Blogcritics Comments on Timberlake whinges

Comment by Marty Dodge on Timberlake whinges

Thu, 17 Feb 2005 09:24:34 EST

Is the Talk Box the thing invented by the bloke from Boston? ]]>

Comment by RC on Timberlake whinges

Thu, 17 Feb 2005 09:22:13 EST

For the record, a VOCODER (Wendy Carlos, Kraftwerk)is a completely different device than a TALK BOX (Frampton). Both of which are completely different than Antares Auto-Tune. ]]>

Comment by LOUIE on Timberlake whinges

Sat, 11 Dec 2004 17:52:12 EST

I THINK CHER IS BETTER THAN ALL THOSE YOUNG PEOPLE AND SHE WILL ALWAYZ STAND OUT AS THE # 1 DIVA OF ALL TIME ]]>

Comment by Sandra Smallson on Timberlake whinges

Mon, 15 Dec 2003 15:43:48 EST

Like I said, we have to agree to disagree. Its obvious neither of us will change our opinions. ]]>

Comment by Tom Johnson on Timberlake whinges

Sun, 14 Dec 2003 19:10:49 EST

Tom, you dont like Britney. Lets face it. Its not a matter of the gal lip syncing or anything. If you heard Britters wrote a song, you would say she co wrote it. If you heard Britters plays the Piano, you will say maybe just a key. You are clearly one of those people who when they have set thier mind to disliking somebody they refuse to give them any truthful credit. I bet you can say Britney can dance, and all that petty compliment type stuff. Nah. Until not too long ago, I wouldn't have given Timberlake even the slightest of credit. Didn't care for him, didn't care for his music, especially didn't care for the media circus surrounding him. Since I've managed to sit through both performances by him and Britney, among others, just purely out of curiosity, I've been able to reassess my dismissal of him. Still don't care for him, his music, or the media circus surrounding him, but he's got some talent. I much prefer what I heard him perform live (with a very tasty homage to Led Zeppelin by throwing in the killer riff of "The Ocean" into the live version of "Cry Me A River.") This followed by Britney's lackluster "performance" the following week on SNL, where she lip-synced the first song which had some challenging passages, then sang the second, vocally un-challenging song. I will fault no one for lip syncing if they dance the way Britney does.sing. No tape-backups for them. Britney looks like a joke in comparison, claiming she can't sing while performing her much simpler dance routines. Were she really talented at both, she would figure out how to do both at the same time. That's what talent is - it's making it all work together. Anything less is cheating the fans. ]]>

Comment by Sandra Smallson on Timberlake whinges

Sat, 13 Dec 2003 19:39:50 EST

This is a quote that a 54 year old woman sent to a "critic" who had savaged Madonna in an article. Not because she was an avid fan though she enjoyed her music, but simply because she was a music fan in general. I think it is very pertinent in this discussion. The critic was so subdued that he printed it for people to read. So, I shall write it down. "It is not the critic who counts, nor the man who points out how the strong man/woman stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man/woman who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust& sweat&blood who knows great enthusiasm, great devotion& the triumph of achievement and who at worst if he/she fails, at least he/she failed doing greatly-so that his/her place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither defeat or victory..".. I have lots of favs and really, the last thing i feel when defending my favs is threatened. At the end of the day I dont know these people personally. I'm sure there are one or two I would love to know, but most, I can do without. Britney is pretentious and fake with her attitude and all this innocence bull shit, she should just be herself which is a nice enough gal. She is 21, a rich 21, she does not have to hide bad behaviour from anybody or keep explaining herself away. Nobody is without criticism. I defend Britney because I believe your criticism is wrong and unfair. It is your opinion, I do not hope to change it because you have your ears and i have mine. As I am sure you know, the great Madonna is my all time fav. You'll be shocked to hear that I spend little or no time defending Madonna. Infact, Erics article that brought me to this site in the first place was a rare occassion. Perhaps too much time on my hands:) Whats there to defend? Why? It's not like they are saying anything new. 20 years of creativity, individualism, variety and kick ass attitude with some classic timeless pop songs to go along with it. You like, you like. You don't like, thats your business. She's incomparable and no matter what is written you can't take that away from her. Many people have been in the music industry not many have been as influential and have transcended it to become cultural icons of our age. That i respond to an article written by Eric Olsen or I respond to criticisms about Liz Phair or Britney does not mean anything simply that i am responding. That you feel the need to put down Britney or any pop artists does not lead me to assume that you are threatened by their success and popularity as it might affect this dingbat fellow you speak of. I simply think you are putting them down. So, I dont see where threat comes into it. The long and short of my point on this matter is that, I dont think young timberlake is any more talented than Young Spears. You disagree with me. We agree to disagree. ]]>

Comment by Sandra Smallson on Timberlake whinges

Sat, 13 Dec 2003 19:28:56 EST

Tom, you should be proud of your musical knowledge but I'm afraid as far as having a discussion with you about this particular matter goes, if that is indeed how varied your relationship with music goes, then you disappoint. Its all well and good to know a lot, but what good is it at the end of the day if what you say makes no sense. I think we will have to agree to disagree on this matter. When I said have you been to see Britney Live, I meant in person, actual concert. Ofcourse I know you can tell when a person is lip syncing or not. The Britney concert I went to, she did not lip sync to her slow songs and thats what I have said on here. I will fault no one for lip syncing if they dance the way Britney does. I will not pick out Miss Spears for Lip syncing when I can't think of one Artist today who never mimes or has backing vocals. From Beyonce to Mary J, those we think have great voices. I truly will not single out Miss Spears for criticism. Infact, for several years it was a pre0requisite for Top of the Pops as they wanted a Stellar show without hiccups, so the great and good have done it and still continue to do it. Although I have been both to MJ, Madonna and Prince concerts, energetic as they were with their shows, they did not lip sync but they all have in their time. Tom, you dont like Britney. Lets face it. Its not a matter of the gal lip syncing or anything. If you heard Britters wrote a song, you would say she co wrote it. If you heard Britters plays the Piano, you will say maybe just a key. You are clearly one of those people who when they have set thier mind to disliking somebody they refuse to give them any truthful credit. I bet you can say Britney can dance, and all that petty compliment type stuff. I dislike Mariah, but she can sing, I dislike Whitney but she can sing. I have no problem with giving credit where it is due. Why? Because it takes nothing away from me. I dislike Timberlake, do I think he is talented.. Do I think he is a rare or unique talent that any of you should try to distinguish him from Britney, Xtina or any of his age mates? ABSOfreakinglutely not. This is why this whole debate started in the 1st place. You watched SNL and now you've confirmed Justin is talented? Really? No talk about publicity stunts here? No talk about producers here? Or is it his dance steps that are so original that you are mesmerised? Or is it his voice? Or what is it that he has done that shows his creativity and individualism that so differentiates him from the rest? Absolutely nothing Tom. Absolutely nothing. Justin is like Robbie Williams and even less. Robbis(whom i also have no patience for)is an entertainer. ]]>

Comment by Tom Johnson on Timberlake whinges

Sat, 13 Dec 2003 18:19:48 EST

Tom, have you ever been to watch Britney Live? I bet you haven't. I saw her Las Vegas special on HBO a couple years ago. It was very, very clear that she was not singing. The length of your "music" life means nothing. Uh, yes, it does. Do you know what I do outside of my full-time job (at which I spend a good deal of my day listening to music)? I live music. I have done so for 17+ years, as I said before. I read about it, I write about it, I shop for it, I buy it, I listen to it, I go to concerts. I spend almost all of my online time in pursuit of music knowledge, and a great deal of my offline time doing the same thing as well. I have a collection of music that contains 1500+ CDs, plus an uncounted number of live bootlegs (I would venture a guess of somewhere around 5-600) and have heard and owned probably about 6 times this amount of CDs in my 30 year life. I can't afford to keep them - I want to hear new things so much that I have to trade in stuff to get new stuff. So yes, my "music life" very much means something. It means I know what I'm talking about. It means I have a very broad base of knowledge from which to draw my conclusions. I'll be the first to admit that the last thing I'm an expert on is popular dance music, but one thing I can assuredly tell you is that I know when someone is actually singing and when someone is lip-syncing. It doesn't take a genius to watch lips and realize the voice isn't matching (something, may I remind you, that you won't be able to see at a concert unless you're right up close,) but it's also possible to understand how a voice sounds through a live mic and via a taped backup. I can't possibly explain this to you. It's just something you come to know. You love your favorite artists, and like I said, that's great. Someone should, everyone needs love. But you should also realize that they're as deserving of criticism as anyone else is. I've gotten to a point with my favorite musicians where my love for them isn't threatened by someone's criticism of them, nor am I unable to rip them to shreds myself. One of my favorite musicians is King Crimson guitarist Robert Fripp. I think he's a brilliant guitarist and even a brilliant thinker, but I also think he's a pompous asshole much of the time. I can respect his music and even some of his thoughts on what creates music and still think he's a self-absorbed dingbat half the time. There's no pedestals for musicians for me, no blind adoration. Everyone should be like this, it would make life easier for everyone, especially celebrities. Justin is singing what you "non-mainstream" folk prefer to look upon as "credible" music. Uh, no. I can't stand his music. But I can give the man some credit for having some talent. And Justin is anything but "non-mainstream," you know. Give me somebody who generally just hates that genre full stop and tars everybody with the same brush. I will disagree but have more respect for that persons opinion, than someone who praises Timbers from the roof top, and then tells me crap about britney. Then you better start respectin', because I hate the genre "full stop," guaranteed. What you've been disagreeing with comes completely from someone who couldn't be paid to listen to any of their music. I think it's almost all boring, derivative crap. ]]>

Comment by Sandra Smallson on Timberlake whinges

Sat, 13 Dec 2003 17:03:42 EST

Look at Madonna from Everybody back in the 80's to now..you can't compare her voice in Everybody in the 80's to her live performances of Everybody in her subsequent concerts or Live performances of Like A virgin..example..at teh Girly show. Technically her voice has improved but did I ever not enjoy Everybody or Like A virgin back in the days? No way. I enjoyed them even more because you could just hear and sense the excitement or the emotion of the singer when she was singing it so it did not occur to me to think,,,oh..she should breathe here, oh, do this hear. was it a tune? Could I hear the melodies? Sure enough! Although she has always with her slow songs such as Crazy 4 u and Live to Tell she's been bang on from day one. I have never listened to a Madonna ballad and thought oh, this is bad singing, from Take a Bow to You'll see to I'll remember. Anybody who thinks that has issues and thats not an opinion, its a fact. As long as the singer is able to transfer the emotion of the words into the performance than any vocal acrobatics, I will be impressed. The same Madonna they all called Minnie Mouse:) I know, Madonna does not have a great voice. Thats just a plain fact. Yet, it is the same Madonna that sang through out EVITA like a great voice was one of her stronger points. I'm a sing with feeling gal I'm afraid, and I make no apologies. I don't care how many times Xtina yells. She has a great voice and thats undisputed but like I have said before because you have the ability to do something, does not mean you should do it. It depends on what a good singer to you is. A good singer to me is not somebody with a great voice alone, but someone who is able to carry the tune and convey the lyrics in such a way that I am enjoying the track and feeling the emotions of the song. Its different strokes for different folks I guess. This thread was about Justin and I did not mean to turn it into a Britney debate because I am well aware of most of your obscured views on the poor gal. The reason I mentioned her at all is precisely beacuse of you guys applauding Justin for things that you would have criticised Britters about. The diff being, Justin is singing what you "non-mainstream" folk prefer to look upon as "credible" music. Imagine if justified was Britneys Album..we'll be talking the Neptunes etc here, nobody would talk about Britney being talented. That crap doesn't wash with me folks, I can see your nonsense coming a mile off. Give me somebody who generally just hates that genre full stop and tars everybody with the same brush. I will disagree but have more respect for that persons opinion, than someone who praises Timbers from the roof top, and then tells me crap about britney. Pls, Go sell crazy someplace else, I'm all bookecd up here:):)(had 2 use that, I love that phrase:) ]]>

Comment by Sandra Smallson on Timberlake whinges

Sat, 13 Dec 2003 16:52:46 EST

Tom, have you ever been to watch Britney Live? I bet you haven't. I bet neither of you have. Yet you sit there and make judgments because you say you do your research and all your years in the music business. HA! JR: I am not even interested in your opinion because its people like you that have no clue. Britney Spears and a real singer? I could easily say Pink and a real singer, Macy Gray and a real singer, Tracy Chapman and a real singer, Nelly Furtado and a real singer? I can not say it enough but the more distinct, quirky, different the voice, the better for me. I am not saying Britney's voice is quirky orw hatever, I am just saying that I do not need a whole host of vocal ranges before I say somebody can sing and it is that simple distinction of common sense that differentiates me from people like you. Ofcourse Mariah Carey has technically a better voice than Macy Gray but whose Album would I rather buy? Macy gray. Can Macy gray sing? Sure, she can. Who has got the better voice? Obviously mariah? So? For whatever reason Britney chose not to sing live at the VMAs, I doubt it had anything to do with Xtina..she has been known to be very nervous as Basinger has stage fright, as Streisand has stage fright, its nothing to criticise anybody over. Whose voice will Xtina not over shadow? On the Lady Marmalade track, she sang with Pink and Mya and all you could hear was Xtina. Yet Mya and Pink can sing, Xtina just has a more powerful voice, so what? Mya and pink should not be called vocalists?I mean this is ridiculous reasoning/thinking. I thank God the world is filled with lots of other humans that allow these people to ply their art, left with the likes of you guys nobody would know anything and music would be filled with people with 8 octaves who sing a Barry White song in Soprano just so Tom and Co will say . great voice, meanwhile the whole sense of the song is ruined because its been sung with unnecessary vocal acrobatics. At this rate, you guys would have snatched the mic off Marlene Dietrich's hands seeing as technically, there was nothing great about Dietrichs voice. LOL. Its so ridiculous its even funny. I maintain Britney can sing and that is obvious from her ballads, listen to Celine dion sing fast tempo songs, it is horrendous because her voice just does not suit those tunes. So if Celine dion chose to sing only fast tempo songs she'lld be a bad singer but she sings ballads as well and she comes into her own. None of the Beatles had great technical voices but their songs did not require any vocal acrobatics. Besides, with age Britney's voice will mature as her singing style changes. ]]>

Comment by Sandra Smallson on Timberlake whinges

Sat, 13 Dec 2003 16:47:02 EST

I wish you all the luck in the world Andrew. With "discerning " customers such as Tom and co, who know so much, you have a tough battle ahead. Tom: The length of your "music" life means nothing. You have given me links/articles and examples etc, yet do I hear you telling me Beyonce cant sing? Beyonce relies on backing vocals so much its not even funny..infact on a show yet to be aired, she was so disappointed with the backing vocals, she flew in a producer from Houston to do it all over again. Can Beyonce sing? SHE SURE CAN but sometimes she just can't sing as perfectly as she might in the studio, Nobody can. Ofcourse Britney knows her voice is not as good as Xtina's or Whitney's, this does not mean she can't sing. She's giving credit where credit is due. The music industry would be a better place today if people learned to do that more instead of claiming omnipotent knowledge and ending up making little sense. Yes, Britters is one of my favs but I defend her because she comes under unfair criticism. She is not one of your favs this is precisely why you talk nonsense about her and refuse to tar others that u might prefer with the same brush. Here you are telling me about Timberlake and Beyonce using this miraculous software. Yet how many times have you said neither can sing, since they do the same things Britney does and use the same "machines/software"?? You have even said established stars such as Reba and Cher use it..so why is it Britney that is invoking your wrath? I do agree that if I go to watch a Live show, I expect it to be live all through, but your opinion that Britney cannot sing is based on grounds that you can apply to ANYBODY, yet it is Britney that u claim cannot sing. ]]>

Comment by Phillip Winn on Timberlake whinges

Sat, 13 Dec 2003 14:14:30 EST

One of the parts of the recent "Britters" interview on ABC was her lamenting that she has only an "average" singing voice, and how much she would love to have a voice like Xina Aguilera's or Whitney Houston. No kidding, I think we would all like for "Britters" to have a better singing voice. But her self-assessment as "average" leads me to ask, "Average of what?" I mean, average when compared to the general population, sure. Average compared to all rappers, sure. But average compared to pop songstresses? Not a chance. The Lake Wobegon Effect lives on, because she is not even an "average" singer. Anybody who could look beyond The Kiss and hear "Britters" sing along with Madonna and Xina has to realize within seconds that "Britters" must have lost a bet to allow her voice to be put up against Xina's like that. Now that girl can sang. (Thanks, Dew!) ]]>

Comment by JR on Timberlake whinges

Sat, 13 Dec 2003 13:17:14 EST

"I was listening to interviews with Simon Cowell recently and even Quincy Jones way back when when they were talking about the job of producers and they both clearly stated that, if a person can't sing there is NO TOOL in the studio that can make them sound like they sing." It may be true that "way back when" Quincy Jones wouldn't be fooled by studio tricks, but willing victims have always been fooled by packaging and marketing. And having good hearing isn't necessarily the same as having good pitch and a discerning ear (see for example Pete Townsend). If I want to know whether someone has a good ear for music, I wouldn't go by a standard hearing test. I'd go by, say, whether they can hear the difference between Britney Spears and a real singer. ]]>

Comment by Tom Johnson on Timberlake whinges

Sat, 13 Dec 2003 09:49:21 EST

Here's another one, found in the comments of the one I linked above. Here's an excerpt that is pertinent to you, Sandra: '. . . That all changed in the mid-1990s, when the Antares Auto-Tune debuted, first as a stand alone rack-mounted effect, and later as a plug-in for popular PC recording programs. When the Antares Auto-Tune device is maxed out, it produces the strange effect first heard on Cher's "Do You Believe" hit single, and now forever known as "the Cher Effect". But used more subtly, it can correct the pitch of either a single bum note by a singer, or his whole performance. (Ironically, despite its name, the Auto-Tune is virtually imperceptible when used in its manual mode on individual notes. In its automatic mode, sharp-eared listeners can often detect it doing its thing.)' ]]>

Comment by Tom Johnson on Timberlake whinges

Sat, 13 Dec 2003 09:44:52 EST

Well, its obviously a tool that only critics like you claim are that powerful. Please don't belittle me. Music is my life. I live and breathe it, have done so now for about 17 years. When I talk about something, I know what the hell I'm talking about, or I don't say anything at all. Sandra, please read this. It'll tell you all about this dirty little secret called the auto-tuner. Here's an excerpt for you: "Instead, the music industry is divided over the use of computer hardware called autotuners, used by acts such as Britney Spears and 'N Sync to make sweeter music on the days when they can't quite hit those tricky notes." And "Reba MacIntyre and Cher are unabashed about travelling with a rack of autotuners, Mr. Alpert said." Well, its obviously a tool that only critics like you claim are that powerful. I think it's admirable that you'll defend your favorites so vehemently, but you really need to do some research before you talk. Here's another example which specifically mentions Britney, Beyonce, and others who lip-sync. Here's a good quote for you from the article: "'It's gotten so advanced that you can sing part of a song live and the lip-synched track will kick in as soon as you stop,' Browne said. 'It actually is hard to tell because it goes back and forth within the same song.'" There is no excuse for someone who claims to be a vocalist to rely on tape-backups live. When people go to a concert, they go to witness the people doing what it is they claim to do - guitarists play guitar, bassists play bass, drummers to drum, and singers to actually sing. If their "production" is what's getting in the way of them singing, then they need to either learn how to sing and dance like stars of stage musicals have to do, or they need to curtail their elaborate, usually cheesy stage numbers. If they're standing on stage and their lips are moving, I'd better hear the real sound that's coming out of those lips and not something either concealed by a vocal backing tape that's much louder than the mic's output, or only a backing tape. Anything else is a sham. ]]>

Comment by Andrew Ian Dodge on Timberlake whinges

Sat, 13 Dec 2003 06:55:45 EST

I am currently working on an album in the studio and with the modern tools that are available it is possible to make anyone sound good. You can also make anyone sound a myriad of different ways. Basically you run it through a high end computer using one of the high-end music programs and learn how to use it...eh voila! ]]>

Comment by Sandra Smallson on Timberlake whinges

Sat, 13 Dec 2003 05:05:37 EST

Oh, and Cher used a VOCODER not this miraculous software you are speaking of. ]]>

Comment by Sandra Smallson on Timberlake whinges

Sat, 13 Dec 2003 05:04:45 EST

Well, its obviously a tool that only critics like you claim are that powerful. I was listening to interviews with Simon Cowell recently and even Quincy Jones way back when when they were talking about the job of producers and they both clearly stated that, if a person can't sing there is NO TOOL in the studio that can make them sound like they sing. The melodies can be harmonised, efects can be done, but the person has got to know how to sing...if your post were true everybody would be a pop star. I think I will go with them rather than you, since they are actual music producers. More importantly, I have heard Britney sing Live and I know I have very good hearing so my ears were not deceiving me. If a person's singing is judged by how many times they mime then Beyonce is not a good singer at all, cos she spends almost every show miming but we all know Beyonce can sing very well. I think you are better off saying you dont like Britney's voice, to say she can't sing is not only harsh and groundless, its also a desperately untrue comment. ]]>

Comment by Tom Johnson on Timberlake whinges

Sat, 13 Dec 2003 01:14:14 EST

No, Sandra, it's not a vocoder. That's the toy used by Peter Frampton, Bon Jovi, and many others. It's a very recognizable effect. There's a little tube that you sing into, which passes the sound through an effects box connected to your instrument (guitar, keyboard, etc.) and the sound of your voice is combined with the sound of the instrument. What I am speaking of is a piece of equipment or software that processes vocals to put them on key. It can also be used for interesting effects, such as what Cher did on "Believe," I believe that's the song. This is a very, very commonly used tool in modern pop music because most of the popular "singers" have very thin, weak voices and can barely sing on-key. This software tracks the vocals and applies an envelope to the sound that reshapes it to the correct pitch. Once you know what it sounds like, it's more noticeable. It's also a disgusting sham. At what point will we stop forgiving our "performers" for not performing? The software I'm speaking of was the subject of a post by one of our Blogcritics several months back - it's slowly being exposed as one of the industry's dirty little secrets. Sorry to break it to you, Sandra, these people are being manipulated in the studio and live to sound like they really possess good singing skills. This is one of the many reasons why "mainstream music" is the target of ridicule that it is. It's a friggin' joke because of crap like this. ]]>

Comment by Sandra Smallson on Timberlake whinges

Fri, 12 Dec 2003 18:46:38 EST

Its called a vocoder Tom. its used when the singer requires a certain effect. Many singers blessed with spectacular voices even use it. I have seen Britney sing Live. Yes, I dragged my little cousins along and pretended it was for their benefit cos this was way back when, not now that I will surely hold my head up high and attend a Britters concert. This was in the Hit me baby one more time period..or oops..whatever! She sang that, I'm not a girl, not yet a woman ditty..and she sang it live and she sang it beautifully. Because you have the ability to do something, does not mean you should do it. Sometimes vocal duties are overcooked. Pls do not compare the two stepping of Broadway to Britney's energetic dance steps. I know Britney is often nervous of singing live. Infact she & Beyonce were the only ones who did not sing live at the VMAs. Most of Britney's songs dont exactly require vocal acrobatics, it would ruin the song..have u not seen that footage of her when she was 11, did you not hear her belt out a great broadway tune? If she wanted to go down that route, I don't think it would take excessive training to get it in gear..but what exactly would be the point of that? She's an entertainer as well as a singer, she's not a choirister., I don't listen to Britters and think..oh, this girl can't sing because she's not exactly singing "unbreak my heart" by Toni Braxton which requires an exhibition of vocal ranges, she's singing up tempo melodic pop songs and she sings them well. She often mimes those live but the ballads she sings Live and the concert I went to, I thought she sang it beautifully. As for Timbers, I'm afraid I dont think his voice has any personality at all, he can sing, but Sam in Pop Idol can sing too. My point is, they can all sing and dance. Britney may not have the vast vocal range that Xtina does but she does not need to have it to be called a good singer. If talent was judged by great voice alone, then its a cheap talent because there are zillions of people on earth with great voices. All three are talented. my point which is a simple fact and I refuse to even debate it cos I think its a moot point, is that justin is overhyped and overpaid when he is no different from his contemporaries. He does not stand out. I dislike Robbie Williams but Timbers is no better than Robbie. My friend went to a Robbie concert and was entertained to the core of her being cos he is such a character..she went to Timbers and she said since he has been touring a hundred times on this one Album, there are so many gaps in the show where he is milking the screaming young girls because there really is nothing to sing. In a nutshell its not much of a show. You leave thinking, NJ did this way back when. All this noise is because Britney is the current whipping bitch for the world and what better way to strike a gal than to taunt her with her ex boyfriend and flaunt his "popularity" infront of her while insulting her? They all forget that 8 out of 10 people the world over if they know Timberlake at all, know him as Britney's ex. It will all calm down. Water always finds its level. Do you think we'll be singing any Timbers songs 20 years from now? I can tell you a few Britney pop melodies I can picture young gals dancing to. Time will tell. ]]>

Comment by Tom Johnson on Timberlake whinges

Fri, 12 Dec 2003 17:16:47 EST

I can't believe I'm defending any of these people. I really can't stand any of their music, but it's obvious that Britney is the one of those three that can't handle vocal duties. Justin can definitely sing adequately (his voice has enough personality to overcome his weaknesses,) as can Christina (she actually has quite an impressive voice,) but Britney relies on taped vocals much of the time. Don't believe the BS excuse that she's busy dancing. People on Broadway have sung and danced for generations without needing to resort to taped vocals. Britney is blessed with an average voice that is enhanced in the studio to have more lustre and strength than it really does. (Does anyone have the link to the article about that software that does this? I can't remember the name offhand.) This is not opinion, this is fact. I've seen her live material a few times now and most of the time she is simply mouthing, quite badly, over taped vocals. It's very noticeable and obvious when a mic is live. Hers was not. Take her recent appearance on SNL - the first song she most definitely did not sing, the second she did. The second required no special vocal talent whatsoever. Listen to the two side by side, the live mic voice sounds distinctly different than the taped voice does. ]]>

Comment by Sandra Smallson on Timberlake whinges

Fri, 12 Dec 2003 16:38:22 EST

Well, to each his/her own. I think Britney can sing, you dont..oh well. ]]>

Comment by Dew on Timberlake whinges

Fri, 12 Dec 2003 09:38:44 EST

They can all sing, they can all dance

I stopped reading at this line. They most certainly CAN NOT all sing. Justin can sing Xtina can SANG (despite her being a tad derrty) but Britany CAN NOT and I repeat CAN NOT sing. She can dance and maybe keep a note (debateable) but she most certainly CAN NOT sing, neither can Ashanti but I digress. ]]>

Comment by Sandra Smallson on Timberlake whinges

Fri, 12 Dec 2003 03:53:56 EST

Yeah, his parents brought him into this world but Britney is to be blamed for precisely what is going on on this page. The opportunity to extricate himself from Nsync and for people to be calling him talented like he is some unique talent. Is he not poor man's Michael Jackson? Surely, that is obvious. Even his new video is a rehash of MJ's the way u make me feel video. His dance steps are either Usher's or MJs. There is nothing original about him. What is talented about Justin Timberlake? Tell me. What is more talented about Timberlake than Britney or Xtina? They can all sing, they can all dance... Isn't the diff in your eyes the fact that his music is what you all think is better than pop music? Which is R&B, Hip/hop? Why dont I hear talks of the fact that without the producers he would be nothing? Because if ever there was a case where without the producers he would have no clue, this is it. He claims to play the guitar? Well, I saw Britney playing the Piano while singing one of the new songs on her Album..so what? I blame Britney because Justin Timberlake is the man who disvirgined Britney and is her ex boyfriend, that is his claim to fame. That is precisely why he stood out from Msync if you all remember. It gave him the clout to ask for a solo record deal and having hung out with the cool and worked with them AND released a song about the very same Britney. I am amazed y'all that none of you are talking about publicity stunts and so on..and you tell me he is very talented because you watched a scripted show of SNL and you enjoyed it. Let it never be said that double standards do mot exist. I watched the EMAs and I thought Aguilera was great..so... ]]>

Comment by Eric Olsen on Timberlake whinges

Thu, 11 Dec 2003 15:42:10 EST

I watched the rerun too and it confirmed what I thought the first time through, that he is best host they have had so far this year and his was BY FAR the best episode. He is very talented. ]]>