i can't say shit about jack because he produced NFR and i am forever thankful to him for that i think that record was the crown jewel of his career and his production style fit sooo well. also the peak of lanas songwriting
@@WrangleMcDangle she makes songs about domestic abuse, suicide, parental issues, and alcoholism. most of the female artists who get criticized for only writing about men are some of the most diverse artists to roam the earth.
Something that largely bothered me with the anti-Jack argument is how much agency it takes away from female artists. Lorde put it pretty well in the interview you pulled from in the video that there are plenty of well-documented instances where artists have said "No" to elements Jack has suggested during the recording process and he was receptive towards it. I mean, to address the elephant in the room, we all know the music industry has never been the most accommodating to female artists in a number of ways, so I can completely understand the appeal of working with a producer who's well-known for not being driven by personal artistic ego or predatory instinct. (I remember this also being the case for Troye Sivan when they briefly worked together, sharing how he never felt threatened as a queer person by overtly "masculine" energy that other producers would exude by taking the steering wheel)
Since you used the Lorde example, I'm pretty sure that regardless of what Lorde felt at the time, she isn't going to criticise her producer's production and writing work in the 1-2 weeks immediately before the album release.
They already don't have agency by hiring a producer. There's only a handful of people that play, write, and engineer. Nothing against women but there's not a lot that do everything. I can name many dudes.
this reminds me of when Ariana Grande released Sweetener and everyone was hating on Pharrell Williams for "ruining the album". i have to say, it also took me a few listens before they grew in me. maybe that's the same with jack's work. maybe it will age like wine.
That's interesting. I remember people saying that Max Martin ruined Taylor Swift's music. Actual fans said this just because she wasn't making country music anymore. I've never understood why fans complain whenever artists tries new things or work with new producers. I can be a huge fan of someone without liking every single thing they do. Making the same music over and over is boring.
Jack has saved pop… he brings artistry and commerciality together in a very cool way. Genius:))) Every artist he works with retains their own style and individuality. Probably the best producer in pop at the moment. Just go listen to his work.
Of course she is great - but that doesn't mean that Jack isn't as well - especially when he is playing with his band, The Bleachers, - his music makes me happy.@@alexjenner1108
@@alexjenner1108i agree with you. people assume that is a genius ( and of course he is, good for him), but only focusing on his works that year after year has become similar to each other. I discovered a lot of artist who also produced their own songs, also I appreciate that someone listens to Caroline, she’s so interesting for combining pop and art at the same time!
on the one hand, Melodrama and Reputation... on the other hand, Norman F. Rockwell and Chemtrails. Productions by the same guy, divine works. Versatility and a lot of talent.
I really like him since fun. I love all of their songs. Sadly the band broke up, but I'm so happy that he's a prolific producer now. He's just so talented!
i thought solar power and sling were really great and midnights was not - that does seems to reinforce the point about it being the artists fault. i think its also been hard to listen to midnights being kinda mediocre on the back of how truly great folklore and evermore were also, him having even the most minute of effects on melodrama makes him largely immune to criticism in my book
@@CLFL1995 I disagree as the songs still hold their own individually and are distinctly different. Taylor is more focused on the storytelling in the lyrics and less on the actual production piece so she sticks to a formula that has worked and continues to work for the sound of her music. As the creator said, this is a Taylor style thing and not a producer issue. He’s helping create what she wants to create. I don’t know anything about Lana Del Ray.
@@CLFL1995it does sound similar to lover because you know why..? JACK PRODUCED HALF OF IT. you can not tell me that you geniunely don't like any of the production in atw 10m, call it what you want, cruel summer, august, maroon, the archer, daylight, dress... i could go on
I saw this argument brewing up on twitter as well- I’m a huge fan of sling and honestly I think the production is intricate and pretty genius. I agree with your opinion of blaming the artist. Taylor’s album especially I think really exposes that the the root of the problem is the artist writing and not Jack being a shit producer. I also think his production on Taylor’s album also says a lot about the current standard of mainstream pop writing but that’s a story for another day I don’t usually leave UA-cam comments but I find this topic intriguing 🤣
keeping aside of who takes the blame, I think artists should take the fan's opinion into consideration that they are beginning to sound the same and work on it (I don't want to come off entitled) .I have been a big taylor+jack music fan but midnights production seemed veryyy similar to their prev albums.
Some people don’t understand the music artist and the producer relationship. He supports the artists. And he only works with all female artists. And he doesn’t control the album at all. The artist has full control. He is also my cousin lmao
He's also strikingly humble and constantly extolls the genius of the artists he works with. I guess you could dislike his style, but it's bizarre to claim he's "doing" anything that any other producer/artist isn't.
love the work both here and on tik tok man. my comment before watching the video in full is that Jack has made some of my favorite albums ever in NFR and Melodrama. I love his work with Taylor too. However I also think some of his other work have been duds (not that they’re “bad songs”)… solar power and sling didn’t hit for me but I understand that it was lorde and claire’s choice to go that direction so I can’t even be mad.
Well, the workflow isn’t always "artist writes, producer polishes a turd." Often, the writing process is collaborative, and a good producer will tell an artist when a song isn’t working - that honesty is part of why artists trust their expertise. That said, I think the dissatisfaction with Jack Antonoff reflects the broader issue of how the public often lacks the vocabulary to explain why they feel a certain way about something. Antonoff is undeniably an iconic producer with a signature sound - likely the very reason artists seek him out. A good comparison would be Mutt Lange, whose productions are instantly recognizable for their layered vocal harmonies. The issue arises when too many artists work with the same iconic producer in a short period. It’s not that Antonoff’s sound is bad - far from it -, but even brilliance can feel inescapable when it saturates the market. Brings to mind how Timbaland's sound defined the late 2000s, but it became so ubiquitous that people grew fatigued. Similarly, each artist Antonoff works with may be thrilled with the result, but from a listener’s perspective, his musical DNA across multiple albums and artists can feel overwhelming.
@@WrangleMcDangle if it ain’t broke don’t fix it. all of those things make my eardrum tingle he’s the best pop producer she ever worked with Max Martin washed her vocals out & Christopher Rowe ruined her best pop songs
Loser talk. Your ears tingle when you hear over-produced slop because you haven't listened to enough music to know what to compare it to. Blaming everyone for her bad music except for her is hilarious because at that point whose music is it? It's certainly not hers.@@leathebarbie
1:35 The problem here is when the artist is working on an album with the producer, the artist has no idea if the producer is using very similar production or songwriting with another artist, perhaps even something that critics will call plagiarism. Then they might only find out after the album has been sent to mixing, mastering and vinyl production. Then there is no turning back, the artist is *not* in charge, because the producer knows that they are using the same writing/production with two different artists, but the artist doesn't know until it is too late.
sure you can blame the artists hiring him but this doesn't really refute the argument that his working on so much stuff is having an effect on pop that's making it sound kind of 'samey'
taste varies. i have been fans of several artists through their entire career spans, and i cannot listen to the bore of their Antonoff-produced albums. i don't even know he's produced them, i just *don't like the new stuff* and it happens to continuously be... him. but it's true that mainstream society's tastes are vanilla, so, maybe you have a point! the people don't want quirky sounds. they want easy listening, catchy beats, and the occasional horn.
he’s literally a musical genius. Bleachers is an insane band with a unique sound, all albums jack worked on were incredible. Pop finally has taste thx to him
i mean ... How can people hate on him but always put the artists he produces on top of charts? it's not like Taylor or Lana weren't the queen of the music industry, yk ...
"but always put the artists he produces on top of charts" simple: stupid masses will listen to any pop shit, people with taste hate him (and the artists he works with)
It shows their misogyny when they make those comments. Lit y’all think he takes over the production and these women don’t get involved in their music. Basically saying they are women so they don’t do anything and let the man do the work. 🙃🙃🙃
In actual fact, Jack Antonoff gets all the praise and the women do not. When the critics like the album, e.g. Melodrama, they still write something like "Jack Antonoff is still writing Jack Antonoff songs-they just happen to be sung by people like Lorde now" (one publication actually wrote those exact words). But when Melodrama was nominated for a Grammy the Grammys said "The women need to step up". When the critics didn't like the album, Jack still wins producer of the year. That is the real misogyny.
Jack antonoff is ny favourite music person ever, bleachers is my fave band and without even knowing taylor swift had anything to do with him when my gf put on anti hero i was like 'daym this sounds like a bleachers song i like it' , he is a legend. There is not a single bleachers song i do not like
i honestly didn't know who jack antonoff is not until i listened to the bleachers by accident. i started looking at his background after that. i say the dude's got great sense
songwriter here! as a woman that has brought her own work into the studio and worked with producers and recording engineers that are men, jack antonoff has got to have something special in the way that he moves around the studio, also in his working with laura sisk. of course he’s got his particular sound, as so many artists do, but to undermine the work that these songwriters have put into their records feels mysogynistic and disrespectful. their music is enjoyed by a lot of people; i’d say that, if it doesn’t appeal to you, simply don’t listen to their music! there’s plenty of other artists out there
i think you didnt watch the video, lana did herself dirty... artists always greenlight the final product, he wouldnt have produced it that way if lana didnt want him to
Who ever had to turn nothing into a record with an artist will know... The endresult is just not as important as the process. Those top tier artists live livestyles that most of us simply cannot imagine. Now imagine, having to get them to a place where they can feel vulnerable and detached from their usual hustle. That alone is an artform. Now, writing something that they deem worthy of showing to millions of people? Phew... That takes patience and confidence from everyone involved. So, blaming the producer is just short sighted and naive. People need scapegoats I guess, and instead of blaming their beloved artists, the producer will have to make do. Jack is a good producer. You can hear how he makes the process of production fun for the artists.
he’s talented AF. I don’t love everything he does, but he’s good also, the artist is not in charge. The songs are written by a songwriting team and crafted by him. The artist just does what he tells them to do. Also the record label chooses the producer.
I adore Jack Antonoff. His three bands, Steel Train, Fun, & Red Hearse as well as his solo work and collaborations with insane amounts of artists from all genres.
Excellent run down. Anyone bashing Jack most likely never had a genuine creative thought in their life. Like him or not .. he is worthy of a high level of respect.
I hate Bleacher’s music, but his production is actually really good. I will say however, there are some cases that diverge from what you’re saying. I watched a video of him going thru the recording and production of a Sabrina carpenter song, and the instrumentation and main writing of the music, minus the vocals and lyrics, is 99% jack. He’s a very hands on producer, and I think there are many artists who he basically becomes “the band”. But on the flip side, the 1975 are meticulous about writing everything down to every little detail. Also, some labels will absolutely pick a producer for an up and coming artist, and the artist does not have a ton of say in the process. Has this happened with Jack? Most likely not, or not intentionally I do not believe, but I would expect a few criticisms from the artists maybe a decade down the road.
I’m not a jack fan or hater, i don’t really listen to much pop in general these days because so much of it does nothing for me. But a producer having a sound is super important. Everyone saying that all the songs he does sound the same are just trying to pick on someone thats more successful than them.
One thing you don’t mention is that Jack may be very skilled (manipulative) at insinuating his ideas. Clearly he has exceptional social skills (a million artists work with him and say nice things about him). However he may also be so manipulative that he insinuates his ideas so well with such excellent social skills that the artists walk away thinking, “oh, Jack’s great, such a great collaborator.” Meanwhile, their music was sullied because it got Antonoff-ed. I don’t know. All I know is I’ve never heard anything by Jack Antonoff (as artist or producer) I like. All I know is one of my favorite artists, Annie Clark (St. Vincent), had 2 albums in a row that were bland, derivative, formulaic disappointments. Common denominator? You guessed it: Jack Antonoff.
I think almost everyone agrees that 'Strange Mercy' and her self titled album 'St. Vincent', were her best. I also liked quite a lot of Masseduction, but most of Jacks 2020s album work hasn't been at the same high standard as the work he did in the 2010s.
What is often left out of this conversation unfairly, is that Jack Antonoff is apparently not a creep and doesn't have any creepy or aggressive or hypercritically misogynistic friends/employees, to the extent that all these female artists enjoy working with him. Helps that his main sound engineer is female. It's a safe studio to work in - not something that can be said about all, or that many, places.
Pop music died in the 80s. This is not production, it's called MARKETING SCHTICK. Swift does not sing songs, they are canned loops. Designer, boutique music producers are a thing now. Like wearing a Gucci suit or carrying a Prada handbag. Meh
I mean, maybe he doesn’t work with some artists that well (in my opinion he doesn’t really work well with Taylor Swift) but he works super well with other artists like Lana Del Rey (NFR and Ocean Blvd are masterpieces). Sometimes we’ve just gotta accept that producers don’t work well with all the artists they work with and they’re better and some things than others.
that's the thing abt artist coming in with "trash songs" for him... he cowrites almost everything he produces. I don't hate him as a producer I despise him as a songwriter
like tell me that Taylor wrote that gaudy theatrical "ask me why so many stay but I'm still here" choral line from midnights? nah it has his stank all over it this is pop music not musical theatre jack
again, taylor had to like and approve it. co-writing credits are kinda loose in that if you were in the room and contributed even just a lyric or two, you’re getting that credit. just because he has that credit does not mean the song’s concept is his by any means. if you want the best data point for jack’s songwriting style, i’d look to Bleachers or even fun.
@@roachkingprod horrible take IMO. it's Taylor's song therefore she gets the final say. speculating which lyrics he contributed is irrelevant when at the end of the day she chose to record them and release them. diverting blame is dumb.. especially when you have NO idea if he even wrote a single lyric in that song. he has even said a lot of his work with Taylor is sending her a track for her to write the lyrics to. most of his co-writing contributions are musical, not lyrical. he has been open about this being the case on most records he's worked on
@@countingcrows123 I think I’ve studied both of their music long enough to tell when he brings his unnecessarily theatric writing into the mix, but you actually might know more than me tbh, u know with his boot being in ur mouth and all
@@roachkingprod Taylor also wrote "but I'll come back stronger than a 90s trend" and that wasn't touched by Jack Antonoff at all. Taylor is the more gaudy one lmao.
There’s something about him I don’t like. Some of his songs are hit or miss but I get this vibe his agenda is to be a famous singer as the ultimate goal.
i dig where you're coming from here, but its quite a bit more nuanced than that in the producer/artist relationship...especially when a label is involved. there is a ton of push and pull that the 'business' puts out toward an artist and the recording contract matters a TON in the recording process...there can be clauses forcing a musician to choose from a list of 'approved' producers...so read before you sign if you sign...which is where i completely agree with you: the onus absolutely falls on the artist from that starting point 100%. and many times a producer is considered more important than the artist themselves (by the label i mean [which is frustrating garrrrbage as an aside] and can actually be a clause in a contract!). i hope that the artists have the fortitude to make their voices heard in the studio; which, again, really depends on nuances of personality...the stronger personality amongst all sides tends to win out...and that pesky contract sometimes does as well. That being said...i personally don't have any issue with Jack Antanoff...he seems like a nice dude who's carved out a niche for himself that a lot of people really enjoy. so good on him! also, perfect video title here! nicely done to you as well!
I think people are taking away from pop artists. Jack Antonoff is not a producer you want to let run the show without input. Melodrama is a masterpiece and we already know that lorde is a talent, but let’s not blame jack for the fact that Taylor refuses to even self-edit her most recent work. 1989 was her most sonically cohesive album produced by Max Martin, and she explicitly said she didn’t want to work with him because he had to much input. Taylor works with people who allow her control these days, and is probably the best indicator that Jack is not running the show. I loved Ariana’s recent album which was produced by Max Martin, and she said she appreciates his insistence that certain things be sung a certain way.
I really am an outsider looking in here. I truly can't stand pop music. It just always sounds so overly glossy and bland. I can't really tell one female artist from another. Yup, I can't. There's just no guts to the music. It all sounds soft and squishy too me. That's fine if that's what you like but I much prefer music that has some "dead rats" in it. Yeah, I'm a rock guy. I also own a small recording studio and try my best to make sure that every song that I do has some fire in it. Even If I'm doing stuff with a lot of synths and no much guitar. I can't say anything negative about Jack's production style as I really can't tell it for m any other pop producer. The only time I ever hear pop is when I'm in a mall shopping with my wife. Give me a band like, say, "Dirty honey" over pop any time of the day. They at least do something that pop doesn't really ever seem to do. They kick ass! Sorry if you don't like my opinions but hey, go ahead and love whatever music you want to. Nothing wrong with that at all. Cheers!
You can tell a JA song right away when you here them 16th notes pounding away 😂 no shade, just great production on his part leaving a signature mark on any artist he’s produced
Same. I literally found this video bc I was looking to see if anyone felt the same. I don’t understand how he gets work. He’s ruined every artist he’s worked with, especially Lana Del Rey.
He was a main producer and helped write NFR’s album by Lana Del Rey, so whatever bullshit he has made with other artists, I can forgive because he helped with that masterpiece of an album. ❤️😂
I disagree with you about blaming the artist for the sound, instead of Antonoff. Obviously, if the artist likes it this way, they gonna choose it and the end call is theirs to make (at least it should be). However, Antonoff's signature style of producing is proven to be effective streams and money-wise (Taylor is the best example here). I really wish you would go into details of his production though, because this is where my criticism for Antonoff begins. His production is, for lack of the better word, gutless. And it covers pretty good field of pop music and that is the real problem. Of course, if someone is like "he ruins pop music, cause he's working with women and demands from them to sound that way", that is the stupid argument and no one should make it. But I do think his production is plenty of times just unengaging and bland (again, for me, but also for many more people) and I wish you'd dive into that more. Cause I really wanna like his works, but there's a certain limit to it every time. Thanks for the video 🙏🏻
@@sergescardigno obviously there’s no judging objectively in music, but a good producer will no be shy to throw stuff out if it sucks, and you can take “sucks” to mean doesn’t get closer to what their vision is. I think people underestimate how much influence a producer has, although it varies of course, and Jack works with people who write their own stuff so it’s not his case I think, but in some cases the true party with a destination in mind is the producer. Fwiw I’m a mix engineer and just randomly stumbled upon this video and don’t take any sides in this, kind of interesting to see how music listeners see the world of recording and making records. I love Lana and Jack and Taylor and don’t understand why anyone’s fighting lol
Samething happens everywhere, once someone or something gets popular. It becomes trendy to hate. I guarantee you most of them just jumped on the bandwagon. They don't have any constructive criticism or original thought, just regurgitating trash.
He is a soft spoken, friendly, nostalgic dude, making vintage oriented music. He simply shouldn't work with Lorde or Lana Del Rey. No one wants them to make lazy lulabies. They were the overthought, overproduced queens. And I'm sure they had fun chilling with mister all accoustic, loose and hippies dippie, no vocal booth etc But they lost their place in the culture, because he enables them to be mediocre. That's just it. A producer can push a artist to be better. By making Bangers that they would have to live UP to. That's not what jack does. His influences are not recent artists, he does not care about now or what's next. Rap artists are Always on top of their game because producers are making Beats that push them New places all the Time.
I am his biggggg fan since fun. era.jack is a amazing musician, I am dying to see how his beautiful magnificent brian work. 🛐🛐 I love his style, I literally scream when I realized literally every song I like in recent year almost produced or co created by him. this dude magnificent🛐🛐 let's me kiss you brian jack
He wrote and produced changes by Brooke candy and that song is my all time favourite, but I must say some of his produced songs sound the same i.e taylor New Year’s Day and ovlivia Rodrigues one step forward
@@Moonsong_ it does tho... i saw a lot of swifties omplaining ab him aswell.. even if he didnt, taylor prob knows that jack does this specific sound really well and asks him to do it, because she likes it. He can do other stuff as well lmfao, he produced like half of reputation and out of the woods
He produced melodrama so every argument against him is invalid
based
mf produced Norman fucking Rockwell dude !!!
@@sergescardigno shit on
And NFR
He also did Solar Power so...
i can't say shit about jack because he produced NFR and i am forever thankful to him for that
i think that record was the crown jewel of his career and his production style fit sooo well. also the peak of lanas songwriting
W take
peak of lana songwriting? you mean making songs about boys and mountain dew? she's a hack lol
@@WrangleMcDangle she makes songs about domestic abuse, suicide, parental issues, and alcoholism. most of the female artists who get criticized for only writing about men are some of the most diverse artists to roam the earth.
@@HeelerHouse thank you!!!
@@HeelerHouse and somehow she manages to make them all sound the same lol
Something that largely bothered me with the anti-Jack argument is how much agency it takes away from female artists. Lorde put it pretty well in the interview you pulled from in the video that there are plenty of well-documented instances where artists have said "No" to elements Jack has suggested during the recording process and he was receptive towards it.
I mean, to address the elephant in the room, we all know the music industry has never been the most accommodating to female artists in a number of ways, so I can completely understand the appeal of working with a producer who's well-known for not being driven by personal artistic ego or predatory instinct.
(I remember this also being the case for Troye Sivan when they briefly worked together, sharing how he never felt threatened as a queer person by overtly "masculine" energy that other producers would exude by taking the steering wheel)
well-said, like most twitter debates, i think a lot of it could have been phrased much better
Reverse misogyny?
Since you used the Lorde example, I'm pretty sure that regardless of what Lorde felt at the time, she isn't going to criticise her producer's production and writing work in the 1-2 weeks immediately before the album release.
A collection of cliche words….
They already don't have agency by hiring a producer. There's only a handful of people that play, write, and engineer. Nothing against women but there's not a lot that do everything. I can name many dudes.
this reminds me of when Ariana Grande released Sweetener and everyone was hating on Pharrell Williams for "ruining the album". i have to say, it also took me a few listens before they grew in me. maybe that's the same with jack's work. maybe it will age like wine.
context/place in history reveals new insight!
it won't. i promise you.
That's interesting. I remember people saying that Max Martin ruined Taylor Swift's music. Actual fans said this just because she wasn't making country music anymore. I've never understood why fans complain whenever artists tries new things or work with new producers. I can be a huge fan of someone without liking every single thing they do. Making the same music over and over is boring.
It hits me like a white wineeeeee.
@@snowytigermax martin makes artist a pop star so everyone works with him lol
Jack has saved pop… he brings artistry and commerciality together in a very cool way. Genius:))) Every artist he works with retains their own style and individuality. Probably the best producer in pop at the moment. Just go listen to his work.
EXACTLY SOMEONE FINALLY SAID IT
Just go listen to some other albums and you will hear much better, maybe start with 'Desire, I Want to Turn Into You' by Caroline Polachek.
Of course she is great - but that doesn't mean that Jack isn't as well - especially when he is playing with his band, The Bleachers, - his music makes me happy.@@alexjenner1108
@@alexjenner1108 this doesn't negate what the other person said though lol
@@alexjenner1108i agree with you. people assume that is a genius ( and of course he is, good for him), but only focusing on his works that year after year has become similar to each other.
I discovered a lot of artist who also produced their own songs, also I appreciate that someone listens to Caroline, she’s so interesting for combining pop and art at the same time!
on the one hand, Melodrama and Reputation... on the other hand, Norman F. Rockwell and Chemtrails.
Productions by the same guy, divine works.
Versatility and a lot of talent.
Folklore!!!!!!!! (Though I don't think Folklore would be what it is without Aron)
@@graced.6711 i think aaron made most of folklore and evermore
Kendrick Lamar’s whole album
I really like him since fun. I love all of their songs. Sadly the band broke up, but I'm so happy that he's a prolific producer now. He's just so talented!
He's also in bleachers
finally someone with a normal jack opinion
THANK YOU also hey kel love your stuff
I love listening to the Bleachers. their music makes me happy. That's it and sometimes that's all I need because I just wanna get better.
He makes every song sound like the lion king soundtrack
😅
😭😭
Because he reduces to the bare necessities?
(oops ! That's Jungle Book...they all sound alike)
i thought solar power and sling were really great and midnights was not - that does seems to reinforce the point about it being the artists fault. i think its also been hard to listen to midnights being kinda mediocre on the back of how truly great folklore and evermore were
also, him having even the most minute of effects on melodrama makes him largely immune to criticism in my book
all well-said
hard agree
he produced Babe...All Too Well 10...melodrama,NFR?!!!?!,GETAWAY CAR?!,the whole Midnights and they are masterpieces
the whole midnights is the same as taylor's past pop albums and lana's a&w = hard feelings/loveless
@@CLFL1995 I disagree as the songs still hold their own individually and are distinctly different. Taylor is more focused on the storytelling in the lyrics and less on the actual production piece so she sticks to a formula that has worked and continues to work for the sound of her music. As the creator said, this is a Taylor style thing and not a producer issue. He’s helping create what she wants to create. I don’t know anything about Lana Del Ray.
@@Amanda6532 taylocal stan just accept the fact that antonoff recicles every single song pls... a&w at 5:49 has the same...Thing... Sober II has
@@Amanda6532Kanye better
@@CLFL1995it does sound similar to lover because you know why..? JACK PRODUCED HALF OF IT. you can not tell me that you geniunely don't like any of the production in atw 10m, call it what you want, cruel summer, august, maroon, the archer, daylight, dress... i could go on
okay, loving the slightly memier style of this video. Also love Jack Antonoff, Bleachers has some bangers!
haha tyty, and yea i agree!
Imagine Midnights with max Martin !!!!!
A mess. Midnights is chill out synth pop at it’s finest that’s what Jack is a mastermind at
With Max Martin it would’ve been way better
Actually Midnights might just sound better with Max martin, go hardbor go home
i wish i don't think she's ever gonna produce with max martin again tho sadly
I saw this argument brewing up on twitter as well- I’m a huge fan of sling and honestly I think the production is intricate and pretty genius. I agree with your opinion of blaming the artist. Taylor’s album especially I think really exposes that the the root of the problem is the artist writing and not Jack being a shit producer. I also think his production on Taylor’s album also says a lot about the current standard of mainstream pop writing but that’s a story for another day
I don’t usually leave UA-cam comments but I find this topic intriguing 🤣
haha no everything you said is entirely accurate, thank you for stopping by!
keeping aside of who takes the blame, I think artists should take the fan's opinion into consideration that they are beginning to sound the same and work on it (I don't want to come off entitled) .I have been a big taylor+jack music fan but midnights production seemed veryyy similar to their prev albums.
Some people don’t understand the music artist and the producer relationship. He supports the artists. And he only works with all female artists. And he doesn’t control the album at all. The artist has full control. He is also my cousin lmao
LMAO not the plot twist
btw please tell him he is a genius for me
Matty Healy is female? lol
He's also strikingly humble and constantly extolls the genius of the artists he works with. I guess you could dislike his style, but it's bizarre to claim he's "doing" anything that any other producer/artist isn't.
"constantly extolls the genius of the artists he works with" of course, since they pay him. It's cheap "scratch my back, I'll scratch yours"
love the work both here and on tik tok man.
my comment before watching the video in full is that Jack has made some of my favorite albums ever in NFR and Melodrama. I love his work with Taylor too. However I also think some of his other work have been duds (not that they’re “bad songs”)… solar power and sling didn’t hit for me but I understand that it was lorde and claire’s choice to go that direction so I can’t even be mad.
Well, the workflow isn’t always "artist writes, producer polishes a turd." Often, the writing process is collaborative, and a good producer will tell an artist when a song isn’t working - that honesty is part of why artists trust their expertise.
That said, I think the dissatisfaction with Jack Antonoff reflects the broader issue of how the public often lacks the vocabulary to explain why they feel a certain way about something. Antonoff is undeniably an iconic producer with a signature sound - likely the very reason artists seek him out. A good comparison would be Mutt Lange, whose productions are instantly recognizable for their layered vocal harmonies.
The issue arises when too many artists work with the same iconic producer in a short period. It’s not that Antonoff’s sound is bad - far from it -, but even brilliance can feel inescapable when it saturates the market. Brings to mind how Timbaland's sound defined the late 2000s, but it became so ubiquitous that people grew fatigued. Similarly, each artist Antonoff works with may be thrilled with the result, but from a listener’s perspective, his musical DNA across multiple albums and artists can feel overwhelming.
I love Jack Antonoff, I always have and I always will. Great video as always Serg!
welcome to the jack legal defense team
why? what about him do you like? him using the same reverb, kicks, and drums in every song? same bpm? same everything? he sucks
@@WrangleMcDangle if it ain’t broke don’t fix it. all of those things make my eardrum tingle he’s the best pop producer she ever worked with Max Martin washed her vocals out & Christopher Rowe ruined her best pop songs
Loser talk. Your ears tingle when you hear over-produced slop because you haven't listened to enough music to know what to compare it to. Blaming everyone for her bad music except for her is hilarious because at that point whose music is it? It's certainly not hers.@@leathebarbie
1:35 The problem here is when the artist is working on an album with the producer, the artist has no idea if the producer is using very similar production or songwriting with another artist, perhaps even something that critics will call plagiarism. Then they might only find out after the album has been sent to mixing, mastering and vinyl production. Then there is no turning back, the artist is *not* in charge, because the producer knows that they are using the same writing/production with two different artists, but the artist doesn't know until it is too late.
sure you can blame the artists hiring him but this doesn't really refute the argument that his working on so much stuff is having an effect on pop that's making it sound kind of 'samey'
taste varies. i have been fans of several artists through their entire career spans, and i cannot listen to the bore of their Antonoff-produced albums. i don't even know he's produced them, i just *don't like the new stuff* and it happens to continuously be... him. but it's true that mainstream society's tastes are vanilla, so, maybe you have a point! the people don't want quirky sounds. they want easy listening, catchy beats, and the occasional horn.
he’s literally a musical genius. Bleachers is an insane band with a unique sound, all albums jack worked on were incredible. Pop finally has taste thx to him
This is definitely one of your most entertaining videos I love it so much hahaha
thank u habibi
i mean ... How can people hate on him but always put the artists he produces on top of charts? it's not like Taylor or Lana weren't the queen of the music industry, yk ...
"but always put the artists he produces on top of charts" simple: stupid masses will listen to any pop shit, people with taste hate him (and the artists he works with)
I think they just like working with him as opposed to loving the final product he produces and the product is compromised because of it.
2:13 not sure if i understand you right here, but if you by that mean that it's the producers job to write the songs, you're dead wrong.
I'm saying quite the opposite!
It shows their misogyny when they make those comments. Lit y’all think he takes over the production and these women don’t get involved in their music. Basically saying they are women so they don’t do anything and let the man do the work. 🙃🙃🙃
True !! Didn't even thought about it before reading your comment, but now it's kinda obvious
In actual fact, Jack Antonoff gets all the praise and the women do not. When the critics like the album, e.g. Melodrama, they still write something like "Jack Antonoff is still writing Jack Antonoff songs-they just happen to be sung by people like Lorde now" (one publication actually wrote those exact words). But when Melodrama was nominated for a Grammy the Grammys said "The women need to step up". When the critics didn't like the album, Jack still wins producer of the year. That is the real misogyny.
the reachery 😂
hes the best tbh. everytime i like a pop song hes behind it...like how max martin use to be
My favorite Antonoff album to this day is still Aim and Ignite.
Jack antonoff is ny favourite music person ever, bleachers is my fave band and without even knowing taylor swift had anything to do with him when my gf put on anti hero i was like 'daym this sounds like a bleachers song i like it' , he is a legend. There is not a single bleachers song i do not like
i honestly didn't know who jack antonoff is not until i listened to the bleachers by accident. i started looking at his background after that. i say the dude's got great sense
Whete can i go to hear your production work Sergio?
Can’t believe that Sergio Scardigno is homogenizing the sound of clean cut music channels run by Italian Jersey men
preposterous he would even attempt such a thing
If Katy perry works with him, it would 100% be her come back era
NFR and Daddy's Home have very good production.
While he's most definitely proficient at what he does, he's fostering a sound I heavily dislike.
songwriter here! as a woman that has brought her own work into the studio and worked with producers and recording engineers that are men, jack antonoff has got to have something special in the way that he moves around the studio, also in his working with laura sisk. of course he’s got his particular sound, as so many artists do, but to undermine the work that these songwriters have put into their records feels mysogynistic and disrespectful. their music is enjoyed by a lot of people; i’d say that, if it doesn’t appeal to you, simply don’t listen to their music! there’s plenty of other artists out there
Everything Jack Antonoff touches turns to gold!
I thought i was alone. He did Lana so dirty, I hope she goes back go producing with Rick or Dan.
i think you didnt watch the video, lana did herself dirty... artists always greenlight the final product, he wouldnt have produced it that way if lana didnt want him to
Who ever had to turn nothing into a record with an artist will know... The endresult is just not as important as the process. Those top tier artists live livestyles that most of us simply cannot imagine. Now imagine, having to get them to a place where they can feel vulnerable and detached from their usual hustle. That alone is an artform. Now, writing something that they deem worthy of showing to millions of people? Phew... That takes patience and confidence from everyone involved. So, blaming the producer is just short sighted and naive. People need scapegoats I guess, and instead of blaming their beloved artists, the producer will have to make do. Jack is a good producer. You can hear how he makes the process of production fun for the artists.
Jack was in a band called Steeltrain. I ran lights for his band when, they opened for the Format. Not a fan.
Melodrama, NFR! and Folklore exists because of him. He's basically my hero lmfao
Hes one of the greatest ❤ ppl need to do their job like be a cop teacher etc or a teenager bye
he’s talented AF. I don’t love everything he does, but he’s good
also, the artist is not in charge.
The songs are written by a songwriting team and crafted by him. The artist just does what he tells them to do.
Also the record label chooses the producer.
I adore Jack Antonoff. His three bands, Steel Train, Fun, & Red Hearse as well as his solo work and collaborations with insane amounts of artists from all genres.
And Bleachers? o.0
2:36 well, if you're right Jack is going to be the main producer on Lorde's next album too I guess?
Excellent run down. Anyone bashing Jack most likely never had a genuine creative thought in their life. Like him or not .. he is worthy of a high level of respect.
Margaret from Lana and Jack makes me tear up everytime. In a good sense
He produced 6:16 in LA by Kendrick Lamar so he's cool.
I hate Bleacher’s music, but his production is actually really good.
I will say however, there are some cases that diverge from what you’re saying. I watched a video of him going thru the recording and production of a Sabrina carpenter song, and the instrumentation and main writing of the music, minus the vocals and lyrics, is 99% jack. He’s a very hands on producer, and I think there are many artists who he basically becomes “the band”.
But on the flip side, the 1975 are meticulous about writing everything down to every little detail.
Also, some labels will absolutely pick a producer for an up and coming artist, and the artist does not have a ton of say in the process. Has this happened with Jack? Most likely not, or not intentionally I do not believe, but I would expect a few criticisms from the artists maybe a decade down the road.
I’m not a jack fan or hater, i don’t really listen to much pop in general these days because so much of it does nothing for me. But a producer having a sound is super important. Everyone saying that all the songs he does sound the same are just trying to pick on someone thats more successful than them.
What about clairo?
With Max Martin it would’ve been way better. Y’all just hating he didn’t wanna redo Red & 1989!!
One thing you don’t mention is that Jack may be very skilled (manipulative) at insinuating his ideas. Clearly he has exceptional social skills (a million artists work with him and say nice things about him).
However he may also be so manipulative that he insinuates his ideas so well with such excellent social skills that the artists walk away thinking, “oh, Jack’s great, such a great collaborator.” Meanwhile, their music was sullied because it got Antonoff-ed.
I don’t know.
All I know is I’ve never heard anything by Jack Antonoff (as artist or producer) I like.
All I know is one of my favorite artists, Annie Clark (St. Vincent), had 2 albums in a row that were bland, derivative, formulaic disappointments. Common denominator? You guessed it:
Jack Antonoff.
L
I think almost everyone agrees that 'Strange Mercy' and her self titled album 'St. Vincent', were her best. I also liked quite a lot of Masseduction, but most of Jacks 2020s album work hasn't been at the same high standard as the work he did in the 2010s.
What is often left out of this conversation unfairly, is that Jack Antonoff is apparently not a creep and doesn't have any creepy or aggressive or hypercritically misogynistic friends/employees, to the extent that all these female artists enjoy working with him. Helps that his main sound engineer is female. It's a safe studio to work in - not something that can be said about all, or that many, places.
Pop music died in the 80s. This is not production, it's called MARKETING SCHTICK. Swift does not sing songs, they are canned loops. Designer, boutique music producers are a thing now. Like wearing a Gucci suit or carrying a Prada handbag. Meh
His latest production please please please lowkey eats Sabrina ate that shit up
Midnights is a masterpiece. Taylors work is a masterpiece. Melodrama was art!!!
@I-Will-Destroy-U what’s not?
im just now hearing about jack antonoff with his production on the new Clairo album. that album is awesome!!!
I mean, maybe he doesn’t work with some artists that well (in my opinion he doesn’t really work well with Taylor Swift) but he works super well with other artists like Lana Del Rey (NFR and Ocean Blvd are masterpieces). Sometimes we’ve just gotta accept that producers don’t work well with all the artists they work with and they’re better and some things than others.
I love his productions! He’s made me enjoy artists I would maybe not be listening to otherwise.
that's the thing abt artist coming in with "trash songs" for him... he cowrites almost everything he produces. I don't hate him as a producer I despise him as a songwriter
like tell me that Taylor wrote that gaudy theatrical "ask me why so many stay but I'm still here" choral line from midnights? nah it has his stank all over it
this is pop music not musical theatre jack
again, taylor had to like and approve it. co-writing credits are kinda loose in that if you were in the room and contributed even just a lyric or two, you’re getting that credit. just because he has that credit does not mean the song’s concept is his by any means. if you want the best data point for jack’s songwriting style, i’d look to Bleachers or even fun.
@@roachkingprod horrible take IMO. it's Taylor's song therefore she gets the final say. speculating which lyrics he contributed is irrelevant when at the end of the day she chose to record them and release them. diverting blame is dumb.. especially when you have NO idea if he even wrote a single lyric in that song. he has even said a lot of his work with Taylor is sending her a track for her to write the lyrics to. most of his co-writing contributions are musical, not lyrical. he has been open about this being the case on most records he's worked on
@@countingcrows123 I think I’ve studied both of their music long enough to tell when he brings his unnecessarily theatric writing into the mix, but you actually might know more than me tbh, u know with his boot being in ur mouth and all
@@roachkingprod Taylor also wrote "but I'll come back stronger than a 90s trend" and that wasn't touched by Jack Antonoff at all.
Taylor is the more gaudy one lmao.
There’s something about him I don’t like. Some of his songs are hit or miss but I get this vibe his agenda is to be a famous singer as the ultimate goal.
i dig where you're coming from here, but its quite a bit more nuanced than that in the producer/artist relationship...especially when a label is involved. there is a ton of push and pull that the 'business' puts out toward an artist and the recording contract matters a TON in the recording process...there can be clauses forcing a musician to choose from a list of 'approved' producers...so read before you sign if you sign...which is where i completely agree with you: the onus absolutely falls on the artist from that starting point 100%. and many times a producer is considered more important than the artist themselves (by the label i mean [which is frustrating garrrrbage as an aside] and can actually be a clause in a contract!). i hope that the artists have the fortitude to make their voices heard in the studio; which, again, really depends on nuances of personality...the stronger personality amongst all sides tends to win out...and that pesky contract sometimes does as well. That being said...i personally don't have any issue with Jack Antanoff...he seems like a nice dude who's carved out a niche for himself that a lot of people really enjoy. so good on him! also, perfect video title here! nicely done to you as well!
Saved pop music. And if you’ve seen his band play then you know he has saved rock and roll.
I think people are taking away from pop artists. Jack Antonoff is not a producer you want to let run the show without input. Melodrama is a masterpiece and we already know that lorde is a talent, but let’s not blame jack for the fact that Taylor refuses to even self-edit her most recent work. 1989 was her most sonically cohesive album produced by Max Martin, and she explicitly said she didn’t want to work with him because he had to much input. Taylor works with people who allow her control these days, and is probably the best indicator that Jack is not running the show. I loved Ariana’s recent album which was produced by Max Martin, and she said she appreciates his insistence that certain things be sung a certain way.
Serge is close to the top ranks in fantano's JACK'S OFF corps.
ahaha it's funny i thought of this idea the DAY BEFORE fantano released his video, but i'm glad melon is on my team
I love Jack, the dude is super talented and has an obvious passion for music.
I don’t get the Solar Power hatred, people just don’t like that Lorde evolved in a different way then they expected.
I really am an outsider looking in here. I truly can't stand pop music. It just always sounds so overly glossy and bland. I can't really tell one female artist from another. Yup, I can't. There's just no guts to the music. It all sounds soft and squishy too me. That's fine if that's what you like but I much prefer music that has some "dead rats" in it. Yeah, I'm a rock guy. I also own a small recording studio and try my best to make sure that every song that I do has some fire in it. Even If I'm doing stuff with a lot of synths and no much guitar. I can't say anything negative about Jack's production style as I really can't tell it for m any other pop producer. The only time I ever hear pop is when I'm in a mall shopping with my wife.
Give me a band like, say, "Dirty honey" over pop any time of the day. They at least do something that pop doesn't really ever seem to do. They kick ass!
Sorry if you don't like my opinions but hey, go ahead and love whatever music you want to. Nothing wrong with that at all.
Cheers!
You can tell a JA song right away when you here them 16th notes pounding away 😂 no shade, just great production on his part leaving a signature mark on any artist he’s produced
Jack was great in Fun hearing his production style in every top ten billboard song will make anyone sick of him
Same. I literally found this video bc I was looking to see if anyone felt the same. I don’t understand how he gets work. He’s ruined every artist he’s worked with, especially Lana Del Rey.
He was a main producer and helped write NFR’s album by Lana Del Rey, so whatever bullshit he has made with other artists, I can forgive because he helped with that masterpiece of an album. ❤️😂
and now same with her new album, this man is pure genius
Producers burn out.
I disagree with you about blaming the artist for the sound, instead of Antonoff. Obviously, if the artist likes it this way, they gonna choose it and the end call is theirs to make (at least it should be). However, Antonoff's signature style of producing is proven to be effective streams and money-wise (Taylor is the best example here). I really wish you would go into details of his production though, because this is where my criticism for Antonoff begins. His production is, for lack of the better word, gutless. And it covers pretty good field of pop music and that is the real problem. Of course, if someone is like "he ruins pop music, cause he's working with women and demands from them to sound that way", that is the stupid argument and no one should make it. But I do think his production is plenty of times just unengaging and bland (again, for me, but also for many more people) and I wish you'd dive into that more. Cause I really wanna like his works, but there's a certain limit to it every time. Thanks for the video 🙏🏻
There's no doubt that he's talented, but damn do I get the most irritable, visceral reaction when I hear artists mention he's helping with an album.
It’s really cool seeing people use so many different songs he’s produced as examples of how he’s above this criticism
Well the only reason for that is his early life
He is an amazing producer, but he seems like he is running out of creativity recently.
This did not age well
@ how?
@@angelinebena9675
He was credited on almost every song on GNX
It is literally the producers job to say if the songs sucks, that’s kind of the whole point 🤔 I wonder that people think a producer does lol
a producer's job is to be someone who helps an artist arrive at their desired destination, not judge the "objective" quality of the work
@@sergescardigno obviously there’s no judging objectively in music, but a good producer will no be shy to throw stuff out if it sucks, and you can take “sucks” to mean doesn’t get closer to what their vision is. I think people underestimate how much influence a producer has, although it varies of course, and Jack works with people who write their own stuff so it’s not his case I think, but in some cases the true party with a destination in mind is the producer.
Fwiw I’m a mix engineer and just randomly stumbled upon this video and don’t take any sides in this, kind of interesting to see how music listeners see the world of recording and making records. I love Lana and Jack and Taylor and don’t understand why anyone’s fighting lol
Samething happens everywhere, once someone or something gets popular. It becomes trendy to hate. I guarantee you most of them just jumped on the bandwagon. They don't have any constructive criticism or original thought, just regurgitating trash.
I’m also sure he would produce in a different style if requested by the artist, just more of a question of his ability to do any other style
Cruel Summer alone ended this argument
he made NFR, reputation, and folklore so everything against him is invalid.
He is a soft spoken, friendly, nostalgic dude, making vintage oriented music.
He simply shouldn't work with Lorde or Lana Del Rey.
No one wants them to make lazy lulabies.
They were the overthought, overproduced queens.
And I'm sure they had fun chilling with mister all accoustic, loose and hippies dippie, no vocal booth etc
But they lost their place in the culture, because he enables them to be mediocre.
That's just it.
A producer can push a artist to be better.
By making Bangers that they would have to live UP to.
That's not what jack does.
His influences are not recent artists, he does not care about now or what's next.
Rap artists are Always on top of their game because producers are making Beats that push them New places all the Time.
I think he’s great, of course people are gonna hate
It’s such damn good catchy tunes, that’s the point!!
He just produced a remixed version of a paramore song
the guy who actually saved pop
I am his biggggg fan since fun. era.jack is a amazing musician, I am dying to see how his beautiful magnificent brian work. 🛐🛐
I love his style, I literally scream when I realized literally every song I like in recent year almost produced or co created by him.
this dude magnificent🛐🛐 let's me kiss you brian jack
two horns, soon three on the reprises....song cycle time..
Ain’t it bit weird cause I feel like the movie one Netflix is Thelma it’s about him he’s the producer
The guy in blue
I just want FUN. to return 😥
your voice is very relaxing. and tbh i don t mind Jack at all.
He wrote and produced changes by Brooke candy and that song is my all time favourite, but I must say some of his produced songs sound the same i.e taylor New Year’s Day and ovlivia Rodrigues one step forward
The latter is an interpolation of the former, Jack didn't produce Rodrigo's song, she simply took the piano background and credited them rightfully
The Kendrick Lamar album!
I feel like since Melodrama he tried to bring back that kind of energy / shift it to something similar, it's simply not working
thats not true, his recent bleachers record sounded NOTHING like melodrama
@@hogwardsstudent8422 thank god
@@Moonsong_ yeah so that proves that the sound that ur hearing that u say its him trying to bring back melodrama is simply what the artists want...
@@hogwardsstudent8422 That doesn’t happen with other producers such as Aaron Dessner
@@Moonsong_ it does tho... i saw a lot of swifties omplaining ab him aswell.. even if he didnt, taylor prob knows that jack does this specific sound really well and asks him to do it, because she likes it. He can do other stuff as well lmfao, he produced like half of reputation and out of the woods
A&W is a masterpiece prove me otherwise