opentune
Platinum Member
One trend I notice is that, one-by-one, physical skills are being replaced by technological skills. Vocals are surely next in line for technological approximation. Pop vocal lines are becoming simpler and more repetitive, just as drum patterns did before the drum machine revolution.
We are already there. look at the extensive use of vocoder and pitch correcting gimmicks in modern music. Its being used almost as a special effect, and any one of us can do a vocal if its going to be doctored like that.
To somebody who grows up with those sounds, they are completely normal. To anybody raised on Aretha, Marvin or Ian Paice, they sound processed and awful.
Regarding the original article I posted, its clear why hip hop would be most popular, but not *influential*. Hip hop seems less message-laden than the rock, country or folk genres.