Anybody else watch the show Empire?

It's better than i thought.  It follows the same formula as other big budget night time soaps.  The music does have the advantage of being contemporary.  Most shows of this type utilize styles that a re a couple years behind current trends. They seem tp be able to draw interesting cameos.  Courtney Love was a twist.  i heard they tried to get her to sing R&B but she simply couldn't so they went with rock.

dubdisciple
It's better than i thought.  It follows the same formula as other big budget night time soaps.  The music does have the advantage of being contemporary.  Most shows of this type utilize styles that a re a couple years behind current trends. They seem tp be able to draw interesting cameos.  Courtney Love was a twist.  i heard they tried to get her to sing R&B but she simply couldn't so they went with rock.

The music was done by Timbaland, but I'm curious as to how you gauge music as current or not.

The hip-hop version of Dallas, trying to be King Lear in modern dress.
 
The striking thing to me about the music is how absolutely formulaic and lifeless it is, albeit packaged like a shrink wrapped corsage. Apparently you can polish a turd into a mirror on a production line for TV.

Empire is an always-watch show for us, but I readily admit it's a guilty pleasure, as is just about any prime-time soap.
 
Now, for totally non-guilty pleasure, there was Parenthood.  Although the music business and recording studio scene was just a subplot in that show, that was an aspect of one of my all-time favorite shows that brought much delight.  I'm still shedding a tear or two when I think it's over for good.  Bring back The Lunch Counter!

What do you guys think about the Nashville series that came out some time ago. It got favorable score from Imdb. Also OT what do you guys think about Imdb and how do the ratings there match with your own opinions about movies and series? I usually agree with Imdb:s ratings.

dubdisciple
 
Has there ever been a tv series about music that wasn't formulaic? This forum has a special kind of hypocritical venom when it comes to hip-hop. The music IS formulaic....along with every pop genre ever. The video yorolpal posted with the endless amount of songs using the exact same chord pattern illustrates this fact. Other than very experimental composers, you would be hard pressed to find music that does not follow a formula. The class i took on songwriting at Berklee pretty much summed up the formulas from everyone the Beattles to Bacharach. "That genre is formulaic" and lifeless simply translates to "i hate that genre" and there's nothing wrong with that, but it's a lot more honest. I'm not a fan of polka, but it would be downright silly for me to chime in on topics on polka. I'm not claiming Empire is some form of high art. It IS lowest common denominator distraction for the masses, just like most things on tv. Just not sure how it is any more formulaic than anything else in our culture.

To be clear, I did not intend to say that hip-hop as a genre is formulaic. As a genre it has a form, which is,  as you note, what makes it a genre. What I meant to say is that the particular instances of music I have so far heard on Empire (yes I have watched every episode so far) have been formulaic. And just to clarify, there is a major difference between a form or even a formula, and the term formulaic, which means that the material is hackneyed, unoriginal, uninspired etc. A sonnet has a pretty rigid form, that does not preclude discrimination of various sonnets based on the quality of the poetry within the form. There are good and bad sonnets, and there are sonnets that can accurately be described as formulaic, compared to others that can accurately be described as inspired, original or authentic. To me the music I have heard on Empire sounds like it comes from a hip-hop factory. It sounds like soft-core hip-hop, or Sunday school hip-hop or designer hip-hop to the extent that it sounds like  hip-hop. 
 
As far as lifeless goes, again not referring to the hip-hop genre as a whole, the Empire music does not seem to be authentic in the sense that it represents human artistry communicating a heartfelt message. To use an old and ill defined term it lacks soul. It is all glitter and polish without managing to touch me other than with admiration for the quality of the production. Of course it is great music, we know that because the actors tell us that it is great, they fall over each other in praise, and because whenever they hear it the extras start chair-dancing to the irresistible beat.

Empire is "interesting" but it may flame itself out if it keeps up at this hectic pace.  They came out of the gate with so many storylines and happenings that it may not be sustainable.  The ALS storyline is progressing at such a rapid pace that the patriarch of the show may be dead in 4-5 more episodes.  Subtlety is not a word found anywhere around this show. 
 
As far as the music, I can take it or leave it - mostly leave it.  I'm an old school, rock, pop and r/b, kinda guy and I really don't appreciate the decline in "advertised" popular music.  I say that because I know there's greater music and artistry than what is being fed to us, but today it's buried beneath all the crap.  Great music is still being made.
 
The show came out with guns blazing.  We'll see how long it lasts...