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David Foster says today’s pop music is ‘fine’

TORONTO — Canadian producer, composer and musician David Foster said Wednesday there’s nothing wrong with today’s pop music.

“It’s fine,” he said. “In every decade there’s been crap songs and there’s been great songs — and it’s the same now.”

Foster, who has collected 16 Grammy Awards in his career, said performers like Miley Cyrus and Rihanna are “making great records.”

During an appearance on Global’s The Morning Show, the 64-year-old Victoria native explained his knack for discovering new talent and bringing out their best.

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“I’m just the average person, other than the fact that I can play piano and write songs and all that,” said Foster. “You can’t be an elitist and find someone that’s going to appeal to the whole world. If it moves me it’s going to move millions of people.”

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Foster admitted there have been stumbles along the way. The man who played a big role in making Celine Dion a star once counselled her not to record “My Heart Will Go On,” the theme for Titanic.

“You got to be big wrong and you got to be big right,” he said. “I obviously was wrong. I just didn’t like that song [and] I thought it was wrong for her. I couldn’t have been more wrong.”

Foster wasn’t wrong to convince Whitney Houston to do a cover version of country singer Dolly Parton’s break-up song “I Will Always Love You.” It became one of the best-selling singles of all time.

(Foster said he wasn’t surprised by Houston’s death last year. “You could sort of see it coming. You had to think that could happen one day.”)

Foster is in Toronto for a sold-out gala on Thursday to benefit his eponymous foundation, which supports the families of children awaiting organ transplants.

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