and all crap. Well, let's be fair - all decent, well made, efficient karaoke covers of great songs.

A bit like SuBo really.

Today's generation thinks photocopies are as good as originals. They don't know what passion, originality or interpretation are. In life as in music.

When a 20 year old friend of mine says he loves someone, he means he quite likes them.

They don't know what love is. I blame Michael Jackson, always saying "I love you all" when he meant "I quite like you all for buying my records".

The collapse of the species has been a rise in superficiality.

I blame Bob Geldof.

I had the misfortune to hear the version of "Its My Life" whilst channel hopping on Sunday. Thought it was poorly mimed and sounded just as bad. Its like those awful "Top Hits" compilations of the seventies. Glee?? No Flee!!!!

JK these songs you slate are much better than yours so each to their own.
I would rather people show love even on a superficial level than the bile
and hatred you seem to direct at Geldof. Get over it. You may question his
motives but at least the starving who were blessed as a result of his efforts
won't be complaining. Thank God for small mercies.

I don't question his motives; I question the results, especially the low quality of the music which is why I object to Glee; slick, professional and soulless.

I like GLEE.

The reason is this :

The music is part of a TV Show - each song forwards the story and/or characters. The dance routines for these karaoke versions are also part of the "song" experience.

Therefore I can understand why kids are buying this stuff. It has big hits that mean something. You cant really get much better than that with music !!

I love original work and I love passionate work - but that is now the preserve of a tiny minority playing in the back rooms of pubs and clubs and rarely does it cross over into the mainstream like it did in the 60s - 90s.

GLEE will at least make kids interested in performance and music and dance - by doing that many kids will have a better life. I see it as 2010 FAME series - though being on E4 it does not have the reach.

Last night;s epi was very good and very clever. The songs were all average - but it was great TV and entertaining and had a good message.

I agree ST BOB has done little musically since the RATS greatest hits - but I suppose he is trying to make a difference. We can all try in our own ways to make a difference. For some of us like ST BOB he is noticed - for most it goes unsung. At least he is trying - whatever his motives. Though I wish he would tell it AS IT IS - like he used to instead of cosying up to politiicians these days........

The ultimate Glee example is Somebody To Love - a nearly perfect pop record by Queen; absolutely stunning delivery and sound but, most of all, every note highly original and clever. The Glee karaoke version is flat, dull and adds nothing whilst subtracting everything.

But... it's a great song, so even an ordinary interpretation (like SuBo) sells to those millions who have never heard the original.

Which is sad because it occupies space and exposure and takes that away from creative new musicians.

are you saying cover versions if they just ape the original are not worth doing e?

Some of the GLEE covers I prefer to the originals. But others I dont. It probably is a matter of taste.

In another 30 years most of the great "canon" of Rock/Pop Music will HAVE to be done by covers bands and singers - because the singers of the originals are now dying on a daily basis. Those songs deserve to have new life breathed into them.

As for new music.......sad to say ( and I work mainly in new music ) .....there is virtually nothing exciting around at the moment. Good bands yes - but mainly sounding "Like" someone else. Originality is very thin on the ground. Perhaps it has all been done.....