Looking at most of the album covers to all the female big name singers and you notice that most of them have seductive poses and very little clothing and it makes me wonder why such a thing is required because it doesn’t seem logical that people would buy an album or a single because the featured artist is nearly naked and that makes you want to buy it, I can’t imagine somebody staring at the cover art for ages or watching the music video for ages because of the risque material although it can be said when I was 18 Brittany Spears ‘Toxic’ was jaw dropping stuff to me and others my age but on the other hand it wasn’t compelling enough for me to buy the song or listen to it over or even waiting for it to be on radio (YouTube was a few years away).

I’m not waving the flag for morality but more asking the question of why such lengths are needed to make sales, the counter argument is that sex sells and so the more sexual an artist is the more likely that you will get great sales, there is no doubting that teenage performers are going to wrestle with the question of what to wear to impress and get attention, it has to be said that teenage girls have more trouble than boys because it is about face and shape for boys while girls have to think about everything from head to toe and I honestly feel sympathy for those who try and find the right balance because it cannot be easy and you may have to compromise your beliefs to gain advantage on the world stage.

The next thing I am very curious about is why do people have to sing the same song on YouTube, if everyone tries their hand at singing the current number one hit on YouTube there is a risk of not being seen because nobody is going to watch every version of the song, they may pick a couple but your version may miss out which could be very bad because you might just sing it better than the ones looked at so don’t be afraid to be adventurous and pick a song less chosen or just do one of your own compositions which usually gets you points from the public because it is a new offering and that is always appreciated.

Lastly I wonder where has the great solo gone from songs, most of the famous songs in history has music playing before the first lyrics are sung for example ‘Let It Be’ and the Rolling Stones ‘(I can’t get no) Satisfaction’ and of course in around the middle of the song you’d have a guitarist or pianist doing their thing, I always thought that a song with an instrumental start is like plane taking off from a runway and when the first lyric is sung that’s when the song takes off and away you go, it is strange that people love it when artists do this on stage but the majority of artists never do it on a record, a song should be full of energy with a memorable rhythm and melody and very catchy and/or meaningful lyrics, if you get the complete set you’ll have something remembered for a very long time.

Perhaps it is time for artists to be adventurous with their sound, see what affects the world and write about it instead of writing about the same old subjects, add some solos to songs, if you got a great rhythm and melody then by all means use it for all it’s worth, it could be the difference between a song that came and went and a song that hangs around forever.

Hope I have given you food for thought today

– Ryan