Kidz Bop

[Ripley]

CNN has a review of Kidz Bop 8 from EW.

[Deleted]

I went and checked the Amazon reviews and, yes, they are hilarious! I randomly clicked on (I think) the 6th one. Many single stars. I loved the person who headed their review with BURN IN HELL KIDZ BOP! and went on to say the world was coming to an end because of Kidz Bop. Oh, also, Satan loves Kidz Bop.

The highest review I saw at a glance was 3 stars from a woman with kids who defended Kidz Bop. She actually said, "Isn't it all about the children?"

Eeek! In the CNN link Ripley provided, the writer referred to the kids singing in the background as "Rock Children of the Corn!"

[proper stranger]

jensational said:

Does a normal 8 year old even HAVE broken dreams? No. Their stupid stage parents prop them up on a soundstage where they sing these songs with the same amount of emotion and understanding that they would use singing a Jell-O jingle.

This is going in my signature.

I would assume that most of the original artisits (the ones who write their own songs) own the rights to their music--unlike some 1950s artists who had no say when Pat Boone wanted to ruin their records. Why in hell would any songwriter agree to have his/her song watered-down and neutered in such a manner?

[kostgard]

Why in hell would any songwriter agree to have his/her song watered-down and neutered in such a manner?

That's what I've been wondering. Why the hell is Green Day selling their stuff to Kidz Bop? I wonder if the Kidz Bop people get around it because they are just buying the rights to the song - like buying sheet music for it - and the original artists aren't singing it. I could see a sale like that going buy without their notice. Otherwise, they should be ashamed of themselves.

[goggle]

kostgard said:

That's what I've been wondering. Why the hell is Green Day selling their stuff to Kidz Bop? I wonder if the Kidz Bop people get around it because they are just buying the rights to the song - like buying sheet music for it - and the original artists aren't singing it. I could see a sale like that going buy without their notice. Otherwise, they should be ashamed of themselves.

I'm pretty sure they have to pay less royalties that way (for writers, but not performers). Whatever it is, it's the same reason they use covers of popular songs in games like Karaoke Revolution and Donkey Konga.

[pathtaken]

Please, do not throw things or ban me from the board, but.....yes.... I have purchased a couple of Kidz Bop cds for my chirren.
I cannot say anything to defend my actions, just a simple mother trying to please her simple children.
All I can say is,
they like them.

Take pity, and be kind.

[Deleted]

I want to see them try REAL hardcore songs:

-Closer, NIN
-Kashmir, Led Zeppelin
-I Touch Myself-Divinyls
-Push It, Salt N Pepa

Yeah.

[tinyshoes]

kostgard said:

Why in hell would any songwriter agree to have his/her song watered-down and neutered in such a manner?

That's what I've been wondering. Why the hell is Green Day selling their stuff to Kidz Bop? I wonder if the Kidz Bop people get around it because they are just buying the rights to the song - like buying sheet music for it - and the original artists aren't singing it. I could see a sale like that going buy without their notice. Otherwise, they should be ashamed of themselves.

The blame lies in the hands of the record labels, last I checked. The artists themselves rarely have control over that sort of thing.

Topic? Those Amazon reviews cracked my shit up too. Even my very Christian aunt doesn't let her kids listen to that crap. She lets them listen whatever music they want, because she knows she's raised them well enough to know right from wrong, etc.

[huntergrayson]

One could make a compelling case for "Closer" -- see, it says "you get me closer to God" and that's a good thing for these religious types, right?

I think unlike using a song in a film, one does not need permission to do a cover. Because once a song is released, it's free game as long as you pay a certain percentage of the profits to the label (some of which will go to the artist). It's a flat-rate, I believe, so covering Bjork will cost you the same as covering the Rolling Stones (you think they gave Britney the OK for "Satisfaction?"). This can be a good thing, in the case of the really interesting covers I hear on local radio. Or a bad thing when abused like this. Thanks, music industry class! (Donald Passman's "All You Need to Know about the Music Business" is a great general overview).

The EW review claimed the Kidz Bop version of "Float On" became an ironic hipster hit, but can anyone else confirm this? Itunes store also has Kidz Bop samples for all the past albums. The horror. The chirpy, prepubescent horror.

Best Amazon review headline: "This Cd sounds like a Mixture of William Hung and Demons from Hell.,"

[Deleted]

I saw a commercial for Kidz Bop Does the Beatles which really pissed me off. Unless it's the White Album you don't have to change the lyrics, so why oh why do you need kids screeching a cover of All My Loving or I Wanna Hold Your Hand??? You're not changing a word! Play the originals!!!