As I mentioned in my previous post, I’m going through a bout of self-loathing today, but instead of turning to the cilice (ouch!), I’ve decided to take a listen to new singles from three songbirds whom I’d typically avoid at all costs. (I’m not being snobby when I say that, BTW; regular PopWatch readers know I’m down with Fergie Ferg and Kylie, plus a whole bunch of divas who are probably working for change this very minute.) Anyhow, let’s all have a listen and see if any of ‘em will be securing a spot on my iPod, shall we?
- Avril Lavigne, "Girlfriend": Okay, yeah, so the chorus has a foot-tappingly cute beat, but does this song (streaming over at Idolator) have anything else to recommend it? I mean, even if the ghost of Janis Joplindescended directly from rock & roll heaven into Avril’s body, she’dstill have a hard time breathing life into lyrics like "She’s, like, sowhatever/ You can do so much better/ I think we should get together."Of course, then at least we’d be spared Avril’s affected pronunciationsof words like "bettah" and "othah." I dunno, I’ll take Kelly’s vastlysuperior "Text Message Breakup" if I want an angry white chick screaming over a danceable beat.
- Hilary Duff, "With Love": I’ve listened to this tepid, weakly sung track (streaming at AOL Music)three times now, and being completely honest, if I were dangled over apit of boiling oil by my toes, and my life depended on being able tohum even a single bar of it, I’d end up crispier than a box of Popeyeschicken. Which makes me wonder: Is there a person in America who canappreciate Hilary Duff’s musical oeuvre without having simultaneousfeelings of nostalgia for the good old days of Lizzie McGuire?
- Hayden Panettiere, "I Still Believe": Alas, this isn’t a cover of Brenda K. Starr’s delicious, cheese-flavored late-’80s ballad (later covered by Mariah Carey in 1999), but rather an inspirational ditty from the soundtrack to Cinderella III: A Twist in Time. I warn you, PopWatchers, Heroes‘ cheerleader’s song (streaming at her MySpace page)begins with this lyrical nugget: "Somehow I know I will find a way/ Toa brighter day/ In the sun…" And as for that brutally wonky finishingnote? If HRG wanted to kill Sylar, he should’ve just put it on repeatloop. C’mon, Hayden, you’re not earning enough fun money with that Neutrogena gig?
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American pop music today is so bad it beyond laughs.
Crap, Crap and more crap, I actually took the time to listen to a bit of each…boy we are in trouble…
Dear confidential – i guess you have never listened to German pop music today…
our biggest band in the last months: http://www.monrose.de/music_cd/monrose/
i’d rather listen to that “i still believe song” a million times…it’s German pop music that “makes the heavens cry..”
It pains me to see Hayden start a singing career. Can we not have one young girl star that doesn’t feel the need to do it all? I really liked her when Heroes started, but now I’m just annoyed that she obviously wants to be like the rest of her peers. She’ll start boozing in a matter of months.
Slezak, last night Fergie’s video for Glamorous premiered on MTV, and I thought of you as I sashayed around my room in my PJ’s singin’ “Flossy, flossy!” Also, some good, if random, cameos(Jump Around!)
To be fair…Hayden started a singing career awhile ago, it’s just picking up steam because she’s a more recognizable face. When she was in the movie “Ice Princess”, she also had a song on the Soundtrack. And that was before anyone really had any idea who she was.
That doesn’t make her a better singer…but it does indicate she’s not just jumping on the singing bandwagon because she’s more famous now.
They were all ok, Avril’s was the best, i can see my self jamming out to her on a road trip some time, but the rest were just plain ok.
Well, I usually like Avril(I like her song ‘Keep Holding on’) but I haven’t heard that song yet. Actually Michael I wasn’t the biggest Janis Joplin fan; we don’t need another one. I’ll check Avril’s song out.
these ’singers’ only make me appreciate the likes of christina aguilera, norah jones, alicia keys and corinne bailey rae even more — great artists with great voices and relevant lyrical content. please let us forget those girls mentioned in slezak’s post and enjoy the true artists we have.
I don’t have any problem admitting to actually really liking the Hilary Duff song. Yes, she has a paper thin voice, but, if she’s the only one to the carry the electro-pop banner in America (since Girls Aloud or Rachel Stevens haven’t crossed to these shores from the UK) then so be it.
I never have liked Avril and her new song isn’t going to change things. As far as Hayden, I’m indifferent. She sounds like Britney doing paint by numbers female faux rock. Boring. At least Hilary is doing something different.
You know, I give up. First you had the late Ricky Nelson a TV star who could sing, then Bobby Sherman (The Brides), Leif Garret, Shaun and David Cassidy, Rick Springfield, Jack Wagner, Bruce Willis, The Monkees, Don Johnson, and Philip Michael Thomas. Most of the teen television pop singers were men, so you know what let Hayden sing no matter how cheesey it may be. I will stick to conventional rock and alternative. BTW: The best female television star singer was Kyle Minogue of Neighbors.
Is it just me, or does Hilary Duff’s dark hair make her look remarkably like Idina Menzel?
Just listened to Avril’s song…anyone else reminded of Toni Basil’s Mickey?
Wow…Hilary Duff truly looks like…well, no one in particular. Yeah, she looks a bit like Idina Menzel, but also about a dozen other dark-haired beauties…doesn’t look a bit like Hilary Duff to me. In fact she almost looks as much as “no one in particular” as Ashlee Simpson these days.
Avril’s song isn’t that bad, but it does sound a little like Sk8ter Boi.
here’s something to cheer you up Michael
A clip of a GOOD catchy tune – your boy Elliott Yamin’s first single – out next week.
Avril’s new song is way good, and her last single (Keep Holding On) was pretty solid as well. She is miles ahead of the likes of Duff, Ashlee Simpson, etc and I expect her new album to build on her previous two albums. She has a great voice (you would know if you’ve seen her live) and the girl can rock. Avril is going to be around for a LONG time.
When Billboard announced the release date for “The Best Damn Thing” 2 weeks ago, they compared Avril’s first single, “Girlfriend” to Basil’s “Mickey”. But I think Avril is being safe. Though “Keep Holding On” was not a tremendous hit like her ballads of the past, I think her record company is wising up that her original fan base is maturing since the debut single from her last album was the rocking “Don’t Tell Me”, which failed to really make a dent, so this way there is 2 songs on the raido when the cd drops in April, one ballad, and one toe-tapping lil’ ditty. I’ll be interested to see if “Girlfriend” hits since the ballad found mediocre success over the holidays. I actually don’t mind Hilary’s “With Love” track, just in time for Vday…hey it COULD be a ballad, but instead yes, Hilary is going in a direction where not many find success, so lets wish her luck & some support! Slezak, if you LOVE Fergie, do you have or listened to Ciara’s new cd?? Lots of danceable tunes on there!
The Avril song I have to say, this is totally going to be all over the radio this summer and its many repeat plays on the radio are going to make me want to blow my brains out.
Didn’t make it through Hilary Duff.
Hayden, please honey, stick to acting!
Hilary! Lindsey! Haydan! Girls!! Enough! Enough! ENOUGH!! Don’t you know that a career in pop, singing these dreadful DREADFUL, songs for a target audience of 10-13 year olds in a surefire way of destroying any kind of long term career as even a half-assed respected actor? Work on the craft and stop this silliness!
Avril got married and managed to produce an even more childish song than “Sk8ter Boi”
Of the three of those songs, Avril’s is the one that has the most chance of doing something. In the female pop music industry currently run by the almost identical (and oft annoying) Fergie and Gwen and sprinkled with would-be’s like Lindsay and Hilary, Avril knows her place and is doing her thing as usual and having fun. As far as I’m concerned, there’s room for some mindless, juvenile pop on my radio that is actually good, and her song is millions of miles ahead of Duff’s crap attempt and Hayden’s schmaltz.
I love Kelly! I totally just ordered her cd to play at my oscar party. Let Me Borrow That Top Betch is a classic!!
i like hilary duff new song called with love and i think she more beautifull with brunett hair.i used to like avril but after she change her image, i don’t like her anymore.. besides her song now is just ok.not like the 1st album.
Can you say ECHO chambers??? Damn, you just have to be blonde to sell songs I guess.
Someone has to take Britney’s audience of pop loving teen girls.
I own Hilary’s first CD. I enjoy it. Nobody could pay me to buy her crap now. I own both of Avril’s albums and I pray to God that her new one offers much better than that song. yuck. I have to say of the three, Hayden’s song is the best. I actually kinda like it. But she should stick to “Heroes.” meh.
Just to add more fuel to the fire, apparently Heidi Montag from MTV’s The Hills is recording a pop album with David Foster
http://www.usmagazine.com/mtvs_heidi_montag_shows_off_her_own_hills_1
No matter how bad these songs are they can’t hold a candle to the craptastic “Lohan Holiday” by Ali Lohan.
I totally love Hilary Duff.I really think she has talent.Avril Livigne is alright and I have not heard Hayden’s song yet.But I like Hilary and always have I think she does well in her singing and acting.With Love is totally cool.I like her a lot.Sweet music Hilary.
Is it just me that hilary duff’s dark hair looks so good. I have all of your CDS they are all asome. My favroite album you made is Dignity my favroite songs on it is Never stop, Burnd, and I wish. All the albums you made are so good and I like all the remixs to.