The 'Miseducation' of Today's Pop Stars - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

AKA · 01-22-2003, 08:51 PM

The 'Miseducation' of Today's Pop Stars

By Mike Hess
Fox News

NEW YORK — With teen pop's latest explosion, a gaggle of its young stars have made some unforgivable faux pas about music history lately.

The most recent blunder came from Canadian mall-punk teen Avril Lavigne, who mispronounced David Bowie's name while announcing the Grammy nods for the Best Male Rock Vocal category. Lavigne pronounced "Bowie" the way one would say "Maui," rather than the correct way resembling "Joey."

Another set of verbal mishaps sprung from the lips of Britney Spears. Last year, when Fox 411's Roger Friedman jokingly asked the starlet if she would be the millennium's Yoko Ono — referencing her relationship with 'N Sync's Justin Timberlake — Spears' response was: "Who?"

And when asked why she covered Joan Jett's "I Love Rock 'n' Roll," Spears attributed it to her fondness for Pat Benatar.

Granted, these miscues could happen to a lot of people under, say, 21, but they raise the question: Why are today's pop stars so seemingly ignorant about any musical history that predates the Reagan era?

"It is rather scary," said Whitney Matheson, pop-culture columnist for USAToday.com. "Then again, Avril was born in 1984 and grew up on church music. You can't expect her to know 40 years of rock 'n' roll history by age 18."

While Matheson thinks these bungles are unacceptable, she said there are some concrete reasons behind the dumbing down of today's teen idols.

"A lot of these mega-successful kids didn't grow up locked in their rooms playing guitars," she said. "Instead, they were raised in the MTV era, and probably dreamed more about becoming A-list celebrities than master songwriters or instrumentalists."

Margie Monin, creator of the TheCollegePress.com's "Pop-Culturally Incorrect" section, also blames both the stars and the media. "I wouldn't blame this entirely on MTV, but we can definitely point a finger at them."

But Dimitri Coats, singer/guitarist for Burning Brides, one of rock's hottest up-and-coming bands, wasn't as forgiving. "Everybody should know who David Bowie is," he said. "And if you don't, you're an idiot."

Musical knowledge aside, it should be noted that pop stars are much more entertainers than they are musicians these days. Songwriters, producers and record labels often shape performers' sound and image, leaving the stars themselves as simply spokespeople with little creative input.

"A pop star's success is largely based on appearance and publicity, not musical background," Matheson said.

Still, even pop music fans seem to agree that today's icons should be aware of yesterday's.

"They should definitely be more knowledgeable of those who made it possible for them," said 23-year-old Amy Christiansen of Baldwin, N.Y., who admits to being a fan of all things pop.

She laughingly added, "If you're going to cover a song, you'd better fact-check so that I don't feel like an idiot for illegally downloading your music."

But, of course, not all young music sensations can be dubbed ignorant.

For her latest album, Missundaztood, Pink — somewhat of an anti-pop-star pop star — dug into the rock archives to bring in 4 Non Blondes leader Linda Perry as her producer. Perry, who never achieved much mainstream success, has a strong reputation for her soul-scraping voice and songwriting. "Dirrty" pop princess Christina Aguilera also booked Perry to record her latest endeavor, Stripped. Both albums have spawned multiple hits, and are getting better critical praise than the artists' debut albums.

Coats said this kind of attention to music history is essential for musicians who are today's role models for the next generation.

"Whether you're playing rock music or pop music, you owe so much to people like Bowie and Paul McCartney," the Burning Brides singer said. "Performers that are in the limelight should do their homework."

But it seems only natural that the younger these stars get, the younger their role models will be. Madonna, Alanis Morissette and Janet Jackson are now the blueprints they study. But if this trend continues, today's stars might be sorry.

Maybe when the 2015 Grammy announcements roll around, some feisty new pop idol will announce the latest nominee — "Avril Lavig-knee."

AKA · 01-22-2003, 08:59 PM

Quote:

Quote:
Maybe when the 2015 Grammy announcements roll around, some feisty new pop idol will announce the latest nominee — "Avril Lavig-knee."

I don't think anybody will have to worry about how to pronounce her name in 2015, except McDonald's customers reading it off of a nametag.

Kristina · 01-22-2003, 09:29 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by AKA

I don't think anybody will have to worry about how to pronounce her name in 2015, except McDonald's customers reading it off of a nametag.

Dear, she'll be worth so much by then she won't even need to work anymore.

ISmellFine · 01-22-2003, 09:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by AKA

I don't think anybody will have to worry about how to pronounce her name in 2015, except McDonald's customers reading it off of a nametag.

DarleneIllyria · 01-22-2003, 10:42 PM

Hmm, it is kind of hard to see the facts in this story. How I should word this? Okay, I got it. Some people just aren't really raised on old music. The same rule applies for old tv shows and movies. You can meet a 16 year old that knows who Clark Gable is and then meet with another 16 year old that has no idea who Clark Gable is. Yeah, I know he's a movie actor but I just used him for an example.

Some people were raised listening to older music. I know I was raised listening to older stuff. When I was younger and I would ride around town with my parents, my dad always listened to 99 Ways. It was an oldies radio station. I don't think it's oldies anymore. I think that station is now a country station.

I think I bought my first Elvis cd when I was like 12 or 13 in the Macon Mall. I was with my mom at the time and she was blushing like crazy and saying she could not believe I was buying an Elvis Presley cd. I admit it isn't the norm thing to do to go out and buy an Elvis cd in 1996. What was the big thing in 1996? Was it the Spice Girls? I admit I thought the Spice Girls were cool, but I loved older stuff too.

I went through my 80s period the next year and I just listened to nothing but 80s music. Everything was sucking in current music then, so I had to dive into some other kind of music.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that I know about older music thanks to my parents. I'm an only child, but if I had an older brother or sister that listened to the current music that means the current music would be in my blood. I would prob. listen to nothing but current music.

I agree that some of the now musicians should be able to name Elvis Presley's name or the Beatles, etc. If you don't know the giants of the music business, that's kind of sad. Then again, I can't condemn you on that fact. You apparently weren't raised in a home where you listened to music of the past.

DarleneIllyria · 01-22-2003, 10:48 PM

Ooh, I forgot something. You really can't blame this stuff on MTV. MTV is kind of a pedestal, imo. When you are the giant of the current music, they'll raise you up so high that you could touch the clouds. It's when the trend fades, MTV pushes you off that high pedestal and you fall and break your neck. The pedestal will lower and let the next big thing have a ride. It's just a guarantee about when you become yesterday's news, the ride is over. MTV pushes you off and they go after the next big thing.

I wished we had a music station that played all kinds of music. You could play oldies, country, current, rap, pop, whatever. Put it all on one station. At times I pass by MTV and I see the same **** everytime I pass by the station. I'd say that is the main reason why they show tv shows more than they do music videos because they have very few videos to play. If MTV would become a 24/7 station again, all the songs would be so overplayed. They don't know how to play other stuff. They just play the same 10- 15 videos over and over again.

Mr. Stefani · 01-22-2003, 11:41 PM

A few screw ups doesn't really make you miseducated/uneducated...Everyone says stupid things every now and then.

sara · 01-23-2003, 02:13 AM

When VH1 had the 100 greatest albums show on a year or so. When they showed Britney's list of her top 5 I laughed so hard. The oldest album she had on her list was Thriller, and she had an Nsync album on the list.I have a really eclectic taste in music, but it always surprises me when people don't know an artist. I was talking to a girl I work with about how I wished I could go the Who concert, and she didn't know who they were.

Husker Fanatic · 02-04-2003, 10:09 AM

Britney Spears and Nsync on the top 100 albums list? I'm sorry, but they should be NOWHERE near the top 100. Top 100 indeed.

AKA · 02-14-2003, 12:34 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Avril Lavigne

Dear, she'll be worth so much by then she won't even need to work anymore.

Because she's so phony and manufactured and lots of people buy into her fake hype. Yep.

~*Hannah_Lee*~ · 02-14-2003, 12:48 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by AKA

Because she's so phony and manufactured and lots of people buy into her fake hype. Yep.

You and I are in total agreement on pop music, it appears. Cuz i think the same thing.

laceyinthesky · 02-14-2003, 09:36 PM

I wasn't raised on older music, and I'm not a fan of David Bowie, but at least I know how to say his name for crying out loud. You'd think Avril Lavigne would know something like that since she acts like she knows everything.

AllIWantIsYourClutch · 02-15-2003, 02:12 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by AKA
[B]
"Everybody should know who David Bowie is," he said. "And if you don't, you're an idiot."

~*Hannah_Lee*~ · 02-15-2003, 02:13 AM

I didnt grow up on classic rock either. But when I am listening to a song, and realize it's a cover song. I automatically want to know more about the artist the band I'm listening to covered. You would think that when these artists cover songs and things they would know something about the artist they were covering.

Halex · 02-16-2003, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by AKA
The 'Miseducation' of Today's Pop Stars
And when asked why she covered Joan Jett's "I Love Rock 'n' Roll," Spears attributed it to her fondness for Pat Benatar.

That's pathetic. How many people wouldn't know that Joan Jett sang "I Love Rock 'N' Roll"? Maybe if she covers Pat Benetar's "Hit Me With Your Best Shot" she'll say it was for her fondness of Joan Jett.

01-22-2003, 08:51 PM	#1
AKA Member Forum Star Join Date: Dec 17, 2001 Posts: 15,746	The 'Miseducation' of Today's Pop Stars The 'Miseducation' of Today's Pop Stars By Mike Hess Fox News NEW YORK — With teen pop's latest explosion, a gaggle of its young stars have made some unforgivable faux pas about music history lately. The most recent blunder came from Canadian mall-punk teen Avril Lavigne, who mispronounced David Bowie's name while announcing the Grammy nods for the Best Male Rock Vocal category. Lavigne pronounced "Bowie" the way one would say "Maui," rather than the correct way resembling "Joey." Another set of verbal mishaps sprung from the lips of Britney Spears. Last year, when Fox 411's Roger Friedman jokingly asked the starlet if she would be the millennium's Yoko Ono — referencing her relationship with 'N Sync's Justin Timberlake — Spears' response was: "Who?" And when asked why she covered Joan Jett's "I Love Rock 'n' Roll," Spears attributed it to her fondness for Pat Benatar. Granted, these miscues could happen to a lot of people under, say, 21, but they raise the question: Why are today's pop stars so seemingly ignorant about any musical history that predates the Reagan era? "It is rather scary," said Whitney Matheson, pop-culture columnist for USAToday.com. "Then again, Avril was born in 1984 and grew up on church music. You can't expect her to know 40 years of rock 'n' roll history by age 18." While Matheson thinks these bungles are unacceptable, she said there are some concrete reasons behind the dumbing down of today's teen idols. "A lot of these mega-successful kids didn't grow up locked in their rooms playing guitars," she said. "Instead, they were raised in the MTV era, and probably dreamed more about becoming A-list celebrities than master songwriters or instrumentalists." Margie Monin, creator of the TheCollegePress.com's "Pop-Culturally Incorrect" section, also blames both the stars and the media. "I wouldn't blame this entirely on MTV, but we can definitely point a finger at them." But Dimitri Coats, singer/guitarist for Burning Brides, one of rock's hottest up-and-coming bands, wasn't as forgiving. "Everybody should know who David Bowie is," he said. "And if you don't, you're an idiot." Musical knowledge aside, it should be noted that pop stars are much more entertainers than they are musicians these days. Songwriters, producers and record labels often shape performers' sound and image, leaving the stars themselves as simply spokespeople with little creative input. "A pop star's success is largely based on appearance and publicity, not musical background," Matheson said. Still, even pop music fans seem to agree that today's icons should be aware of yesterday's. "They should definitely be more knowledgeable of those who made it possible for them," said 23-year-old Amy Christiansen of Baldwin, N.Y., who admits to being a fan of all things pop. She laughingly added, "If you're going to cover a song, you'd better fact-check so that I don't feel like an idiot for illegally downloading your music." But, of course, not all young music sensations can be dubbed ignorant. For her latest album, Missundaztood, Pink — somewhat of an anti-pop-star pop star — dug into the rock archives to bring in 4 Non Blondes leader Linda Perry as her producer. Perry, who never achieved much mainstream success, has a strong reputation for her soul-scraping voice and songwriting. "Dirrty" pop princess Christina Aguilera also booked Perry to record her latest endeavor, Stripped. Both albums have spawned multiple hits, and are getting better critical praise than the artists' debut albums. Coats said this kind of attention to music history is essential for musicians who are today's role models for the next generation. "Whether you're playing rock music or pop music, you owe so much to people like Bowie and Paul McCartney," the Burning Brides singer said. "Performers that are in the limelight should do their homework." But it seems only natural that the younger these stars get, the younger their role models will be. Madonna, Alanis Morissette and Janet Jackson are now the blueprints they study. But if this trend continues, today's stars might be sorry. Maybe when the 2015 Grammy announcements roll around, some feisty new pop idol will announce the latest nominee — "Avril Lavig-knee."

01-23-2003, 02:13 AM	#8
sara Member Senior Member Join Date: May 21, 2002 Location: grandville michigan Posts: 2,296	When VH1 had the 100 greatest albums show on a year or so. When they showed Britney's list of her top 5 I laughed so hard. The oldest album she had on her list was Thriller, and she had an Nsync album on the list.I have a really eclectic taste in music, but it always surprises me when people don't know an artist. I was talking to a girl I work with about how I wished I could go the Who concert, and she didn't know who they were.
	__________________ Help stamp out and eradicate superfluous redundancy!

02-04-2003, 10:09 AM	#9
Husker Fanatic Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Feb 04, 2003 Location: Denver Posts: 65	Britney Spears and Nsync on the top 100 albums list? I'm sorry, but they should be NOWHERE near the top 100. Top 100 indeed.
	__________________ Dear Lord in the battles as we go through life; We ask for a field that's fair. As chance that's equal to all in the strife; The courage to do it or dare. should win, let it be by the code; With our faith and honor held high. If we should lose, let us stand by the rules; And cheer as the winners go by. Day by day we get better and better; A team that can't be beat, won't be beat.

01-22-2003, 10:42 PM	#5
DarleneIllyria Gone Forum Star Join Date: Oct 15, 2000 Posts: 19,086	Hmm, it is kind of hard to see the facts in this story. How I should word this? Okay, I got it. Some people just aren't really raised on old music. The same rule applies for old tv shows and movies. You can meet a 16 year old that knows who Clark Gable is and then meet with another 16 year old that has no idea who Clark Gable is. Yeah, I know he's a movie actor but I just used him for an example. Some people were raised listening to older music. I know I was raised listening to older stuff. When I was younger and I would ride around town with my parents, my dad always listened to 99 Ways. It was an oldies radio station. I don't think it's oldies anymore. I think that station is now a country station. I think I bought my first Elvis cd when I was like 12 or 13 in the Macon Mall. I was with my mom at the time and she was blushing like crazy and saying she could not believe I was buying an Elvis Presley cd. I admit it isn't the norm thing to do to go out and buy an Elvis cd in 1996. What was the big thing in 1996? Was it the Spice Girls? I admit I thought the Spice Girls were cool, but I loved older stuff too. I went through my 80s period the next year and I just listened to nothing but 80s music. Everything was sucking in current music then, so I had to dive into some other kind of music. I guess what I'm trying to say is that I know about older music thanks to my parents. I'm an only child, but if I had an older brother or sister that listened to the current music that means the current music would be in my blood. I would prob. listen to nothing but current music. I agree that some of the now musicians should be able to name Elvis Presley's name or the Beatles, etc. If you don't know the giants of the music business, that's kind of sad. Then again, I can't condemn you on that fact. You apparently weren't raised in a home where you listened to music of the past.

01-22-2003, 10:48 PM	#6
DarleneIllyria Gone Forum Star Join Date: Oct 15, 2000 Posts: 19,086	Ooh, I forgot something. You really can't blame this stuff on MTV. MTV is kind of a pedestal, imo. When you are the giant of the current music, they'll raise you up so high that you could touch the clouds. It's when the trend fades, MTV pushes you off that high pedestal and you fall and break your neck. The pedestal will lower and let the next big thing have a ride. It's just a guarantee about when you become yesterday's news, the ride is over. MTV pushes you off and they go after the next big thing. I wished we had a music station that played all kinds of music. You could play oldies, country, current, rap, pop, whatever. Put it all on one station. At times I pass by MTV and I see the same **** everytime I pass by the station. I'd say that is the main reason why they show tv shows more than they do music videos because they have very few videos to play. If MTV would become a 24/7 station again, all the songs would be so overplayed. They don't know how to play other stuff. They just play the same 10- 15 videos over and over again.

01-22-2003, 11:41 PM	#7
Mr. Stefani Member Forum Celebrity Join Date: Jul 15, 2001 Posts: 20,757	A few screw ups doesn't really make you miseducated/uneducated...Everyone says stupid things every now and then.

02-14-2003, 09:36 PM	#12
laceyinthesky Member Senior Member Join Date: Apr 13, 2002 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 1,906	I wasn't raised on older music, and I'm not a fan of David Bowie, but at least I know how to say his name for crying out loud. You'd think Avril Lavigne would know something like that since she acts like she knows everything.

02-15-2003, 02:13 AM	#14
~Hannah_Lee~ Let's dance in style Forum Veteran Join Date: Apr 09, 2002 Location: Alabama Posts: 7,358	I didnt grow up on classic rock either. But when I am listening to a song, and realize it's a cover song. I automatically want to know more about the artist the band I'm listening to covered. You would think that when these artists cover songs and things they would know something about the artist they were covering.