I realized recently, mainly because of the weird emotionally manipulative qualities of "Burn" and "Confessions part 2" that Ursher really reminds a lot of a psycho ex-roommate and I think that that's where some of my dislike of Usher is coming from.
― Al (sitcom), Monday, 3 May 2004 05:13 (twenty years ago) link
Surely performance and bringing a feeling to a song is a kind of technique all by itself. Most ppl can't evaluate or even care much for this def of technique you are talking about.
― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Monday, 3 May 2004 11:05 (twenty years ago) link
― boldbury (boldbury), Monday, 3 May 2004 13:46 (twenty years ago) link
I am mainly concerned with his hypnotizing moves, though, and can't really seem to recall any of his songs that ever really moved me at the moment.
― roxymuzak (roxymuzak), Monday, 3 May 2004 13:51 (twenty years ago) link
― VengaDan Perry (Dan Perry), Monday, 3 May 2004 14:19 (twenty years ago) link
Also, the copy of Confessions I downloaded had Usher's cover of Phil Collins' "You'll Be In My Heart" from the Tarzan soundtrack hiding in it, which was special.
― Stuart (Stuart), Monday, 3 May 2004 14:24 (twenty years ago) link
― Al (sitcom), Monday, 3 May 2004 14:39 (twenty years ago) link
especially due to how easy it is to fix wrong notes in the studio.
Even by R&B singing standards, he sucks. I'd rather listen to a Lenny Williams or a Philip Bailey or even a Luther anyday.
― uh, Monday, 3 May 2004 15:15 (twenty years ago) link
― roxymuzak (roxymuzak), Monday, 3 May 2004 15:19 (twenty years ago) link
― uh (eetface), Monday, 3 May 2004 15:30 (twenty years ago) link
Of course that's a large piece of being a good vocalist/performer, but in a genre that's so largely focused on the vocalist, it definitely can't be the whole piece of the pie. I don't feel Usher when he sings, either. I'm not saying he's soul-less, but he sounds that way because of his dynamic-depleted singing.
― uh (eetface), Monday, 3 May 2004 15:34 (twenty years ago) link
― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Monday, 3 May 2004 16:43 (twenty years ago) link
― VengaDan Perry (Dan Perry), Monday, 3 May 2004 16:47 (twenty years ago) link
― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 3 May 2004 16:48 (twenty years ago) link
― VengaDan Perry (Dan Perry), Monday, 3 May 2004 16:54 (twenty years ago) link
We're getting off-topic, though. All I mentioned is that Usher was a flat, dynamicless singer. I mentioned notes being fixed in the studio to show that merely staying on pitch on recording doesn't mean you're on pitch when you sing, since the studio has helped even Anthony Kiedis sound on pitch at times.
Of course I'll get painted like technical geek now, but I don't think character is the whole piece of the pie whatsoever with an R&B performer.
I can be passionate about taking a dump, and really put my heart and soul into it, but the end result is still shit. Some genres do not require as much ability as others, but I'd prefer a more capable vocalist who has both the magic and the ability like a Lenny Williams.
What's with this overanalyzation of Usher, anyways? I could sum him up in very few words: tired, unenthused boredom.
― uh (eetface), Monday, 3 May 2004 16:57 (twenty years ago) link
for the record, I truly enjoy Alicia Keys (though I prefer her first cd.)
― uh (eetface), Monday, 3 May 2004 16:58 (twenty years ago) link
― uh (eetface), Monday, 3 May 2004 17:01 (twenty years ago) link
The direction I was taking was mocking sarcasm at you for completely misrepresenting me, hoping you would pick up on the fact that you had actually gotten my stance completely wrong.
― VengaDan Perry (Dan Perry), Monday, 3 May 2004 17:03 (twenty years ago) link
Christina, on the other hand, I have respect for as a singer, but I just overall dislike her music.
I want to be Alicia Key's loveslave, though.
― uh (eetface), Monday, 3 May 2004 17:06 (twenty years ago) link
― VengaDan Perry (Dan Perry), Monday, 3 May 2004 17:08 (twenty years ago) link
I inferred from that that you actually thought those two virtues meant a damn thing by themselves.
― uh (eetface), Monday, 3 May 2004 17:15 (twenty years ago) link
― djdee2005, Monday, 3 May 2004 17:22 (twenty years ago) link
― uh (eetface), Monday, 3 May 2004 17:26 (twenty years ago) link
On paper, he has everything: looks, voice, dancing, etc. But something about him somehow manages to make all of these qualities dull and uncharismatic. Even with him talking up his new womanizer image, there's never any sense of danger, excitement, or sexuality to his songs.
― El Diablo Robotico (Nicole), Monday, 3 May 2004 18:34 (twenty years ago) link
― VengaDan Perry (Dan Perry), Monday, 3 May 2004 18:46 (twenty years ago) link
― El Diablo Robotico (Nicole), Monday, 3 May 2004 18:48 (twenty years ago) link
― VengaDan Perry (Dan Perry), Monday, 3 May 2004 18:54 (twenty years ago) link
― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Monday, 3 May 2004 20:11 (twenty years ago) link
― VengaDan Perry (Dan Perry), Monday, 3 May 2004 20:16 (twenty years ago) link
― C0L1N B3CK3TT (Colin Beckett), Thursday, 13 May 2004 02:47 (twenty years ago) link
― C0L1N B3CK3TT (Colin Beckett), Thursday, 13 May 2004 02:50 (twenty years ago) link
pop pop!
― The Lex (The Lex), Saturday, 27 November 2004 17:30 (nineteen years ago) link
― Leelee (Leelee), Sunday, 28 November 2004 04:03 (nineteen years ago) link
― Haibun (Begs2Differ), Sunday, 28 November 2004 04:04 (nineteen years ago) link
― Shmool McShmool (shmuel), Sunday, 28 November 2004 04:58 (nineteen years ago) link
― Sammy, Sunday, 28 November 2004 06:41 (nineteen years ago) link
http://www.zshare.net/audio/4821554ed68081/
i actually kinda like this. wish it wasn't as t-pain-y, but whatever. i'm sure this will be the "can't tell me nothing"/"dumb it down" type "internet first single". luda kills it i think.
― J0rdan S., Tuesday, 13 November 2007 00:49 (sixteen years ago) link
Dud. He has an average voice at best, but that's not a biggie considering some R&B legends weren't legendary singers.
His material, though, has always lacked. "You Make Me Wanna" was decent, as well as "My Way", but nothing all that great--in comparison to some of the other dreck r&b on the radio at the time, it was like Lenny Williams, but it's still painfully average.
A lot of his other tunes were quite boring, and "Yea" is absolute crap.
So....he's not like, the worst of all time, but...next.
― Bo Jackson Overdrive, Tuesday, 13 November 2007 00:54 (sixteen years ago) link
ok RONG. usher's 5 best singles stack up w/ anyone's 5 best singles since he's been around.
― J0rdan S., Tuesday, 13 November 2007 01:02 (sixteen years ago) link
You have a point there, except for the fact that his best five singles are still middle of the road in terms of quality :)
― Bo Jackson Overdrive, Tuesday, 13 November 2007 01:26 (sixteen years ago) link
Besides, I don't rank music in comparative terms. Even if all 3,445,433 other artists in the world were inferior to Usher, I wouldn't have to be obligated to consider his music quality if I felt it didn't stand up on its own terms.
― Bo Jackson Overdrive, Tuesday, 13 November 2007 01:29 (sixteen years ago) link
-- Bo Jackson Overdrive, Monday, November 12, 2007 5:26 PM (Monday, November 12, 2007 5:26 PM) Bookmark Link
Ban.
― The Reverend, Tuesday, 13 November 2007 01:32 (sixteen years ago) link
Agree to disagree? :)
― Bo Jackson Overdrive, Tuesday, 13 November 2007 01:33 (sixteen years ago) link
usher's 5 best singles stack up w/ anyone's 5 best singles since he's been around.
Uh, no. Justin Timberlake's best ten singles >>>>> Usher's best five
― Tape Store, Tuesday, 13 November 2007 01:37 (sixteen years ago) link
eww...I'dtake Usher over Powder any day of the week.
― Bo Jackson Overdrive, Tuesday, 13 November 2007 01:38 (sixteen years ago) link
so this album proves Radiohead still rules.
-- Bo Jackson Overdrive, Monday, November 12, 2007 9:48 AM (Monday, November 12, 2007 9:48 AM) Bookmark Link
― The Reverend, Tuesday, 13 November 2007 03:00 (sixteen years ago) link
"U Got It Bad" & "Caught Up" = perfect songs. Anyone who can deny the power of a song with the adlib "her body was so tight, I'm lookin' for her in the daytime with a flashlight" or that "I'm your my man and you're my girl, I'm gonna tell it to the whole wide world/ Baby say/ I'm your girl and you're my man, promise to love you the best I can" breakdown is not to be trusted.
― The Reverend, Tuesday, 13 November 2007 03:01 (sixteen years ago) link
burn, yeah, u got it bad, u remind me, my way, you make me wanna are just as great as like i love you, cry me a river, rock your body, senorita, my love and lovestoned
― J0rdan S., Tuesday, 13 November 2007 05:24 (sixteen years ago) link
tape store, i think i fall somwhere in your universe re: timberlake, i.e. i think he is one of the preeminent hitmakers of his time, but idk futuresex is just a B for me, and i don't think the singles off that album come anywhere near the (nearly untoppable) like i love you/cry me a river/rock your body trio.
for me— in terms of solo singles— timberlake's GREAT singles go 4-5 deep whereas usher's goes 6-7 deep, but i think they are both worthy of each other's company.
― J0rdan S., Tuesday, 13 November 2007 05:29 (sixteen years ago) link