And the award for the most untalented performance goes to.... (fill in the blank).

What ever happened to talent? It seems as though they are giving away free record deals with the purchase of Charmin toilet paper. Where's the ethics? The responsibility? The class? The TALENT?

When I turn on the radio or video channels I see and hear a cornucopia of garbage. It doesn't make sense to me because there are so many good examples to follow. There was a time when a person had to have talent. If one wanted to be a singer, step one was: You have to know how to sing. Now step one is: What does he/she look like? Step two is: How much does he/she weigh? Step three: Is he/she willing to make a total and utter fool of herself?

Technology is a gift and a curse. A gift because it allows us to communicate more broadly, to store great amounts of information into small areas and so many other things. But when it comes to the music industry, its a curse; because it allows computers to replace what humans should be doing. For example, when I buy an mp3 or a CD, I expect to hear a REAL human being singing or rapping, or I expect to hear a REAL band playing. That doesn't happen anymore unless I buy old skool music (which is pretty much what I do) . Is this what we have come to?

There are plenty of people who possess raw talent as singers, musicians, and rappers, but many times they don't make it due to appearance. A perfect example of this is Kelly Price. I'm not saying that she didn't make it. But I will say that she did not become what she should have become. Kelly Price was a large woman with a large voice when she entered the music industry. And though I can't prove it, I believe that we would have heard more from her if she was smaller in size. She lost a lot of weight and tried it again, still sales were slow. I believe that her new problem was; right size, wrong look.

When it comes to black women in entertainment, the status quo is: light skin, perfect body, long hair. That ideal is not realistic, so Black women get weaves, breast augmentations, and dangerous diets. Women of all ethnicity's are having this problem. We do these things not only to be in the entertainment industry, but to walk the street. The media set the standard for what is acceptable in society so we do what we have to do in order to fit in.

So after we have mutilated and damn near killed ourselves, we're all ready for our big premier as an entertainer right? The answer should be WRONG, but its not. Some chump with dollar signs for eyeballs says, "yes I can make you a star". Can't sing; can't act? Don't worry, you can fake til' you make it. Then the faking it goes on until the next pretty face and well manufactured body comes along. In the meantime, I'm supposed to listen and watch this. Did I forget to mention that if I have some kind of mental melt down, and like their song, I'm supposed to buy it? And if I have some kind of serious head injury and want to see their movie, I have to pay for a ticket to see it?

Somehow, I don't think that Aretha Franklin, Gladys Knight or Natalie Cole had to reinvent themselves to sell records. But, I do think that they had to know how to sing. If they were just starting out right now all they could sell musically, is gospel. It's a shame!!!

Both male and female performers get an F in the subject of customer responsibility. I hate to hear about performers getting caught up in an act of stupidity and then saying, "I'm not a role model". BULLSHIT!!! The second you stood in public before a crowd, you became a role model. Entertainers need to take responsibility for the good and the bad that they do!!! And to the rappers: You cannot make one "for the kids" song, and claim that you are a positive influence. Not when the rest of the album is about drugs and violence. I'm not saying that rappers should stop making street music, but don't straddle the fence. Rap artist know who their main audience is- the kids! That means they have to be role models!!!

Speaking of rap music, there was a time when in order to be a rapper, there was one main rule: You had to know how to rap. Putting words together rhythmically does not make one a rapper. Any fool with a pen and a pad can do that. What ever happened to lyrical content? Rappers like Rakim, KRS-1, Mos Def, Common, and Kool G Rapp had something to say. Now its all beats and booties; No talent.

What ever happened to bands? Oh I know, sampling happened to bands. Have we run out of ideas? Thousands of musicians are out of work because there is no need for them. Computers and sampling have replaced them. Can't that be compared to out-sourcing?

Bottom line, if you're talented, it really shouldn't matter what you look like!! Short, tall, heavy, or thin. I buy music based on what I hear. I may be the only one who is this way, but I can't hear what a person looks like!!! This is killing music; and I don't blame the sellers, I blame the consumers. Why do we keep paying to insult our daughters, nieces, mothers,aunts and friends; or to hurt our son's nephews, fathers, and uncles? Every time we patronize these acts we are perpetuating destructive behavior.

If you love music, then demand music-not a substitute. If you go to a restaurant and order a steak; you wouldn't let the waitress bring you chicken, would you? No! You would demand a steak!!! Let's start demanding quality, not just quantity in music that WE are expected to purchase!!!

Just my opinion....

Talk to you soon...

WYLDFLOW3R

ethno musicologist