What I want from you in this thread is to name some awful gimmicks in music. You'll get the idea of what I mean after my first example.
There is one gimmick that is really terrible that seems to be a recent trend since the beginning of the new millennium. It's rock songs having back up vocals that sound like they've been run through a synthesizer (or more accurately a cell phone) to add contrast to the lead vocals (or some kind of kickback to the 80's, I don't know!). The best example of this would have to be that "Stacy's Mom" song that was very popular a couple years ago. (EDIT: HERE IS THE SONG IN QUESTION IN TERRIBLE VIDEO FORM:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5V_rXTp1yBU) I'm pretty sure that crudfest Nickleback has done it too, but I don't have the strength to listen to them to find examples. How does anything think this is a good idea? I'm not saying that these songs would be any better without this nuance, but it's really the rotted out cherry on an already spoiled sundae
*.
Another thing I use to hate is when songs included the count off in the final cuts of songs. Though there are quite a few songs that I like that do it and it doesn't really effect the actual song. It's just been done to death!
UPDATE: I thought of another one. I dislike it when in rap songs they introduce the next rapper in the middle of the song. I don't care with the NWA does it. That is
SUPER BOWL SHUFFLE kinds of corny.
I don't know. Maybe this topic is too confusing. Maybe I'm just a nitpicky snob about stuff like this. Help me out Friends of Tom! One of you has to really hate
The Wall of Sound.
*or in Sarah's case: Rocky Road