My $.02 on the Nickleback basher

[Din Of Win]

Music is entertainment and we usually base ability based on popularity.

Man, if that were true some of these chapman stick playing basement goblins would be playing sellout arenas rather than.. well.. their basements.

I am not a fan of Nickelback by any means at ALL. I can comfortably say i think they suck. But that's my own opinion.

When you start to argue things like "popularity within music" you touch on SO many different things than just musicianship. There's the whole connection side of things, marketing, aesthetic and so forth that contribute equally to a bands total popularity.

I've always just held the possition of stoic indifference. I play music that i like and that i would want to listen to and that's fine for me. Good on Nickleback for doing something that, i would assume, they love as well. Just do whatcha do the best you can and sleep better because of it.

 

[P. Aaron]

If they were named 'Quarterback' would they be then thought of as leaders of their brand of music, and therefore popular with more people?

 

[GregC]

You are such a hater that you hate on the word hater I never said Zappa was not a great musician. And I would consider Zappa rockstar, even though he does not play conventional music.

And if you don't know one song title/lyric by Nickelback then you have been living under a rock.

Let me ask you this, is it not a talent in its self to play/write popular music, whether you like it our not? Hey man I listen to metal and jazz two less popular genres, but I'm not gonna say Nickelback sucks because I'm not a fan.

I know you never said that about Zappa, but you said great musicians "swallow their foolish pride, stick to the basics, simple chord structures and singable lyrics." Obviously, Zappa, as well as many other great musicians, didn't do that.

Is it a talent to play/write popular music? In a manner of speaking. I never said Nickelback completely lacked talent. But would you say Britney Spears is talented, too? She's certainly had some popular music. Note that I'm not equating Nickelback and Britney, just showing where this sort of reasoning takes us.

Music is entertainment and we usually base ability based on popularity.

That's not the way I go about it. I won't be including McDonald's in my list of the greatest restaurants anytime soon, either, despite their popularity.

 

[hbarcat]

Dude all you haters know Nickelback lyrics. So jokes on you. I'm not a fan of them by any means, nor do I like The Beatles. But they do what GREAT musicians do, write songs that people like. They swallow their foolish pride, stick to the basics, simple chord structures and singable lyrics.

And if you don't know one song title/lyric by Nickelback then you have been living under a rock.

I have no opinion on Nickelback but I had to chime in when I read this.

I don't know any Nickelback lyrics. I don't know one song title by Nickelback. If you played a Nickelback song I would be completely unable to identify the artist. I don't know what any of the members look like and I don't even know what type of music they play other than it's popular with some people. Just not people who I'm friends with or who I play music with.

I play in a classic rock cover band and from time to time we get requests to "play some Nickelback!" But we just don't know any and I/we haven't felt it necessary to look into learning any because we have other priorities - like learning songs that more people want to hear.

Just because one doesn't listen to the latest fad music on the radio doesn't mean one lives under a rock.


And your comment about what "GREAT" musicians do is ridiculous on the face of it.

 

[scootron]

I have no opinion on Nickelback but I had to chime in when I read this.

I don't know one song title by Nickelback. If you played a Nicelback song I would be completely unable to identify the artist. I don't know what any of the members look like and I don't even know what type of music they play other than it's popular with some people. Just not people who I'm friends with or who I play music with.

I play in a classic rock cover band and from time to time we get requests to "play some Nickelback!" We just don't know any and I/we haven't felt it necessary to look into learning any because we have other priorities - like learning songs that more people want to hear.

Just because I don't listen to the latest fad music on the radio doesn't mean I live under a rock.

I'm with you here. I couldn't pick them out of a lineup, except that one of the kids in my last band (classic rock cover) would say every once in a while "Hey, Nickelback does that song", meaning I guess that they occasionally would do a cover of a classic rock tune.

Edit: Wow, just read that they are from Canada and have sold over 31 million records world wide. That's pretty amazing.

 

[Geddyfleaharris]

Edit: Wow, just read that they are from Canada and have sold over 31 million records world wide. That's pretty amazing.

And that's my point. No matter what anyone's opinion of them is you have to give them their dues. Not a lot of bands sell that volume of records. Yes they have a formula but it has obviously struck a chord with a lot of people. They play their own instruments and write their own songs so comparisons to Britney are not really appropriate.

 

[capnsandwich]

If you think Nickelback and other bands are bad, try to listen to contemporary Christian music. It's so mass-produced that I can hear the edits in the vocals on the radio. That stuff is auto tuned to death.

 

[fo shizzle]

You are such a hater that you hate on the word hater I never said Zappa was not a great musician. And I would consider Zappa rockstar, even though he does not play conventional music.

And if you don't know one song title/lyric by Nickelback then you have been living under a rock.

Let me ask you this, is it not a talent in its self to play/write popular music, whether you like it our not? Hey man I listen to metal and jazz two less popular genres, but I'm not gonna say Nickelback sucks because I'm not a fan.

Um, Zappa doesn't play conventional, or any other type of music, having been dead for many years.

You probably know that. I just can't keep the smartass voices quiet sometimes.....

 

[wayleft]

a couple of thoughts...

Nickelback makes a product that sells pretty well... so does toyota. neither excites me that much but if i were in advertising or marketing i'd love to have either of those accounts.

as far as what was it "we base ability basically based on the basis of popularity" I think thats backwards. The general population seems to assume talent and ability are there if something is popular. The general population assumes a lot of crud and behaves as though its a universal law. The general population also are just as bad of music lovers as they are musicians. IMHO and IME.

 

[unclekebm]

IMHO there are worst bands making their kind of money but when you record with the likes of Billy Gibbons and the LATE GREAT DIMEBAG, your credibility goes beyond Fallout Boy, Green Day, Limp Bisket and the other fad bands.

I wouldn't call Green Day a "fad" band, they've been around a long time
Yea according to the SF Punk scene they "sold out" but 20~ish years of success...

Don't get me wrong, I dig Nickelback...

 

[David Jayne]

I am the original poster, and thought I'd stop by-

Dude all you haters know Nickelback lyrics. So jokes on you. I'm not a fan of them by any means, nor do I like The Beatles. But they do what GREAT musicians do, write songs that people like. They swallow their foolish pride, stick to the basics, simple chord structures and singable lyrics.

Ah, you mean like Miles Davis, or John Coltrain. I see.

I have no opinion on Nickelback but I had to chime in when I read this.

I don't know any Nickelback lyrics. I don't know one song title by Nickelback. If you played a Nickelback song I would be completely unable to identify the artist.

See if this rings a bell: "This is how, you remind me of what I really am."
Nothing? Are you sure?
And just to clarify: Yes, they are successful, hard to argue with that. I congratulate them for wringing money from this thing called the 'Music Industry,' I really do. And they are probably all super nice guys, bla bla blah.
I don't like the music, but the purpose of my original post was really meant to illustrate how the biz pushes a particular act so hard that you can't escape it unless you live in a cave, which I think burns the act out. Even if I did like them, I wouldn't want to hear them ALL the time, that's all. Sorry to bash.

 

[TheVoiceless]

I have no opinion on Nickelback but I had to chime in when I read this.

I don't know any Nickelback lyrics. I don't know one song title by Nickelback. If you played a Nickelback song I would be completely unable to identify the artist. I don't know what any of the members look like and I don't even know what type of music they play other than it's popular with some people. Just not people who I'm friends with or who I play music with.

I play in a classic rock cover band and from time to time we get requests to "play some Nickelback!" But we just don't know any and I/we haven't felt it necessary to look into learning any because we have other priorities - like learning songs that more people want to hear.

Just because one doesn't listen to the latest fad music on the radio doesn't mean one lives under a rock.


And your comment about what "GREAT" musicians do is ridiculous on the face of it.

Ok so you are in a cover band and don't play covers that people want to hear??? Not a good moto. Nickelback is not a fad. Selling that many albums as listed on here is not a fad Look man I play metal, and that's about as popular as AIDS. But they are doing something right otherwise we would be arguing about another band. And if you are in a cover band and refuse to play current popular music, you are living under a rock. I understand you are a "classic rock" cover band. Just understand that Nickelback will be classic rock in 10 years.Maybe then you will learn of them.

 

[TheVoiceless]

I am the original poster, and thought I'd stop by-Ah, you mean like Miles Davis, or John Coltrain. I see.

They are popular, but I would hardly put them up as a HUGE POP success. I would like to know who sold more albums, Coaltraine or Hannah Montana What I am trying to get across here is that people don't care how great you can sing or play as long as the song connects with them. Metal connects with me. Again by no means am I a Nickelback fan, but why hate a band for being successful?

 

[TheVoiceless]

Um, Zappa doesn't play conventional, or any other type of music, having been dead for many years.

You probably know that. I just can't keep the smartass voices quiet sometimes.....

Thats ok I like to stir it up myself

 

[Greyvagabond]

dooods nicklebak is the f-in shizznit. Their soundz are soooo tight. All u h8trs are just jeelus of their mad skills YOU CANT HANDLE THE ROXXX!!!11!

 

[Luke.Walton]

People please, lets have some order!

Chad Kroeger looks like the Paddlepop Lion.
And I hope you all have Paddlepops in places other than Australia...

 

[Rune Bivrin]

I am the original poster, and thought I'd stop by-Ah, you mean like Miles Davis, or John Coltrain. I see.

They are popular, but I would hardly put them up as a HUGE POP success. I would like to know who sold more albums, Coaltraine or Hannah Montana

John Coltrane. If you're going to complain about the taste of the uneducated masses it behoves you to edumacate yourselves at least that far...

 

[P. Aaron]

Ok so you are in a cover band and don't play covers that people want to hear??? Not a good moto. Nickelback is not a fad. Selling that many albums as listed on here is not a fad Look man I play metal, and that's about as popular as AIDS. But they are doing something right otherwise we would be arguing about another band. And if you are in a cover band and refuse to play current popular music, you are living under a rock. I understand you are a "classic rock" cover band. Just understand that Nickelback will be classic rock in 10 years.Maybe then you will learn of them.

You know what? There's a guy in DAYTON named Bob Pollard who's the singer of Guided By Voices. If you ask me, he's one of the greatest artists of all time. If you Google the band, you'll find dozens of links. That, in its own way qualifies as greatness.

But let's give Nickleback 10 years. Mods, do not close this thread. the clock is ticking.

I'll be in a wedding band by then and won't have to play Nickleback then either.

 

[TheVoiceless]

You know what? There's a guy in Akron named Bob Pollard who's the singer of Guided By Voices. If you ask me, he's one of the greatest artists of all time. If you Google the band, you'll find dozens of links. That, in its own way qualifies as greatness.

But let's give Nickleback 10 years. Mods, do not close this thread. the clock is ticking.

I'll be in a wedding band by then and won't have to play Nickleback then either.

Dude Guided By Voices is a great band. I just heard them for the first time on Pandora. I also read their bio. It seems that they have a rotating line up. But as great as they are you will have to learn "how you remind me" by Nickelback if you are in a POP cover band. And trust me if you are in a "classic rock band" 10 years from now you WILL be playing Nickelback. Not Guided By Voices, sorry but that's just how it is.

 

[mjolnir]

Dude Guided By Voices is a great band. I just heard them for the first time on Pandora. I also read their bio. It seems that they have a rotating line up. But as great as they are you will have to learn "how you remind me" by Nickelback if you are in a POP cover band. And trust me if you are in a "classic rock band" 10 years from now you WILL be playing Nickelback. Not Guided By Voices, sorry but that's just how it is.

I've figured it out.

...You're their PR guy, aren't you?

I kid, I kid.