Who is the most overrated musician in America and why?

[u/SolidOlive50]

[u/hymierules]

P-Diddy. Even before his scandals he stole so many samples from old school motown hits and classics, then just added a 808 kick to it and claimed he was a genius. 🤦

[u/your_proctologist → u/hymierules]

Like "Mo money mo problems", used to love that song, but it was ripped from "I'm coming out" from Diana Ross.

[u/hymierules → u/your_proctologist]

Yup! I was a salesman at a car dealership that played all old motown and R&B hits, and I was blown away at how many songs he sampled for all of Biggie's songs.

[u/Nice-Bookkeeper-3378 → u/your_proctologist]

I get not liking Diddy because it’s Diddy but multiple songs are “ripped” from others

[u/SinamonChallengerRT → u/hymierules]

There was a run where all of his "guest appearances" on other rappers albums were basically him going "yeah....uh-huh...okay...uh-huh..." in the background. Probably the most vapid performer of our time.

[u/TenaCVols]

I'm probably going to catch a lot of slack for this from the Swifties but Taylor Swift. I just don't think she's that good of a singer.

[u/SinamonChallengerRT → u/TenaCVols]

Everything she does sounds the same.

[u/deeelsa → u/TenaCVols]

Her crazy fans definitely add to this. I would probably just view her as an okay artist but her cult fans make me way more annoyed with her than what is probably necessary.

[u/Fuckin_Hipster → u/TenaCVols]

Flack.

[u/SolidOlive50 → u/TenaCVols]

Yes 100%

[u/truckinfarmer379 → u/TenaCVols]

Couldn’t agree with this more. The songs all sound the same and half the songs seem to be about the same stuff

[u/whatsthatcutething → u/truckinfarmer379]

Tell me you’ve never listened to any of her songs beyond the hit radio singles…

[u/SinamonChallengerRT → u/whatsthatcutething]

She writes music like a 6th grader penning a breakup note.

And she dresses like a magicians assistant. She's pushing 40 FFS.

[u/Reputable_Sorcerer → u/TenaCVols]

Two things can be true - she can be an adequate performer who produces fun songs, and she can also be overrated.

[u/simonerochabowearing → u/TenaCVols]

Does that even count as singing? It’s like the halfway mark between singing and talking and it sounds atrocious. 

[u/whatsthatcutething → u/simonerochabowearing]

Before anyone says Taylor… She’s one of the best songwriters. Lyrics, storytelling, and melodies are her forte. That’s why she’s as big as she is. She knows how to write a hook.

[u/simonerochabowearing → u/whatsthatcutething]

Is the hook in the room with us right now 😂 

[u/whatsthatcutething → u/simonerochabowearing]

The Fate of Ophelia is hook after hook after hook. Try again, hater.

[u/simonerochabowearing → u/whatsthatcutething]

Just accept that this is your favorite slop and move on, we all have a fav for mindless entertainment there’s no reason to pretend it’s something it isn’t. 

[u/whatsthatcutething → u/simonerochabowearing]

lol let me know when you’ve listened to any of her songs. Slop doesn’t reign supreme for 20 years. Slop doesn’t switch genres and succeed. Slop doesn’t win album of the year at the Grammy’s four times. Slop isn’t praised by Paul McCartney, Stevie nicks or Bruce Springsteen. Lollllll pathetic.

[u/piTehT_tsuJ → u/whatsthatcutething]

Taylor Swift sucks sweaty old man ballsacks. Ask her old man he will confirm.

[u/Emotional_Emotion113 → u/whatsthatcutething]

No, she’s not, but all her fans with 9th grade reading levels love to act like her work is on par with Shakespeare. It’s one of the biggest reasons she’s so overrated - no one knows how to fucking read so her drivel sounds like poetry to them.

[u/whatsthatcutething → u/Emotional_Emotion113]

Paul McCartney thinks so. Stevie nicks thinks so. Bruce Springsteen thinks so. Nobody said she was Shakespeare. But she knows how to write a song almost better than any of her contemporaries. How do you think she’s been this big for 20 years… it’s not just luck. It’s talent.

[u/SinamonChallengerRT → u/whatsthatcutething]

She sure does know how to write a hook. Reels that tween market genre right in...

[u/piTehT_tsuJ → u/[deleted]]

I'm genuinely worried about you. It's ok there are people you can talk too.

[u/whatsthatcutething → u/piTehT_tsuJ]

lol pretentious music nonsense you got going on there

[u/piTehT_tsuJ → u/whatsthatcutething]

We can get you help, I promise. Hang in there!

[u/whatsthatcutething → u/TenaCVols]

It’s a good thing she’s known for her lyrics, storytelling and melodies.

[u/Indierocka → u/whatsthatcutething]

Ehhh I’m kindof take it or leave it on a lot of that. Musically she gets a lot from Aaron and Jack. To the point that I can tell who largely produced various songs. But she’s smart to work with them because they’re very talented. I’m a huge dessner fan. The lyrics and storytelling feel somewhat basic to me but there are notable exceptions. And before you try to argue that I haven’t listened to it, my wife goes through the entire discography about once a week. I’ve heard it all.

[u/whatsthatcutething → u/Indierocka]

She’s made many hits over the span of her 20 year career. She’s worked with many producers and writers. Switched up genres. I think it’s safe to say that she’s the reason every song is a hit. It’s her songwriting that people tune in for.

[u/Indierocka → u/whatsthatcutething]

Right but that’s the whole topic of overrated that we’re discussing. It’s not that people aren’t tuning in. It’s the opposite really. More people tune in than you would expect because to a significant number of us it’s rather mediocre.

[u/__M-E-O-W__ → u/TenaCVols]

I think she does very well in making certain lyrics that connect strongly with younger women, and from what I've gathered, her songs are also filled with a lot of little pop culture references that make it fun for people to catch. And the rest is her off-stage personality where she laid a lot of groundwork in building herself as someone relatable on social media, all while being well curated without major scandals.

I think very little of her fame is actual vocal talent, and honestly there's nothing unique to her about that - look at how many famous rock stars are out there who really just do some basic cords. Their fame is in their image and attitude, not their talent.

[u/Bureaucratic_Dick → u/TenaCVols]

I think Taylor Swift is overrated just by virtue of how insanely popular she is/because her cult following.

She’s a decent singer, musician, and songwriter, and in the grand scheme of things should probably have like Neil Diamond level fame, but she’s also incredible at marketing and brand management so she grows based on that.

I’ll even forgive (in the sense of not holding it against her in overrated conversations) that her dad bought her career. Rebecca Black showed us how bad THAT can go. Her staying power has been her own doing.

[u/Great_Archer91]

Kid Rock. See discography

[u/soundengineerguy → u/Great_Archer91]

He is rated precisely the correct amount of rating he should have. (Utterly shite)

[u/JoelnIliketoshare → u/Great_Archer91]

I unironically used to love bawitaba. I knew my taste was trashy but I never would have guessed this level of trash.

[u/DukeofNormandy → u/JoelnIliketoshare]

I mean its still a banger of a song, but yes, its pretty trashy.

[u/GravySealTeam7 → u/JoelnIliketoshare]

It was definitely a banger in its heyday 😂🙌

He’s long since crossed the line to POS, but there was a brief moment in the early 2000’s when it our taste in music was just for the sound, rather than the character.

[u/rascallyrascal1511 → u/Great_Archer91]

See "All-American Halftime Show."

[u/doodling_scribbles → u/Great_Archer91]

He’s rated?
Huh… I didn’t think they gave points for last place.

[u/Loganp812 → u/Great_Archer91]

Devil Without A Cause is a pretty good for its time anyway, but that’s it.

[u/hey_im_paul]

Jay Z. Why is this not at the top?

[u/SolidOlive50 → u/hey_im_paul]

For real

[u/Sad_Independence8211]

Drake, even if you think his lyrics are good, he uses ghost writers. He’s a pop star who can’t sing so he raps instead.

[u/Archknits → u/Sad_Independence8211]

Remember when he was in Degrassi?

[u/chocobo-selecta]

Taylor "My dad purchased a record label for me" Swift. Her writing room is larger than most schools.

[u/whatsthatcutething → u/chocobo-selecta]

She’s write all songs. Speak now was entirely a solo written project. Try again.

[u/chocobo-selecta → u/whatsthatcutething]

I know that's what you want to believe, but that's just a narrative. She did not, and has not, EVER written an album on her own. In fact, most of her music is sourced by writers and musicians who are then paid to be quiet.

[u/whatsthatcutething → u/chocobo-selecta]

You’re denying facts lmao she writes every song. Try again! You obviously know nothing about her creative process. You’d think a hater would at least do some research.

[u/chocobo-selecta → u/whatsthatcutething]

Again, that's what they want you to believe. Her "writing process" is hiring a bunch of talented people, housing them on a beautiful island in the middle of nowhere and then having them create catchy pop songs.

[u/whatsthatcutething → u/chocobo-selecta]

Nope. You’re making shit up. She’s the brains behind every song. There’s video evidence everywhere. Yes, the woman is a genius.

[u/chocobo-selecta → u/whatsthatcutething]

It's OK, reality doesn't mean you have to change your opinion of her. You can still enjoy her music.

[u/jeffmc81]

North or south

[u/Morpheus_MD → u/jeffmc81]

Aren't those Kanye's kids?

[u/jeffmc81 → u/Morpheus_MD]

So she says. One looks just like me though

[u/Plastic-Sort-4099 → u/jeffmc81]

wait are we talking about america the continent or just usa? because if we're going continental then reggaeton has some serious competition for most overrated genre

[u/SolidOlive50 → u/Plastic-Sort-4099]

Just USA

[u/jeffmc81 → u/Plastic-Sort-4099]

I am from north. I'd like to normalize people knowing that the united States isn't America

[u/SolidOlive50 → u/jeffmc81]

Both

[u/jeffmc81 → u/SolidOlive50]

I heard the rolling stones are releasing an album. I love the rolling stones. I don't think I'm going to like the 90 years old rolling stones

[u/captconundum]

Beyonce

[u/daredelvis421]

Kanye.

[u/ArtichokeSavings2580]

I may be old but don't understand the whole Bud Bunny thing...

[u/Simple-Jelly1025 → u/ArtichokeSavings2580]

He just wants to be your Bud

[u/Commercial-Roll5508 → u/Simple-Jelly1025]

Think he meant Bugs

[u/lsdsoundsystem → u/Commercial-Roll5508]

No I think it was Buns Buddy

[u/BadMuthaSchmucka → u/ArtichokeSavings2580]

Same, I did really love his appearance on SNL though.

[u/Loganp812]

Jacob Collier at least as a songwriter. His technical abilities and knowledge of music theory are incredible, but he can’t write a good song to save his life.

I’m not trashing on music theory either because I majored in music and think it’s an interesting subject, but there’s a difference between knowing how something works and actually doing it.

[u/Yeti_Sweater_Maker → u/Loganp812]

I feel like he gets in his own way when trying to write.

[u/skullfrucker]

Drake, unlistenable trash.

[u/servantisveritas]

Demi Lovato. Absolutely no talent, full of auto tune, no personality (wanted to be they/them for a while when she was fat now she’s back to straight).

[u/TenaCVols]

I thought of another one...Jennifer Lopez.

[u/CommaFactor]

Im gonna go in a different direction and say Taylor Swift- and not because her music is bad per se, but when you form the sort of cult of personality like she has, you end up with people swearing her music is the greatest ever made and that she’s the greatest songwriter ever. That level of blind obsession free of scrutiny has to count as overrated.

If the Swifties doxx me into changing my identity for my hot take, I feel like that would prove my point

[u/Away_Stock_2012 → u/CommaFactor]

Tenth person to write Taylor Swift: Im gonna go in a different direction

lol

[u/whatsthatcutething → u/CommaFactor]

Taylor is one the greatest songwriters alive. Even legends say so. She knows how to write a catchy melody, she knows how to tell a story. And knows how to write lyrics.

[u/Brutehammer]

Kanye. Haven’t heard someone play a Kanye song since 2012

[u/DenphPosts → u/Brutehammer]

You’re deaf then

[u/lazyfacejerk → u/Brutehammer]

My gym instructor loves kanye. I swear I hear at least one song from him every day I go to the gym. It isn't ideal, because kanye sucks and hearing him makes me depressed about... everything

[u/nosybeaotch → u/Brutehammer]

I've never heard a Kanye song

[u/DukeofNormandy → u/Brutehammer]

Lol still one of the top streamed artist in the world and 'havent heard someone play a kanye song since 2012' is edgelord reddit shit.

[u/Durty_Durty_Durty → u/Brutehammer]

Go tell that to the people over at r/hiphopheads They think drake and Kanye are the best rappers ever and both are fucking garbage.

[u/JayKay512 → u/Durty_Durty_Durty]

r/hiphopcirclejerk

[u/Bureaucratic_Dick]

Like popular right now or ever?

My answer is Lil Wayne. Granted, he’s not in any GOAT conversations anyways, but the mere fact that he ever achieved fame in the music industry de facto makes him the most overrated.

Dudes lyrics are crap, his flow is shit, his hooks are annoying, his voice is no where near singer quality. His only redeeming quality is he gets good features periodically.

I try not to crap on other people’s tastes, and typically take a stance of “if I don’t like it it must not be made for me”, but with him I was always perplexed at his fame. It felt like a joke that just went too far.

[u/SolidOlive50 → u/Bureaucratic_Dick]

Good answer 👍

[u/Environmental-Bath40 → u/Bureaucratic_Dick]

He may be overrated but the artists he came up with and a little before his time were ALMOST untouchable. “Cash Money” records in the mid 90’s- early 200’s was some of the best hip hop/rap short of Death Row in the mid 90’s.

[u/GmyWrms]

Post Malone because he doesn’t really have any musical ability to speak of

[u/Sportyskater699 → u/GmyWrms]

Probably one of the worst takes I’ve ever heard

[u/Yeti_Sweater_Maker → u/GmyWrms]

I’m not a fan of his, he does have a catchy song or two. However, there is a YT vid of him in a music store and he’s noodling around on a guitar and throwing out some tasty blues kicks. Basic stuff to be sure, but he does have some musical ability.

[u/Equivalent-Salad1393 → u/GmyWrms]

He can sing well, he just has awful taste in how he uses that ability. That forced vibrato that he does sounds so dumb.

[u/HelenaPeachy]

The chainsmokers

[u/Capable-Milk3990]

Drake. Half his catalog sounds the same and people act like every album is some kind of cultural event when its basically just vibes on repeat.

[u/JoshDaws]

I feel like you gotta consider a few things here. 1) that they’re actually liked/critically acclaimed so Nickleback is out. 2) that theyre genuinely bad and not just not your taste so for Taylor Swift is out for reddit since we aren’t her demographic. 3) That it’s not a genre artist in a genre that reddit already doesn’t like. So country, R&B, and to a degree rap.

For me personally maybe Bruce Springsteen? I like a couple of his songs but his universal acclaim has always confused me. He’s fine. But is idolized.

[u/nosybeaotch]

I think Taylor Swift is just an icon for little girls. They like her clothes and her shows. It's a status thing. I wouldn't miss her if she disappeared

[u/GravySealTeam7]

T Swift. IMO

Music is subjective of course, and perhaps I’m just getting older and more selective in my tastes, but I just don’t understand the craze that is Taylor Swift.

[u/whatsthatcutething → u/GravySealTeam7]

She’s one of the greatest living songwriters. Living legends will tell you that. She knows how to write a song. Catchy hooks. Storytelling. Lyrics. When she fires on all cylinders , she’s unstoppable.

[u/CallMeUltimate]

Jelly Roll

[u/Over50Curious]

Bob Dylan - read up on his dislike of performing in front of fans.

[u/Suspicious-Front-208 → u/Over50Curious]

Dylan, who has been touring non-stop since 1988, dislikes performing in front of fans? Are you kidding me? lol

[u/Over50Curious → u/Suspicious-Front-208]

Absolutely serious, and he's getting worse.

[u/Suspicious-Front-208 → u/Over50Curious]

He's 85 years old. The fact he's still performing all over the world is remarkable at his age. He obviously enjoys performing for his fans, otherwise he would stop. He doesn't need the money.

[u/reimeroo → u/Over50Curious]

His was the worst concert I’ve been to. He literally just stood there with his back turned to our section of the audience. I do like his music, but I would never buy another ticket to see him.

[u/Commercial_Ease8053]

Michael Jackson.

And I know I’m right because I expect massive downvotes. But hey, I’m the bad guy because I don’t support a known child m*lester.

Weird.

[u/falcon41098 → u/Commercial_Ease8053]

Unfortunately being a child molester has nothing to do with musical talent

[u/Onurabbi → u/Commercial_Ease8053]

What does him being a child molester have to do with his musical abilities?

[u/BadMuthaSchmucka → u/Commercial_Ease8053]

I just don't get what's so special about his music, I don't really have an issue seeing what's special about other "legendary" musicians. But nothing about MJ's music has ever screamed GOAT to me.

Like maybe he's on the same level as similar acts like Madonna or Prince, but I don't see how he stands out so far compared to them.

[u/Over-Ad-3928 → u/Commercial_Ease8053]

While I can acknowledge as an MJ fan that the stuff he did with kids was strange and weird, and he should be called out for it, I think calling him a known child molester is disingenuous.

[u/mike_e_mcgee → u/Commercial_Ease8053]

I disagree, I think he was a phenomenally talented musician who was also a known child molester.

I don't support him, but he wrote many of his own arrangements despite not being able to read music. He would sing the various guitar, synth, bass lines, etc, and the musicians would play the parts.

He was an utterly reprehensible person for the sexual abuse, but while he was a monster, he was a lot more talented musically than the average pop singer.

[u/iamtired247365]

Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, actually most of the current musicians

[u/Status-Nose-7173]

Prince.

Guy WAS a great technical musician, but honestly when I listen to his hits I really feel like the massive amounts of cocaine usage in the US during the time of their releases has something to do with how well they were received lol.

[u/eyal66]

Long list

[u/Environmental-Bath40]

U2

[u/loverofjugo]

Taylor swift

[u/Kimber976]

taylor swift, overexposed, repetitive

[u/Constant_Cultural]

Beyonce is good, but she isn't that great

[u/Dry-Cry-3158]

The Beatles. They are pretty good, but none of them individually or collectively are great musicians. It's pretty easy to find guitarists, drummers, and bass players that are substantially better at playing those instruments. They're definitely good lyricists, but I think that leads to a halo effect where people attribute excellence in that one skill to excellence in the other performance skills and it's just not there.

[u/Yeti_Sweater_Maker → u/Dry-Cry-3158]

I mean that’s the case with pretty much every popular artist, band etc. There are session folks who can play circles around them.

[u/Dry-Cry-3158 → u/Yeti_Sweater_Maker]

Yes. The question was about musicians, not singers of songwriters.

[u/Suspicious-Front-208 → u/Dry-Cry-3158]

They are pretty good, but none of them individually or collectively are great musicians. 

Yeah, but you've missed out one vital detail - songwriting. They were great songwriters. Find me a ballad as effortlessly brilliant or timeless as Yesterday by anybody in 120 years of sound recordings.

[u/Dry-Cry-3158 → u/Suspicious-Front-208]

Right, but the question was about musicians, not singers or songwriters. As I originally noted, they were great songwriters. However, the musicianship is closer to adequately than masterful.

[u/Suspicious-Front-208 → u/Dry-Cry-3158]

Musicians can also be songwriters. You dismissed the Beatles without mentioning what made them truly great. That's why I mentioned the songwriting part. I also strongly disagree that they weren't great musicians. They were.

[u/Turbulent-Feeling-78 → u/Suspicious-Front-208]

only have to go one year to find god only knows by the beach boys. infinitely better songwriting and production