- Jun202012
Way Back Wednesday: Generation Next
Written by Trent | Filed under Beyonce,Celine Dion,Ciara,Janet Jackson,Jazmine Sullivan,Lady GaGa,Madonna,Usher,Way Back Wednesday
Lady Gaga and Madonna
With each new generation of performers, the music industry is propelled forward with the addition of fresh talent. However, these artists stand on the shoulders of giants and in some cases they don’t only continue the legacy of their predecessors; they relive it.
The Lava Lizard presents this young crop of performers in this week’s Way Back Wednesday as Generation Next. Indeed, many music fans praise their favourite artists as being innovative and original but those persons are simply bringing rebranding the work of icons in a modern context.
Yet, this Way Back Wednesday piece is not focused on insulting the younger generation of entertainers. Rather, it will highlight newer acts and their predecessors so that music fans can spot the similarities. From their voices to their stage shows, this is the ultimate industry part two!
Watch some of the Generation Next performers below:
Bobby Brown/Usher
Celine Dion/Charice
Janet Jackson/Ciara
Kim Burrell/Jazmine Sullivan
Madonna/Lady Gaga
Tina Turner/Beyonce
There is nothing wrong with artists channeling their predecessors because we all have learn from those who come before us. In fact, by studying the best in our class we will work toward becoming masters ourselves. However, the problem develops when people resort to blatant imitation.
For instance, although Lady Gaga is a better artist than Madonna, there is no doubt that she has copied the latter. Really, have you seen some of Gaga’s outfits? She definitely wasn’t born that way.
Now, why did I compare Usher to Bobby Brown? Although Usher labels Michael Jackson as his ultimate idol, his dance style is remarkably similar to Brown. Additionally, he is far more sexual than Jackson; a trait that was key to Brown’s brand.
In case you’re wondering why Mariah Carey, Aretha Franklin and Whitney Houston were left off this list then simply ask yourself if there has ever been vocalists who can rightfully compare. For example, Christina Aguilera and Leona Lewis are similar to Carey in many ways but their both lack what they other possess to complete the puzzle – Aguilera has no control and Lewis’ voice is far too dull.
Jennifer Hudson is often the name highlighted when discussing Franklin but the latter has never been known for screaming her way through songs. Finally, Deborah Cox and Heather Headley were considered as Houston parallels but the absolute grandness of the late diva’s voice was just incomparable.
Who else is missing from this list? Are any of the choices flawed? Share you opinions below!
Thoughts?
23 Comments
Leave A Comment
-
-
Follow Us
Hot Stories
Latest News
-
-
-
Powered by WordPress
lol YASS i agree! You CAN’T replace MC but Michael and Ciara tho! lol Oh.
I was going to suggest Rita Bora but then I remembered nobody cares about her!
Janet/Ciara..? Ehh… in dance I suppose. Musically, Ciara is so far off to the hip hop side w/ little pop appeal its hard to even see. But I definitely see the rest. So glad you threw Kim Burrell & J. Sullivan in there! Gritty vocalists that sing from the gutttt!
yass for that tina and bey idc what no one say tina knowles is not her mother tina turner is lol
Janet/Bobby/Ciara/Usher were giving me lifee; especially Bobby!
i think fantasia is a mix between patti labelle and aretha franklin
idk songs like Bleeding Love and Can’t Breathe by Leona certainly rival Mariah. Though recently she’s sparingly used her head voice and has been working on her lower register.
Plus she’s been out of the spotlight and not had much opportunity to really shine as an artist.
wow no Lil kim/Nicki Minaj?
Sorry but this post is a fail. First off the Janet/Ciara comparison is way off the only thing they have I. Common is that they both dance. If we’re going to go by that than you might as well put every female that came after Janet that also incorporate dance in their videos and live performances too. You might as well say every pop artist now is basically riding off Janets blueprint including Beyonce.
You forgot how Rihanna bites Janet’s style….especially recently
Totally agree with Beyonce/Tina Turner comparison.
I don’t think Gaga is a better artist than Madonna, but she can singer better tho
Nicki & Kim… kim clone clown is the biggest fraud and fake an i am not even a kim fan… im more lauryn hill foxy n missy but u can see she is a fraud obvious
@Tango so the ENTIRE post is a “fail” because you don’t agree with ONE comparison? Explain to me how that makes any sense
Gaga does everything better than Madonna
Lol idk if I’d compare Bobby to Usher
As much as it would’ve hurt you to admit it, there are a few contenders in the Mariah/… comparisons, sure they don’t have the vocal abilities it takes to sing such technical songs like Obsessed and Shake It Off but hey ! .. Mariah/Leona that’s life , deal with it !
Ciara, Rihanna, Beyonce, and Britney all live in the house that Janet Built. I should have made this post I could have list videos and Live performances where they not only Dance exactly like Janet but they have the same stage set, clothes, hair, and makeup. Gaga is not better than Madonna, how can you be a better artist when your not even original to begin with, she may sing better but that is it, neither one of those stiff white men can dance. Trent I love MC but Leona should have been listed. What about Fantasia and Patti Labelle? What about Kim and Nicki? What about Robin Thicke, Justin Timberlake and Jon B? What about Envogue and DC?
To be honest, I never really saw the whole Janet/Ciara comparisons. Ciara has more of a vocal range and her style is more hip-hop/pop while Janet’s style is more home to R&B
And I think Christina and Leona are just as good singers as Mariah
Bobby Brown/Usher? I don’t know about that one. But I’m glad you posted THAT “Gimme Dat” performance from George Lopez Show because Ciara nailed it like she was performing at a Grammy show.
“although Lady Gaga is a better artist than Madonna” < LMAO… How can you say she's blatently copies Madonna and then say she's a better artist? If she's copying she isn't an artist she's a CON artist… her music isn't as good as Madonna's, her videos aren't as good as Madonna's, her tours aren't as good as Madonna's, her dancing isn't as good as Madonna's… the only thing she has is a better voice but that doesn't make you an artists so…
@UGH “Gaga does everything better than Madonna” Gaga 21m), tours (Madonna has the highest grossing tour ever by a solo artist, Gaga… doesn’t), Come up with her own ideas, dance, longevity, pop culture impact… just stay Mad Gaga will never be on Madonna’s level lol
Trent, would you consider a post on influence in the game and WHY artists feel the need to emulate ‘to the ‘t a previous artist’s image? Case & point: I watched Mr. and Mrs. Smith the other night. I know Britney performed in costume similar and a year or two years later Beyonce performed a similar set, dressed almost identically and all. I’m not trying to harp on Beyonce here because there have been others like Rihanna, Gaga, even Kelly, who have done the same exact performance via the stage or music video influenced by some recent pop culture image/art piece/work, etc.
I get that imitation is the best form of flattery. Imitation can also mean suicide [career]; see Ralph Waldo Emerson’s “Self-Reliance” essay for further explanation on the latter.
But why, upon seeing/knowing that David LaChappelle had a photoshoot less than ten years prior that sparked controversy and was touted as good/bad/ugly/high art/whatever, why take it upon yourself so quickly to reference (copy) that for a music video, Rihanna? WHY?
Why borrow the work/likeness of a current choreographer without giving due propers in any form or fashion and expect it to fly, Beyonce?
Why write a song with the same chord changes and vehemently deny its likeness to an iconic song made twenty years prior, Gaga?
Why do they put themselves in these situations? Do they not have time to cultivate their own ‘iconic’ work? Is it easier to do what’s been done under the name of ‘homage’ or ‘influence/inspiration’?
WHY DO THEY DO THAT TRENT?
I guess if you run out of ideas you’re just out of ideas. But why not go back and be inspired from something that’s obscure and old, like wayyyy old, like ancient sea scrolls and fall of Pompeii old? LOL they would have less a chance of folk calling them out on copying.
With that rant said, let me look to the OT:
Usher might’ve been influenced by Bobby Brown but he didn’t let that take over. He is his own star and was able to transcend mere mimicry into something of his own.
Likewise, Beyonce. While influenced by Tina Turner, Diana Ross, Janet Jackson, Betty Wright, Donna Summer, Lola Folana, Naomi Campbell, Barbra Streisand, etc. she finally, FINALLY came into her own image/artistry and is now just herself…though I still get black marching band majorette, vegas showgirl and geigh dancer doing choreo at club cheetah on a saturday night. LOL. SHE IS BEYONCElita and BEYONCE. She’s transcended those tropes that formed her performanceship at first.
Kim Burrell and Jazmine Sullivan both come out of the school of Phyllis Hyman, but I don’t really see them as anything other than their artistic selves. I don’t see Kim when I hear/view Jazmine…but Phyllis is all up and in through Jaz’s work: see “I’m in Love With Another Man”.
Gaga and Madonna. Gaga straight jacked everything Madonna and Annie Lennox and Grace Jones and maybe some Debbie Harry. The End. Also, Rihanna pulls from those legends, too.
Celine…well, to me there is none like her. I don’t know that lady in the vid after hers so I can’t compare/contrast/or care.
And any female performer that incorporates choreographed dance military style into their performances, passed through the halls of the Haus of Janet Jackson (and Michael Jackson). The end. LOL.