There’s nothing ‘shallow’ about it
Lady Gaga at the premiere of ‘A Star Is Born’ in London (Photo by Vianney Le Caer/Invision/AP)
There’s nothing ‘shallow’ about it.
Bradley Cooper’s latest reiteration of A Star is Born is an undeniable hit, grossing over $325 million worldwide as of this writing. Many of its viewers will likely view the film’s perspective of the modern music industry as the current reality. But while much has been said about what A Star Is Born gets wrong — including the alternate reality in which a rock guitarist is topping the charts — it actually gets quite a bit right. Here are five elements that hit it on the nose:
1. The significance of the live show and music festival
With the collapse of physical sales over the past two decades, streaming has only recently been on the uptick as a source of revenue for labels and artists alike. As a result, touring has become a more important income stream. That dovetails with the renewed popularity of music festivals like Bonnaroo, Coachella and Governors Ball. One could argue that the spontaneity and excitement around a live event is a refreshing human experience in the age of the iPhone. It’s also a way to show off in your Instagram story. In A Star Is Born, both Jackson Maine and Ally are established through their live show — with plenty of iPhones in the crowd to capture it.
2. Going pop no longer means selling out
“Why do you look so good in those jeans? Why’d you come around me with an ass like that?”
While Bradley Cooper’s character mocks the lyrics to “Why Did You Do That?” and criticizes Ally’s use of backup dancers, it’s worth noting that the film doesn’t punish her for going pop — it rewards her with Grammys, magazine covers and worldwide fame. As a culture, we’ve been reckoning if this is even a bad song. No longer is it uncool to get your song on a commercial, or a associated with a major brand. In fact, it’s a boon and a major income stream for new artists. The blurring of genres in 2018 may be thanks to streaming services where you can play any song in the history of music with a click of a button. But even more to the point, A Star Is Born captures the current climate where the artist is seen more as an object of celebrity and spectacle than a vehicle of reflection.
3. It’s all about the female vocal
It’ s no coincidence that the arc of the movie contrasts the downward spiral of a male guitar-driven rocker with the ascendancy of a female pop-driven vocalist. More than ever, we want to hear voices rather than lead instruments. And more than ever, we want those voices to be women— whether it’s Beyonce, Adele, Rihanna, Halsey, Pink, Meghan Trainor or, of course, Lady Gaga. In fact, music executives and pop songwriters alike have told me the significance of using female vocals on demos in order to get it cut. The future is female, at least in pop music.
4. That British A&R guy definitely exists
Rafi Gavron arrives at the Los Angeles premiere of “A Star Is Born (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)
We’ve all seen Hollywood depictions of music executives — whether it’s in Empire or Nashville. But actor Rafi Gavron does a particularly good job at delivering that combination of authentic passion for music, charm, and absolute ruthlessness to succeed. Just like Ally, the audience can’t tell whether he’s a genius or if he’s full of it.
5. We love pop artists with one-name… and that color scheme
Madonna is the new Madonna. In addition to the artists above, there’s Khalid, Khelani, Sia, Robyn, Lorde, Drake, Tyga, Diplo all dominating the charts with a single name. Ally follows that trend perfectly, in addition to the color scheme of her billboard used recently by artists like Charlie Puth and Snail Mail.
Danny Ross is a pop songwriter and producer in Brooklyn. He formed the band Babetown with his wife, Jess. They met on the subway and covered Ryan Adams in the style of Taylor Swift.
