I was flipping through the radio dials today, running through several Nickelback songs. I thought, “you know what, I’ve never known anybody who actually likes Nickelback”. The people I know run the gamut from punk to jazz fans, so it can’t be that I don’t hang around with a diverse set of music fans. Yet their last album sold six million copies. Have you ever noticed popular artists or entertainers that seem to have invisible fanbases, and why do you think this is so?
Ashley Simpson. She is still in the public eye and just came out with a new CD. Who, exactly, is enabling this?
In a way, Billy Joel. Critics seem to despise him, and as far as popular culture is concerned, his name is basically a punchline.
And yet, millions of us love him and his music. I guess we just keep quiet about it.
Henry Rollins once explained that people who say “Oh, I like all kinds of music” actually for the most part like terrible music; they just don’t realize it.
David Blaine, that performance douche-bag. Every now and then you read headlines about some stunt he’s going to perform, and I can’t help but wonder why he isn’t starving in the streets. (I mean for real, not as a stunt.) Who pays this guy? I’ve never encountered anybody who actually thought he was interesting.
The people who like Nickelback are those people you don’t really think of as liking music because they discuss it so little. And they discuss it so little because they don’t really listen to anything outside of what Top 40 radio stations throw at them.
I was at a bonfire last night and somebody there had a radio on. One guy said “All right! Nickelback!” and got all excited when one of their songs came on. That same guy was so drunk that he couldn’t stand up for more than thirty consecutive seconds, and he kept pulling down his pants to show everyone his hairy ass, and then he’d trip and fall over the pants that were now around his ankles.
See, you don’t really notice someone doing something stupid like enjoying Nickelback when they’re also doing five other, stupider things at the same time. Nickelback fans have employed this strategy to fly under the radar for over ten years now. It’s quite effective.
I think it’s because it’s become a cliche to hate Nickelback, so those of us (yes, me too!) who like them usually don’t admit to it.
FWIW my musical tastes are pretty diverse, and actually include very few top 40 acts.
Avril Lavigne… For what purpose?
See, she actually did have a pretty identifiable fanbase though - lots of 14-year-old girls who shopped at Hot Topic. My sister was in high school when Avril was popular, and she definitely had fans who preferred her to Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, etc… She shared a fanbase with bands like Good Charlotte and - appropriately enough - Sum 41.
I like that Henry Rollins line, Max the Immortal.
I very much liked Nickelback’s first cd. They apparently did too, because they went on to remake it a few times after that…
Belle and Sebastian. I’ve never met anyone who admitted like them, or even heard the name uttered outside of a tv show or John Cusack movie. Someone must be listening to them, though. Not me, given “Your Cover’s Blown” is the only song of theirs I can stand.
Henry Rollins is an idiot. FYI.
[ul]
[li]Pretty much the entirety of 1970s-era disco (as opposed to modern dance music played at clubs now).[/li][li]Tiny Tim. (“Tiptoe Through the Tulips”)[/li][li]Champagne music (what Lawrence Welk played).[/li][li]Elevator music (now only played by the Weather Channel, so far as I can tell). (Yes, this is cheating.)[/li][/ul]
I have a single online friend that I didn’t meet from my mother’s group of friends
that loves them to pieces, and she says her friends do as well. I like their two songs on the Juno soundtrack, but I haven’t gone to the trouble yet of looking for their CDs.
I like them! Actually, they’re one of the indie artists that have a sort of obsessive fanbase. They even have a name: “Bowlie kids.” Back when I used to be more into them, I would read online communities about Belle & Sebastian. Those kids would be pretty defensive about them as well - “I was a fan before anyone else heard of them, and now people who listen to (gasp!) pop music will start liking B&S, and they can’t possibly understand Belle & Sebastian the way I do!!!” Seriously. I, on the other hand, am happy for the artists who can manage to earn a living from the music they produce. Which is why I make the distinction that I like Belle & Sebastian, but I’m not A Belle & Sebastian Fan. But yes, even among sane people I’d say they’re one of the more popular indie groups, especially among shy teenagers. I don’t know if the fanbase has shrunk in the last few years or if I’ve just become less interested, though.
Maybe some people actually think that top 40 music whilst driving is just the right amount of music. The only time I listen to music is in the car (and it is top 40 crap). I enjoy a sing-a-long while driving. That said I pay more attention to music then I do to sport.
Some people take music as seriously as others take sport…both baffle me. Top 40 is music is not there for the rabid fan, it exists to keep the masses happy while driving or for one of those “hey everyone knows the words!” moments.
I realise for many people music is some kind of high worship thing for me it is just an entertaining noise in the car.
I also like Belle and Sebastian, as do a few of my friends.
My girlfriend’s best friend and her husband love Nickelback. I wasn’t at the wedding but supposedly their first song was by Nickelback. Her other musical tastes consist of Linkin Park and techno.
Yeah…I don’t know either.
Cite?
I’ve always thought he seemed pretty intelligent, but I’m open to having my ignorance fought.
I hate the “hey everyone knows the words!” moments because outside of the rare occasion where it’s a good enough song that it will stand several thousand listens, I get upset that no one knows the lyrics to my favorite songs to sing along. Even fairly popular stuff.
So I wouldn’t resent popular music if it were less popular and the stuff I like more popular. I’d even start to get tired of hearing all the stuff I like all the time (although the only time I recall being truly sick of a song I once enjoyed being played into the ground on the radio is Battleflag by lo-fi allstars, which enjoyed several rounds of heavy airplay over a couple years. most of the time I get tired of hearing a song on the radio, I either didn’t like it too much anyone, or I like it enough to buy the CD and could hear it any time I wanted.)
B&S have a very dedicated fanbase. I am one of them as well. I haven’t heard them recently though. They put on a good show if your lucky enough to see them, but they never tour the US.
Actually, the more I learn about Tiny Tim, the better I like him. He was a pretty serious musician and scholar of early 20th century music.