Why Pop Will Never be Cool

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Pop will never be cool. The Evidence: You never see popstars smoking.Ever. Smoking is the ULTIMATE in cool. Think Richards,think Gainsbourg,think Morrison,Think Hell, Think Any good rock star of the last 40 years.They all smoked. Can you imagine Britney smoking? 2) Drugs. Name a pop band that takes drugs(and that are any good) You can't. Look above for all cool rock stars who take drugs and add your own. Pop & Cool coincided with the rise of Synth pop and political correctness. Pet Shop Boys = cool because they werent afraid to be seen smoking. 80s pop stars launched campaigns against smoking,drugs etc. Of course 80s pop is the worst the world ever seen and those who took part should be ignored...but Dexys Midnight Runners, Duran Duran,Blondie, Madness all smoked and took drugs. Pop died after them. Anyone agree? oh go on then if you disagree.. And remember how bad 80s pop was. Stock Aitken & Waterman all had Sonia,Rick Astley,Jason Donovan, all NON-Smokers. And it influenced 90s boyband pop. No smokers or drug takers there.

― Tim Johnson, Saturday, 3 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago)

80s pop=sonia, rick astley, jason donovan.

God it must have been terrible only having 3 artists for 10 years. And I'd say Jason Donovan hammered back the drugs to be honest, for what its worth, if you've seen any recent photos you might agree.

― Ronan, Saturday, 3 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago)

Hello??? S Club 7!!!

― Tim, Saturday, 3 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago)

80s sucked. And didnt Jason Donovan do the drugs AFTER his pop career failed? 80s pop was just as retro as 00's and 90's really.Synth pop started in the late 70s.Yet by 1983 there was hundreds.and none any good. Honestly after Human League made 'Dare' who needed another synth pop band? With the exception of PSB. who really made sure anymore was pointless. Pop music died in 1985 when PSB made pop that couldnt be beaten.

― R. James Coleman, Saturday, 3 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago)

This always comes up. The 80s were awful save for a few good band slike Dexys,Madness,Blondie as the dude says previously. But think of 80s pop. Rick Astley,Kylie(admit it she was shit then) Sonia,Sinitta,Bananarama, Tiffany, Reynolds Girls, Black Box, Joboxers, Huey Lewis & The News. Nick Heyward, Limahl,Phil Collins, Sting URGH. Live Aid killed pop music. Everything that was on that bill was awful. Pop music died 1985. Musically it died in about 1979.

― Craig Gordon, Saturday, 3 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago)

Pop music for guys dies when everyone is 14 and their balls have dropped and they discover drink & girls. Anyone who listens to 80's pop music now needs to be committed to a mental asylum, along with Eurovision Song Contest fans.

― Brad Jones IV, Saturday, 3 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago)

Madonna was publicly censured for being "the tobacco industry's best friend" after smoking on the MTV awards and denounced the "Fascist State of Toronto" onstage. Mariah Carey is nuttier than Nick Drake and Ian Curtis combined. And lest we forget...Michael Jackson. Who needs cigarettes when you've got an oxygen tank? Oh hold on, I need both!

― dave q, Saturday, 3 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago)

Why do guys think smoking is cool when it isnt? its disgusting and nothing is more offputting to us girls than a fag hanging out their mouth,nicotine stained fingers and bad breath? thats why real pop stars dont smoke. and 80s pop music WAS bad. Think Police,Smiths, Huey Lewis & The News, Springsteen,Human League,Yazoo, Simply red, Style Council,A-Ha, Pretenders,Debbie Gibson, NKOTB , Eurythmics. ALL had no 1 singles in the UK & US.

― Micki Brown, Saturday, 3 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago)

Mariah carey sucks real bad though. Michale Jacksons best album was in 1979. But since the mid 80s has been appaling. And Ian Curtis was never a pop star. You need to be known worldwide and have a hit to be a pop star. Ditto Nick Drake.

― Craig Gordon, Saturday, 3 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago)

of course i can imagine britney smoking

― mark s, Saturday, 3 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago)

haha also KYLIE is the one-word demolition of this silly earless argt

― mark s, Saturday, 3 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago)

Excusing Mark's contributions here, but this is surely a contender for worst thread evah.

― Martin Skidmore, Saturday, 3 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago)

Marti Pellow must be the only pop star in history who isn't even justified by having a heroin addiction

― dave q, Saturday, 3 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago)

If you looked at the EVIL and the right wing politcal causes that big American tobacco companies support, you would never look upon smoking as cool ever again. Every pack of Marlboro you buy might as well be a vote for Pat Bucchanan - how is this marketed a rebellious, cool stance?

This kept me off smoking far more effectively than any threat of lung cancer or painful death.

― kate, Saturday, 3 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago)

Rebellion against the establishment = either childish attention- seeking or premature old age. Indiscriminate rebellion against everything in existence = cool. I'm not saying it's necessarily 'good', just 'cool'.

― dave q, Saturday, 3 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago)

and 80s music was full of mullets,big hair and smash hits. What an awful decade.

― Tim, Saturday, 3 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago)

smash hits was funny and intelligent

― mark s, Saturday, 3 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago)

Ver Hitz = GRATE!!!

― kate, Saturday, 3 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago)

The American counterpart to Smash Hits (Star Hits, I think) was startlingly great, I think: was my first exposure to Roxy Music, the Residents, X, R.E.M. Probably others.

― Michael Daddino, Saturday, 3 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago)

80s Smash Hits was brilliant. Didn't they have the Jesus And Mary Chain on the cover once? I bet they smoked.

Gainsbourg smoking was cool because you never saw him standing outside the office in the drizzle having a puff, wearing a cheap Byrite suit because he'd spent all his money on fags.

― Mike Ratford, Saturday, 3 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago)

Is that the Brad Jones?, up there. Of the Shazam. Man, 'cos if it is.

― david h(owie), Saturday, 3 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago)

Martin, all Mark did was mention Britney and Kylie!

For some reason I can't fathom, I loathe songs that have the word "cigarette" featured prominently.

― Clarke B., Saturday, 3 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago)

Smash Hits was poo. Paul Young oh i dont even need to go on. Its crap. anyone over the age of 11 who reads it is extremely sad.

― Beth, Saturday, 3 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago)

Dammit, why has nobody used the word "ROCKIST" yet? I DEMAND ACTION

(Also the '80s were great because hey there's that rap stuff)

― Nate Patrin, Saturday, 3 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago)

i am sad :(

― minna, Saturday, 3 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago)

''For some reason I can't fathom, I loathe songs that have the word "cigarette" featured prominently.''

clarke do you like suede (they had a few i think, also 'gasoline' features in a couple that I've heard as well).

― Julio Desouza, Saturday, 3 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago)

WORST THREAD EVAH!!!

― Chupa-Cabras, Saturday, 3 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago)

for fucks sake, when are people going to understand that to be "COOL" is the biggest paradox in the world. if you are "cool" you are instantly the opposite as to be cool is to be to be aware that you are being cool and therefore pretending.

smoking is not good as anyone who has seen people close to them die the terrible death of lung/throat/mouth cancer.

― del a robbo, Saturday, 3 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago)

This is far from being the worst thread ever.

I used to think smoking was cool, I don't anymore. I think I agree with the assesment of drug-taking, smoking bands as having a hip image a lot of the time though. It's not an image I'm trying to cultivate myself (anymore).

― Sean, Saturday, 3 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago)

yeah i don't see why this thread is worse than any others

― Ron, Saturday, 3 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago)

I don't smoke, and I don't want to smoke. But if anything could make me want to smoke, it's hearing about how EVIL Big Tobacco is and working in league with the right-wing conspiracy is working to kill YOU.

By the way, smoking is cool. It's a fact.

Micki Brown, you are a bad person.

― My name is Kenny, Saturday, 3 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago)

of course i can imagine britney smoking

Teen Sensation Britney Spears does smoke; she was caught! on camera.

― Leee, Saturday, 3 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago)

Can anyone remember the 'bag the fag' ad with the band of Brian Manix clones where the bass player slides down on his knees, and played a two note slap bass solo? That was fucking cool.

― ed, Saturday, 3 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago)

Didn't one of the Backstreet Boys go into rehab... AJ I think it was?

And what about Whitney Houston? She has had her fair share of drug problems.

― aaron m, Sunday, 4 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago)

Smoking is cool.

If tobacco products were deadly and killed people, then the Big Tobacco companies would have no buyers, therefore no money! Why would they KILL their customers? If you're DEAD, you cannot SMOKE!

What if they killed yous anyways? That's cool. Die before you get old motherfuckers... WHAT A DRAG IT IS GETTING OLD...but Keef will outlive all of yous.

Rappers and hip hoppers are Pop though, and they smoke blunts. Cuz it's all about the bling, blunts, and bitches. They got guns too. Those are cool. Less kids may smoke cigs, but all of 'em smoke weed. It kills too...therefore it's "COOL."

― Pumps in a Bump, Sunday, 4 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago)

that is a great email address!! i'm quite amused to learn that hotties is a donut shop. come to think of it, baron smedley is pretty good also

― Ron, Sunday, 4 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago)

"I loathe songs that have the word "cigarette" featured prominently."

B.but Tweet's 'Smoking Cigarettes'! This is an utterly BRILLIANT SONG! And because of her endorsement, I might smoke a ciggie for the 1st time in my life. Obv.

80s were bad for pop music? I don't believe you.
Nu Shooz 'I Can't Wait'. There you go: Ace 80s Pop! Bye.

― DavidM, Sunday, 4 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago)

the 80s was the best decade for music ever. yes i am fucking serious.

or, it was no better or worse than any other decade....get a grip 80s haters, acid house and hip hop saved pop music and both kicked off in the 80s...why must the 80s always be about the shite you listened to when you were kids cos you didnt know what was cool and were brainwashed by your fuckwit parents eh? EH? nah just kidding but really the definition of the decade needs to be expanded to cover more than just fuckin anything that was number 1 in 1982.

― , Sunday, 4 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago)

Didn't the Smiths come out of the eighties?

Didn't the Stone Roses also emerge out of that decade?

Now that is two good pop acts

It seems the bands/artists that didn't smoke also did not write their own music. I think that has bigger implications on the quality of out put - not that writing your own is a quality seal.

Worst ever thread... no way there has been far worse

― sonicred, Sunday, 4 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago)

Didn't house music, techno, electro, etc. come out of the 80s also? What about the start of modern metal and indie? (eg Sonic Youth, Pixies, Dinosaur Jr) And there were also a number of decent pop records in the 80s, even the odd one from the SAW production line.

Honestly, you lot! If you expected great things from Madonna or Phill Collins of course the 80s are going to be crap! It's like saying the 70s were crap on the strength of the Partridge Family, Osmonds, Bay City Rollers, etc. In fact, have listen to a Ronco or K-Tel pop compilation from the 70s (The 70s equivalent of the Now That's What I Call Music! compils) and you'll never complain about the 80s being crap ever again!

Old Fart!!!

― Old Fart!!!, Monday, 5 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago)

SAW production-line made several superb records (mel&kim's FLM, for example)

they did not write their own songs = so what? why are "rock" ppl so afraid of singing other ppl's songs (or is it all about not wanting to split royalties)?

― mark s, Monday, 5 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago)

(or is it all about not wanting to split royalties) - bit off-topic but I like how the Stones did an absolute shitload of covers, then gave titles to crowd-noise sequences on live albums (ie "We Want the Stones") to make up the royalties gap!

― dave q, Monday, 5 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago)

haha what a rip-off, at least if you were at a todd rundgren show you got your name mentioned on the next sleeve!! (even if you kept yr mouth shut)

― mark s, Monday, 5 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago)

Smoking is the antithesis of cool. Addiction is uncool because it means you're dependent on something... uncool. And the act of smoking - using props to try to look more relaxed - it's a sign of insecurity... very uncool.

Smoking is neat-o, but it ain't cool.

Drugs can be cool - if you do the right ones for the right reasons.

Pop is uncool because it's pop.

― Dave225, Monday, 5 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago)

"Why do guys think smoking is cool when it isnt? its disgusting and nothing is more offputting to us girls than a fag hanging out their mouth,nicotine stained fingers and bad breath?"

Funnily enough, I know more WOMEN who smoke than men.

"thats why real pop stars dont smoke. and 80s pop music WAS bad. Think Police,Smiths, Huey Lewis & The News, Springsteen,Human League,Yazoo, Simply red, Style Council,A-Ha, Pretenders,Debbie Gibson, NKOTB , Eurythmics. ALL had no 1 singles in the UK & US."

PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE don't you *EVER* compare the Police, the Human League and the Pretendrs to Debbie Gibson, A-Ha and NKOTB ever again.

― Alex in NYC, Monday, 5 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago)

The Human League and a-ha = two of the greatest bands ever. Yay!

― Ned Raggett, Monday, 5 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago)

what a terrible thread

― Alan Trewartha, Monday, 5 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago)

Smoking-as-prop = "I have found a way to sublimate my petty stresses so as not to bore everyone else silly with them", defn. of cool. Non- smokers are so in touch with their health that they whine about their ailments all the time. Smokers don't, maybe because they realise they brought it all on themselves, but it's still a good thing.

― dave q, Monday, 5 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago)

(Alt. theory - you don't have to worry about smokers boring you to death because you know every 15 minutes they'll be looking for a way to escape YOUR company anyway, whereas non-smokers are free to tell you about their interest-free lives forever. This is good if you're like me and have zero attention span and find everybody else in the world boring beyond belief. Then again maybe I have zero attention span because I'm thinking about the next fag all the time, but it's a mutually agreeable result all around, don't u think?)

― dave q, Monday, 5 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago)

Wait, how in the world does this question have Gainsbourg as "rock" and not "pop?" (FRANCE GALL TO THREAD)

― nabisco, Monday, 5 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago)

n - you beat me to that by mere seconds.

― The Actual Mr. Jones, Monday, 5 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago)

the more obvious flaw a few lines down has already been addressed though (who CAN'T imagine Britney as menthol chain-fiend is more like it)

― The Actual Mr. Jones, Monday, 5 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago)

Arguing that smoking isn't cool because it's bad for you or because it's dangerous is ridiculous because obviously that's what its sense of cool is derived from. The REAL reason that smoking isn't cool is that it's not bad enough for you, it's not really that dangerous. Sure, it could kill you, but not that quickly. It's not that hard to quit, lots of people have. It's legal. Smoking at any age is pretty uncool, but it's really uncool if you're of legal age to buy cigarettes and you STILL smoke. It's cheap rebellion and fails to shock anyone except the most easily shocked people (parents, the elderly). So if you want to be cool, take up something like self- castration. I hear eunuchs are coming back in style.

― Nick A., Monday, 5 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago)

hey kid you look good with that cigarette....kinda sofisticated

― , Monday, 5 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago)

Paul Weller is always seen having a 'puff' on stage - fans at the front stage of his concerts light up and give him one. He's the epitomy of the cool, stylish mod-con. Mind you it helps if you like his music.

― Denise Whitlock, Sunday, 11 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago)

He'd be cooler if he had a puffin.

― Nicole, Sunday, 11 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago)

five years pass...

Is this really the worst thread ever?

― Herman G. Neuname, Tuesday, 5 August 2008 00:08 (sixteen years ago)

The days of an innocent britney.

― Herman G. Neuname, Tuesday, 5 August 2008 00:14 (sixteen years ago)

mad puffin yo

― PappaWheelie V, Tuesday, 5 August 2008 01:56 (sixteen years ago)

(who CAN'T imagine Britney as menthol chain-fiend is more like it)

-- The Actual Mr. Jones, Monday, August 5, 2002 12:00 AM (6 years ago) Bookmark Link

^ prescient motherfucker

― BIG HOOS aka the steendriver, Tuesday, 5 August 2008 02:08 (sixteen years ago)

Didn't the Smiths come out of the eighties?

Didn't the Stone Roses also emerge out of that decade?

Now that is two good pop acts

― some dude, Tuesday, 5 August 2008 02:19 (sixteen years ago)

haha

― Herman G. Neuname, Tuesday, 5 August 2008 12:41 (sixteen years ago)

^^dave q with The Truth. (i am a non-smoker)

― will, Tuesday, 5 August 2008 12:48 (sixteen years ago)

Not true, the biggest hypochondriac I know is a smoker

― Tom D., Tuesday, 5 August 2008 12:49 (sixteen years ago)

QED!

― wanko ergo sum, Tuesday, 5 August 2008 12:57 (sixteen years ago)

Alex in NYC knows more WOMEN who smoke than men

― DJ Mencap, Tuesday, 5 August 2008 13:22 (sixteen years ago)

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