.
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A "ballad" is described as a narrative (story) set to song (think of "The Ballad of the Green Berets" for a perfect example). I cannot think of any song by Journey, Foreigner, REO Speedwagon, or The Union Gap that fits that form although all four groups featured very forceful lead singers.
 
A power ballad is an emotional rock song, generally focused on love, delivered with powerful vocals.

Examples:

Meatloaf "Two Out Of Three Ain't Bad"
REO Speedwagon "Keep On Loving You"
Motley Crue "Home Sweet Home"
Night Ranger "Sister Christian"
Whitesnake "Is This Love"
Sherriff "When I'm With You"
Journey "Faithfully"
Foreigner "I Want to Know What Love Is"
Led Zepplin "Stairway To Heaven"
Bon Jovi - "I'll Be There for You"
Cheap Trick - "The Flame"
Heart - "These Dreams"
Poison - "Every Rose Has Its Thorn"
Aerosmith "Dream On"

Celine Dion, Mariah Carey, and Whitney Houston did tons of power ballads in the 90s.
 
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landtuna said:
A "ballad" is described as a narrative (story) set to song (think of "The Ballad of the Green Berets" for a perfect example). I cannot think of any song by Journey, Foreigner, REO Speedwagon, or The Union Gap that fits that form although all four groups featured very forceful lead singers.
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You need to learn colloquial definitions and not take everything so damn pedantically. In modern parlance (that means "the way we speak nowadays"), the meaning of the word ballad has expanded to include all popular songs with a relatively slow tempo. Get with the times. It's no longer the 19th century. Just because you're almost 70 is no excuse for giving all of us old farts a bad reputation.

Music Lover said:
A power ballad is an emotional rock song, generally focused on love, delivered with powerful vocals.

Examples:

Meatloaf "Two Out Of Three Ain't Bad"
REO Speedwagon "Keep On Loving You"
Motley Crue "Home Sweet Home"
Night Ranger "Sister Christian"
Whitesnake "Is This Love"
Sherriff "When I'm With You"
Journey "Faithfully"
Foreigner "I Want to Know What Love Is"
Led Zepplin "Stairway To Heaven"
Bon Jovi - "I'll Be There for You"
Cheap Trick - "The Flame"
Heart - "These Dreams"
Poison - "Every Rose Has Its Thorn"
Aerosmith "Dream On"

Celine Dion, Mariah Carey, and Whitney Houston did tons of power ballads in the 90s.
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Exactly!
 
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It's exactly as Avid Listener said. The meaning of the word ballad has expanded to mean all popular songs with a slow tempo. Josh Groban would be considered a balladeer because he sings slow songs.
 
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Avid Listener said:
You need to learn colloquial definitions and not take everything so damn pedantically. In modern parlance (that means "the way we speak nowadays"), the meaning of the word ballad has expanded to include all popular songs with a relatively slow tempo. Get with the times.
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I apologize for having missed your declaration that the meaning of "ballad" had been changed. However, you failed also to notify Merriam-Webster and a whole boatload of other definers of the proper English language.

I will stick with the traditional until notified by reasonable authority thenk yew.
 
Music Lover said:
It's exactly as Avid Listener said. The meaning of the word ballad has expanded to mean all popular songs with a slow tempo. Josh Groban would be considered a balladeer because he sings slow songs.
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Burl Ives would be considered a balladeer because he sings ballads. I refuse to classify Josh Groban to anything other than noise, and loud noise at that.
 
landtuna said:


Burl Ives would be considered a balladeer because he sings ballads. I refuse to classify Josh Groban to anything other than noise, and loud noise at that.
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LOL! :rolleyes: And that is why music is subjective. What you hear as "noise", I hear as beautiful and relaxing.

You're reminding me of my dad. He's gotten extremely picky about music in his old age. My mom is the total opposite. Her tastes have broadened.
 
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