Song of the Moment: Sirens

[harmless]

There probably isn't a PJ song that isn't true for.

Yawn.

This song could be an Elton John song with minimal to no adjustment. I wonder how many RMers would be clamoring to rush into OB and boldly sing its praises, if it was Elton's song instead of Ed's?

So context counts for absolutely nothing, huh? Surely you're more likely to accept a good schlock ballad from your favourite band of 23 years than the equivalent thing from someone you don't even usually like, simply because you're not as likely to seek out Elton John's stuff. Elton John does actually have some musical talent, let's keep that in mind. People need to stop assuming that a well-put-together song is instantly bad just because it reminds them of a band the cool kids won't let them like.

Anyway, LTRP sounds far more like Elton John.

[Lounge Lizard]

This came on the random play list this morning, and my wife pointed out that it takes no effort at all to imagine Elton John's voice singing exactly this song, without any other necessary changes.

Now I can't not hear it.

Didn't I say that the moment it leaked?
Replace the guitars with just the piano, and it's a classic Elton John number through and through

[Lounge Lizard]

There probably isn't a PJ song that isn't true for.

Come on

[Dr. Van Nostrand]

This came on the random play list this morning, and my wife pointed out that it takes no effort at all to imagine Elton John's voice singing exactly this song, without any other necessary changes.

Now I can't not hear it.

is that a bad thing though?

[harmless]

Of course it is, Elton John's music is so ghey!

[warehouse]

people dont like elton john here?

[Tuolumne]

There probably isn't a PJ song that isn't true for.

quote]

So context counts for absolutely nothing, huh? Surely you're more likely to accept a good schlock ballad from your favourite band of 23 years than the equivalent thing from someone you don't even usually like, simply because you're not as likely to seek out Elton John's stuff. Elton John does actually have some musical talent, let's keep that in mind. People need to stop assuming that a well-put-together song is instantly bad just because it reminds them of a band the cool kids won't let them like.
quote]

Yes, yes, and yes. This is something that still lingers in our generations and older. The "if it sounds like X, then it must suck, because Y type of person might like it." The generations after us have worked through this conundrum, and they don't give a shit. If you like it, if it get to you in some way, it is an effective song.

[harmless]

There probably isn't a PJ song that isn't true for.

Come on

Well, if the premise is songs you can imagine Elton John singing, I stand by my point. Just exchange Ed's voice for Elton John's in your head. Easy. It probably helps that I don't think this song sounds any more like Elton John than any other ballad by any other band. I'm not sure how premises like this are any more true just because they come from people who don't like these songs. And when all is said and done, what is inherently wrong with Elton John's music anyway? I'll enjoy a song if I enjoy it, whether it sounds like Elton or not.

[Dr. Van Nostrand]

people dont like elton john here?

thats what im wondering, he is obviously a different style then PJ, but i cant figure if that was a insult that they could imagine elton singing sirens

[McParadigm]

Didn't I say that the moment it leaked?

By jove, you did. Kudos.

This came on the random play list this morning, and my wife pointed out that it takes no effort at all to imagine Elton John's voice singing exactly this song, without any other necessary changes.

Now I can't not hear it.

is that a bad thing though?

Goodbye Yellow Brick Road is an impossibly great album. Elton has definitely had amazing moments in his career. But here you have what could easily be an Elton John song with Ed redoing the vocal part, and people are eating it up on a message board that has exactly no Elton John threads in the OB section.

Well, if the premise is songs you can imagine Elton John singing, I stand by my point.

The premise wasn't "songs you can imagine Elton John singing." It was "songs that sound exactly like an Elton John song."

[Strat]

There probably isn't a PJ song that isn't true for.

Come on

Well, if the premise is songs you can imagine Elton John singing, I stand by my point. Just exchange Ed's voice for Elton John's in your head. Easy. It probably helps that I don't think this song sounds any more like Elton John than any other ballad by any other band. I'm not sure how premises like this are any more true just because they come from people who don't like these songs. And when all is said and done, what is inherently wrong with Elton John's music anyway? I'll enjoy a song if I enjoy it, whether it sounds like Elton or not.

Its a stupid argument. I believe he is getting at "if you like this song you should love elton john, but you dont, so you only like this song because its pearl jam cause you dont like elton"

And, I say, yea, well so?

[Dr. Van Nostrand]

Didn't I say that the moment it leaked?

By jove, you did. Kudos.

This came on the random play list this morning, and my wife pointed out that it takes no effort at all to imagine Elton John's voice singing exactly this song, without any other necessary changes.

Now I can't not hear it.

is that a bad thing though?

Goodbye Yellow Brick Road is an impossibly great album. Elton has definitely had amazing moments in his career. But here you have what could easily be an Elton John song with Ed redoing the vocal part, and people are eating it up on a message board that has exactly no Elton John threads in the OB section.

Well, if the premise is songs you can imagine Elton John singing, I stand by my point.

The premise wasn't "songs you can imagine Elton John singing." It was "songs that sound exactly like an Elton John song."

i may have to start us an Elton John Thread

[harmless]

Didn't I say that the moment it leaked?

By jove, you did. Kudos.

This came on the random play list this morning, and my wife pointed out that it takes no effort at all to imagine Elton John's voice singing exactly this song, without any other necessary changes.

Now I can't not hear it.

is that a bad thing though?

Goodbye Yellow Brick Road is an impossibly great album. Elton has definitely had amazing moments in his career. But here you have what could easily be an Elton John song with Ed redoing the vocal part, and people are eating it up on a message board that has exactly no Elton John threads in the OB section.

Well, if the premise is songs you can imagine Elton John singing, I stand by my point.

The premise wasn't "songs you can imagine Elton John singing." It was "songs that sound exactly like an Elton John song."

I don't think this one sounds any more like an Elton John song than any rock ballad with piano does. It has vocal harmonies and piano, so someone imagines Elton sitting on a stool tinkling his ivories and goes LOL, and suddenly they get that image stuck in their head. It's funny. But it still means relatively little other than the song is a ballad featuring piano, and Elton also writes those. If PJ had been writing those throughout their career, everyone one of their songs would "sound exactly like an Elton John song", and that fact would've put you off a long time ago, but probably not me. PJ has been derivative many times before, but because they were derivative of bands and artists you liked, you stayed on board. I've thought most of their influences sucked for as long as I've been a fan, this is nothing new. But I will still admit to thinking something like "Candle in the Wind" is a really good song. Because, you know, I'm not sixteen anymore.

[McParadigm]

Its a stupid argument. I believe he is getting at "if you like this song you should love elton john, but you dont, so you only like this song because its pearl jam cause you dont like elton"

And, I say, yea, well so?

That wasn't my point, but I would certainly be on the side of someone who did make that argument. It really breaks down into two different core statements.

A. I like Pearl Jam because they make music that I like.
B. I like the music that they make because they are Pearl Jam.

Some people, it's A. And those people are more capable of getting turned off by the band, because each individual song or album is going to have to earn its keep with them. But for others, they have an additional attachment to the band, or its sound, or whatever. And they will follow them down roads that, if any other artist went down it, they might be indifferent or turned off.

[stip]

I'm not kidding, it really does sound like that song

that's a much shittier version, but they're on the same continuum. that's fair

[Strat]

Its a stupid argument. I believe he is getting at "if you like this song you should love elton john, but you dont, so you only like this song because its pearl jam cause you dont like elton"

And, I say, yea, well so?

That wasn't my point, but I would certainly be on the side of someone who did make that argument. It really breaks down into two different core statements.

A. I like Pearl Jam because they make music that I like.
B. I like the music that they make because they are Pearl Jam.

Some people, it's A. And those people are more capable of getting turned off by the band, because each individual song or album is going to have to earn its keep with them. But for others, they have an additional attachment to the band, or its sound, or whatever. And they will follow them down roads that, if any other artist went down it, they might be indifferent or turned off.

Can't it be both? Is that such a bad thing? Isn't, some times, that the point of being a fan of things? Warts and all?

I understand how it can be a turn off to some people when someone finds, at least something, they like in every song, but coming at it in such a mathematical way misses the point of music. At times.

Aren't you willing to go down any road Tom Waits brings you?

[stip]

This came on the random play list this morning, and my wife pointed out that it takes no effort at all to imagine Elton John's voice singing exactly this song, without any other necessary changes.

Now I can't not hear it.

that's true. I can totally hear that. But elton john has written quite a few songs I bet I'd love if Eddie sang them.

[harmless]

Its a stupid argument. I believe he is getting at "if you like this song you should love elton john, but you dont, so you only like this song because its pearl jam cause you dont like elton"

And, I say, yea, well so?

That wasn't my point, but I would certainly be on the side of someone who did make that argument. It really breaks down into two different core statements.

A. I like Pearl Jam because they make music that I like.
B. I like the music that they make because they are Pearl Jam.

Some people, it's A. And those people are more capable of getting turned off by the band, because each individual song or album is going to have to earn its keep with them. But for others, they have an additional attachment to the band, or its sound, or whatever. And they will follow them down roads that, if any other artist went down it, they might be indifferent or turned off.

I think you're either diminishing the depth or validity of option B., or excluding an option C, which is "I like Pearl Jam because their musicianship and vocalist appeals to me more than any other band's." For me, PJ has always been about Ed and the musicianship of the band, which, on the whole, has been top notch apart from a few missteps. They've tried a lot of different variations on rock music over the years, and we've followed them through it, and got used to new directions because they still "sounded like Pearl Jam". As I say, I wouldn't be listening to any other band that sounded like The Who, or Springsteen, or AC/DC, or the Rolling Stones etc. -- certainly not bands that covered them -- because I think they all suck. But I love what PJ are able to do with those classic rock styles, so I stay on board in spite of the obvious derivation.

[Hatfield]

There probably isn't a PJ song that isn't true for.

Yawn.

This song could be an Elton John song with minimal to no adjustment. I wonder how many RMers would be clamoring to rush into OB and boldly sing its praises, if it was Elton's song instead of Ed's?

McP, with less than 2 weeks to go until the album comes out, can you use your powers for good? It would make a difference for me.

[harmless]

This came on the random play list this morning, and my wife pointed out that it takes no effort at all to imagine Elton John's voice singing exactly this song, without any other necessary changes.

Now I can't not hear it.

that's true. I can totally hear that. But elton john has written quite a few songs I bet I'd love if Eddie sang them.

Yup.