Fair-weather Fans or whatever you call it…
Well, let’s see: how do you even begin a blog like this? First of all, let me just say that as a musician there is nothing more frustrating than seeing people get into one song and then say they are a fan of a band, musician, or songwriter! So, let me begin with an example: I remember first hearing of a small-time, British band (who at the time was relatively unknown in the U.S.) while I was in Britain in the late 90’s called Coldplay. They were just coming on the scene, and my British friends were likening them to bands such as Radiohead (which at the time I thought was sacrilege). So, I began listening to some of Coldplay’s music, and was really drawn in by the sincerity and honesty of Chris Martin’s lyrics. Now, fast forward about 7 or 8 years and 3 major albums later, and you have a massive following here in the U.S. But stop for a second – what constitutes a fan? – is it someone who has been to 8 concerts and counting, or maybe it’s someone who knows all of the lyrics to The Scientist? Just let me say, though – that if you never listened to songs like Trouble or Don’t Panic off of Coldplay’s first album Parachutes, or if you haven’t taken the time to consider the dynamic lyrics or surreal melodies of songs like Green Eyes or A Warning Sign from their second album A Rush of Blood to the Head then don’t say you’re a fan.
So, let’s talk about a current explosion of sorts: Chasing Cars by Snow Patrol. Great song… awesome song in fact, but don’t add it to your MySpace profile or rev it up while it’s playing on some lame, sorry excuse for a radio station like Star 94 (For those of you here in Atlanta) while proclaiming (and I can hear it in some high-pitched, whiney, teen girl’s voice): I just love Snow Patrol! That’s crap…that’s exactly what it is… you’re no more of a fan of Snow Patrol than I am of Whitney Houston (and I’m no fan at all). Just because I know two lines of lyrics from some mid-90’s, Houston song doesn’t make me a fan.
I remember 4 or 5 years ago when I first heard the song Olive Grove Facing the Sea off of Snow Patrol’s album When It’s All Over We Still Have to Clear Up, I was moved beyond words… the passion, the emotion, and the meaning that exuded from Gary Lightbody’s vocals and lyrics was amazing. From that point forward I was sold, and I delved into every Snow Patrol song I could get my hands on… and almost dissected them so that I could grab those lyrics and understand the meaning and emotion behind their songs. So, I guess what I’m saying is: if you’ve never taken the time to listen to and soak up the meaning behind songs like On/Off, How To Be Dead, or If I’d Found the Right Words to Say then you don’t understand where Snow Patrol is coming from with a song like Chasing Cars. So, what would I call you? A fair-weather fan maybe… or perhaps not really much of a fan at all…
September 21st, 2006 at 12:52 pm
So I followed a link to your site from digg. I was interested because I thought that we were of the same mind set. I was wrong. I contend that yes there are tons of people that have heard a song and then call themselves fans. But isn’t that how you become a music fan, by hearing a song by an unknown (to you) band? Then I noticed the title of your blog, and so before I replied I followed your recommended summer playlist, to get an idea of the writer’s taste. This made me laugh out loud. “If you want a CD that combines that sounds of Franz Ferdinand, Blink 182, and Hawthorne Heights then this is the album for you.” Wow, what a way to tell me how much I am going to hate the new AFI disc. But wait, I don’t hate it, I feel that if anything it exceeds where said bands simply did not. I’m not a fan of them by any means, but I do like some of there songs. But you should never ever say that a band sounds like HAWTHORNE HEIGHTS, unless you are making fun of them. It seems to me that you have a limited perspective of music, and your rant about BAND WAGON FANS only illuminates that. Thanks for your time.
September 21st, 2006 at 2:41 pm
First of all, let me say that you couldn’t be more wrong - at least from one perspective. I wasn’t saying that a “fair-weather” fan was someone who listened to one song and then became a fan of that band (listening to more music, etc.). Obviously, that is really the only way that one becomes a fan. If you had read more closely you would have seen that I myself became a fan of Snow Patrol by hearing one song… however, someone who proclaims himself a fan after hearing only one song, with never any interest to delve into the band’s music deeper is not truly a fan.
As for the second part of your post: I did not state that I am a Hawthorne Heights fan or a Franz Ferdinand fan… I simply pointed out that there were elements to AFI’s music that reflected something similar in different ways. Neither did I say that AFI sounded like FF, Blink, or HH… I stated that their music combined varying sounds and techniques of those bands. So, perhaps you should read a little more closely before jumping to rash conclusions with misstated posts. Thanks!
September 21st, 2006 at 5:23 pm
I appreciate that you posted back. I never said you did like any of those bands, but if you intend to reference other bands sounds to describe what another band sounds like; I don’t think listing inferior bands is the way to do that. And In reference to your first post, I again say you are being very short sighted. I will list CRAZY by Gnarls Barkley as an example. Everyone and their freaking brother has heard this song over and over. Yet people still request it as though they have only heard it once. I thought this was going to be your point about Coldplay. But instead you attack those that simply haven’t discovered their catalouge, I for one think Coldplay is horribly over-rated, and do not consider myself a fan, but I am familiar with their albums. I mean that James sounded like Radiohead before Radiohead did. Brian Eno has been doing the same thing since the 70’s, it’s not new to sound like someone else, but if you do PLEASE do something unique. That is my rash post.
September 21st, 2006 at 5:28 pm
James, I see where you are coming from… good example of what you are talking about with the Gnarls Barkley song.
As for Coldplay, I would consider myself a fan of theirs, but much more of their original stuff.