Nickleback?

[mc2]

Can't argue with success. It sure beats workin' at Guitar Center, plying guitar in your basement and saying how bad Nickleback is

That said....they may not be the most prolific band to ever write and play but they sure know how to milk that formula they've hit on.

They remind me of a modern Guess Who, another successful Canadian "rock" band that I can do without after a couple songs in a row. I think it's just that decision to milk your hit formula until it won't sell any longer...makes it hard to listen to them for too long at any one stretch.

But I think Three Doors Down is close to being the US version of Nickleback....and I like Three Doors Down a lot more. I have no idea why. Maybe it's that Canadian thing?

Canadian rock bands just have some weird secret ingredient sprinkled in. They sound like real rock but there is somethin you can't taste or smell that tells you they're not.

If you took all the successful Canadian musical acts from the 60s thru now and listed them all...and look at that list....there IS some weird secret unspoken ingredient that is common to all. I can't name it but it's there.

Neil Young, Nickleback, Rush, Celine Dion, Guess Who...etc.....

Same with Canadian comedians. Many great ones but when you line them all up on a list..there is some common secret ingredient.

Moose blood maybe?

[GaryT]

You know thats an interesting take. I also like 3-Doors Down a Bit more.

And they do have that formula down cold..Agree'd.

I never thought about the Candian connection. Must be the cleaner COLD AIR up their. LOL. North Pole polarity or something....

[cmatthes]

I saw Randy Bachman w/Burton Cummings earlier in the year. Got to disagree that the Guess Who and BTO stuff didn't rock. They were really great - even for a couple of geezers! Every song had a story along with it, and they were all really good.

[Stike]

They're not the best band ever but I don't understand all the hate for them, it's like they're the band everyone loves to hate.

I'll contend that a lot of it boils down to a jealousy thing ("why are THEY making all that cash when my band/this other band is just as good if not better?") and a disdain for their fan base ("only a douchebag would be really into Nickelback."). I'll plead guilty on both counts. Chad Kroeger also has a habit of coming off as extremely creepy when he's trying to be sexy (for example, the lyrics to "Animals," "Figured You Out" and "Something In Your Mouth").

I will say that I enjoy the song "Someday" and Kroeger has by far the coolest crib I've ever seen on "Cribs."

I once went to check out a friends cover band and I think any halfway inteligent person could figure out with in 15 minutes that there was no Nickleback on the setlist, lots of old R&B and 70's stuff. I enjoy people watching and one guy that night was particularly entertaining, very Wooderson-esque and uber cheesy. Everyone in our group had spotted him and predicted if anyone there that night was going to be trouble it was him. Sure enough after about 4-5 liqour drinks he hollers out for some Nickleback.

[Hamer Time]

If Nickleback speaks to you and you feel that passionatly about them?

Nope, sorry if I made that impression but no I'm not a Nickelback fan, I don't own anything they've put out and have only heard their radio stuff. You seem to have read far more in my post than I wrote?

Nah mate, I was just wondering why it's so popular to slag them off is all, they seem no worse than the rest of the hair and cowboy boots bands that have been around since the 60's, or whatever.

I mentioned KISS really cause they seem to get a lot of respect nowadays, I guess people forget they were crappy musicians, and their songs had no relevance to anything but 'party on dooodes'. I could mention a thousand other bands that are not slagged off with the same enthusiasm of nickyorback, and in fact some of them considered rock icons (like kiss), yet they sucked probably worse than nickerback.

Their hair sucks. And the clothes, oh my god the clothes...Hmmmmm yeah doesn't about 90% of the rock establishment look like that.

Paul Weller, now he's a man who knows how to dress....

[polara]

Slight hijack, but if a band has to be defended by "Well, they're touring so they must be good, and they sold a million records so they must be great" it's a weak defense. That reasoning makes Britney Spears a better artist than Danny Gatton after all, as she has pleased FAR more people.

[Hamer Time]

Slight hijack, but if a band has to be defended by "Well, they're touring so they must be good, and they sold a million records so they must be great" it's a weak defense. That reasoning makes Britney Spears a better artist than Danny Gatton after all, as she has pleased FAR more people.

I guess it depends on how you define 'good'.

Good because the band are quality musicians, or good because they can create something people seem to like?

The Sex Pistols were not great musicians but I'd consider them one of the best bands of the 70's, for many reasons other than their ability to play a billion chords per song in some ancient key only they know about...

I don't like Spears either but she sells records, so to a lot of people she is a better artist than people who's music they don't buy.

Art is subjective and should not be dismissed simply because it's not technically proficient enough for you, or even that people like it for reasons other than it being good technically.

Isn't art simply 'anything arranged in a way that effects emotions'?

Maybe I'm wrong and I'm open to explore that, but for now that's my take on it....

[Hamerweizen]

Can't stand 'em. The over-emoting singer is obnoxious and the songs are unimaginative drivel.

But . . . when the band I sit in with on bass now and again plays their stuff the drunken bar people dig it.

Another benefit - if you have to learn a Nickelback song you can generally have the entire thing down before you have heard it the first time all the way through.

[Jimbilly]

I can't really hate them, but their music doesn't ever really engage with me, maybe too emo-rock like said above? I will say that the line "teach me wrong from right" from one of their radio hits bugs me, I want it to be "teach me left from right".

[chap]

I'm sorry if I'm offending anyone, but I can't stand Nickleback. I can't make it through a song. Not one song...

I can't think of any other band or artist that I can't stand more than this one.

edit: I swear that this band is "engineered" or made to be a star by some suit and tie. How else could this be explained?

[Armitage]

They made more money playing then I did last year, have more fans too...

[BubbaVO]

I don't.

[adgc]

Paul Weller, now he's a man who knows how to dress....

If you & yer mates was in a skiffle band called The Style Council you wouldn't be dressing like a stupid git, now would you?

[GaryT]

I'm sorry if I'm offending anyone, but I can't stand Nickleback. I can't make it through a song. Not one song...

I can't think of any other band or artist that I can't stand more than this one.

edit: I swear that this band is "engineered" or made to be a star by some suit and tie. How else could this be explained?

This actually also crossed my mind when I posted this topic. Who is it that writes their lyrics? Is it the singer?

When Nickleback first came out a few years back and that song "You Remind Me" hit the charts. They were also catching a lot of ink in all the major Guitar Magazines. I remember the magazine interviews with Chad [sorry I don't remember his last name]. And he went on talking about getting in trouble with the law. Going to jail for a short period. Hanging out in the bars and drinking constantly, his relationships and their rocky road. Much of what I have heard in these hit ballads, reminds me of his journey in life?

I automatically assumed "he" wrote the lyrics. But as they have been going on and on with this winning formula [as mentioned above]. I'm wondering if in fact they are actually all written by him? Or if its a couple of the band menbers? or if like with so many Great singers. Someone else is writting the lyrics for them? Or a combination of all? Probly the later "I'm assuming"? But my point being, the lyrics continue to remind me of this early trials and tribulations.

The music [also mentioned above] is pretty simple 3-4 chord progressions with his lyrics and played as ballads. I don't believe I remember any one band in the past doing "SO MANY" of these type ballads. And the formula continuing to be a success? I can't think of another band? Don't get me wrong their may be many.

I could see where people who are not playing music and those who are, would be attracted to this band. My old lady will drive and sing right along to one of their cuts. And I know the song is touching her emotions, its plain to see.

As far whats art and are they really musically talented? I also think "art" is in the eye of the beholder. As far as any comparison to Danny Gatton? Thats a whole different topic. You ever get a chance to view his Strickly Rythem video II. Give it a watch, the guy is jaw dropping. He covers every single type of music fluidly and bounces from one to the other like he invented these styles. Why he never reached a level of success many believed he should have? I guess it depends on how you define success. Many don't equate monetary gain with success? Just Sayin.... Danny did leave behind a bunch of music and videos done for Star Licks. As was with Roy Buchanan? Tragic is the story of both. Also many artists have been very successfull doing little more then 3--4 chord songs. Just off the top of my head Bob Dylan and John Lee Hooker come to mind. I don't know that mentioning Nickleback in the same sentence with Hooker or Dylan is appropriate either. I have a large section of music by Dylan and Hooker and I have been listening to both for many many years.

But the Nicklback rise has been interesting for sure. I honestly didn't believe you would hear much from them after "You Remind Me". Then when "Rock Star" hit I thought "well this will be about it"? Man have I been so wrong.

They keep coming back like a bad habit! I do think they are good for MUSIC in general. Now follow me here. They attract a large audience with their particular style of music and popularity. While they do not interest me. I do like the idea that are re-directing the musical thinking of todays youth. Instead of the majority of children lost in Rap and mindless drival like that. At least they are being taken in a direction that will open up many musical doors for them down the road. Lets face it, your only gonna listen to so much Nickleback and my question is. When you take them out of your CD player, who are you gonna put in Next? If for no other reason and nothing else. I do like them for this purpose!

Equating music with success, is sort of like the same as equating education with success? We associate them together. But yet they are seperate and very different concepts.

[Bruiser Brody]

Nickelback sounds too generic for most hard rawk fans to like...too produced, no edge or swagger and non-authentic. Sabbath, VH, Pantera..bands like this come from the rock'n roll dream. Nickelback comes from the rock'n roll career. It's wuss rock based on a formula for mass consumption directed by record company executives. The ol' "hey kids, it's on the radio all the time..we paid clear channel out the yin-yang so it's cool..no really! It's what you *should* be listening to! Go buy it and impress your pimply friends!" It's not just Nickelback..it's every one of those bands that parents would give money to their kids to buy. It's safe. Safe and lame.

[polara]

Interesting how this thread is growing. From a "Nickelback, yea or nea" question to pondering what success really is.

Well, we all agree they're commercially successful. And if they sleep well at night, love their families, and don't have the IRS at the door I'd say they are personally successful as well.

What is more interesting in all of this is the question of how a band or pop musician (I'm calling everything that isn't easily defined as jazz or art/classical "pop") becomes FAMOUS. Just what the proportion of ingredients should be... among them:

Memorable songs

Emotional resonance or connection with a large segment of the media-purchasing demographic

Looks and image

Consistent and smart marketing of the product

Audio and visual production that enhances or supplements whatever talent exists and minimizes weaknesses in the product

Again, none of this has anything to do with "success" in personal or really even critical terms. But in order to be commercially viable, I think all of the above are crucial. Musical chops are only crucial if your target demographic appreciates it: for instance if you are marketing to Satriani fans. Otherwise you just hire session guys to provide the necessary polish to make the songs radio-friendly and keep the focus on the act's main selling points. Same with songwriting: if you have a face and style that can sell downloads, hire some top writers, get a vocal coach and a patient engineer, and use that look as your marketing angle. The possibilities for making a big-selling act are endless if you look at it from the perspective of a maker of products ofr mass consumption.

[Stike]

I'm sorry if I'm offending anyone, but I can't stand Nickleback. I can't make it through a song. Not one song...

I can't think of any other band or artist that I can't stand more than this one.

edit: I swear that this band is "engineered" or made to be a star by some suit and tie. How else could this be explained?

This actually also crossed my mind when I posted this topic. Who is it that writes their lyrics? Is it the singer?

When Nickleback first came out a few years back and that song "You Remind Me" hit the charts. They were also catching a lot of ink in all the major Guitar Magazines. I remember the magazine interviews with Chad [sorry I don't remember his last name]. And he went on talking about getting in trouble with the law. Going to jail for a short period. Hanging out in the bars and drinking constantly, his relationships and their rocky road. Much of what I have heard in these hit ballads, reminds me of his journey in life?

I automatically assumed "he" wrote the lyrics. But as they have been going on and on with this winning formula [as mentioned above]. I'm wondering if in fact they are actually all written by him? Or if its a couple of the band menbers? or if like with so many Great singers. Someone else is writting the lyrics for them? Or a combination of all? Probly the later "I'm assuming"? But my point being, the lyrics continue to remind me of this early trials and tribulations.

The music [also mentioned above] is pretty simple 3-4 chord progressions with his lyrics and played as ballads. I don't believe I remember any one band in the past doing "SO MANY" of these type ballads. And the formula continuing to be a success? I can't think of another band? Don't get me wrong their may be many.

I could see where people who are not playing music and those who are, would be attracted to this band. My old lady will drive and sing right along to one of their cuts. And I know the song is touching her emotions, its plain to see.

I think the main thing for me why I dislike NB probablly more than I should and is the same reason I dislike modern pop country so much is to me the lyrics seems like outright pandering. Also MCC mentioned earlier any of their "dirty" songs come across as creepy and I think he's on the money there.

[Bass Guy Dave]

I'd heard a couple of their songs on the radio in '05. A couple of the 'creepy' ones, (which was a pretty spot-on call by MCChris,) and a balladish thing that was worse.

Then, without knowing who it was, I'd heard "Side of A Bullet" and thought "...now, that's not a bad song." I didn't know who/what it was about at the time--and ironically, it was hearing the guitar solo that caught my ear the most, thinking "....wow. there's somebody who's trying to really play again..."

when I found out it was Dimebag, I had to go back and listen to some more of his playing, and issue a general apology for somewhat dismissing him as a player earlier without listening first.

I still like the tune, but that's about it for Nickelback. Saw ayoutube thing of them doing a ZZTop cover, which was okay. Otherwise, I generally avoid 'em at earliest opportunity.

More power to 'em though. However it happens, they made some success. No small feat.

[Submariner85]

Only song of their's I ever liked was Leader Of Men. The rest of their stuff is bland.

[Hamer Time]

Paul Weller, now he's a man who knows how to dress....

If you & yer mates was in a skiffle band called The Style Council you wouldn't be dressing like a stupid git, now would you?

Huh? Yer gonna have to explain this one mate. Are you saying if NB were the SC they wouldn't dress like stupid gits? Nah that can't be right it makes no sense? NB wouldn't know the first thing about (Mod) style.

[Eric Weston]

Well, I think that there was kind of a vacuum in RAWK......somebody had to get pushed hard to the front to make the bigwigs some money and they were a safe bet.....

All I really know about Nickelback is.....we used to cover one of their tunes & it went from PACKING the dance floor to CLEARING OUT the room after about 4-6 months. Popularity backlash, I guess.

[MCChris]

Perhaps the definitive statement on this topic:

http://www.youtubedoubler.com/?video1=http...UIo&start2=

[Feynman]

Too awesome. The comments are great.

[Ted]

You know I like several songs, and can listen to them in smaller kinds of doses.

But there are not a lot of bands I can listen to for long periods of time either.

[BubbaVO]

#50 posts and almost 800 views for Nickleback? Are you out of your ....Ah...never mind.

I'm heading back over to the Boobies thread. MCC put up a blonde hottie with a very pretty rack - Colombian man's kryptonite.