Who will be the next King (music)

Michael Jackson will have been dead for one year this Friday (June 25th), and it makes me wonder who's going to step in his shoes? Who is going to become the next King? I first thought Justin Timberlake, but his popularity died after he brought sexy back. I also thought of Usher but he's more interested in managing talent now.

 

I'm hoping Bad Religion's lead singer, but doubt it!

 

It's hard to imagine that we're going to see someone of say an "Elvis" status again? Greed seems to be the overriding influence these days and that messes things up, plus all the other typical pitfalls of stardom. A guy like MJ I have a hard time respecting considering the child molestation allegations surrounding him.

 

Respect him or not his musical influence is everywhere. Not to mention his stage presence. I want to think they probably said the same thing about Elvis though. It may be a few year, but I'm sure someone will fill his void.

 

I dont think its possible to have another artist dominate again. Information travels too fast these days and everyone is looking for the new thing.

'Back in the day' the labels and radio stations controlled what the public listened to as there was no internet for you to go see what else was out there.

What we have now is very very different.

PS. I knew Michael. Not really well, but well enough that I cannot believe the allegations.

 

It's a shot in the dark but i'd say some generic Disney / American Idol product.

 

+1 on the music industry comment. Too fragmented.

Even though I never knew Jackson I took the support from so many celebrities after his death as indicative that the allegations were most likely false. These were not hangers-on, and if he has been the least bit questionable they would have collectively found him radioactive to their careers and dropped him. I took that they didn't do that as a big sign.

Who will be the next "king"? My vote goes to Lady Gaga if there is one. She is more in danger of overexposure than anything these days. Reminds me of Madonna circa 1987.

 

No one. The quality of these days music just suck big time.

 

Kenny Chesney crossed the country and pop genre lines years ago and already out sales all other artist in concert sales...he's even making movies now...And, you count discount Taylor Swift as the new Queen of pop...

 

+1

Try and think about any music from the past 10 years that will still be in replay in the next 10-20 years. I can think of very few.

 

It will be very difficult for someone else to rise to the levels of Elvis and then Michael. One big factor is the derivative nature of music, so you have to look at what influences future singers will draw from? As an increasingly disposable society quenches its thirst for the next big thing on a weekly basis, the body of work becomes less important than "fitting the suit". Think about the hysteria that's whipped up every season on American Idol, yet how many of the finalists have become anything close to household names? And as time marches on, music becomes more and more diluted.

It's incredibly difficult for an entertainer to remain relevant as they try to navigate their career through a decades-long roller coaster ride. Very few have succeeded--Elvis, Michael Jackson, Sinatra, Clapton, Madonna, U2 are the first to come to mind. There are so many pitfalls thrown in front of them, and often times they fall victim to their own egos (Whitney Houston), demons (Whitney Houston), or psychological implosion (Whitney Houston...and Brittney Spears).

All in all, it's very difficult to envision someone reclaiming that title. And really, Jackson in his later years was more the self-proclaimed 'King of Pop' than an entertainer worthy of the title. His library is impressively massive, and he was on the verge of a major comeback. But for quite some time his life was more of a sideshow of tabloid fodder than that of a musical 'King'. I think his untimely death thrust him back onto the pedestal on which he once stood, and it's debatable as to whether his reunion shows would have cemented his standing or just have been a string of reunions. Sadly, we'll never know.

 

I don't like to sound mean, but, most of today's artist last just 2-3 years at the most. I'd be surprised if anyone continues to mention Lady Gaga in about 3 years time.

I mean, when they write songs, they use the same lines over and over again, and thats it. You have a song.

Michael Jackson was a visionary. Even 20 years from now, people will still be listening to Thriller, Billie Jean, etc. His songs, music videos, dancing, even clothes, was nothing short of perfect. This kinda guys show up once in a lifetime.

Even today's rock songs (i'm a 70s, 80s, 90s rock fan) lacks guitar solors. Nowdays, it's all about who can scream louder, and who can play the loudest guitar.

To be honest, i've given up on 'nowdays' music for a long time. I don't mind the modern RnB and Trance music. But the rest, no one's gonna remember them in a few years time.

 

Exactly.

You don't hear any new bands mentioning Good Charlotte or any of that crap as their influences. They still talk about AIC, STP, Soundgarden, GNR, Motley, Black Sabbath, etc, etc.

 

I'm stuck in the '70s and '80s....new music has such little soul and heart...seems to be "designed" rather than artistic.

 

Elvis is dead so please don't refer to Michael Jackson as being any sort of king.

 

Are you trying to say you don't have "Beiber Fever"? Cause that's not what I've been told lol.

 

The best music being delivered these days is found in the small venues around the country.

 

You dont think people will get tired of songs about princesses? That girl was made in a laboratory.

 

The thing is about older music is that the "classic" songs are distilled from a huge amount of work. Some decent, some fantastic, but much of it total crap. Look at the top 40 from any given week in the 1970's, chances are you won't even remember most of the songs. In any list there kight be 10 you remember and 2 or 3 you actually consider good.

It is the same today, only when we turn on the radio we get all 40 of the songs. Again most of it crap. IMO it is our perception that there is more crap because the classic stations only play the good stuff from the past.

As far as Lady Gaga (I mentioned her above), the primary reason I think she has a good shot to be near-royalty at least for a while. She seems to have a plan to achieve that fame, so far it has went pretty well for her. In just straight songwriting and singing ability, she is pretty good. Most of her songs are modern bubble gum pop/dance stuff, but she has managed to slip a few in that are very different. You could say the same things about her as you do about Jackson: songs, videos, clothes, and arguably an "aura" or something special that only comes along every few years in a performer. She isn't much to look at I must admit though...

 

Miley Cyrus and Justin Bieberer or whatever his name is.









These two are destined for hilarious career endings and I predict early deaths.

 

I agree with this. I also think there is plenty of good music today....but none of it is revolutionary like in the past. This is because all of the major innovation has been done. Now the best you can hope for is evolution os styles, not complete reinvention.

And while I like Gaga I dont think anyone will know who she is in a few years.

 

Good riddance.

He may have once been the king of pop, but I never thought of him as a serious musician. He most certainly molested young boys. He was a sick person.

 

I don't think we will have another 'king' for quite some time. Information travels way too fast for anyone to invest enough $ into someone to build them up to that level only to have another person with a cell phone camera snap a shot of them doing something they shouldn't be doing....Which BTW all 'kings' have done in the past but information didn't travel so quickly. IMO it's another form of socialism.

 

He did?? You have proof??

The court found him innocent.. You need to Write a book..

 

I think there is still good music today, but it just isnt popular.