I will state another "for instance" to demonstrate that I am not a closed-minded rock n' roll snob or CCP disciple. I like Barry Manilow (Nick I know that you have stated in the past that you like Barry Manilow too), in the sense that my wife has dragged me to see him quite a few times and consequently I listened to his greatest hits quite a few times on my ipod and in concert. She has made me do the same with Elton John. And I do have the Bee Gees on my ipod. And I like listening to all of that. It is not my favorite cup of tea. But can enjoy it.

I obviously liked Ed in Live. I even like Songs From Black Mountain. In fact, I like SFBM better than Birds of Pray and perhaps better than V.

I don't hate Ed or automatically react negatively to him. In fact, I think that I said that the YouTube clip of him sampling I'm The Proof sounded decent to me. I had high hopes for the song. And I still hold out hope that Ed will someday make music that I like again.

BUT - I think that Alive and this new song are just pitiful, horrible untalented pieces of garbage and Ed's stage performance and vocal style has become a joke. I think Ed should be ashamed to perform these in public and I feel ashamed to listen to them - although nothing will compare to how creepy and ashamed I felt after that Kings of Leon song he sang in that video clip and the awful Silent Night rendition he posted. I felt like I had just accidentally clicked on a perverted website and I wanted to shut down my web browser as quickly as possible. What Ed is doing now makes me want to re-evaluate my entire participatoin in this whole Live universe we hang around in because it undermines the legitimacy of the whole Live thing I have invested myself in and calls into question exactly whatever the heck I think I've been doing for the last 10 years. This guys is off his rocker (pun intended).

P.S. - I hate speaking so harshly about Ed. I will probably regret it later.

I actually like the song and the lyrics. It is a very uplifting tune, and you can tell that Ed believes in what he is singing. I''m looking forward to hearing the song at Mohegan.

Ed seems to be presenting himself as a paragon of all that is good and true, just like Hogan and Yoda it's no wonder this type of performer is something Nick clings to. Pity all 3 of them are fake.

I think Ed is just trying to stay relevant, in any genre that will have him. I believe he believes that the masses are easily fed. I also believe he believes in what he actually is writing and singing. I also believe he's chasing the almighty dollar. I can not condemn him for any of this. I also can not condemn anyone who enjoys Ed's new music, including Nick. Who are we to criticize anyone who is moved by something we don't like. Let's not be guilty of what we hammer Nick for mercilessly. We're all rockers, Ed is no longer a rocker. I condemn anyone that declares Ed is a rocker, including Ed. It's as simple as that, at least for me.

I actually like the song and the lyrics. It is a very uplifting tune, and you can tell that Ed believes in what he is singing. I''m looking forward to hearing the song at Mohegan.

Recording of Ed Kowalczyk performing I'm The Proof(new song) at Bospop: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ow9P8LR2BYE

Ok, I get that it is now a new fanbase, but not one that should automatically be discounted or put down just because they are not 20something hotties.
Who gives a crap if they were 60something? Fans are fans. Does it make you less cool or something if your fans are older and female?

and pssssst......housewives can still be hot, rocking and slamming over 45, too!

I think Im the Proof is Ed's proclamation that:

a) he's changed
b) he cannot go back and be angry Ed.
c) he's no longer the lead singer of Live
d) he's not interested in going back to Live

Ok, I get that it is now a new fanbase, but not one that should automatically be discounted or put down just because they are not 20something hotties.
Who gives a crap if they were 60something? Fans are fans. Does it make you less cool or something if your fans are older and female?

and pssssst......housewives can still be hot, rocking and slamming over 45, too!

Hot damn they can be !!! I got one myself and she is stunning.... love her to bits... and shes a LIVE fan too... not just a EK fan

Who said it made them less cool? I said it dozens of times that it is a completely DIFFERENT fanbase, not that it shall not exsist.

I think it's because it's seen that he's making music for house wives and still claiming he's out there rocking as much as ever yet it's a sea of sagging boobs infront of him. I think it's just that they seem to make up the bulk of his audience, he's a chick flick, he's the "Beaches" of "rock". The ladies just want to get up and have a dance to the same songs they were listening to in college.