I was listening to NPR on my way home yesterday (yes since there is no music worth listening to on the radio any more I nerdily am usually listening to NPR these days) they were doing a bit about “classic summer jams” and discussing what were this year’s big summer hits. An amazing fact was uttered within the story: The Black Eyed Peas have just broken a record for having the longest successive stay at the number 1 spot on the us Billboard Hot 100 singles chart by a duo or group by spending 17 straight weeks, the first 12 with their song “Boom Boom Pow” and then taken over by another of their annoying dittys “I gotta Feeling” (btw the record is now still building at 20 weeks). This record broke the 16 week record set by Boyz II Men first in 1994 then in 1995/96. Now I am guessing you remember those songs (hint “Motown Philly” and “End of the Road” I think) but I would almost guarantee that NONE of you could hum 2 seconds of these 2 Peas songs if I put you on the spot. The Black Eyed Peas are one of the greatest mysteries that typifies modern pop music. I don’t think anyone actually likes this group, yet they sell like crazy for some reason. The people on NPR were basically talking about this very fact and had the theory that they “annoy their way to the top.” They make a song that just annoys the crap out of you right away, but then you are forced to hear it over and over again, not by traditional means like on the radio, or in a club, but by selling it to a commercial for TV that can not be avoided. The next thing you know even the most hardened of music lovers find themselves humming these stupid tunes and BAM they are breaking Billboard records.

The thing about this group is that they are not un-talented. In fact, to be honest the first BEP album is kind of good, like a watered down Tribe called quest record released a few years late. This was before they figured out the modern formula to make money. Just look the part (this is a must now days), and annoy people enough until they think they like you. Take a quick look back at all of the “artists” of the past decade who have made it big and you’ll find that is the thing they all have in common. Think of how annoying these people are: Brittney, Pink, Kanye, Lil’ Jon (or pretty much any rapper with the prename Lil’) Lady Gaga, Timberlake (secret, I kind of like that guy a bit). Even Emenem basically mastered being as annoying as possible. So much so he had to take half of the decade off just to have a break from himself, and I consider him good.

Anyway what came out of this conversation on NPR is that there isn’t a “summer jam” from this summer despite this record breaking achievement from BEP. In fact the last “summer jam” they could come up with was “Umbrella” by Ryanna which was from 2007, 2 years ago! I actually feel you have to go back another year for a true banging “summer jam” with Gnarls Barkley’s “Crazy”. That, I admit was a good track. In actuality, the “summer jam’s” from this summer have pretty much all been Michael Jackson songs which have been out selling anything else once again. I consider his death, the end of the true vurtuoso music star. But more on that later…