New Wave Outpost Forum

I'm really into singers and songwriters. I love symbolic, meaningful, thought provocative, and poetic lyrics. Bernard Sumner, Neil Tennant, Martin Gore, Morrissey, Robert Smith are up there for me. The more beautiful the words, the more I love them. I know, entirely subjective, what beauty is but that's what does it for me. Consequently, I'm admire other artists outside of New Wave for this same reason. Simon & Garfunkel, Judy Collins, Chet Baker, Astrud Gilberto, Louie Prima, Burt Bacharach, Johnny Cash, all sorts of stuff.

What is it about your favorite artists that make you keep coming back for more?

<a href="http://www.worldwildlife.org/cetaceans/index.cfm">I dig whales.</a>

It's different for different artists. It's certainly not always about the singers or lyrics or even the hooks, back story, or anything I can even put my finger on. But my favorite bands always have a catalog full of evocative tracks. Evocative of what, that various wildly - I don't mean it's always something deeply thoughtful. They can just emote simple fun times or a foot-stomping fervor as much as anything thoughtful. But the ones that do this consistently in some manner, often very lyrically, and do so over time with some variety are my favorites (as indicated here: http://www.nwoutpost.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=9381).

Good question but it's always tough to talk about something so emotional like music in an accurate intellectual sense. This might be why [i]I think[/i] I like someone but it might not be the actual, deep-rooted reason.

I hear ya Blir. Like I said, entirely subjective. There really is no right answer but I guess it's intreresting to see what motivates fandom in a person. I too like alot of stuff that don't necessarily provide the kind of artistic thought I've come to expect from my favs. But there has to be a reason that people like us have entire catalogues of bands. I love Donna Summer's On The Radio to death (again, the lyrics) but I never found the need to have her entire discography or even see her in concert. But a group like British Sea Power for example. What is it about them? Why did you have to buy all three t-shirts at the show? Let's talk about true fandom.

<a href="http://www.worldwildlife.org/cetaceans/index.cfm">I dig whales.</a>

It's kind of like asking why you love your spouse/partner/ loved one. It's so subjective....there's a certain [i]quality[/i] about that person. Or artist. It just makes you smile, and/or: move. Shake your booty. Gyrate. Think. Bop. Bop your head while driving. The way certain of their lyrics affect you, or resonate with you. Sometimes it's even the way the band looks (OK, that sounds shallow. But when we gals were younger, Duran Duran's looks certainly helped! Or Adam Ant, or whoever). The artist's sound hits your ear a certain way, and you get hooked on it for whatever reason. Also, familiarity and nostalgia also plays a big part.

They make good music. Pithy, no?

It all depends with me also. Some bands like the Clash, I love because not only did they play music that I enjoyed, but in most cases, the lyrics really spoke to me as well. On the other hand, you have the Ramones, who wrote songs that were sometimes so dumb, they were brilliant. Then there's the Damned, who put out so many different styles of music over the years, but were great at whatever they did. Flipper was somebody who were just so damned annoying & abrasive, I couldn't help but love them. Then again, some stuff like the Plasmatics, I just can't explain.

Like most of y'all, my likes in music changes around. There are some groups that I have always liked(Kraftwerk, Beach Boys) and others that I have to be in a certain mood for(Gary Numan, Devo, Zapp) and others that I f-ing hate(Aerosmith, Cyndi Lauper).

For me, what matters the most musically is how alive the music makes me feel when I'm listening to it. Now, "alive" can have different connotations, so that covers a wide assortment of artists, from the vibrant dance rock of Duran Duran and Fischerspooner to the mournful introspection of Japan and Coldplay to the angular guitar rock of Josef K and Gang Of Four to the quiet chillout-ness of Phoenix and Air. In fact, the above eight ARE my eight favorite musical artists of all time, artists I will never get tired of nor wish to give up. I like witty and clever lyrics, but I don't demand an artist have the best lyrics around before I'll really get into them; I love New Order, even though their lyrics are some of the stupidest ones around. And I suppose my parents' musical tastes have shaped some of what I like; some of my musical loves favor danceable things, much like what my dad liked most (except he liked more big band-type stuff) and a good bass sound seems to be important to me, much like how Mom's beloved classic Motown music features skilled bass work. And I suppose that's it, really.

Also: KKYX4ever, I kinda feel offended about your "sometimes it's even the way the band looks" comments, mainly because it strikes me as something a fairweather "fan" would say, and because I consider myself a serious Duran fan who feels like every time she hears of a female cooing about how "cute" a certain band member looks, that's yet another five hundred words I have to expound to someone else about how it's never been about the band's looks for me, that I go first and foremost for their music, etc.

Deethlurker...nice. I think you nailed it for me too. "Alive" in its multitude meanings is exactly why I like a lot of my fav bands. Although I'd argue that new order's lyrics aren't stupid so much as purposefully simplistic. And being offended by KYYX4ever's "look" reason is pretty lame...it's HER reason, it's valid.

I wouldn't get too worked up about someone being attracted to a band because of the way they look. It's what attracts many people to a group they otherwise may not have had an opportunity to hear.

A look or image also is something a listener can align themselves with - it becomes part of the genre, the trend, or a whole cultural movement.

For me, I love Blondie. What initially attracted me to them was of course how Debbie Harry looked. I was very attracted to the whole idea of "glam gone Bowery." That led me to appreciate the whole attitude and spirit of what they did. Let's be honest, Blondie never wrote songs that would change the world, there wasn't a lot of social commentary there. It was simple punky, power pop and some experimental stuff mixed in, and it served a purpose - fun, escapist, and memorable music. Part of Debbie's appeal was that she played with that whole idea of glamour and spun it with a punk ethic. It was exciting and for me was the epitome of "cool."

I love them for the look, for the music, and because there was nothing like them at the time. I love how they came from absolutely nothing and rose to huge international stars. It said to me that anyone can do this, and become an important part of our culture.

Another group I love is the Motels and I probably appreciate them more for lyrics and music rather than a "look." I think Martha Davis is fairly underrated as a lyricist. I loved that her songs were so caught up in alienation and decay. I always felt that she was one step away from dropping over that edge.. Even their happier songs had that edge of sadness to them. But it had it's place and I think alot of it had to do with the times. Alienation was big in the early 80's, feeling powerless over politics, culture, AIDS, etc.

It was as if she sang/wrote from the point of view of a ghost who can't tear herself away from the people & places she once knew.

XTC, The The and Midnight Oil are among my biggest faves. They not only wrote and performed great music but they had relevant things to say about the world, the politcal scene and life in general.

DayGloJo

[quote][i]Originally posted by WolverineSyr[/i]
<br>I wouldn't get too worked up about someone being attracted to a band because of the way they look. It's what attracts many people to a group they otherwise may not have had an opportunity to hear.
[/quote]
Yes, well deethelurker,
[quote][i]originally posted by deethelurker[/i]
<br>I kinda feel offended about your "sometimes it's even the way the band looks" comments, mainly because it strikes me as something a fairweather "fan" would say
[/quote]

that is why I said [i][b]"sometimes"[/b][/i]. I don't mind if that offends, b/c a band's looks should not and do not detract from their musical ability. They're still musicians, first and foremost. But--you have to admit some bands are easy on the eyes. I've been a huge DD fan for 23 years; their music is as unique and exciting as it is danceable and catchy, but I'm not embarrassed to say that I think they still look hot after all these years.[:)]

Hey KYYX say the word and I'll kick deethelurker's ass for you!

I never cared why someone likes a band...just that they do.

And for the record I only love Sigue Sigue Sputnik for their looks.

[:(!][:D][:D]

I love my fav bands because of their music and how they've made me crazy over them, spending all my money on their cds, digging all their stuff and all. I remember when i was still studying, i used up all my pocket money to buy mag on Robert Smith and their cassettes.

I'm not into the lyrics so much. I gotta love the groove and hooks of a song. It's got to spark an emotion and words don't do it for me. Certian chords and notes do.