Again, probably the biggest "chicken or egg" argument in the songwriting world. Everybody hears stuff they just don't get and say "How did that crap get on there?" And everyone has songs, artists,musicians, labels, publishers that they just KNOW are perfect but never seem to "get a break."

It's been that way since the beginning of music, particularly recorded music. There are many one hit wonders, actually that is more prevalant with people who are long careers. There are songs that should have never even gotten close but take over the charts for a while. What is the Marcarena?

But the bottom line is Hey, it worked with the only people that matter, the people that buy the records. And contrary to popular belief, record companies just don't sit around and say "Hey let's put out the biggest piece of crap we can and see how we can fool people." When your reputation, financial livelihood and security of your families are on the line, a lot goes into those decisions.

And in this day of You Tube videos, there is more of an fan base element to it.

A friend of mine wrote a song called "I Pray for You." which breaks about every rule of modern songwriting. It talks bad bout a woman, really piles on the insults. "I pray your plane crashes...a pot hits you on the head..." etc. Man, pretty insulting.

But they did a You Tube video, it started out getting hits and the next thing you know it is number 34 on the charts. A major producer hears it, signs it to his record company, RESHOOTS the video with a hollywood hottie actree, Jamie Priestly and they shoot it up to about number 10.

You can never figure it out. Conversely, several songs you hear on the radio, (again I am talking primarily country here) will have been written up to 8-10 years before. Mac Macanally had a number one Kenny Chesney song that he had done as an artist 21 years before.

Music by committee. Don't try to figure it out.

MAB