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I just don't get it....The Streets


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Old 14-03-2005, 14:30
hopwoodl
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Please please please can someone explain to me exactly what all the fuss is about. I'm 29 so still at the right kind of age to appreciate cool bands and have asked several friends, some of whom are in bands themselves and none of us get it.

I'd heard the ravings about the Streets but when I watched them on the Brits there was one bloke singing very flat and some other bloke droning on and sounding like he was auditioning for Eastenders and reading a bad poem.

I don't get it - what am I missing????
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Old 14-03-2005, 14:37
Dazsin
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I thought the same, I think the initial appeal was that the guy was rapping (or just saying??) things which his audience coudl relate to (or so i heard).
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Old 14-03-2005, 14:44
hopwoodl
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As a music-lover I was in a bit of shock when I finally saw this band(?) after the brilliant reviews they had. Is the world going mad - does nobody understand what musical ability is anymore???

There are loads of singers/bands I don't personally rate but I can understand how others do? This time however...I am stumped!
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Old 14-03-2005, 14:53
beee
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Me neither They're a very 'cool' band, and are liked by a lot of people who claim not to like pop music. He (Mike Skinner) is also tapping into the whole 'chav chic' thing that's going on at the moment, so he's appealing to two ends of the musical spectrum. I personally think he's earning a lot of money out of some incredibly sub-standard music.
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Old 14-03-2005, 15:28
hopwoodl
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I'm SO glad it's not just me! I think sometimes people are conned into thinking something is 'cool' and innovative by the media too. The word 'crap' comes to my mind.
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Old 14-03-2005, 15:30
beee
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Originally Posted by hopwoodl
I'm SO glad it's not just me! I think sometimes people are conned into thinking something is 'cool' and innovative by the media too. The word 'crap' comes to my mind.
Thing is, fans of The Streets like to think that they've discovered someone who isn't being hyped by the media I guess it just shows that you can make anything popular with the right marketing...
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Old 14-03-2005, 15:36
hopwoodl
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Most definitely! I don't listen that much to recent stuff these days - every time I click over to a music channel yet another 80s song has been remixed!!!
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Old 14-03-2005, 16:06
Tel69
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Thought I was in the minority who didn't like this bloke but it appears not. He's a novelty who will dissapear shortly, just bear it for a little longer!!
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Old 14-03-2005, 16:19
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Thank goodness - at last there is some sanity in the world!

I too cannot see any merit in Mike Skinner's "performance". OK so his poems are OK but why does he drone on so much. :sleep:

There is absolutely no way that he should have won the Best British Male Solo "Singer" at The Brits.

I know I am completely biased but how could he win that category against Will Young? Did anyone see Will's concert on Channel 4 yesterday lunchtime and the duet with Ruby Turner on Comic Relief? That is what Best Male is all about.
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Old 14-03-2005, 16:28
Quickfade
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I used to think that about The Streets, until Dry Your Eyes was released and hyped up. I downloaded the album 'A Grand Don't Come For Free' just to see what all the fuss was about.

I have to say it's probably one of the cleverest albums I've heard in a long long time. It's not my kind of music, but I can't help but be very impressed with this album.

Love him or loathe him, Mike Skinner is a very shrewd, very clever man.
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Old 14-03-2005, 16:42
Eraserhead
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I wouldn't worry too much about not getting the Streets.

His music is designed to appeal to music journalists by being witty and clever but also down to earth and working class, so the journos don't have to feel guilty about singing his praises. They can proclaim "he's one of us", even though they're all grammar school educated ex-prefect tosspots to a man.
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Old 14-03-2005, 16:55
Multisandia
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Originally Posted by Quickfade
Love him or loathe him, Mike Skinner is a very shrewd, very clever man.
Yes, yes, o-yay.
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Old 14-03-2005, 17:45
beee
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Originally Posted by Multisandia
Yes, yes, o-yay.
I hate that phrase, you couldn't go anywhere without hearing it when that song came out. It was almost as if he ran out of lyrics, and so started making things up to fill time
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Old 14-03-2005, 18:48
pelicano
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Originally Posted by hopwoodl
I'm SO glad it's not just me! I think sometimes people are conned into thinking something is 'cool' and innovative by the media too. The word 'crap' comes to my mind.
You're not on your own! I absolutely hate The Streets, and 'don't get' the whole thing at all. That 'dry your eyes mate' was absolutely laughable.
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Old 14-03-2005, 19:33
DaMaNiAc
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dry your eyes was possibly the worst song released last year. I just can't get into them at all. My flatmates used to listen to the album all the time as well which got really irritating
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Old 14-03-2005, 19:36
*Jon B - Somerset*
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May the defence please stand!

I'm taking the huge assumption that none of you have listened to the first album "Original Pirate Material". Mike Skinner displays a magical English talent, of which none of todays pop artists can aspire too. As a few Newspapers and magazines have proclaimed, he is "The Shakespeare of modern times". It's just like every syllable of the individually chosen word matches the beat entirely and the beat isn't all that bad either.

I'd argue that this is no worse than that trashy shouty stuff that a variety of heavy rock bands protude onto the stereo at some time, at least you can hear the lyrics.

Judging by the responses, I imagine a lot of you are probably the ones who were crying because The 411 had split up.

Oh and just because you don't like a certain genre or artist, doesn't make it instantly crap, unlike my comment on The 411 who actually are crap.
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Old 14-03-2005, 19:42
beee
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Jon B - assume makes an ass out of u and me (how sad am I? ) - I have listened to it, and didn't find any redeemable feature in it. I also hate the 411.

Mike Skinner is doing nothing that countless garage MCs haven't been doing (much better) for the last 10 years - I don't find him original or talented. You may think that he's a talented lyricist, and you're completely entitled to this opinion. But I would say his word play is quite clumsy, a bit like 6th form poetry
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Old 14-03-2005, 20:22
pelicano
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Originally Posted by *Jon B - Somerset*
May the defence please stand!

I'm taking the huge assumption that none of you have listened to the first album "Original Pirate Material". Mike Skinner displays a magical English talent, of which none of todays pop artists can aspire too. As a few Newspapers and magazines have proclaimed, he is "The Shakespeare of modern times". It's just like every syllable of the individually chosen word matches the beat entirely and the beat isn't all that bad either.

I'd argue that this is no worse than that trashy shouty stuff that a variety of heavy rock bands protude onto the stereo at some time, at least you can hear the lyrics.

Judging by the responses, I imagine a lot of you are probably the ones who were crying because The 411 had split up.

Oh and just because you don't like a certain genre or artist, doesn't make it instantly crap, unlike my comment on The 411 who actually are crap.
May my defence please stand now!

(a) I don't think any of us are saying that something is crap just because we don't like it - just that we don't get it/like it ourselves!

(b) why would you assume that everyone who doesn't like The Streets loves The 411?!!!

Thanks m'lud
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Old 14-03-2005, 21:53
Megson1965
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Dull and tedious.

Well said the majority.
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Old 14-03-2005, 21:59
njeo
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Thank you. The majority of the 19 posters above me are in agreement with me - The Streets aren't particularly good at all. I really did think it was just me.

I gave the album two tries, hated it both times, so ended up giving it away. Someone I know likes and raved on about them hence my second stab, but the songs are really poor and the words aren't particularly smart or 'cool'... I think they are utter crap.

But each to his own...
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Old 14-03-2005, 22:30
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he is "The Shakespeare of modern times".
But Shakespeare didn't bombard his audience with dull boring so called singing.

If he is a poet, why doesn't he stick to that? Let those who can, sing. And those who can't don't do it!

Still it hasn't stopped countless people trying to sing!
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Old 14-03-2005, 22:31
Channel Hopper
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Originally Posted by beee
......... so he's appealing to two ends of the musical spectrum. I personally think he's earning a lot of money out of some incredibly sub-standard music.
Statistically, at either end of any envelope there will be a point of utter crap. The Streets work on people totally unable to grasp the musical envelope.

The case for the prosecution stands, bring on the black cap.
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Old 15-03-2005, 00:52
Pie Chart
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Originally Posted by June
If he is a poet, why doesn't he stick to that? Let those who can, sing. And those who can't don't do it!
My thoughts exactly!

Like some of the former posters, somebody I know goes on about them and I had to listen to the album.... over and over....

I don't get it!
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Old 15-03-2005, 08:13
*Jon B - Somerset*
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Originally Posted by June
But Shakespeare didn't bombard his audience with dull boring so called singing.
But his plays are crap!

Can't be bothered to argue, completely outnumbered and everybody likes different things. Peace.
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Old 15-03-2005, 08:47
Cuke
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I have to admit, as much as it's not the sort of music I would choose to listen to normally (indie is more my cup of tea just to avoid the 411 jibes ) but I do have a certain ammount of grudging respect for 'The Streets'.

Like a British Eminem he uses his music to relate directly to the culture he comes from, its entirely possilbe that people who don't 'get' it are never supposed to because they dont come from that background and life. His lyrics have some sharp observations on a modern life that while perhaps not recognisable to everyone certaintly resonates with a core audience. 'Dry Your Eyes Mate' etc may appear lyricaly clumsy to some but the sentiment behind it is pretty universal.

I had to laugh at the comment earlier in this thread about him beating Will Young at the Brits, I would have to say that that is more the fault of the Brits and award shows in general who lump together artists from completely different genres and target audiences than the artists in question.
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