David Gray

[Chubbhead EFM]

There's nothing wrong with ABBA! Proper, old skool, good-bad pop!

[Colin Zeal EFM]

Quote:

Oh dear! Zeal, you seem to have taken my post somewhat more personally than I meant it <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

Not at all, Chubby. Hmmm, my post does come across as a bit harsh, but I wasn't having a go at you. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

[GHA EFM]

Bit mainstream for my liking, ABBA. Not to mention a bit before my time. Then again, Zeal, I'm not a big fan of the Beatles either, so who's to say? I might consider The Beatles to be a bit 'bubblegum' as well, come to think of it.

[Colin Zeal EFM]

Early Beatles ('62-'64) could be described as 'bubblegum pop', agreed, but anything post-Rubber Soul certainly couldn't be.

 

Quote:

Bit mainstream for my liking

 

Well, at least you admit you're a music snob. Mind you, you don't get much more 'mainstream' than Springsteen, and I thought you were a fan of his??

 

 

[GHA EFM]

<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

 

Pre-1985 The Boss is not mainstream, post-1985 is, Latest stuff is aimed at both sets of fans.

 

I'm sure AFF and HB can back me up better hear.

 

As a wise man once said, 'Bruce Springsteen didn't go mainstream in 1985, that was just when everyone else caught up.'

 

<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

[Chubbhead EFM]

Okey Cokey Zeal <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

 

GHA, I'd agree that the Beatles were a bit 'bubblegum' in the beginning, but I think that's more to do with the time and social factors. Ii think, that as society relaxed a bit more then they could make their music more adventurous and 'outrageous'.

[Colin Zeal EFM]

Quote:

Pre-1985 The Boss is not mainstream, post-1985 is, Latest stuff is aimed at both sets of fans.

 

I'm sure AFF and HB can back me up better hear.

 

As a wise man once said, 'Bruce Springsteen didn't go mainstream in 1985, that was just when everyone else caught up.'

 

Or perhaps, when he 'sold out'.

 

"Born To Run" was 1975. And that is certainly 'mainstream'.

 

 

[GHA EFM]

Firstly, see <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

 

Secondly, are you sure you're not thinking of Born In The USA? It's widely regarded, but Bruce fans and non-Bruce fans alike, that Dancing In The Dark was the first introduction to 'mainstream' from the Boss (the one with Courtney Cox) and that was post '85.

[Colin Zeal EFM]

No. I'm thinking of "Born To Run" which was a commercially successful single/album release in 1975.

 

So commercial in fact, that Frankie Goes To Hollywood did a cover version of it nine years later for their debut album.

 

Oh, and without being too pedantic, "Born In The USA" and "Dancing In The Dark" were both 1984. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

 

 

[Colin Zeal EFM]

Just found this on a BBC website...

 

Born To Run came in 1975 and immediately put him into rock's first division. This superb album contained a wealth of lyrical frustration, anger and hope. The playing was faultless and the quality of the songs was among his best. Critics and fans loved it, and the album was a significant hit on both sides of the Atlantic. During the accompanying tour Springsteen collected rave reviews and appeared as cover feature in both Newsweek and Time.

 

Sounds pretty 'mainstream' to me!! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

 

 

[GHA EFM]

So being commercially successful means that you are mainstream? How does one define commercially successful then?

 

Rage Against The Machine did a cover of The Boss's 'The Ghost Of Tom Joad.' The song wasn't commerical though.

 

Zeal. Don't be so pedantic <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

[Colin Zeal EFM]

How would you describe 'mainstream' then??

 

 

[GHA EFM]

It's a big river, isn't it?

[Chubbhead EFM]

I would define mainstream as being able to get in the Top 20 and/or getting airplay on Capital FM, Virgin, Mercury etc during the normal daytime shows. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

[Colin Zeal EFM]

Like I say...

 

Born To Run came in 1975 and immediately put him into rock's first division. This superb album contained a wealth of lyrical frustration, anger and hope. The playing was faultless and the quality of the songs was among his best. Critics and fans loved it, and the album was a significant hit on both sides of the Atlantic. During the accompanying tour Springsteen collected rave reviews and appeared as cover feature in both Newsweek and Time.

 

Sounds pretty 'mainstream' to me!!

 

 

[GHA EFM]

Quote:

rock's first division

I personally would say that mainstream is usually associated with the pop genre. Once a rock song moves into the pop genre, it can be classified as mainstream, something that did not happen with Springsteen until Dancing In The Dark.

[SteveP]

But when you go in to most music shops isn't pop/rock always lumped together, usually this area is seen as mainstream and that goes from Abba to Springsteen to David Gray to The Beatles, mainstream is the stuff a lot of people, in general go for, some more than others, obviously.

[Colin Zeal EFM]

Quote:

I personally would say that mainstream is usually associated with the pop genre. Once a rock song moves into the pop genre, it can be classified as mainstream, something that did not happen with Springsteen until Dancing In The Dark.

Rubbish. You can't go pigeon-holing that. You can't claim that because something is rock, it cannot be 'meanstream'.

Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" is rock. It could also be described as 'mainstream'.

The fact is, that Springsteen was commercially mainstream long before 1985. He was getting on the front cover of 'mainstream' American glossy magazines ten years before.

Anyway - this is my slagging off David Gray thread. He makes dire, dull and boring music for women who normally listen to charty dance music, so they can pretend to be interesting on a first date.

[GHA EFM]

Quote:

Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" is rock. It could also be described as 'mainstream'.

Maybe so, but Nirvana weren't mainstream during their early years, were they?

And, once again, I agree. David Gray is crap. Although how do you explain for some men liking him? Just general poor music taste?

[SteveP]

You have to wrok to the lowest common denominator GHA, like UB!!