Grammy-winner Timberlake's success has been based upon a combination of a calculated forsaking of his wholesome, color-coordinated, boyish 'N Sync image for that of a sexual young bachelor on the prowl, sowing his wild oats with the steamy likes of Britney Spears, Alyssa Milano, Cameron Diaz and the nasty Miss Jackson. Musically, Timberlake has been able to convince a skeptical world that he isn't a posed popster, but is in reality a gritty soul man, charting his own course down a path rich with funky, organic grooves. Thus far, his fellow boy band alumni have been left behind.
The cycle is hardly new
Not that this prefab cycle of bright bloom and hasty withering is anything new: attractive, non-threatening young men (and women, of course) have been assembled by songwriters and producers for the purpose of safely titillating teens and tweens since the early days of recording, and few have lasted long or spun off major stars.....
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Article comments
1 - C. Beck
When considering Justin Timberlake's success in relation to the other "boy band alumni," one thing not mentioned was the "it" factor. Whatever "it" is, Justin's got it. He also has a killer work ethic. Add the fact he's genuinely talented and it's not hard to understand why Justin's a success.
"Thus far, his fellow boy band alumni have been left behind." - This sentence makes the guys sound so passive. If I were them, I'd get tired of being painted as victims. Maybe it's time to stop putting "superstar" expectations on them. Constantly comparing them to Justin doesn't do them or Justin any favors. Justin is Justin. He's in his own league.
2 - Craig Lyndall
Very nice piece Eric. I really enjoyed it. This is the second boy-band cycle in my lifetime. (NKOTB and now BSB/NSync) and it hasn't ceased to amaze me yet. Maybe the third time will be the charm.
3 - Eric Olsen
Thanks Craig, I appreciate it. I'm not sure which boy band cycle I'm on.
4 - Dawn
That was really interesting - nice insight!
5 - CW Fisher
Eric is a multi-armed doubled-headed twenty-six fingered blogoholic and a world-class authority on boy bands. If I learn Eric Olsen plays accordion, I will kill myself live on the web.
6 - Sandra Smallson
Yes, this is the article I saw on another website that brought me back to you my erstwhile friends;)
I begin... To quote Usher "Justin Timberlake is a follower". Justin Timberlake is "white mans Usher" Plain and simple. There is nothing original about Timberlake. It's the same old Eminem disease. White man, in this case, boy, doing music of black origin. Woo-hoo..he must be seriously "talented". It's just my opinion but Timberlake's supposed "it" was Britney Spears. I have stated before and I will state again. Had he not been dating Britney, he would not have been given the time of day or gained the clout he gained to be able to work with the people that he's now worked with to make a fairly decent Album. By dating Britters, he became distinct from his boy band image. He became a celebrity in his own right. He was the boy humping or going to hump Britters..the whole publicity, it was exciting. Then courtesy of that, Elton John gets him in his video, Britney working with the Neptunes, he slips in there..bang, wallop, the boy you see now. He does not have the "IT" as we know it, in my opinion. Nothing pleased me more than Usher outing this ridiculous bandwagon and telling it straight up. There is no IT, nothing original about Timberlake and for the life of me I can not see what talent it is that he has. Another unnecessary article by Eric. Atleast give Chasez credit for trying to do something not commercial for his first solo effort. Normally, all musicians start of with whats of mass appeal before they start experimenting or growing. JC has just hit off the bat from the get go. For people who like to pretend that they are more interested in the music than the commercial success of the songs, it amuses me to note that comparisons are being made with references to sales and chart positions when it suits their own point of view. Music is music there should be no barriers to what is credible and what isn't. Thats an aside comment, but I needed to add it on here:)
7 - Eric Olsen
"Another unnecessary article by Eric" - thanks Sandra, I missed you too.
You spend a copious and prolix quantity of words telling us that you don't much like Timberlake or think he is a talent. That is swell, but that isn't what the article is about. The article is about the cycle of boy bands, the process, how it works and what I think is different this time around. I mention Timberlake in passing as the only boy band member from the latest era to make it as a solo star thus far - the numbers are simply to back that up and give some perspective.
Sometimes you write about the business, or the process, or larger matters of popular culture, and sometimes you write about the music itself. This article was the former, not the latter, and it seems rather obtuse to criticize it in terms of something it is not.
8 - duane
Sandra, you are such an instigator. (Welcome back, by the way.) You're being unfair, as usual. This article is anything but "unnecessary," since it relates to the fascinating, yet perplexing, propensity of the music-buying public to make millionaires out of semi-talented musically deprived half-ass dancers, and the encouraging downward trend in such. And "music is music"? Hahahaha. You're a real pip.
9 - Sandra Smallson
Eric, I know what the article is about but thank you very much for telling me again. My response, if not obvious from the post itself, is actually to the others that have contributed to this topic. Indeed, I meant to return only to write exactly what you have quoted in your own post.."Another unnecessary article by Eric"..I got distracted by some discussion about the new Gibson movie and the responses to this post. So, grateful as I am for you telling me what the article is about, your effort is quite unnecessary. Again;) Is it a habit you have? Doing the unnecessary?!:) As far as spending copious and prolix quantity of words to write my opinion..HA! Is that not just the tragedy of life?!huh? You get paid to do the exact same thing over a variety of topics that you sometimes use same copious quantity of words writing about nothing. Here I am, doing it just for my own amusement:) Sigh! Life's a b**tch! I'm a b**tch! And then we all die. Oh well!
Thank you for the warm welcome back Duane. I find Eric's article unnecessary. Infact, his article has nothing to do with what you have just said. Look up, you'll see what his article has to do with. He has just told us himself. Eric darling, see how diff people can deduce diff things from one article? Only Jesus(and maybe Mary) know how Duane has come up with his own deduction. As for your point Duane, it is exactly people with your point of view I speak of in my post. Your opinion is your opinion. We've had arguments on this whole "music" topic over and over again. I do not have the time or the desire to rehash it all. Just rest assured that what is music to you, may not be music to others. thats why its wonderful. Its a diverse and complex art and I thank God that the public spend little or no time listening to people like you trying to tell them who is talented, or who can dance, or what is considered music. Timberlake is not talented. That is my opinion. Opinion. Thats what you have. In subjects such as these, nothing is fact. Music is subjective. If you do not know that, you are wasting my time and your time. I have arrived at the conclusion that people like you only enjoy music if it is music to slit your wrists to. The slightest melody or sense of enjoyment in a song and it is referred to as "Commercial" God save us from such individuals who themselves have no idea what music really is and simply try to force their opinions on others as facts all under the disguise of "critic"
10 - duane
Thank you for playing, Sarah, but not all in the world of arts is subjective. There really is such a thing -- an objective thing -- that goes by the name "talent." Whether you or I are qualified to recognize its presence or absence is another matter. I am often quite able to sort out musicians that I like or don't like from musicians that are talented. How can I do that? Years of experience as a musician. An informed, educated opinion carries more weight than a Wow-I-really-like-that opinion. Do you see? It's fine to like something -- I like Jell-O -- but to also admit that it's not really very "good."
Finally, even I, speaking as one who is prone to slit my wrists to music as you say, like the Monkees, for example, to whom I would ascribe only a modicum of talent. I rarely slit my wrists, actually. And when I have, it was after involuntary exposure to Bill Ray Cyrus, Sister Sledge, and the Bay City Rollers. I'm getting better, thanks.
11 - Eric Olsen
Sandra, as is often the case, then, I guess I have no idea what you are talking about, other than you don't like Justin, you like JC, and you found my article "unnecessary." Compared to food, clothing and shelter, I agree, but as an article I am actually fairly proud of it. I came up with the reality TV/process exposed angle all by myself. Perhaps you're just not interested in such things.
12 - Sandra Smallson
Ok, Eric. Nothing more need be said lest we burst out into fisticuffs. Duane: HA! HA! HA! Its amazing you can see the keyboard to type. You have your own head far up your own "arse", I marvel at such flexibility. I did not say ALL in the world of art is subjective. I said Music. Music is subjective whether you want to believe it or not. Heaven forfend that I be the one to destroy all the illusions you have adopted during your years as a "musician":) or, whatever it is you call yourself. Let me assure you, and this "don't" need no experience nor degree to know, its just common sense which sometimes is far more intelligent than any educated opinion you find..let me assure you, that the quality or credibility of music, will forever be a subjective issue. What may be great music, perfectly written, perfectly arranged and performed exqusitely to one person, is complete poppycock to the next person. For every critic who thinks a certain musician is credible, there is another who can systematically rip apart the foundations of that musicians work. Its not about what one likes or does not like. Infact, your level of experience or wherever you gained it would be a complete nonsense to a more experienced and certainly better trained observer. Thus, your opinions would carry no weight in their mind. Many things on earth are objective..a reasonable standard can be applied. What is certainly subjective is music.
You can get a 100 people in one room and have the worlds greatest pianist play his/her heart out from this music sheet. There will be no dispute that the pianist can play the piano, but you can bet your life there would be dispute as to whether what he or she played was good or not. Again, if you dispute that, then nothing more need be said. Neither of us will convince each other. I'm sure its no loss to my legal mind. Some people should and must be left to their own opinions. A ray of simple common sense could damage the fabric of their very existense.
13 - duane
Sarah, I would hate to read your response if I were to ever say something truly offensive or stupid. But we have come to count on you for your amusing over-reactions, so, at least you're consistent. My head up my "arse"? Damn. I thought my post was rather well done. Such high standards you have.
Having had some experience in trying to sort out the meanings of your posts, I think I understand most of what you are saying (is English not your first language?) but there are a few things I need to ask. What does "forfend" mean? Why is "arse" in quotes? Why is "don't" in quotes, and why are you using the double negative? Are you familiar with the unfavorable view given by writers and readers with regard to run-on sentences? Are you purporting to be a lawyer? You say "Its [sic] not about what one likes or does not like." Isn't that a contradiction of your main premise? Just wondering.
14 - Sandra Smallson
Forfend means to forbid, to ward off.Thus, heaven forfend:)Arse is in quotes because it is really a slang, a British slang. Its a variant of ass.So, sometimes not all the time, when writing slangs, one tends to put them in quotes. Almost similar reason why "don't" is in quotes.In the whole sentence, don't is not grammatically correct as I am sure you noted but maybe it just slipped your mind to mention?;) as you picked your issues with my post. However, it is language spoken, but I like to put such in quotes. Does not or doesn't would have been more appropriate. Hopefully, this little tidbit has not come as a surprise to you:) What else? I suggest you do some research on the use of the double negative in the English language. Then you mightn't feel the need to raise the question you have just raised. I am aware of all sorts of unfavourable views when it comes to words on print. Unnecessary punctuation, abbreviation and run on sentences, etc. I often fall foul to all and then some. It happens if you spend half your time writing on a deadline. However, I have been known to draft opinions or instructions without any of the aforementioned problems. Still, luckily, I've got somebody whose job it is, to make sure that I do not fall foul of the reader to whom my opinion or instruction is being sent. On this board though, I trust that none of you encounter problems reading my posts much as you claim to:) Duane, sweetie, sugarcrumbs, where I'm from, one never purports to be what one is not. Okay? I gain or lose nothing from being or not being anything to any of you on this site:)
Finally, there is no contradiction in my main premise. I will not explain it again. Perhaps on another reading you might get my point. Perhaps, you can't be bothered. Either way, I am happy to have answered some of your questions. You see, Duane, no matter how "experienced" we claim to be, we can learn something everyday. No thanks necessary. It's been a pleasure to help:)
15 - Craig Lyndall
Man, I like you Sandra, but you need to be more self-editing. I get bored reading your responses. Am I stupid? Do I have a short attention span? Or, do you just write too much?
Probably a combination of all 3. :-)
Seriously though, welcome back.
16 - Roger
I don't like boy bands, but in Justin's defense he was performing and making the jack (that means money for those of you that can only understand Jive) long before Usher's pussy ass. Usher is a good name. That'll be his real job before long. Hey Sandra! Usher is a little pussy ass cunt. There are actually tons of muscians who have been performing for decades who write and perform their own material. Prediction! In 5 yaers Usher will be pimp'n his own little black ass for loose change. AKA taken it in the butt!!!
Make fun of the Mickey Mouse club all you want but Christina, Brittney and Justin were all apart of that. You know what? It took some talent. Your upset because Usher doesn't get the attention they all do. WHY??? Because no one gives a fuck about Usher! Better yet, future gay prostitute, waiter or the senior car detailer (car washer)at the local crack house fronting as customizing shop...