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Is Whitney Houston A Manufactured Artist?


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Old 30-05-2010, 15:12
prasanth
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I wouldn't normally associate her with the label of "manufactured", but when you think about it, that is what she is. Vocally, I think she was one of the best, but that's another issue altogether.

At the start of her career, she had to wait two years so writers could give her songs etc. She has never written a song, although she has been a part of the production of the Bodyguard album in particular.

When you "zoom out", is there actually any difference between her and Rihanna etc?

p.s., I'd like to stress that Whitney's vocal ability in her prime is not in question here
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Old 30-05-2010, 15:19
ghettoBLASTER!
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If she can't write decent material then so be it. I'd sooner she worked to her strengths rather than tried to be something she isn't. If other people's songs work for her then it is the right route for her to be on.
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Old 30-05-2010, 15:27
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I wouldn't normally associate her with the label of "manufactured", but when you think about it, that is what she is. Vocally, I think she was one of the best, but that's another issue altogether.

At the start of her career, she had to wait two years so writers could give her songs etc. She has never written a song, although she has been a part of the production of the Bodyguard album in particular.

When you "zoom out", is there actually any difference between her and Rihanna etc?

p.s., I'd like to stress that Whitney's vocal ability in her prime is not in question here
What in your opinion is a manufactured artist.
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Old 30-05-2010, 15:31
prasanth
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What in your opinion is a manufactured artist.
Someone who has no input into their songs, and is purely a tool for the label to make money?

But the more I think about it, there are plenty of great artists who don't write their songs but I still wouldn't class as manfactured. Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Luther Vandross. All great IMO.
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Old 30-05-2010, 15:37
kutox
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Writing songs isn't everything. Sure, there are manufactured singers who do have everything done for them, but it's about knowing what you want as an artist - how you want the music to sound and the direction and style you want to take. That is not defined purely by writing songs.
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Old 30-05-2010, 16:04
Red+Blooded
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Someone who has no input into their songs, and is purely a tool for the label to make money?

But the more I think about it, there are plenty of great artists who don't write their songs but I still wouldn't class as manfactured. Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Luther Vandross. All great IMO.
Rihanna, Kylie (first 4 albums), the list is endless,

And like S club juniors was a tool to make money from the s club 7,
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Old 30-05-2010, 16:06
AdzBrown
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I don't think "manufactured" acts are a bad thing. If someone has an amazing voice (Whitney) but can't write good songs, does that mean they shouldn't be successful because they can't do it all? Not at all.
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Old 30-05-2010, 16:09
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I don't think "manufactured" acts are a bad thing. If someone has an amazing voice (Whitney) but can't write good songs, does that mean they shouldn't be successful because they can't do it all? Not at all.
I agree, but when someone writes and sings there own song it feels more real and overall sounds better, if you get what im on about.
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Old 30-05-2010, 16:10
AdzBrown
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I agree, but when someone writes and sings there own song it feels more real and overall sounds better, if you get what im on about.
I totally agree, there is more passion when someone sings their own song.
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Old 30-05-2010, 16:14
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I totally agree, there is more passion when someone sings their own song.
That's why GaGa has alot of of apreciation, because she writes all her songs, if she couldnt write and hose songs had been written by someone else some of the magic just won't be there, that's why i think rihanna isn't as big as like Beyonce.
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Old 31-05-2010, 04:21
MikePJB
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To me it doesn't matter is someone has written the song their singing or not. All that matters is that the song sounds good to me. I think it's stupid when some people don't like a song/artist simply because they don't write their own music.
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Old 31-05-2010, 04:51
LiveFTW!
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I don't think she is manufactured. She was amazing back in her prime and I really felt some passion in some of her songs. Even if they wasn't her's, she sure could emote the hell out of it, imo.
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Old 31-05-2010, 09:38
12december1984
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I'm one of these people who will often read the liner notes in an album.

I'm pretty sure that Whitney has writing credits for "Queen of the Night" and "Whatulookinat."
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Old 31-05-2010, 10:05
Gill P
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I remember an article by Burt Bacharach in which is deplored the fact that singers were supposed to write their own songs which made it very difficult for songwriters like himself and Hal David. All the emphasis on being a "singer/songwriter" took work away from decent, hardworking songwriters.

This was written in 2002 or 2003!
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Old 01-06-2010, 20:29
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I don't think she's manufactured, listening to her prime stuff...it never came across she was singing someone else' song- instead actually interpreting it on a more personal level.

If anything it's just the powerhouse vocals ala 'I Will Always Love You' that came across as standard song covering. Btw if you look on some of her albums, she done all the vocal arrangements.
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Old 01-06-2010, 21:14
If_U_Seek_Amy
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Typically I prefer it when artists write their own songs and I do like seeing artists increase their input in their work if they didn't previously have much as I see it as a sign of artistic growth. Of course I appreciate if someone isn't a songwriter then so be it...I have more respect for an artist that can hold their hands up and say they didn't write a song rather than lie and buy songwriting credits. At the end of the day if a song is good and I like it then it doesn't matter who wrote it!!!
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Old 01-06-2010, 21:19
That_Guy
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Celine has never written a song in her life, but you gotta love her.
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Old 01-06-2010, 21:24
Kyle123
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I dont see why some people have such a big problem with artists who dont write their own songs. A good singer is a good singer regardless of who wrote the words for them. Its a nice bonus if the artist is actually singing something they felt and wrote about, but its not the be all and end all.

Plus, I think sometimes an artist can do perfect justice to a song written for them by someone else. Sure, sometimes you have artists who just sing the words and go home, but there are so many examples of artists taking a song written by someone else and interpreting them in their own way. It may not be as authentic as the writer, but its silly to just shun songs because the artist didnt write them himself.
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Old 01-06-2010, 21:27
Dizagaox
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Key difference between say Celine and Whitney, is that Celine is in complete control of her music and branding. Whitney isn't, and is just somebody else's pawn, making her manufactured.

Christina Aguilera is somebody who lets others write and produce her music, but you would never say she's manufactured (at least, not since Stripped).
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Old 01-06-2010, 22:04
Anika Hanson
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Key difference between say Celine and Whitney, is that Celine is in complete control of her music and branding. Whitney isn't, and is just somebody else's pawn, making her manufactured.

Christina Aguilera is somebody who lets others write and produce her music, but you would never say she's manufactured (at least, not since Stripped).
Christina co-writes her songs.
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Old 01-06-2010, 22:17
Gambit_is_ace
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Celine has never written a song in her life, but you gotta love her.
actually she has.

On top of my head - Treat Her Like A Lady and Don't Save It All For Christmas Day.
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Old 01-06-2010, 22:24
darkjedimaster
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With Whitney the only thing which is manufactured is that little bag of white powder she loves so much.
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Old 01-06-2010, 22:30
E0N
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At the start of her career, she [Whitney Houston] had to wait two years so writers could give her songs etc. She has never written a song, although she has been a part of the production of the Bodyguard album in particular.
Let's peruse your logic a little further. Are thespians manufactured? Is Emma Thompson a manufactured actress because she doesn't write her own scripts? Anthony Hopkins, Al Pacino?

The singularly most important attribute for any singer is actually being able to sing. If somebody regularly occupies a chart position without being able to sing―I'm not naming names―then we surely are looking at a fabrication.

Nor, for the same reason, do I consider anyone who wins a talent contest to be manufactured. American Idol is just another platform from which to launch a career. Writing skills are developed over time. Receiving advice on how to dress and how best to behave is also perfectly acceptable. Brian Epstein transformed the image of The Beatles, giving instruction on what to wear and how to move on stage, yet nobody in their right mind would say The Beatles were a manufactured band.
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Old 02-06-2010, 07:56
Star_Bright
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Who cares if someone has written their own song. As long as they sing it well, what's the problem?
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Old 02-06-2010, 10:09
Cantank
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Whitney certainly wasn't manufactured, originally, as she must have imbibed how to sing fantastically well at her mother's knee. Cissy Houston was wonderful in her day (and with more character and soul than Whitney ever managed).

I think Whitney's manufactured, now, as she plainly has no voice left through the abuse she's given her body. The manufacturing comes in tidying up and remaking the sound in the studio. She obviously can't sing well, live, these days so it's now down to the engineers and technology.
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