fri 20/12/2024

Opinion: Who says music isn’t good any more? | reviews, news & interviews

Opinion: Who says music isn’t good any more?

Opinion: Who says music isn’t good any more?

Elton should stop griping about current music, there's great stuff around

Robin Gibb: 'Today they just pose as singers'

The former Bee Gee Robin Gibb unveiled a plaque at the London home of Dusty Springfield a couple of weeks ago. At the ceremony he commented, “There’s been no one to match her. This includes the United States as well – they can’t come close to her. Today they just pose as singers.” Last October, Sir Elton John was at it too: “Songwriters today are pretty awful, which is why everything sounds the same. Contemporary pop isn’t very inspiring." Come off it, you two, great new music is out there. It’s constantly coming into view.

The former Bee Gee Robin Gibb unveiled a plaque at the London home of Dusty Springfield a couple of weeks ago. At the ceremony he commented, “There’s been no one to match her. This includes the United States as well – they can’t come close to her. Today they just pose as singers.” Last October, Sir Elton John was at it too: “Songwriters today are pretty awful, which is why everything sounds the same. Contemporary pop isn’t very inspiring." Come off it, you two, great new music is out there. It’s constantly coming into view.

What’s better than a new musical thrill? You can even go and see them live

Share this article

Comments

Spot on!

Grumpy old man here - can anyone give me a modern equivalent for Henry Cow's 'In Praise of Learning'?

Hello Sir Johnson Elt, In the first instance you need to hear Norway's Jaga Jazzist. Closer to home, Leed's Quack Quack would be right up your street too. Kieron

Agree whole-heartedly, Kieron. Even if I generally find most of the stuff that excites me outside the field of Western pop I still occasionally have the breath knocked out of me by some great new (and new-sounding) pop music. The new one from Tune-Yards is a prime example.

Add comment

The future of Arts Journalism

 

You can stop theartsdesk.com closing!

We urgently need financing to survive. Our fundraising drive has thus far raised £33,000 but we need to reach £100,000 or we will be forced to close. Please contribute here: https://gofund.me/c3f6033d

And if you can forward this information to anyone who might assist, we’d be grateful.

Subscribe to theartsdesk.com

Thank you for continuing to read our work on theartsdesk.com. For unlimited access to every article in its entirety, including our archive of more than 15,000 pieces, we're asking for £5 per month or £40 per year. We feel it's a very good deal, and hope you do too.

To take a subscription now simply click here.

And if you're looking for that extra gift for a friend or family member, why not treat them to a theartsdesk.com gift subscription?

newsletter

Get a weekly digest of our critical highlights in your inbox each Thursday!

Simply enter your email address in the box below

View previous newsletters