Is Nickleback that bad? The nature of selling out

[Bells]

So, here is a thing... a lot of people tell me that Nickleback is a bad, bad, bad band... like, terrible songs, no talent, no voice...

Yeah, i see that. Ok. I saw the side-by-side comparison and hwo they recycle their own songs from time to time... i have to wonder that they are not really the only ones to do it, but most likely one of the few to do it poorly or get caught doing it.

And yet... they have songs i like. "Someday"? I like that song... some of their singles? I can dig it. Like, i'm not music expert, so i can't really tell "Oh this beat is so poorly designed" most of the time i either dig the lyrics or i just tune the lyrics out and run the beat in my head.

Or when i'm writing, quite often i use music as a mood setter, so it's actually pretty easy for me to design scenes and set pieces that play out on the pace and beat of a certain song...

But this is not just about Nickleback. I just thought to bring them upfront cause i just know they WILL get mentioned... There is also Linkin Park to talk about.

Again, i can usually find 1 or 2 songs in every linkin park album that i like. Like, "listen multiple times" like. I also completely understand that they are 100% a Studio band. Their music is mostly digital ,it only exists in an editing room. Most of their Live stuff is waaaaaaaay below any margin of good they have.

But one thing i never saw them as was Sell outs. Totally honest about this. Here is why... you see, for me, a sell out is the band that makes a video clip of a new hot single with the sole purpose to display that new Motorolla phone that has nothing to do with the song, but Motorolla wants to pay for the video so they can show the phone in it, so people do it. And that's fine.

To be honest, even that i don't really have a problem with... i mean, fuck it! Just do it... a huge company wants to give you hundreds of thousands of dollars just so you can market yourself more and show up holding a new phone for a few seconds? Yeah... no brainer.

But on Linkin Park for instance, they recently did a song for Medal of Honor Warfighter, "Castle of Glass". Now... if i just take the song, completely detached from the fact that is next to a shitty game... i like the song, i even like the clip. I like the lyrics, i like the beat i like the build up... i enjoy that song and i thought the clip was quite nice.

But of course, to the eyes of many, that was just Linkin park selling out... but is it really? That's a band that has a known history of interacting with games and midia cause the members of the band really like that stuff.... hell, they have their own Limited Edition Gundam Model Kit cause their song "Catalyst" was the opening theme of an Gundam Arcade Fighting game! And they displayed the Wing Gundam on at least one of their earlier clips... cause some of the members of the band actually like that stuff, and are fans...

I see it similarly with something like Medal of Honor, i mean... why shouldn't they? If they are gamers, if they like games, if they like Medal of Honor, why would they refuse the opportunity to be a part of it? Make a song for it, a video... it's corporate marketing, OF COURSE. For both sides... but is it really "Selling Out"? Is there any rule that a singer or performer is not allowed to get involved with things they personally enjoy?

So, just some food for thought i guess... what really is the nature of a band "Selling Out"? What does that even mean today? I Mean, it's a new world and a new marketing world and bands need to make money or a name somehow... using tools that weren't around 10 yeas ago.

So what really is Selling out? Who actually does that today?

Also, feel free to shit on Nickleback

[Shyria Dracnoir]

People in creative industries such as music, film and games are constantly fighting to balance what they want to do and what actually makes money, and it's a rare case where an artist is able to do both. If an artist wants to associate themselves with a commercial project because they genuinely enjoy it, that's their right. Likewise, I don't wholly fault artists who take certain jobs to make bank; they need to eat and that project may still turn out entertaining one way or another (see any piece of So Bad it's Good media).

As a result, I think properly "selling out" if you can call it that involves a certain degree of hypocrisy or a specific portrayal of previously established traits and values that cannot be attributed to a natural evolution of technique or interests over time. A true sell-out resembles a petitioner of Hell's Vestibule in Dante's Inferno: someone with zero agency of their own who changes commitments based on what's most advantageous at the time. (See Mitt Romney's 2012 Presidental campaign)

[Aerozord]

Nature of music, or art in general, is pushing cultural boundaries. That is the very reason art is supported by society, it causes it to grow and evolve. But for the purposes of making money that means the more artsy you are the less popular. Look at all the top ten songs from 60's and 70's. Chances are 9 out of 10 you have never heard of and the one you have heard probably isn't at the top. Good and popular are rarely the same thing. Dont blame musicians for trying to make a living blame our culture for being so closed minded that 90% of all our songs are about the same thing. Seriously look at modern pop songs and try to find 5 that aren't about relationships. You will be there for awhile.

Ultimately I look at it like this, you can worry about your artistic integrity when you aren't boiling your shoes for supper.

Not every band can be They Might Be Giants

[CABAL49]

Nickleback is what rednecks listen to Bells. Maybe it is just personal bias, but I have been around way too many drunken rednecks who listen to Nickleback, and find the band distasteful. And Rednecks are never the fun drunks.

[Seil]

tl;dr

But yeah, I don't get the Nickleback hate, either. Yeah, they're not the greatest band in the world, but they've got a few good songs.

[Kyanbu The Legend]

Honestly a lot of the hate is because they are popular, and their songs use to be played on the radio a little too often.

[Nikose Tyris]

I like Nickelback.

Therefore it's awful.

[Bum Bill Bee]

The Drumbeat carries on is the only Nickleback song I could stand to listen to more than once.

But Lips of an Angel and Rockstars were my absolute least favorite.

Maybe I listen to a song's message too much?

[Bells]

for me is someday



I just like the tune, i can even sing along with it, good for a walk or a tedious bus ride.

[Ryong]

Originally Posted by CABAL49

Nickleback is what rednecks listen to Bells. Maybe it is just personal bias, but I have been around way too many drunken rednecks who listen to Nickleback, and find the band distasteful. And Rednecks are never the fun drunks.

So you don't like it because rednecks like it? Are you scared people will say you're one?