# What do we think of ELO, do we like them? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [June 25, 2013, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-we-think-of-elo-do-we-like-them/661918 "2013-06-25T22:11:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![alted315](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/cc9497/32.png) [@alted315](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alted315)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2015, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-we-think-of-elo-do-we-like-them/661918/61 "2015-02-10T20:48:19Z")
I love them, does anyone remember when Fire on High was the theme song for Wide World of Sports? The thrill of victory, and the agony of defeat 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![somepumpkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7feea3/32.png) [@somepumpkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/somepumpkin)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2015, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-we-think-of-elo-do-we-like-them/661918/62 "2015-02-10T20:58:41Z")
Are we still praising / bashing ELO in this thread, or have we moved past that specific issue and are trying to focus on how the tour’s gonna be? ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2015, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-we-think-of-elo-do-we-like-them/661918/63 "2015-02-11T01:19:08Z")
Whatever you like! ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2015, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-we-think-of-elo-do-we-like-them/661918/64 "2015-02-11T01:30:15Z")
I’ve loved a few of their songs, some mentioned here… and to this day they can put me in a good mood when I’m not. Some give me very fond memories of some moments in the past (maybe all music does?). > [@QuickSilver](#): > > I’m the only one who’d rather shove ball bearings into my ears?.. Don’t change the subject… 😛 ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2015, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-we-think-of-elo-do-we-like-them/661918/65 "2015-02-11T01:56:46Z")
Simon Pegg used “All Over The World” [for the closing credits of _Paul_](http://youtu.be/sXe3jokuP24)–a brilliant choice I think. Watching that end sequence always makes me smile. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2015, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-we-think-of-elo-do-we-like-them/661918/66 "2015-02-11T15:45:40Z")
ELO has always been one of those bands that, yeah, I know I’ve heard their stuff, but can never seem to recall it unless someone reminds me of a particular song. And of course, when I’m reminded of some of the songs (e.g. in this thread), I remember why that’s so. It’s not that they’re _bad_; they’re just kinda _there_. Forgettable. “Don’t Bring Me Down” is fun to sing along with (but who the hell is Bruce? ;)) but that’s about it. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2015, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-we-think-of-elo-do-we-like-them/661918/67 "2015-02-11T16:22:37Z")
It’s not Bruce. [From Wiki:](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don%27t_Bring_Me_Down) > [@](#): > > A common mondegreen in the song is the perception that, following the title line, Lynne shouts “Bruce!”. According to the liner notes of the ELO compilation Flashback, he is saying a made-up lyric, “Grroosss,” which some have suggested sounds like the Bavarian expression “Grüß Gott.” After the song’s release, so many people had misinterpreted the word as “Bruce” that Lynne actually began to sing the word as “Bruce” for fun at live shows. ETA: So, it’s a made up word just like “Sussudio.” ---
**Author:** ![psiekier](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psiekier/32/116_2.png) [@psiekier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psiekier)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2015, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-we-think-of-elo-do-we-like-them/661918/68 "2015-02-11T17:34:20Z")
> [@tomcar](#): > > Yes! Time is so underrated. It’s probably my favorite ELO album. All fans of Sci-Fi concept albums (yes, all 3 of you) need to get this ASAP. _Time_ is my favourite, and helped me rediscover ELO thanks to those sharp ladz who would someday form [Studio Gainax](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2naZColt080). When I was but a wee lad, my dad and I spent a lot of time in our three-car garage - he building furniture or working on a car, and me playing with or building on my HO-scale train set. There was always an old AM radio playing in the background, but I was too little to understand the concepts of musicians, bands, and albums back then. Flash-forward to the 1980’s. I heard “Twilight” as the background music for the [Daicon IV opening animation video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lyVqIkJ69VA). Did some research, found the band (ELO) and the album (_Time_), and thoroughly enjoyed it. I wondered what else they had done, so picked up their greatest hits on cassette. All of the songs on there I remembered having known and loved in the 70’s, hearing them on that old AM radio in the garage! > [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > _Xanadu_, as a movie, sucked, but it had some great ELO tunes. Michael Beck said that _The Warriors_ launched his career and _Xanadu_ ended it. I agree with you, **Elendil’s Heir** , there are great ELO songs _and_ Olivia Newton-John on that soundtrack! > [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > I think _Zoom_ is actually a pretty good album. I had tickets for a concert on the _Zoom_ tour, but alas, it was cancelled due to poor sales. Yikes… I’m sorry I can’t agree with you there. I liked “Alright”, but that’s it. I remembered seeing Lynne and 'is new studio ladz on PBS during that first _Zoom_ concert, and I just could not dig it. By contrast, I saw ELO2 perform with the Richardson Symphony Orchestra as their backing band at the WIldflower Festival in 2000, and they were _fantastic!_ Every ELO album has had at least one song I liked well enough to put on a mix tape/custom CD/iPod’s “Pete” playlist at one time or another. In particular, _Face The Music_, _A New World Record_, _Out Of The Blue_, _Discovery_, and the aforementioned _Time_ showed up in the rotation the most. Additionally, there are some nice covers out there, like Fountains of Wayne (“Stacy’s Mom”) covering “Can’t Get It Out Of My Head” or The Fenders covering “Hold On Tight”. There was an album from a few years back called _Lynne Me Your Ears_ that I just had to buy! ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2015, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-we-think-of-elo-do-we-like-them/661918/69 "2015-02-11T22:27:57Z")
\*\*What do we think of ELO, do we like them? \*\*We don’t particularly care for them, because we think they sound like DiscoBeatles. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2015, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-we-think-of-elo-do-we-like-them/661918/70 "2015-02-13T05:03:29Z")
Here’s the Grammys performance, BTW - with “Evil Woman” and “Mr. Blue Sky”: [Ed Sheeran Performs With ELO at the Grammys – Rolling Stone](http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/electric-light-orchestra-delight-paul-mccartney-taylor-swift-at-grammys-20150208) ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2016, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-we-think-of-elo-do-we-like-them/661918/71 "2016-02-21T01:39:09Z")
Bumped. The new album, _Alone in the Universe_, is out. I like “When I Was a Boy” very much, and the video is good, too, I think: [Jeff Lynne's ELO - When I Was A Boy (Official Video) - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tM34A80RTv4&index=1&list=PLB-99rPb6xnpK3zSs60WaYtvVardbkEXY) ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2016, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-we-think-of-elo-do-we-like-them/661918/72 "2016-02-21T02:39:25Z")
Cool. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2016, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-we-think-of-elo-do-we-like-them/661918/73 "2016-02-21T03:56:31Z")
Thanks for that! Love it. ---
**Author:** ![GreenElf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de053/32.png) [@GreenElf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreenElf)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2016, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-we-think-of-elo-do-we-like-them/661918/74 "2016-02-21T04:11:22Z")
I have many ELO albums. _Discovery_ is underrated and _A New World Record_ overrated imo. I wish the compact disc version of Ole ELO didn’t have abbreviated songs. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2016, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-we-think-of-elo-do-we-like-them/661918/75 "2016-02-21T04:55:32Z")
If you’re a fan, you probably remember, “The Night The Light Went On In Long Beach,” an early live album that was so badly produced that it was mostly unlistenable. A few years back, I found the CD for $6 (?) and gave it a try. Night and day. Remastered and with a couple different versions of songs from the original, I would recommend it if you want to hear the early “live” sound. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2016, 7:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-we-think-of-elo-do-we-like-them/661918/76 "2016-02-21T07:06:31Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > Bumped. > > The new album, _Alone in the Universe_, is out. I like “When I Was a Boy” very much, and the video is good, too, I think: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tM34A80RTv4&index=1&list=PLB-99rPb6xnpK3zSs60WaYtvVardbkEXY](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tM34A80RTv4&index=1&list=PLB-99rPb6xnpK3zSs60WaYtvVardbkEXY) I got \*Alone in the Universe \*as soon as it came out. Not as good as _Zoom_, but definitely worth owning. I’m a total fanboy, er, ah, fan \*geezer \*I guess. I DVRed their concert in Hyde Park from the Paladium channel, and can’t bring myself to delete it. I’ve watched it at least a dozen times already! ---
**Author:** ![GreenElf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de053/32.png) [@GreenElf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreenElf)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2016, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-we-think-of-elo-do-we-like-them/661918/77 "2016-02-21T18:29:11Z")
I recently got the mellotron-drenched _Live in Winterland '76_. ---
**Author:** ![psiekier](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psiekier/32/116_2.png) [@psiekier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psiekier)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2016, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-we-think-of-elo-do-we-like-them/661918/78 "2016-03-04T03:16:34Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > The new album, _Alone in the Universe_, is out. _Finally_ bought the extra track version on iTunes tonight. Will have to listen to it a few times to decide which tracks go on the playlist … ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2016, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-we-think-of-elo-do-we-like-them/661918/79 "2016-03-04T03:22:55Z")
Listening to the album. Groovin’ to the music. Am. Happy. ---
**Author:** ![MacSpon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/34f0e0/32.png) [@MacSpon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacSpon)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2016, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-we-think-of-elo-do-we-like-them/661918/80 "2016-03-04T03:37:52Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > I thought _Time_ was, too. Came in here to say this. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-we-think-of-elo-do-we-like-them/661918.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-we-think-of-elo-do-we-like-them/661918.md?page=5)