What makes a song "cheap" or "generic"? I'm always reading about how "generic" a song is when they are actually GREAT.

NO EXAMPLES. DEFINITIONS.

Generic: Nothing new. Basic. Not always a bad thing though.

Cheap: Subjective.

Generic: Something that brings nothing new to the table and sounds like everything else in its niche/genre.

That's what people mean when they say it.

Generic just means that a song doesn't try to innovate and it sounds just like everything else on the radio.

There isn't one. People use it to shade a good song. Cheap is silly, because some producers get made with hit songs by a new artist ie RedOne + Gaga.

Done before, forgettable, conventional, not innovative

Generic: Something that has been done so many times its cliche. Its over-saturation of a style of music.

Cheap: Tacky, throw-away, the term for this is called "Kitsch".

generic: a song that most music buyers like but snobs hate because it dosnt fit into what they think 'real music' is

cheap: dont think theres a definition

1+

Generic: Lacking innovation and personalization, unoriginal

Cheap: Seemingly little work/effort put into a song, replaceable

It's not about hating on popular or fun songs. Something being "generic" is looked down upon because it shows laziness and a lack of original thought. It's always more fun for music listeners to listen to something fresh sounding rather than another unimaginative mega hit all done by the same producer.

cheap (adjective): informal: of little worth because achieved in a discreditable way requiring little effort

Generic has come to mean pretty much the same thing, but I think it also carries a connotation of "following trends" or "sounding like everything else."