Here's one to give you an idea of the extent to how wrong we (magazine editors) were on this whole "voice of the generation" thing:
"Also, I never looked at Nirvana as a true 90s band. I know they were popular in the nineties, but they were from a whole other genre so comparing Nirvana to third eye blind is kind of ridiculous."
The thing is, I gave them a chance. And it's not that I don't like them, I really have no problem with Third Eye Blind, it's just that I never thought they'd be the band that would become the most influential band of the 90s. As someone from another blog pointed out: from a decade that gave us genres like grunge, britpop, and rave/electronica -- it's some what surprising that this is going on. I bet you Jenkins and company are surprised as well. I grew up in this time. I was there when they were on the radio and I am not being a snob or elitist by saying that there's no way I ever thought they'd be the band that reached the youth in the way they have. This is not a diss to them, it's just an honest acessement. I get that SJ's lyrics are about drugs, relationships, issues, ect... but it still doesn't keep this whole thing from being somewhat surprising.
Let's fast forward ten years and put you in my shoes. Let's pretend you discover that Boys Like Girls are the BIGGEST MOST IMPORTANT BAND of the generation just below you. You're sitting there being like "Wait... seriously? what about My Chemical Romance?" Even if you don't like My Chem, you sort of realize that they had some sort of cultural impact that Boys Like Girls just didn't have.
28 comments:
Stick with your guns. 3EB suck.
When you originally posted about third eye blind - I was waiting for you to say, "and then I gave there albums a proper listen" - if you are so curious as to why a generation is drawn to the music - give them an honest listen. The last four songs on the self titled disc will give you the insight into the reason. I wouldn't even say skip any single that you have heard on the radio. Most bands best songs are played as singles. Third Eye Blind is the opposite.
i totally see the point you'r trying to make. Even though i was just a little kid in the 90s can sort of understand where you're coming from.
While i do like some of 3EB music, i personally dont see why they would have any significant influence on these people. while i think SJ is a very talented musician he isn't very different from the other thousands of musicians out there.
I just cant see 3EB having the impact that these people are saying they had. My Chemical Romance will probably have a great impact on my generation when im your age because they like the smiths and even nirvana are so much more than any radio band. I cant say this about the smiths and nirvana because i dont know or perceive their music the way i get MCRs, but mcr are so much more than your typical musicians, they are icons, they are heroes, they are saviours and most importantly they are regular NJ guys that took their passion to a whole other level. they defined a generation for at least a small group of kids. they will have an impact because there can never be another band like them.
PS. if people are ever inspired by boys like girls...i will definately give up on humanity.
You copied and pasted my comment about Nirvana/Third eye blind on this and I'm not sure what you mean about the voice of the generation thing.
Anyways, I think your major problem is you think Third Eye Blind's staying power happened by pure chance. Well it didn't just HAPPEN. People just heard their singles and labeled them another 90s band. As everyone has been saying the last 4 songs on the cd are amazing, and none of which got the lease bit popular to anyone outside of their fans.
Also, I'm 19, so I guess the Boys Like Girls being the most important band of my generation is directed towards me. I have a BLG cd and I will not be surprised by their future staying power, because they will have no future staying power. They write songs for tween boppers to sell records. There is no creative drive behind their music. People will just listen to their singles along with let's say Jimmy Eat World's singles and say oh both are forgettable pop, emo, punk rock bands when Jimmy Eat World actually plays real music throughout the cd.
I guess my point is if you actually follow the bands and listen to their entire body of work, you won't be so surprised whenever the bands with real music have a following for so long, and the commercialized bands writing songs for the radio fizzle out.
JACKIE O WITH THE TOP DOWN OPEN!!!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=glPS5I40xsU
I love how you say you're going to post dumb comments people made.
WELCOME TO THE INTERNET.
Hope you'll stay a while.
Explanation:
- When teenage kid finds 3eb, he/she finds tons of unreleased material, in addition to songs that never went on the radio ("Gorgeous," "Alright Caroline," "Scattered," "Persephone," "Shelter" etc.).
- Ergo, there's something secret, personal about it. It's a way of defining independence from the crowd. Having something you feel like nobody else knows about.
- That's it, basically. Also: they're good.
Wow Sarah! First Rob Thomas replied to your Third Eye Blind blog, now me. This is unbelievable!
Sorry, I know this is horribly off topic, but I wanted to know what you want for Christmas this year. You were a very good girl!
Would you like me to give you the remarkable ability to discern when people are messing with you by making posts under fake names? Consider it done!
PS: Don't forget my cookies.
I'm from England and I had to go on Youtube to listen to that one 3EB hit single and go 'oh yeh, i remember them' because honestly, the name wasn't even familiar.
You know what, if a lot of kids can relate to them, good for them, who cares?
I personally think there were many many more influential bands out there at the time, but then again, I'm not familiar with 3EB, and I admit that after a few youtube videos, I really wasn't interested to hear more... but that's just me.
And Sarah, by knowing how so many people feel about that band, you can't be surprised by the response you get. I say, drop it!
I am all for what you are saying and honestly the fact that a band like Green Day whose influence on music from the ninties is so present in the music we listen to today is being compared to 3EB in influence makes me sick. Nothing against 3EB- the example you gave with My Chem and Boys Like Girls was perfect- i mean ya 3EB are a good band, but they are also a dime a dozen. These people who say that 3EB has had such a important and prominent effect on music are totally in the wrong. I agree with Ben, stick to your guns. Honestly when comparing something like "Welcome To Paradise" to "Jumper" its clear that 3EB are not the band that has made an impact on the presesnt state of music.
I agree with you whole-heartedly about everything you said in your first post and in this one. I think the difference that you're not noting about the people who agree with you and those who disagree with you is that people listen to music for different reasons. Some people listen to music so it's not quiet in their car and some people go to festival shows to hang out with their friends. And other people listen to music because it moves them emotionally, and those people go to shows for the personal experience of seeing it, hearing it and feeling it live. That difference can clearly be seen by those who didn't get what you meant by 'radio band' and those who did. There are bands who are powerful and unique and deserve a title like 'the most influential band of (whatever decade)'. Is Third Eye Blind one of those bands? HELL NO. That doesn't mean they weren't a decent band that were fun to listen to and sometimes hit emotional points we can all relate to, it just means they were fluffy and blended into the background with everything else that sounded like them on the radio in the 90's. I had their CD in college. It's fun and poppy and helped me get through long drives. But it never moved me. It didn't stay with me. I often forget which band sang "Semi-Charmed Life" and which band sang "My Own Worst Enemy". They didn't change music. They didn't influence the great musicians that came after them. I just don't think it's possible. We can't be wrong about this, or there is something VERY wrong with the world. :(
Courtney Love just gave you a shoutout on Twitter.
Who the fuck are 3EB? I was around in the nineties but I don't have a clue!! Had a listen on youtube, I have never come across anything or anyone who both sucks AND blows!. I love love love your blog, I am English so I am not tuned to sucking arse so it is most definitely a complement. As is having the beautiful and talented Courtney Love giving you a heads up....now talk about influential bands.........
I had no idea that were still around. It's somewhat surprising to me that anyone would state that they were the most influential band of the 90s. They were a little too bland for me, but hey.
a friend kept trying to convince me 3eb was awesome and i'm just not gonna fall for that.
3EB fucking blowwwww. I got more or less tricked into seeing them when they were just becoming huge. what a bunch of wankers.
Compared to the music kids listen to today how can anyone be surprised they like or are inspired by Third Eye Blind?
They are just jumping down your throat because somehow you tapped in on the fan base. The most influential thing SJ did was date Charlize Theron. How freaking sad. Please no one compare this band to Nirvana, it breaks my heart.
Everything the all you naysayers say has absolutely 0 validity until you have listened to all 3 of their albums in their entirety.
I'll guarantee everyone saying 3eb sucks has listened to Semi-Charmed Life, Jumper and Never Let You Go. You have no idea what you're talking about.
Musically they're miles ahead of most bands, using open tunings for roughly half of their catalogue (admittedly some of the songs are written using open guitar chords, written by jenkins)
Lyrically, they're absolutely brilliant as well, with the exception of 1 in 10 and non-dairy Creamer, which are trash and exceptions to the rule.
Third Eye Blind makes me wish I was Both Ears Deaf.
since when was Third Eye Blind influential, WTF are people going on about? They were a one hit wonder here in Oz. Perhaps just shit is the only way to describe it.
THIRD EYE BLIND RULES!!!! I HOPE YOU DIEEEEE!!!!!!!! KILLL!!! KILLL!!! KILLL!!! DIEEE!!! DIEEE!!! DIEEE!!!
YAWN
is anyone else bored by this boring fight over this boring band?
it's just so...boring.
Seriously Better Than Ezra is miles better than 3EB!
I'm also surprised by this 3EB phenomenon. I'm a late-comer to this discussion so hopefully I'm not repeating someone else's point... But back in the 90s 3EB were a 1 hit wonder. (FYI I'm 32.) Perhaps they had a few minor hits but "Semi Charmed Life" is really the only song they're known for to most people.
I liken it to the Weezer phenomenon. Weezer had a few minor hits with their Blue Album, no hits with Pinkerton, yet in the late 90's early 2000's I was amazed at how many bands were emerging who considered Weezer a major influence. And Pinkerton, which was completely unnoticed at the time of its release, is considered one of the greatest rock albums.
Both cases show how a band can have such staying power with some people yet go unnoticed by the majority. And if you're that good you can't go unnoticed forever. It sounds like 3EB are finally getting their dues.
It's hard to understand how you 'gave them a chance.' How about while you are compiling your quotes, you at least take a listen to the last three tracks of their self titled album?
everyone knows that Counting Crows are the quintessential 90s band.
angels of the silences anybody?!?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwUTGh_UPj8
I'm with you on this one Sarah.
Stick with your guns. 3EB suck.
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