Sounding Off on Cher and the Rest of Pop’s ‘Bottom 20’

I can imagine that Robert Hilburn angered quite a few people, seeing as how the nation’s No. 1 single was No. 1 on his Bottom 20, but that’s generally what happens when someone shines the light on a popular mistake (“Sounds of ‘99: Veritable Turkey Feast,” Dec. 25).

It’s said that you can tell the health of a nation by the way it entertains itself. It’s also said that you can see the state of a nation not through its laws, but by its songs. What does that say for this nation?

I thank Hilburn for taking his job seriously and lightheartedly. It’s refreshing to see someone who assigns responsibility to those in the arts, specifically in music, as the song of a nation is the cry of a nation.

TREVOR THOMPSON

Seven Productions

Thousand Oaks

*

Hilburn doesn’t like pop music. He shouldn’t subject himself to it. Don’t review it. It’s that simple.

Cher’s album “Believe” was the best-selling album on Warner Bros. Records in 1999. And the single is the No. 1 Hot 100 song of 1999 according to Billboard. It is undoubtedly a well-crafted pop song: catchy, quirky, solid vocals from a legendary and deserving performer.

While I agree with Hilburn about the over-singing acrobatics of Christina Aguilera and Jessica Simpson (whose painful throat stretching brings to mind Michael Bolton), it is clear that these songs were again superbly crafted at the core. The same goes for non-singer Jennifer Lopez’s “If You Had My Love,” which sounds like a Brandy or Monica reject. (She is Paula Abdul 2000.) But their songs were memorable ear candy after one listen, like Ricky Martin’s “Livin’ La Vida Loca,” which would have been stamped a novelty tune if it weren’t for the star-making personality of the performer. That is what pop music is for.

Ask a pop music fan to sing memorable choruses from Tom Waits, Rage Against the Machine or Nine Inch Nails and you’ll get a dumbfounded look. Ask them to sing any one of the three huge hits from the current 98 Degrees album and you’ll hear a choir.

Entertainment Weekly got it right by naming Robbie Williams’ “The Ego Has Landed” as the best album of 1999. Hilburn, however, remains clueless.

JEROME JOSEPH

Los Angeles

*

I have been reading Hilburn’s reviews for well over a decade, and although I don’t always agree with his opinion, I must say that his column was without a doubt the most entertaining and likely the most well-written column of his career.

MICKY SCHUMAN

Beverly Hills

*

Once again, Hilburn totally missed it! My wife and I may not know much about mambo or music criticism, but when Lou Bega’s album is playing, we just can’t sit still!

JOE ENGELHARDT

Hermosa Beach

*

Cher was responsible for “Half-Breed” and “Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves.” To all of a sudden expect her to be a musical visionary makes Hilburn look rather foolish. He should save his venom for some of the those oh-so-serious recording “artists” that he constantly fawns over and leave Cher alone.

I could be wrong, but I bet Eminem won’t be spending 10 months on the pop chart at 53.

JERRY JAEGER

Los Angeles