Rap Rant, Part III

DATE: 04/01/2003 07:48:56 PM
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<u>ARGUMENT #3: "It's too repetitive."</u>
Hey, I feel ya.  I feel the same way about most electronic music.  Heck, I feel that way about a lot of rap and rock music.  But most often, the people making this argument are idiots who don't realize that ALL pop music - including rap - has gotten more and more repetitive over the years as people go for the big bucks instead of striving for quality.  

To prove my point, let's compare some pop-rap songs and some pop-rock songs for repetitiveness.  Let's list the rap songs first:

1. Missy Elliot, "Work It"
2. Eve/Gwen Stefani, "Let Me Blow Your Mind"
3. Eminem, "Lose Yourself"
4. Busta Rhymes, "Make it Clap"
5. Mystical, "Danger"

Now, here are some pop-rock songs from well-known acts:

1. Nickelback, "Hero"
2. Creed, "My Sacrifice"
3. U2, "Sweetest Thing"
4. Weezer, "Come Undone (The Sweater Song)"
5. Coldplay, "Yellow"
6. Matchbox 20, "Push"
 
First, let me briefly discuss the hip-hop songs.  I like all of them, and I acknowledge that each of them is somewhat repetitive.  However, I also assert that none of the rap songs is any more repetitive than the rock songs are.  In fact, some of them are LESS repetitive than the rock songs.  "Let Me Blow Your Mind" is less dull than any of the rock songs listed.  There are as many unique sections of that rap song than there are in "Sweetest Thing."  And, without exception, ALL the rap songs are less lyrically repetitive - and contain more overall lyrics - than the rock songs referenced above.  So which genre is more repetitive?

I'm going to take it a step further and describe to you exactly what is so damn repetitive about the rock songs...one by one.

<b>Nickelback, "Hero":</b> This six-chord wonder of songwriting is about as unpredictable as sunshine in California.  I know it was written for a soundtrack, but seriously - did they put ANY thought into this song at all?  The lyrics suck, it isn't inspirational, and they sing the same stupid, near-nonsensical chorus over and over again.  At least "Lose Yourself" has a powerful message, though it too was written for a soundtrack.  This track has the balls of a chihuahua.

<b>Creed, "My Sacrifice":</b> This song provides great background noise for pro wrestling vignettes...and that's really all it's good for.  I think there just MIGHT be a whole *five* distinct chords in the entire thing.  <i>Maybe.</i> Regardless, it's as exciting as a root canal if you're actually in the mood to listen to something that's both catchy <i>and</i> good.

<b>U2, "Sweetest Thing":</b>  I don't care that Bono wrote this song about his wife or whatever - it's boooooooorrrrrrriiiiiiinggggg!  Basically made up of two chords changed up with one of the shittiest excuses for a bridge I've ever heard, this is a random blot of crap from a band I traditionally enjoy.  I don't listen to U2 for complex songs.  But jeez, I know they can do light-years better than this.  And don't even let me get started <a href="http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/SongUnid/833EF28169948971482568960030F2F0">on the lyrics to this atrocity</a>.  What were they smoking?

<b>Weezer, "Come Undone (The Sweater Song)":</b>  As much as I enjoy some of Weeezer's work, let's be honest - this song just isn't very interesting.  That's why it confuses me when <a href="http://www.mbanefo.org/archives/000054.asp">indie rock snobs</a> tout Weezer as the best thing since sliced bread.  Face the facts - they are a slightly-above-average band that some of us choose to like anyway.  They managed to pull 8 chords for this bad boy, a respectable total.  But the lyrics are quite dull, and the execution of the song makes it EXTREMELY repetitive.  Yes, I like the song and the band.  But I also acknowledge that it's no masterpiece - and neither is anything else Weezer has done.

<b>Coldplay, "Yellow":</b> Yet another entry from a band I actually like.  Coldplay is another band that has achieved some critical acclaim that is just a tiny bit removed from greatness.  Songs Like "Yellow" are among the reasons why.  I skip it every time I listen to their first album, because it's unbelievably repetitive and dull.  <a href="http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/SongUnid/ECB8F2AFE84B13B848256A08000F0696">The lyrics are to gag on.</a>  Yet it was a huge popular and critical hit.

<b>Matchbox 20, "Push":</b> Want to offend me?  Play a Matchbox 20 song at my funeral.  I swear I will haunt you from beyond the grave.  It is difficult to put into words all the different ways I feel this band sucks ass.  So let's just go with the song.  This was probably their breakout hit.  Yawn.  THERE IS NOT A SINGLE SPECIAL THING ABOUT THIS SONG.  If there is, I would love for someone to point it out.  Songwriting?  Boring.  Probably about 6 chords, in a very standard prgression, played on standard instrument settings, with absolutely zero flair.  <a href="http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/SongUnid/5E89516FDBB2431D482568C0002D9911">Lyrics?  Fucking pathetic.</a>   There are flashes of potentially good stuff in there, but it degenerates to crap fairly quickly.  Rob Thomas should keep writing songs with Santana.  God, how I despise them.

Okay, you got me.  I just really wanted an excuse to rip on these songs.  But they do serve to make my point: the repetitiveness argument just doesn't fly.

I know the truth behind why some people really don't like rap, especially the ones who have only been exposed to the Top-40 variety: they just aren't listening.  No matter whether the rap act is mainstream or underground, most of it is pretty pointless if you don't take the time to listen to the lyrics.  Of course "it all sounds the same" if you don't listen carefully!  The person isn't singing, so you don't get the same vocal fluctuations as a singer gets.  Yet the best rappers DO give you vocal variety.  Ultimately, you often need to go beyond the radio hits to find quality hip-hop.  And the same rule holds for every other genre of music.

Would anyone else like to weigh in?? 

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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: rocker4life
URL:
DATE: 01/16/2004 12:43:56 PM
ya i hate repetitive songs! but i also hate songs that you cannot even understand like rap. I have been forced to listen to rap so many times i cant even stand it anymore.
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: jide
URL:
DATE: 04/02/2003 04:31:45 PM
Oh, absolutely, Virve.  I love Elton John (the '70's stuff in particular), and I like Linkin Park, and I like some of Puff Daddy's stuff.  There's also a lot of stuff in my album collection that I look back at and cringe. 

There's a lot more, but I can't come up with them at the moment.  As stated earlier, I like some of the bands I ripped on - I'm just using the blanket, nonsensical criticisms of rap music to rip on those bands' worst material.
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Virve
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DATE: 04/02/2003 04:09:46 PM
I'm just curious Jide, are there any songs you like for no tangible reason? (in the way that I like Sweetest Thing, or what's his name likes Bittersweet Symphony...)

Any guilty pleasures or are you a musical purist?
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: jide
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DATE: 04/02/2003 02:23:48 PM
Overbiter, here's my answer: I think "Bittersweet Symphony" sucks almost as bad as "Yellow".  In fact, you just provided another song for my list.  I'll sing along with the song when I hear it.  But that just means it's catchy; the song still blows.  Have a nice day! 
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Overbiter
URL:
DATE: 04/02/2003 02:11:52 PM
Riddle me this: How is it that the Verve's Bitter Sweet Symphony, an extremely repetitive song built around a sample, walks all over every rock and rap song you mentioned here?

For me, rap's shortcomings are more intangible. When I figure out a way to articulate them better, I'll be back.

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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Virve
URL:
DATE: 04/02/2003 01:56:05 PM
I like Sweetest Thing. No profound reasoning behind it, I just do. But that's not why I'm writing. I had a similar conversation concerning DJs... a friend thinks they can't be compared to "real musicians" because they don't actually create music of their own, they just borrow from others. My argument is that everyone borrows from others to create their music and that it takes talent to combine various sounds in such a way that they don't sound like a jumble of crap.

Just a thought. Have a good day!

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