S/O Can we talk about how bad Lin-Manuel Miranda's music is?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think LMM is a genius and love his music and lyrics. Y’all are haters.

His lyrics may be genius, but his melodies aren’t lyrical because so many notes have to be fit into a bar to accommodate the words. Try listening to an instrumental version of his songs - strings of 16th notes then repeated intervals between notes. The melodies end up sounding percussive - this might be why some listeners feel the music is being shouted at them. I’m not saying it’s bad but my preference would be amazing lyrics with lyrical melodies.

You’re being too academic. My kids - me - we all sing along to the music without any issues. It’s catchy music.

To each his/her own. That’s all.

[Anonymous]

I think my favorite is the song of the ancestors in Moana. “I aaaaammmmm Mooaaannnaaaaaaaaaaaa!!” Chills every time. I cried in the theater.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Oh god it’s so irritating. Very glad when my kids got over Hamilton. Just grating on the ears.

Mind you, I hate all musicals. Going to see Rent was one of the lowlights of my life.

No, the original production of Cats would make anyone desperate for an escape. I was stunned when they made the movie. Just why?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When he first became popular I immediately recognized him as the bad beatboxer from the mid 2ks reboot of Electric Company. I find him overly earnest and dewy-eyed, a little too "aww shucks you love my stuff?" That said I do love the music, even if everything seems to come from the same template.

Yes, 100%

Dp. I find him endearig and sincere. Sorry you guys are so cynical that you can't see that. If he bragged than you wouldn't like that either! Either way in your eyes he can't get a break.

Nah, sorry. Your options are not Kanye or LMM. A lot of artists I respect are just professional about it. They are t bragging but they know they are good because they have good taste. LMM is still acting like he can’t believe anyone likes his work. It is absolutely grating. The “sweetness” comes across as what the terms call try hard.

His personality didn’t bother me when he first became a thing, but at this point I think he needs therapy. I feel like he’s still desperately trying to win people over. For someone that successful, this reads as incredibly needy and also lacking in boundaries.

Also, the lip bite selfies. Just… stop.

Ya' know what? you aren't going to convince me that I shouldn't like LMM. Personally, I think you need the therapy because you are "trying too hard" to get people to not like him. Makes me like him even more! Just avoid if you don't appreciate his talent and his goodness.

Lol, thanks for the therapy rec over... musical preferences? Opinions of celebrity personas? Okay.

I'm actually not trying to get anyone to not like him. LMM is basically universally acclaimed at this point, he has been deemed "good" by the powers that be. This thread was started by someone who doesn't like him, and since there are few venues to actually discuss disliking his music or finding him annoying, it's been nice for those of us who don't like him to have a chance to say we don't, and why. It sucks when your taste diverges from the mainstream and it's nice to find likeminded people.

It's you, coming into this thread and insisting we are all "haters" and are wrong, who is trying too hard. You see that, right? No one in mainstream entertainment or media would dare criticize the guy. You have LOTS of company if you want to sit around talking about how much you love him. And yet you've arrived at this tiny corner of the internet to argue with people who disagree. Ask yourself why.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think LMM is a genius and love his music and lyrics. Y’all are haters.

His lyrics may be genius, but his melodies aren’t lyrical because so many notes have to be fit into a bar to accommodate the words. Try listening to an instrumental version of his songs - strings of 16th notes then repeated intervals between notes. The melodies end up sounding percussive - this might be why some listeners feel the music is being shouted at them. I’m not saying it’s bad but my preference would be amazing lyrics with lyrical melodies.

I really appreciate this analysis -- I think you've definitely captured why I can only take him in small doses and find it somewhat frustrating how ubiquitous his music has become in certain venues (like kids movies, since I have a kid and can't really avoid them). I do think his lyrics can be amazing, but that only makes me more resentful of how dense his songs are. It gives me limited opportunity to enjoy it when he does have a particularly clever turn of phrase or insightful lyric.

I also think his music is intended for people to listen to over and over again, and the people who love it the most tend to have their favorite songs memorized. That's not a way that I like to interact with music. Nothing against it, it's just not how I listen to or appreciate music. I love a close listen but I don't memorize music except by accident. I'm sure there are lots of great LMM lyrics I don't know and likely never will, despite having heard those songs, because I simply cannot process them in the first or second or even third listen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Broadway music for the NPR set - haha. yes!

I also hate musicals and yet watched Hamilton and still don't like musicals. I also felt "yelled at"!

But Moana was the worst of the worst - I literally was groaning in psychic pain in the movie theater.

I think maybe the problem is that ppl expect waaaay too much from children's movies? They are movies for children...it's not going to be Citizen Kane. The best you are going to get is a couple of winking jokes aimed at the parents and maybe a catchy song or two.

Taking your kids to see a Disney movie is an activity you do to entertain your kids. I don't understand how doing that causes you "psychic pain" unless your expectations are extremely out of whack

I love animated movies and I’m over age 10. I don’t even remember any of the songs from Moana. But there are many beloved songs from other Disney and non-Disney movies.
Let it go
Beauty and the Beast
Rainbow connection
Aladdin

Maybe watch Moana again? I think it would be hard to argue that You're Welcome and How Far I'll Go are not in the same category as those others

The reprise of How Far I'll Go is right up there for me in the absolute best disney songs of all time. I would not put You're Welcome there but more like, Under the Sea etc, strong secondary songs.

I listened to both of these songs - they just don't move me. They're entertaining but they're not songs I would play over and over again, or sing, or want to learn to play on an instrument.

DP. But the songs from Beauty and the Beast move you and you play those over and over again? I mean, perhaps you just gravitate to the older Disney stuff because there's nothing remarkable about most of the older songs.

They do, and when the movie was out, I could play them over and over again. I also have the sheet music for songs from Beauty and the Beast. Several songs were nominated for Oscars and the theme song did win. So a few people thought the music from Beauty and Beast was remarkable.

Um, do you know how popular the Encanto soundtrack is? An Encanto song is absolutely going to win an Oscar. Not sure if Bruno or another one, but the soundtrack is like 5 on the Billboard Top 100 right now. More popular than Let It Go.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When he first became popular I immediately recognized him as the bad beatboxer from the mid 2ks reboot of Electric Company. I find him overly earnest and dewy-eyed, a little too "aww shucks you love my stuff?" That said I do love the music, even if everything seems to come from the same template.

Yes, 100%

Dp. I find him endearig and sincere. Sorry you guys are so cynical that you can't see that. If he bragged than you wouldn't like that either! Either way in your eyes he can't get a break.

Nah, sorry. Your options are not Kanye or LMM. A lot of artists I respect are just professional about it. They are t bragging but they know they are good because they have good taste. LMM is still acting like he can’t believe anyone likes his work. It is absolutely grating. The “sweetness” comes across as what the terms call try hard.

His personality didn’t bother me when he first became a thing, but at this point I think he needs therapy. I feel like he’s still desperately trying to win people over. For someone that successful, this reads as incredibly needy and also lacking in boundaries.

Also, the lip bite selfies. Just… stop.

Ya' know what? you aren't going to convince me that I shouldn't like LMM. Personally, I think you need the therapy because you are "trying too hard" to get people to not like him. Makes me like him even more! Just avoid if you don't appreciate his talent and his goodness.

Lol, thanks for the therapy rec over... musical preferences? Opinions of celebrity personas? Okay.

I'm actually not trying to get anyone to not like him. LMM is basically universally acclaimed at this point, he has been deemed "good" by the powers that be. This thread was started by someone who doesn't like him, and since there are few venues to actually discuss disliking his music or finding him annoying, it's been nice for those of us who don't like him to have a chance to say we don't, and why. It sucks when your taste diverges from the mainstream and it's nice to find likeminded people.

It's you, coming into this thread and insisting we are all "haters" and are wrong, who is trying too hard. You see that, right? No one in mainstream entertainment or media would dare criticize the guy. You have LOTS of company if you want to sit around talking about how much you love him. And yet you've arrived at this tiny corner of the internet to argue with people who disagree. Ask yourself why.

I will tell you why. Because it is a discussion board!!! This is how it works. Btw, the song we don't talk about Bruno just beat let it go as the most listened song.

So you really are a tiny minority

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Broadway music for the NPR set - haha. yes!

I also hate musicals and yet watched Hamilton and still don't like musicals. I also felt "yelled at"!

But Moana was the worst of the worst - I literally was groaning in psychic pain in the movie theater.

I think maybe the problem is that ppl expect waaaay too much from children's movies? They are movies for children...it's not going to be Citizen Kane. The best you are going to get is a couple of winking jokes aimed at the parents and maybe a catchy song or two.

Taking your kids to see a Disney movie is an activity you do to entertain your kids. I don't understand how doing that causes you "psychic pain" unless your expectations are extremely out of whack

I love animated movies and I’m over age 10. I don’t even remember any of the songs from Moana. But there are many beloved songs from other Disney and non-Disney movies.
Let it go
Beauty and the Beast
Rainbow connection
Aladdin

Maybe watch Moana again? I think it would be hard to argue that You're Welcome and How Far I'll Go are not in the same category as those others

The reprise of How Far I'll Go is right up there for me in the absolute best disney songs of all time. I would not put You're Welcome there but more like, Under the Sea etc, strong secondary songs.

I listened to both of these songs - they just don't move me. They're entertaining but they're not songs I would play over and over again, or sing, or want to learn to play on an instrument.

DP. But the songs from Beauty and the Beast move you and you play those over and over again? I mean, perhaps you just gravitate to the older Disney stuff because there's nothing remarkable about most of the older songs.

They do, and when the movie was out, I could play them over and over again. I also have the sheet music for songs from Beauty and the Beast. Several songs were nominated for Oscars and the theme song did win. So a few people thought the music from Beauty and Beast was remarkable.

Um, do you know how popular the Encanto soundtrack is? An Encanto song is absolutely going to win an Oscar. Not sure if Bruno or another one, but the soundtrack is like 5 on the Billboard Top 100 right now. More popular than Let It Go.

Dos Oruguitos is the song that Disney put forth for the Oscar shortlist. They only pushed one song so they wouldn’t dilute the vote, and it was well before Bruno and the others exploded in popularity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Broadway music for the NPR set - haha. yes!

I also hate musicals and yet watched Hamilton and still don't like musicals. I also felt "yelled at"!

But Moana was the worst of the worst - I literally was groaning in psychic pain in the movie theater.

I think maybe the problem is that ppl expect waaaay too much from children's movies? They are movies for children...it's not going to be Citizen Kane. The best you are going to get is a couple of winking jokes aimed at the parents and maybe a catchy song or two.

Taking your kids to see a Disney movie is an activity you do to entertain your kids. I don't understand how doing that causes you "psychic pain" unless your expectations are extremely out of whack

I love animated movies and I’m over age 10. I don’t even remember any of the songs from Moana. But there are many beloved songs from other Disney and non-Disney movies.
Let it go
Beauty and the Beast
Rainbow connection
Aladdin

Maybe watch Moana again? I think it would be hard to argue that You're Welcome and How Far I'll Go are not in the same category as those others

The reprise of How Far I'll Go is right up there for me in the absolute best disney songs of all time. I would not put You're Welcome there but more like, Under the Sea etc, strong secondary songs.

I listened to both of these songs - they just don't move me. They're entertaining but they're not songs I would play over and over again, or sing, or want to learn to play on an instrument.

DP. But the songs from Beauty and the Beast move you and you play those over and over again? I mean, perhaps you just gravitate to the older Disney stuff because there's nothing remarkable about most of the older songs.

They do, and when the movie was out, I could play them over and over again. I also have the sheet music for songs from Beauty and the Beast. Several songs were nominated for Oscars and the theme song did win. So a few people thought the music from Beauty and Beast was remarkable.

Um, do you know how popular the Encanto soundtrack is? An Encanto song is absolutely going to win an Oscar. Not sure if Bruno or another one, but the soundtrack is like 5 on the Billboard Top 100 right now. More popular than Let It Go.

Dos Oruguitos is the song that Disney put forth for the Oscar shortlist. They only pushed one song so they wouldn’t dilute the vote, and it was well before Bruno and the others exploded in popularity.

Yup. And there's a bunch of big name contenders this year on the shortlist, like Beyonce, Jay-Z, Billie Eilish, Jennifer Hudson, Ariana Grande, U2...

https://deadline.com/2021/12/oscars-original-song-shortlist-beyonce-jay-z-u2-jennifer-hudson-list-1234900326/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:His dad’s political connections have really tokenized all of his work, I think. He’s definitely talented. I feel sad watching him hustle for the Dems in every single thing he does. Would be neat if his work could just be his.

Who or what is his father?

His father has worked in politics a long time. He primarily worked in NYC politics as professional staff and then as a campaign consultant/lobbyist but he has become more of a national figure since Lin became famous. He does a lot for the election of Latino candidates. There is a documentary about him on HBO Max called Siempre, Luis. I've met his father and he's a super nice and charismatic person. His career is definitely helped by his son's fame, and Lin does a lot to help raise money for Democratic causes, but I think it comes from a sincere place (and I don't always agree with them politically). You can see where Lin got his personality and ambition. Lin's mother is connected to Planned Parenthood.

His mother is Dr. Luz Towns-Miranda, a clinical psychologist.

[Anonymous]

Ugh, LMM is so tiresome.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Broadway music for the NPR set - haha. yes!

I also hate musicals and yet watched Hamilton and still don't like musicals. I also felt "yelled at"!

But Moana was the worst of the worst - I literally was groaning in psychic pain in the movie theater.

I think maybe the problem is that ppl expect waaaay too much from children's movies? They are movies for children...it's not going to be Citizen Kane. The best you are going to get is a couple of winking jokes aimed at the parents and maybe a catchy song or two.

Taking your kids to see a Disney movie is an activity you do to entertain your kids. I don't understand how doing that causes you "psychic pain" unless your expectations are extremely out of whack

I love animated movies and I’m over age 10. I don’t even remember any of the songs from Moana. But there are many beloved songs from other Disney and non-Disney movies.
Let it go
Beauty and the Beast
Rainbow connection
Aladdin

Maybe watch Moana again? I think it would be hard to argue that You're Welcome and How Far I'll Go are not in the same category as those others

The reprise of How Far I'll Go is right up there for me in the absolute best disney songs of all time. I would not put You're Welcome there but more like, Under the Sea etc, strong secondary songs.

I listened to both of these songs - they just don't move me. They're entertaining but they're not songs I would play over and over again, or sing, or want to learn to play on an instrument.

DP. But the songs from Beauty and the Beast move you and you play those over and over again? I mean, perhaps you just gravitate to the older Disney stuff because there's nothing remarkable about most of the older songs.

They do, and when the movie was out, I could play them over and over again. I also have the sheet music for songs from Beauty and the Beast. Several songs were nominated for Oscars and the theme song did win. So a few people thought the music from Beauty and Beast was remarkable.

Um, do you know how popular the Encanto soundtrack is? An Encanto song is absolutely going to win an Oscar. Not sure if Bruno or another one, but the soundtrack is like 5 on the Billboard Top 100 right now. More popular than Let It Go.

Dos Oruguitos is the song that Disney put forth for the Oscar shortlist. They only pushed one song so they wouldn’t dilute the vote, and it was well before Bruno and the others exploded in popularity.

Yup. And there's a bunch of big name contenders this year on the shortlist, like Beyonce, Jay-Z, Billie Eilish, Jennifer Hudson, Ariana Grande, U2...

https://deadline.com/2021/12/oscars-original-song-shortlist-beyonce-jay-z-u2-jennifer-hudson-list-1234900326/

Ok well maybe it won't win the Oscar but "a few people" definitely think the music is remarkable, since it's topping all the charts right now and is on the Oscar shortlist

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Broadway music for the NPR set - haha. yes!

I also hate musicals and yet watched Hamilton and still don't like musicals. I also felt "yelled at"!

But Moana was the worst of the worst - I literally was groaning in psychic pain in the movie theater.

I think maybe the problem is that ppl expect waaaay too much from children's movies? They are movies for children...it's not going to be Citizen Kane. The best you are going to get is a couple of winking jokes aimed at the parents and maybe a catchy song or two.

Taking your kids to see a Disney movie is an activity you do to entertain your kids. I don't understand how doing that causes you "psychic pain" unless your expectations are extremely out of whack

I love animated movies and I’m over age 10. I don’t even remember any of the songs from Moana. But there are many beloved songs from other Disney and non-Disney movies.
Let it go
Beauty and the Beast
Rainbow connection
Aladdin

Maybe watch Moana again? I think it would be hard to argue that You're Welcome and How Far I'll Go are not in the same category as those others

The reprise of How Far I'll Go is right up there for me in the absolute best disney songs of all time. I would not put You're Welcome there but more like, Under the Sea etc, strong secondary songs.

I listened to both of these songs - they just don't move me. They're entertaining but they're not songs I would play over and over again, or sing, or want to learn to play on an instrument.

DP. But the songs from Beauty and the Beast move you and you play those over and over again? I mean, perhaps you just gravitate to the older Disney stuff because there's nothing remarkable about most of the older songs.

They do, and when the movie was out, I could play them over and over again. I also have the sheet music for songs from Beauty and the Beast. Several songs were nominated for Oscars and the theme song did win. So a few people thought the music from Beauty and Beast was remarkable.

Um, do you know how popular the Encanto soundtrack is? An Encanto song is absolutely going to win an Oscar. Not sure if Bruno or another one, but the soundtrack is like 5 on the Billboard Top 100 right now. More popular than Let It Go.

Dos Oruguitos is the song that Disney put forth for the Oscar shortlist. They only pushed one song so they wouldn’t dilute the vote, and it was well before Bruno and the others exploded in popularity.

Yup. And there's a bunch of big name contenders this year on the shortlist, like Beyonce, Jay-Z, Billie Eilish, Jennifer Hudson, Ariana Grande, U2...

https://deadline.com/2021/12/oscars-original-song-shortlist-beyonce-jay-z-u2-jennifer-hudson-list-1234900326/

Ok well maybe it won't win the Oscar but "a few people" definitely think the music is remarkable, since it's topping all the charts right now and is on the Oscar shortlist

I just listened to Dos Oruguitos. Pretty song but it’s not a standout for me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes. Only you.

Ha. No, OP. It isn't only you. Many people agree with you, they're just shouted down by the Hamilton-heads who can't bear any criticism.

I was also underwhelmed by Hamilton. Among other things it totally fails the Bechdel test.

I did not know LMM wrote that Bruno song - but when I heard it for the first time this weekend I found it really boring. I thought In The Heights was ok?

I don't object to anyone finding him a genius, or inspiring, or anything at all - and clearly he is very successful and moves a lot of people. I guess I'm just the turd in the punch bowl (again!).

[Anonymous]

I’ve know Lin since I was 5 and his “schtick” isn’t an act. He is a super nice guy whose closest friends are ones he made in elementary school who are anything but cool celebrities. He was pretty popular at our artsy HS and was always nice to everyone even when most popular kids weren’t necessarily. He is obsessed with his wife and will never have a real me too problem. He is a guy who always gives credit to the people who helped him along the way (our teachers Ms Ames, Dr Herbert, etc ) and I think remains genuinely astonished that his life has worked out as it has. Whether you love his music or not, attacks on his personality as being fake or whatever, or suggestions that he got actually me tooed, are really off the mark.