Great Video - Huge Fish & Hot Lady

[Feathers and Fins]

And on the 8th day God created Skynyrd! And he said Simple men are best.

[ness]

Lady-freakin'-Gaga??? Seriously? I can't see past the 'oooh look at me' hairstyles and costumes. Kinda like Marylin Manson meets the Jetson's. She might have some talent, but she's already lost me, just like Flock of Seagulls did. Too much good stuff out there to waste time on that.

[Mitch f]

Lady-freakin'-Gaga??? Seriously? I can't see past the 'oooh look at me' hairstyles and costumes. Kinda like Marylin Manson meets the Jetson's. She might have some talent, but she's already lost me, just like Flock of Seagulls did. Too much good stuff out there to waste time on that.

Ditto, I've got limited brain cells anyway, can't have Lady Gaga in there takin up much needed space

[Chief Grey Bear]

That's a pretty low bar you're setting there to qualify talent. I haven't seen any talent whatsoever spawned from American Idol. You wanna see talent, spend a weekend in the dive bars in Nashville...but 99% of those musicians will never make it because they can't dance.

You can go to any bar and find great talent. Super talent. Some of the best out there. I won't argue that for a minute. But these days, since 80's, you have to have the looks. If you are half way talented and not afraid to stand in front of a crowd, they can cover up your bad singing. Christopher Cross is an amazingly talented singer. On of the very best out there. But he came to the game too late. He didn't have the look.

Lots of poetry doesn't rhyme, and lots of songs have no lyrics. Does that mean the people making them aren't talented? And while you're right no rapper has won AI, there have been many rap artists whose record sales have trounced that show's winners.

And then there is Bob Dylan. He trumps all rappers. God bless Bob Dylan.

[Outside Bend]

You can go to any bar and find great talent. Super talent. Some of the best out there. I won't argue that for a minute. But these days, since 80's, you have to have the looks. If you are half way talented and not afraid to stand in front of a crowd, they can cover up your bad singing. Christopher Cross is an amazingly talented singer. On of the very best out there. But he came to the game too late. He didn't have the look.

You mean guys like these will never make it?

: )

The music industry throws money at acts they can market- sometimes it's because they're talented musicians, sometimes it's because they're really attractive, sometimes it's because they don't mind wearing a suit of raw meat. I'd agree that it's easier for a less talented, better looking individual to break into the market than a very talented, less attractive individual- but that's life. I don't agree with it, but it happens all the time, not just in music.

[Mitch f]

And while you're right no rapper has won AI, there have been many rap artists whose record sales have trounced that show's winners.

being a commercial success has no link to talent

[Outside Bend]

Being talented doesn't ensure commercial success and vice versa, but many talented artists wind up commercial successes. It's true in music, it's true in sports, it's true in almost any trade- if you have the talent, and the drive, you tend to succeed. And with success comes reward.

[eric1978]

And if you have no talent but a pretty face or you can dance like a cat with tape on his paws, show up on American Idol and the idiots will vote for you. And with idiots comes reward. Commercial success is a very poor indicator of talent, especially these days.

[Greasy B]

Music as an "industry" is dead. Music as a "commercial" enterprise is dead. After decades of recording companies ripping off musicians and consumers alike they are now Irrelevant and on their last leg. No one is shedding a tear over their demise. Commercial radio is the domain of mindless dolts and it too has rendered itself irrelevant. Real musicians now give their music away free and make their living by proforming. The music culture is now returning to what it once was before being highjacked by business parasites, real art produced in real time right in front of the patron. I would invite everyone to rediscover real musical performance and leave lame commercial recordings behind.

[Mitch f]

Music as an "industry" is dead. Music as a "commercial" enterprise is dead. After decades of recording companies ripping off musicians and consumers alike they are now Irrelevant and on their last leg. No one is shedding a tear over their demise. Commercial radio is the domain of mindless dolts and it too has rendered itself irrelevant. Real musicians now give their music away free and make their living by proforming. The music culture is now returning to what it once was before being highjacked by business parasites, real art produced in real time right in front of the patron. I would invite everyone to rediscover real musical performance and leave lame commercial recordings behind.

Agreed