Faith: A kid. Angel's got a kid. Wesley: Connor. Faith: A teenage kid born last year. Wesley: I told you, he grew up in a hell dimension. Faith: Right. And what, Cordelia spent her last summer as… Wesley: A divine being. Faith: Uh-huh. Can I just ask--What the hell are you people doing?

'Why We Fight'


Buffista Music 4: Needs More Cowbell!

There's a lady plays her fav'rite records/On the jukebox ev'ry day/All day long she plays the same old songs/And she believes the things that they say/She sings along with all the saddest songs/And she believes the stories are real/She lets the music dictate the way that she feels.


flea - Feb 20, 2016 2:03:55 pm PST #6123 of 6436
information libertarian

Here's a question that has been bothering me. I've read reviews of, for example, Justin Bieber's new album, that talk about the messages he's sending with his songs - redeeming his public image, relationship commentary and stuff. But obviously Justin Bieber does not write his own songs - he's not a singer-songwriter. And I read about how these star pop song producers - mostly from like Norway for some reason - write songs and shop them around to various pop stars. So, why do music reviewers talk about a new album by one of these pop stars as if it's revealing personal truths about the artist's life? Am I missing something?


Tom Scola - Feb 20, 2016 2:14:23 pm PST #6124 of 6436
Mr. Scola’s wardrobe by Botany 500

All the top-tier pop stars will get a co-writing credit for all their songs (and a cut of the royalties), regardless of how much they contribute.


Frankenbuddha - Feb 20, 2016 2:16:04 pm PST #6125 of 6436
"We are the Goon Squad and we're coming to town...Beep! Beep!" - David Bowie, "Fashion"

Honestly, I think the bigger question is why we care about a mega-twerp like Bieber in the first place.


Amy - Feb 20, 2016 4:06:13 pm PST #6126 of 6436
Because books.

So, why do music reviewers talk about a new album by one of these pop stars as if it's revealing personal truths about the artist's life? Am I missing something?

Maybe because it's assumed that he's choosing songs that speak for him?


Liese S. - Feb 20, 2016 7:01:12 pm PST #6127 of 6436
"Faded like the lilac, he thought."

I think at that level it's a highly curated process, where songs are selected by fiat in service of the artist's image and narrative. But I also think it's reasonable to assume that at that level the artist has enough pull to be in on the process of selecting music that says something they want to say.

And cowriting is the thing dujour, so there are basically no tracks getting written solo these days, and many of the artists do participate in the writing process. You're always going to get a Robin Thicke who takes the cut, but wasn't in the room. But you're also going to get a Taylor Swift, who is genuinely involved in the crafting of her material.

Speaking from the other side of the process, as a songwriter who is pitching to artists, I try to come at it as someone writing from a point of empathy. If I were pitching to a Bieber, I would strive for a commonality of experience that I could write authentically from, that might resonate with the artist in a way that they want to express. It may seem a little bit of a stretch, but if you look at a song like "Sorry," it's a pretty universal theme.


kat perez - Mar 09, 2016 9:39:36 am PST #6128 of 6436
"We have trust issues." Mylar

I do think Love Yourself is an on point Selena Gomez diss track, and one of the better pop ones I've heard. "My mama don't like you and she likes everyone" is just a good read, no matter who it's coming from. I don't know how much of it he wrote, but he does get co-writing credits with Ed Sheeran and Benjamin Levin on the album. And it's just a damn good song. Thus ends my defense of the Biebs. Even artists I generally don't enjoy make good music every once in a blue moon.


Fred Pete - Mar 09, 2016 10:02:42 am PST #6129 of 6436
Ann, that's a ferret.

I don't disagree, but as a general rule I'm tired of the pop music trend of diss songs aimed at a specific ex with little or no veiling. It's okay to let off a little steam when you first break up with someone. But as long as songs hang around these days, it feels like they're holding grudges long beyond their shelf date.


kat perez - Mar 09, 2016 12:41:32 pm PST #6130 of 6436
"We have trust issues." Mylar

Well, also both of them were like 12 when they were together. Let it go, kids. Come back when you have some Carly Simon next level shit. But you know, in general, that song is one of the Biebs' better showings.


dcp - Mar 09, 2016 1:35:14 pm PST #6131 of 6436
The more I learn, the more I realize how little I know.

Check out today's Google Doodle.


Consuela - Mar 26, 2016 8:30:35 am PDT #6132 of 6436
We are Buffistas. This isn't our first apocalypse. -- Pix

I'm not usually in this thread, but apparently the NPR Austin 100 went up a few weeks ago, and the download is available here: [link]

I have found some great songs off the Austin 100 the last few years, so I assume I will this year, too.

The download is free until March 31, but you can stream the playlist through the app for the next year.