The Biggest Challenge For Live's Future Success Is... Options

[thefunkyredcaboose]

Indeed. A cool sexy look sells.

As much as people here may hate me for saying it, there's a reason why when you mention Live to people they say "oh the bald guy!!!"

Personally, I think all of that's BS, but I have been in two bands that nearly signed record contracts and both broke down when the issue of sex appeal came up. Since the record industry is dying that is less and less of an issue, but to be a meteoric success you need a look.

[World Dreamer]

As much as people here may hate me for saying it, there's a reason why when you mention Live to people they say "oh the bald guy!!!"

Personally, I think all of that's BS, but I have been in two bands that nearly signed record contracts and both broke down when the issue of sex appeal came up. Since the record industry is dying that is less and less of an issue, but to be a meteoric success you need a look.

I agree, however if you can come up with a great and catchy song that is just incredible then you can still make it. Adele is a good example. Talent and great songs. While I could care less about her "look", you heard it all the time that she was fat and blah blah but she is doing well.

But like I said, I agree with you. It seems much easier to have success with a great/unique image and shitty music than vice versa. Adele is more of the exception than the rule.

The music industry has turned more towards entertainment than good quality music. People would rather see/watch something and have the music be secondary than just have great music. That could be another reason rock music isn't as prominent. It isn't some grand show. It is musicians playing instruments and actually singing. It isn't like the giant productions you see at these award shows.

[Pokey]

I agree, however if you can come up with a great and catchy song that is just incredible then you can still make it. Adele is a good example. Talent and great songs. While I could care less about her "look", you heard it all the time that she was fat and blah blah but she is doing well.

And to be honest I'm pretty skeptical and cynical, I think that is part of "her thing", "oh look shes FAT but she can sing!" .. what a non threatening image to young girls, someone they can like and know they can be prettier than. Its like having your fat flanker when you go out to clubs. So I don't think she has "over come the odds", i think the odds were the exact vehicle that has pushed her because I don't really see her as being anything unique, if she wasn't fat and she was gorgeous, she'd just be another good voice lost in the mix, and there are some out there ... Florence + The Machine for example, she's great, looks great, but nothing mind blowing.

[zmanpga]

as long as they are playing to their fans and making money, its not about being huge at this point, I hope they fulfill all their dreams
I cannot stand 90 % of all the new music out there....give me a break
104.5 out Philly turned into the biggest shit station lately,
EXCEPT when they play +LIVE+

[themaestro]

As much as people here may hate me for saying it, there's a reason why when you mention Live to people they say "oh the bald guy!!!"

Personally, I think all of that's BS, but I have been in two bands that nearly signed record contracts and both broke down when the issue of sex appeal came up. Since the record industry is dying that is less and less of an issue, but to be a meteoric success you need a look.

Gotye has the biggest song going right now and he's nothing to look at. I think the looks are important in the absence of great songs. Great songs = looks don't matter. Decent songs = looks somewhat matter. Shitty songs = looks are everything. Adele is popular because of her voice and the songs. In their 40's, Live is hardly over the hill by rock music standards. They've held up well and with great songs it won't matter. They're not going after teens. They can pull in plenty late 20's and up. I agree the problem is finding the audience in that it is very hard to get traction these days, mainly due to the narrow focus of the music business. Bush is a great example that they could follow. They were gone longer than Live, and made a very good comeback by sticking to the sound that made them popular and doing a great job of promoting.

[thefunkyredcaboose]

I agree, however if you can come up with a great and catchy song that is just incredible then you can still make it. Adele is a good example. Talent and great songs. While I could care less about her "look", you heard it all the time that she was fat and blah blah but she is doing well.

But like I said, I agree with you. It seems much easier to have success with a great/unique image and shitty music than vice versa. Adele is more of the exception than the rule.

The music industry has turned more towards entertainment than good quality music. People would rather see/watch something and have the music be secondary than just have great music. That could be another reason rock music isn't as prominent. It isn't some grand show. It is musicians playing instruments and actually singing. It isn't like the giant productions you see at these award shows.

Yeah sure Adele is a bit on the chubby side, but she is young and has a "look." Lady Gaga isn't particularly attractive but she is able to brand herself like crazy. Both are talented and perform extremely catchy music. Labels invested in them for their musical style and just plain style.

But those are two in a sea of platinum selling artists who are all hype and no substance.

By the way, I think CT read this thread because he is showing a lot of cleavage in the picture Chris Shinn just posted to FB.

[thefunkyredcaboose]

Gotye has the biggest song going right now and he's nothing to look at. I think the looks are important in the absence of great songs. Great songs = looks don't matter. Decent songs = looks somewhat matter. Shitty songs = looks are everything. Adele is popular because of her voice and the songs. In their 40's, Live is hardly over the hill by rock music standards. They've held up well and with great songs it won't matter. They're not going after teens. They can pull in plenty late 20's and up. I agree the problem is finding the audience in that it is very hard to get traction these days, mainly due to the narrow focus of the music business. Bush is a great example that they could follow. They were gone longer than Live, and made a very good comeback by sticking to the sound that made them popular and doing a great job of promoting.

A catchy song does not equal a great song. If Live's tunes are catchy like that Gotye song, or Adele, count me out homies.

Interestingly, both of those artists didn't originate in America, which is hugely important. American labels and promoters would have shit on them from the get go if they had started here. Same with Florence.

The Bush example is a good one because that's the level of success Live can shoot for. They aren't nearly as successful right now as the artists we are talking about, which is kind of the point I've been making.

This post has been edited by thefunkyredcaboose: May 17 2012, 4:09 pm

[themaestro]

A catchy song does not equal a great song. If Live's tunes are catchy like that Gotye song, or Adele, count me out homies.

Interestingly, both of those artists didn't originate in America, which is hugely important. American labels and promoters would have shit on them from the get go if they had started here. Same with Florence.

Personally, I like the Gotye song. Tired of it, but I like it. I don't find it that catchy as much as different. Much of what made Live popular though is catchy songs. Throwing Copper is filled with them.

[thefunkyredcaboose]

Personally, I like the Gotye song. Tired of it, but I like it. I don't find it that catchy as much as different. Much of what made Live popular though is catchy songs. Throwing Copper is filled with them.

I like the song too actually, but it is a style that is "in" right now. I suppose that is more what I meant by catchy, poor choice of words on my part. I would classify both artists as pop, and wouldn't ever classify anything on TC as that.

This post has been edited by thefunkyredcaboose: May 17 2012, 4:15 pm

[World Dreamer]

And to be honest I'm pretty skeptical and cynical, I think that is part of "her thing", "oh look shes FAT but she can sing!" .. what a non threatening image to young girls, someone they can like and know they can be prettier than. Its like having your fat flanker when you go out to clubs. So I don't think she has "over come the odds", i think the odds were the exact vehicle that has pushed her because I don't really see her as being anything unique, if she wasn't fat and she was gorgeous, she'd just be another good voice lost in the mix, and there are some out there ... Florence + The Machine for example, she's great, looks great, but nothing mind blowing.

Possible, for sure. Could also be that her talent is just undeniable. That woman can flat out sing.

I just think if you can get another "I, Alone" or "Jeremy" or "Enter Sandman" out there then the recognition will come and you capitalize on it. You gotta put out something that is so good that people HAVE to play it.

That is why I hope Live re-records "Hold Me Up".

What will probably happen is Live will put out a really good album, not get the recognition it should, just like TGF and just like a ton of really good artists, and they will fill up respectable size venues and not have a problem with it and go on making an album here and there with Live and TGF and be perfectly happy.

But if they want to return to, or get close to, what Live used to be, they would have to release a song/songs that end up being the songs that people use to define them.

The ideal situation would be a combination of the last two paragraphs. Do what you want and if you come up with something remarkable then run with it. It is almost like they are back to square one. Maybe they should name thier first Live album "Public Affection". Hell, go with "First Aid", "Action Front", or "Paisley Blues" since those were all pre-Ed names.

This post has been edited by World Dreamer: May 17 2012, 4:17 pm

[Badman]

This thread echoes my thread on if we even want live to be popular. The consensus in this thread and that thread is that we don't want to see live try to have "the look" if it means getting into mainstream ipods.

I bet CT does read these boards. I kinda wonder what he thinks of the rich layers of bootlegs/demos that we have of the band. I bet he would be bored to listen to them but we can't get enough. *cough secret samadhi *cough.

[themaestro]

Possible, for sure. Could also be that her talent is just undeniable. That woman can flat out sing.

I just think if you can get another "I, Alone" or "Jeremy" or "Enter Sandman" out there then the recognition will come and you capitalize on it. You gotta put out something that is so good that people HAVE to play it.

That is why I hope Live re-records "Hold Me Up".

What will probably happen is Live will put out a really good album, not get the recognition it should, just like TGF and just like a ton of really good artists, and they will fill up respectable size venues and not have a problem with it and go on making a album here and there with Live and TGF and be perfectly happy.

But if they want to return to, or get close to, what Live used to be, they would have to release a song/songs that end up being the songs that people use to define them.

The ideal situation would be a combination of the last two paragraphs. Do what you want and if you come up with something remarkable then run with it. It is almost like they are back to square one. Maybe they should name thier first Live album "Public Affection". Hell, go with "First Aid", "Action Front", or "Paisley Blues" since those were all pre-Ed names.

Man, I couldn't agree more on Hold Me Up. Re-record it and put it out as the first single.

[World Dreamer]

Man, I couldn't agree more on Hold Me Up. Re-record it and put it out as the first single.

I know they were trying to promote SFBM when they went on American Idol...but man, if there was ever a time and a place to play Hold Me Up it was then.

[thefunkyredcaboose]

I know they were trying to promote SFBM when they went on American Idol...but man, if there was ever a time and a place to play Hold Me Up it was then.

It would have made the demise a lot more interesting when their label pulled all their contracts.

[themaestro]

I like the song too actually, but it is a style that is "in" right now. I suppose that is more what I meant by catchy, poor choice of words on my part. I would classify both artists as pop, and wouldn't ever classify anything on TC as that.

True, but a good rock song can also be a good pop. Considering pop is mainly just popular if it's great in any format and can cross over it really is pop. Gotye is at the top of the rock and alternative formats right now. It broke here on Alternative radio which I consider it more alternative than pure pop. But by now it's a pop song all the way due to it's huge popularity. Anyway, we're in total agreement that comparing Live to any of those is pointless. Bush is a good example. Soundgarden too. They've already created quite a buzz and when they make their full comeback I expect it to be huge. Maybe Live can tour with them.