The other day, Taylor Swift was described as "the apotheosis of mediocrity" by a veteran rocker. While filling stadiums worldwide, she receives sharp criticism from industry figures. Veteran rocker Todd Rundgren recently even suggested that her dominant style ruined music.
Elvis Presley revolutionized rock and roll in the 1950s. Yet, traditionalists openly attacked him. Critics labeled his music vulgar and talentless, viewing his performances as a temporary, degenerate fad. A decade later, The Beatles faced similar disdain. Jazz musicians and classical critics initially dismissed the band as a noisy gimmick with overly basic chord progressions.
In the 1980s, Madonna faced sharp hostility from rock veterans. She was routinely described as a manufactured star with limited vocal range. Detractors argued that her visual image overshadowed her actual musical substance.
This cycle continues in modern pop. Ed Sheeran achieved record-breaking streaming numbers, but detractors frequently critique his acoustic pop formulas. Critics call his songs repetitive, uninspired, and engineered solely for commercial radio success.
This reminds us of what Maestro Ilaiyaraaja's fans say about AR Rahman, and what Rahman's fans criticize about Anirudh Ravichander. The Hindi film music these days has been roundly attacked in private by old-timers.
