VIEWER REACTIONS
Re: Kenny Rogers Review
Date: Sun, 19 Jul 1998 11:53:28 -0400 (EDT)
From: Seth Rogovoy
To:Mixer5000@aol.com
Subject:Re: Kenny Rogers Review
Anthony: I don't know if you meant your questions rhetorically or not. I
assume you really were seeking an answer from me. All I can say is I don't
consider what I wrote to be "nasty" or "disrespectful" at all. I consider
it to be accurate given what I heard and observed that night. That's all
my review was -- a report on one night with Kenny Rogers. It's not part of
my job description to make excuses for the performers. If he had
apologized to the audience for not feeling well or having a cold or some
such, I certainly would have reported that, as it might have gone some way
to explain what I heard.
As for Rogers having sold 90 million records being some sort of indication
of his talent, I beg to differ. Just because McDonalds has sold 90 billion
hamburgers, does that mean that their cuisine is the best in the world?
No, of course not. It means they are the best at selling hamburgers.
Having a talent for selling something is different from having a talent
for music, or cooking, as the case may be.
Look at the number one song on the pop charts this week, whatever it is (I
have no idea what it is). Is that the BEST song in the country today? No.
of course not. It's the one with the most combined sales and airplay. How
did it get the most sales and airplay? A combination of factors, not
limited to heavy record company marketing and promotion to radio stations,
perhaps a little payola on the side, perhaps not, probably a good video on
MTV which has nothign to do with how good the song is, and a host of other
intangibles.
It's my job as a critic to cut through all the marketing and hype to get
at the essence of the music and performance. That is what I attempt to do
in my reviews. If in the end, you disagree with my conclusions, of course
that is not only your right, it is your duty, and I certainly have the
utmost respect for your opinion and appreciate your taking the time to
respond to mine. While you're at it, why not tell me what you LIKE about
Kenny Rogers, aside from the fact that he has sold 90 million records?
Respectfully yours,
Seth Rogovoy
rogovoy@berkshire.net
http://www.berkshireweb.com/rogovoy
music news, interviews, reviews, et al.
