Play my favourite song!

I had an interesting conversation with a friend the other day that prompted me to blog about it. It is a concept that both confuses and interests me…but I am getting ahead of myself, let me explain.

It all began with the mention of Primus, and I said, “Ah yes, Primus…'Wynona’s Big Brown Beaver'…charming song”. This comment offended my friend and prompted the conversation and friendly argument that followed.

He sympathized with bands that have made several albums, but only seemed to be known to the masses off the back of one song. He felt that often this song is a gimmicky, fun type of song that does not reflect the bands work as a whole. This in turn attracts the attention of people who would not normally be fans of the band, fans that do not understand the rest of the bands music. Often as a result the band will refuse to play this song live as a protest. My friend understands the bands frustrations and finds this move to the ban song justified. I disagree.

Most popular bands have “a song” that you think of every time you hear of the band. Often you think Coldplay…you think ‘Yellow’; Oasis – ‘Wonderwall'; Backstreet Boys – ‘Backstreets Back’; Britney – ‘Oops I Did It Again’ and so on and so forth, I think you get the drift. Is this a negative thing for the band? In my opinion, no.

The great thing about having a hit is that it opens up your audience. People will go and buy your single and listen to the b-sides, or they will go and buy the whole album. It expands the amount of people listening to your music. That has to be a good thing. Surely the goal of a band is to make the best music that they can and have as many people as possible hear it? Does it matter if your most successful commercial track is not your finest musical moment? Surely not, as long as your finest musical moment is being heard as a result of it and given the best chance it can, does it really matter? And who decides if it is the bands best song or not? Dot he band? Do their “real fans”? Surely again, this is a matter of personal opinion anyway.

Another concern that my friend had was that this popular son g may drive people who are not really interested in the band to their gigs. If a fan enjoys a song to the extreme that they are prepared to pay $80-odd to see that one song, not knowing any others, that to me s the ultimate compliment to the song writer and performer of that particular song. The fact that the song has affected them that deeply that they wills it through an hour or more songs they don’t know just to hear it is amazing.

Personally, when I go and see Robbie Williams, I am expecting ‘Angles’; when Foo Fighters perform, I am excited to hear ‘Learn to Fly’ and I expect that Bon Jovi will belt out ‘Livin’ On a Prayer’ like it is not the 50 millionth time they have played it. If an artist is going to accept the royalties and the awards/accolades and praise for a tune, they in turn, have to embrace the song as part of their history and have love and respect for it. One thing is for sure, their fans do.

Go the hits!

Pop Princess

P.S. I had the pleasure of hearing ‘You Needed More’ a sneak peak from the new Sleepy Jackson album expected in June. One word….WOW!

P.P.S Whilst all in Australia are disappointed we will have to wait to see U2, I am sure that all fans will agree with me when I say that we understand the reasons and wish The Edge’s family all the best through this difficult time. Hopefully they will make it here sometime in the new future.