I may end up losing that bet...
So about a year and a half ago while I was still at VWR we had a vendor appreciation day at Dave & Buster's in Aurora. Open bar, lots of food, did I mention open bar? All the sales reps within driving distance came out, management, vendor reps, etc. So it's a party. We're all bouncing around networking and laughing and having a great ol' time. Then I wander into the middle of a conversation my boss was having with several of my peers. He's a really nice guy....just has some preposterously suspect musical tastes. Addicted to the "idol" shows and a huge Kelly Clarkson fan. So he knows I have some....opinions about music and asks what I think. So I unleash (why you ask? check that second sentence again) and by the end of it we have a bet for $100, witnessed by several people and sealed with a handshake that in 10 years Kelly Clarkson will (or won't) still have a viable music career.
Up until a few minutes ago I was confident that in September 2014 I would collect. Was just surfing channels on my lunch break and hit a music channel just as a Kelly Clarkson video was ending - saw the composer credits. Maida/Kreviazuk/Martin/Clarkson. So the first two are pretty obvious, as is the last one. They're concerning in and of themselves, but the third one is TRULY troubling. Max Martin. Max fucking Martin. Max "Hit me Baby, One more time" Martin. So I hit the eeeeeeeenternet. Turns out Ben Moody and Dave Hodges (evanescence) also had composer credits on this album. I don't know why I didn't see this angle in advance. For some reason I assumed that record labels are content to let no-name nobodies write canned formula pop and as a result, guarantee a relatively short halflife. Not the case. How long did Brit last? One more time dropped in...what...'98? it's '06 now? Fuck. I hope he doesn't remember....
Up until a few minutes ago I was confident that in September 2014 I would collect. Was just surfing channels on my lunch break and hit a music channel just as a Kelly Clarkson video was ending - saw the composer credits. Maida/Kreviazuk/Martin/Clarkson. So the first two are pretty obvious, as is the last one. They're concerning in and of themselves, but the third one is TRULY troubling. Max Martin. Max fucking Martin. Max "Hit me Baby, One more time" Martin. So I hit the eeeeeeeenternet. Turns out Ben Moody and Dave Hodges (evanescence) also had composer credits on this album. I don't know why I didn't see this angle in advance. For some reason I assumed that record labels are content to let no-name nobodies write canned formula pop and as a result, guarantee a relatively short halflife. Not the case. How long did Brit last? One more time dropped in...what...'98? it's '06 now? Fuck. I hope he doesn't remember....