89 Most Redundant, Repetitive Cliches in Music 61 - 52
- 61. Vanity Bling
- 60. The "It-Girl" Cameo
TRL is looking more and more like primetime TV these days. Why settle for an anonymous hottie when you can get Mischa, Pamela, Scarlett or Carmen to be the leading lady in your new vid? We're counting the days before Ellen 'Dr. Grey' Pompeo is pimped out in the next Snow Patrol clip.
- 59. The Deep-Voiced Radio Guy
- 58. The Concept Album There's no quicker way for a band to win over rock critics than by writing an album of 12-minute songs, all about a guy named "Tommy," "Ziggy" or "Jimmy." All in all, My Chemical Romance's 'Black Parade' is just another brick in the wall.Think you know your concept albums? Take our quiz
- 57. Kids Singing on the Hook
While child exploitation in the workplace is illegal, such laws obviously don't extend to the recording booth. The under-10 set is cute and all, but don't think for a minute that their angelic voices make up for weak lyrics or off-key singing. That goes for choruses, interludes, intros, outros and mixtape drops, too. "DJ Cut-and-Scratch is my daddy" is no longer original.
- 56. Songs About Dances
Have nothing to rap about? Just come up with the dumbest, simplest move you can think of, write equally elementary lyrics to go with it, and a hit record is virtually guaranteed. Too bad song royalties expire after 95 years; Dem Franchise Boyz, Unk and Webstar owe a fat check to whoever penned 'The Hokey Pokey.'
Learn these hot hip-hop dances - 55. The Rooftop Performance
Since the Beatles' farewell gig on the roof the Apple Building in '69, less fab bands have paid homage with their own hi-rise concerts. It's become a staple at the VMAs, with Avril, No Doubt and My Chemical Romance scaling great heights, but none top U2, who caused a ruckus in L.A. one afternoon in '87 for a humble video shoot.
- 54. The "Featuring"
Remember when rappers wrote songs without inviting all their boys, brothers, moms and managers to drop a verse? Neither do we. A couple of guests are welcomed, but damn, Game -- 18 different rappers?!
Hear Game's 'One Blood' remix -
53. Lists Like These
- 52. Suicide
Nothing verifies a musician's "tortured artist" cred like a self-inflicted shotgun blast to the head. Bonus points for creativity; a steak knife to the heart (a la Elliott Smith) grabs more headlines than pill popping. And no worries about the ones you leave behind -- the royalties from your string of posthumous albums will set them up just fine.
More awesomely dead rockers