Ellen DeGeneres listens to singer Justin Bieber as she holds a box containing strands of his hair. The box will be auctioned off and the proceeds will go to Gentle Barn.There are two people who have been in the news as of recently, at least more so than usual, who may be getting too much coverage for their own good: Justin Bieber and Lady Gaga. Not that it would matter to me, but I fear the pop stars risk overexposure and pretty soon people will be tossing any news of either aside. Call it the Lindsay Lohan Syndrome. Sometimes, enough is enough.
Here’s my reasoning:
Sixteen-year-old Bieber is on the fast track to take over the world, just as Gaga has done in the last few years. He’s a teen sensation who can actually sing (and play drums, guitar, piano…whatever you throw in front of him); he’s got the pretty-boy duds and he seems like a genuinely nice kid, always smiling, never getting into trouble.
But when the biggest news of the week is that the Bieb has gotten a haircut, I think we need to slow down. Websites posted this nugget as “Breaking News,” and it was on nearly every site — even mainstream news sites — as a top story. And it wasn’t just a blip on the radar. It had legs, as we say in the news biz, for the entire week. Keep in mind we have fighting in Libya and skyrocketing gas prices to contend with. The Bieb even made special appearances on “Ellen” and “Entertainment Tonight” to showcase his new locks.
It apparently isn’t enough that we see him as a musical artist. No, now he stars in his own movie, makes cameo appearances on “Saturday Night Live,” shows up as a troubled teen in episodes of “C.S.I.” and takes home the MVP trophy in the NBA’s celebrity all-star game. You’d think that much exposure would amount to saturation, but not with this kid. He’s also on product lines of nail polish (really?), dolls and bed sheets. He seems to be popping up just about everywhere.
The Bieb has been so pumped up by the media, his handlers and his legions of fans that everybody seemed to consider him a shoo-in to win the Grammy award last week for Best New Artist. When jazz-bassist Esperanza Spalding took the prize instead, the look on the Bieb’s face was one of utter disappointment, almost like he was set up.
Bieb, we get it. You can sing, dude, and I’ll admit, you are adorable with whatever hairstyle you so choose. But you’re just getting started in the biz. Slow down or you’ll be on the track to has-been teen sensation sooner, rather than later.
•
I’ll admit I dig some of Lady Gaga’s music. Any girl who denies it is lying. (Heck, even the old bald guy who sits across the aisle at work thinks she’s a huge talent.) The Fame, as well as the follow-up bonus disc, The Fame Monster, brought out a new sound at a time when it was much needed in the music world. Her crazy fashions, along with her even more bizarre music videos held our attention for the last three years, and she’s earned the worldwide success that she now holds. And just as with Bieber, Gaga can actually sing and shred the piano quite well.
My problem now is, we need some breathing room. I get it, Gaga is a massive icon these days, especially with the LGBT community, but as far as her music goes, it’s too much too soon.
She just got finished with a massive tour and now her third album in three years is being released on May 23. Her newest single, “Born This Way,” was released on Feb. 11 to much anticipation, and it seems to play about every 30 minutes on the radio. In fact, I’ve had it stuck in my head for the last few days. But that’s not the point.
The point is, “Born This Way” is not nearly as good as her previous accomplishments. And her first performance of it on the Grammys wasn’t as earth-shattering as everyone assumed it would be. I was actually pretty bored during it. The whole arrive-in-an-embryo stunt took it a little too far in the creative mindset of things, and I don’t think I was the only one who was less intrigued by the stunt, more so than applauding her conceptual vision.
To couple with her mediocre hit single, which she claimed to have written in 10 minutes (best have kept that to yourself, Gaga, as it shows), “Born This Way” is in the midst of big debate on whether it resembles — or rips off, for that matter — Madonna’s “Express Yourself.” Both not only have similar beats, but similar messages. Only Madonna’s is way, way better and Gaga — as much as she portrays herself as the new-age Madonna — will never come close to Madonna-status.
What it boils down to is Gaga needs to take some time away. I could be wrong and her new album will be the most glorious thing we’ve ever heard, but I really think by the end of the year the world will have Gaga fatigue.
She’ll still have her Little Monsters making her songs #1 on the charts and buying up her concert tickets, but the majority of casual listeners — even the bald guy — will be looking for the Next Big Thing.
So step back Bieber, re-evaluate yourself Gaga, let us breathe and give us some room to appreciate your talent, rather than making you an easy target for the butt of every joke.
Here’s my reasoning:
Sixteen-year-old Bieber is on the fast track to take over the world, just as Gaga has done in the last few years. He’s a teen sensation who can actually sing (and play drums, guitar, piano…whatever you throw in front of him); he’s got the pretty-boy duds and he seems like a genuinely nice kid, always smiling, never getting into trouble.
But when the biggest news of the week is that the Bieb has gotten a haircut, I think we need to slow down. Websites posted this nugget as “Breaking News,” and it was on nearly every site — even mainstream news sites — as a top story. And it wasn’t just a blip on the radar. It had legs, as we say in the news biz, for the entire week. Keep in mind we have fighting in Libya and skyrocketing gas prices to contend with. The Bieb even made special appearances on “Ellen” and “Entertainment Tonight” to showcase his new locks.
It apparently isn’t enough that we see him as a musical artist. No, now he stars in his own movie, makes cameo appearances on “Saturday Night Live,” shows up as a troubled teen in episodes of “C.S.I.” and takes home the MVP trophy in the NBA’s celebrity all-star game. You’d think that much exposure would amount to saturation, but not with this kid. He’s also on product lines of nail polish (really?), dolls and bed sheets. He seems to be popping up just about everywhere.
The Bieb has been so pumped up by the media, his handlers and his legions of fans that everybody seemed to consider him a shoo-in to win the Grammy award last week for Best New Artist. When jazz-bassist Esperanza Spalding took the prize instead, the look on the Bieb’s face was one of utter disappointment, almost like he was set up.
Bieb, we get it. You can sing, dude, and I’ll admit, you are adorable with whatever hairstyle you so choose. But you’re just getting started in the biz. Slow down or you’ll be on the track to has-been teen sensation sooner, rather than later.
•
I’ll admit I dig some of Lady Gaga’s music. Any girl who denies it is lying. (Heck, even the old bald guy who sits across the aisle at work thinks she’s a huge talent.) The Fame, as well as the follow-up bonus disc, The Fame Monster, brought out a new sound at a time when it was much needed in the music world. Her crazy fashions, along with her even more bizarre music videos held our attention for the last three years, and she’s earned the worldwide success that she now holds. And just as with Bieber, Gaga can actually sing and shred the piano quite well.
My problem now is, we need some breathing room. I get it, Gaga is a massive icon these days, especially with the LGBT community, but as far as her music goes, it’s too much too soon.
She just got finished with a massive tour and now her third album in three years is being released on May 23. Her newest single, “Born This Way,” was released on Feb. 11 to much anticipation, and it seems to play about every 30 minutes on the radio. In fact, I’ve had it stuck in my head for the last few days. But that’s not the point.
The point is, “Born This Way” is not nearly as good as her previous accomplishments. And her first performance of it on the Grammys wasn’t as earth-shattering as everyone assumed it would be. I was actually pretty bored during it. The whole arrive-in-an-embryo stunt took it a little too far in the creative mindset of things, and I don’t think I was the only one who was less intrigued by the stunt, more so than applauding her conceptual vision.
To couple with her mediocre hit single, which she claimed to have written in 10 minutes (best have kept that to yourself, Gaga, as it shows), “Born This Way” is in the midst of big debate on whether it resembles — or rips off, for that matter — Madonna’s “Express Yourself.” Both not only have similar beats, but similar messages. Only Madonna’s is way, way better and Gaga — as much as she portrays herself as the new-age Madonna — will never come close to Madonna-status.
What it boils down to is Gaga needs to take some time away. I could be wrong and her new album will be the most glorious thing we’ve ever heard, but I really think by the end of the year the world will have Gaga fatigue.
She’ll still have her Little Monsters making her songs #1 on the charts and buying up her concert tickets, but the majority of casual listeners — even the bald guy — will be looking for the Next Big Thing.
So step back Bieber, re-evaluate yourself Gaga, let us breathe and give us some room to appreciate your talent, rather than making you an easy target for the butt of every joke.
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