The music industry is going through some rough times.  Not only is the business less profitable than ever, but there also seems to be a lack of innovation and talent. With less new artists releasing material and being signed to major labels, we’re left with the same ol’ shiz. And while alternative and indie music seem to be in productive/ creative mode, unfortunately for us, that kind of music is hard to access.  Only a few are fortunate enough to be exposed and introduced to such artists/ bands.  For the rest of us- there’s radio.  Top 40 has never sounded so dull.

SexyBack...

If everything on the radio sounds the same, you can blame it on two people: Justin Timberlake and Timbaland.  Although Timbaland has been around for quite some time, his name has never been so ubiquitous.  Almost every other song has been produced by either him or his protégé Danja.  

When Justin Timberlake released his sophomore album, produced by Timbaland, he had no idea it would be the beginning of a “weird” period in pop and Top 40 music.   When “SexyBack” was released as his first single, it turned heads his way.  The beat was sick, futuristic, and extremely hot.  Everybody wanted to bring “sexy back”, every other recording artist wanted to score a recording session with the mastermind behind such an incredible pop gem. 

The List

Everyone seemed to enjoy the Timbaland craze, and we all fell for it at some point.  After all, the guy is a genius with a great ear for sick beats and catchy hooks.  Timbaland and Danja became (and still are) two of the most sought-after music producers—just check at the list of the artists they have worked with:

Nelly Furtado, Danity Kane, Björk, Rihanna, M.I.A., 50 Cent, Kanye West, Duran Duran, OneRepublic, Jay-Z, Flo Rida, M. Pokora, Ashlee Simpson, Britney Spears, Madonna, Mariah Carey, Jennifer Hudson, Keri Hilson, T.I., Nicole Scherzinger, Diddy, Snoop Dogg, Paula DeAnda, Fantasia Barrino,  Natasha Bedingfield, Cassie, and the list goes on.

Diva Attack

Even the big-time major pop divas have fallen under the Timbo spell.  The result:  generic pop.  For some of them, the formula works, for others it’s just shameful and painful to hear.  They’re not bad songs, they’re actually great pop/ Top 40 tunes… what seems to be the problem here, is the lack of personality. 

Once you can’t tell apart a Madonna song from a Britney Spears song you’re in major trouble.  Even Duran Duran and Björk fell for it and the results where mediocre.

In this day and age, production trickery seems to be everything that matters.  The artists/ bands have gone from “stars” to “back-up schmos”.

Over It

Two years later, and with every other Top 40 song produced by Timbaland/ Danja, the formula is getting old, generic and boring.   Before we all wanted to bring sexy back, now all we want to do is stick it back in the closet or flush it down the toilet.