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Post by singingsparrow on Jul 20, 2005 22:01:54 GMT -5
It might not make the Top 10 after all.
And I completely understand why everyone would believe this could do so. It has that same Creed-ish distortion and hook-driven audacity that made "Meant to Live" a ubiquitous Top 10 smash here.
This is really not all that different from "Meant To Live". Perhaps a tiny bit more poppy in terms of the verses, but everything enveloped around it is Alternative-friendly.
Sincerely, Noah Eaton
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Tyler46
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Post by Tyler46 on Jul 21, 2005 10:54:42 GMT -5
Did this even officially go for Adds?
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Crushcrushchris
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Post by Crushcrushchris on Jul 21, 2005 12:18:05 GMT -5
Stars went for adds the week of July 5th.
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Post by American Idiot on Jul 22, 2005 13:46:40 GMT -5
This is my favorite Switchfoot single out of the 4 for sure. Its already at #18 on Alternative, and climbing. I'm looking forward to their new album coming out in less than 2 months.
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jdmasta289
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Post by jdmasta289 on Jul 22, 2005 13:55:05 GMT -5
In my opinion, Switchfoot suffered amazingly from overexposure from their two big singles from the last album. Also, their decision to send "This Is Your Life" to CHR/Pop spelled backlash on alternative. My local station, which is very alternative-leaning and will not play anything past, say, Chevelle, will not pick up this song.
Isn't Switchfoot a conservative-leaning band? I don't want to get into a political discussion, but considering most bands this day in age are vocally expressing their left-wing views, especially since the Bush re-election, I find it ironic that there is one vocal conservative-leaning band out there (not that there can't be). However, I believe that is one reason my station won't pick this song up.
Switchfoot have crossed over too much to now be considered an "alternative" band. Their previous singles got old quick. They could eventually fall into the same category as, say, the All-American Rejects (although Switchfoot were and still are, chartwise, more successful than AAR were).
I give this single a C-. It will probably crack Top 10, but without longevity.
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clem
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Post by clem on Jul 22, 2005 14:34:06 GMT -5
I find it ironic that there is one vocal conservative-leaning band out there This is probably because they are Christians. The Christian view of politics is that the elected leaders should be respected, no matter how crappy of a job they do. So even if Michael Jackson was elected as the president of the United States (God forbid), the Christian thing to do would be to accept him as the leader.
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agon666
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Post by agon666 on Jul 22, 2005 15:04:11 GMT -5
Yeah, but Christains would know not to elect MJ ;)
The bullet got kick-started again... +116
I wouldn't say that "This Is Your Life" killed Switchfoot on alt yet. This song still has a lot of life in it, and no adds date on Pop or HAC yet either. 56 stations... I'd think that about 5-10 more stations are likely to pick it up. That should give it enough momentum to go top 10.
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shark cousteau
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Post by shark cousteau on Jul 23, 2005 4:19:52 GMT -5
So even if Michael Jackson was elected as the president of the United States. would that make him the first black president or not?
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agon666
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Post by agon666 on Jul 23, 2005 8:30:48 GMT -5
So even if Michael Jackson was elected as the president of the United States. would that make him the first black president or not? ROFLMAO!!!! Get bob in here, this need to get nominated!
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friday
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Post by friday on Jul 23, 2005 12:51:14 GMT -5
Isn't Switchfoot a conservative-leaning band? I don't want to get into a political discussion, but considering most bands this day in age are vocally expressing their left-wing views, especially since the Bush re-election, I find it ironic that there is one vocal conservative-leaning band out there (not that there can't be). However, I believe that is one reason my station won't pick this song up. I don't know what any of their personal politics are, but a band is only as political as whatever messages they have in their songs, and I'm not aware that any of their songs have a political message, left or right. Switchfoot have crossed over too much to now be considered an "alternative" band. LOL, by that standard, Green Day is a full-blown pop band.
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Matt4319
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Post by Matt4319 on Jul 23, 2005 15:18:01 GMT -5
Isn't Switchfoot a conservative-leaning band? I don't want to get into a political discussion, but considering most bands this day in age are vocally expressing their left-wing views, especially since the Bush re-election, I find it ironic that there is one vocal conservative-leaning band out there (not that there can't be). However, I believe that is one reason my station won't pick this song up. I don't know what any of their personal politics are, but a band is only as political as whatever messages they have in their songs, and I'm not aware that any of their songs have a political message, left or right. Yeah... I don't think their music is political other than the possible line "We want more than the wars of our fathers" line in "MTL".
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jdmasta289
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Post by jdmasta289 on Jul 23, 2005 15:33:18 GMT -5
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agon666
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Post by agon666 on Jul 23, 2005 19:18:06 GMT -5
Switchfoot were banned from my station, and I understand that mine is only one of hundreds around the country, but others WILL eventually catch on over time. We'll see with their album which direction they want to go... but there will always be some Alt stations that play their stuff. They've been successful at the format, and will continue to be as long as they stay with their aggresive, hook-driven style they have.
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Post by Walking Contradiction on Jul 23, 2005 23:42:09 GMT -5
IMHO, Switchfoot are not alternative by any means. But that's just me.
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Post by singingsparrow on Jul 25, 2005 15:09:56 GMT -5
Switchfoot are not a very vocal band in terms of political opinion.
Somehow I feel, however, that though they may be a Christian band, being a Christian band doesn't automatically make you a conservative band.
Think about it. "Ammunition" and "Adding To The Noise" both have lyrics that can strike listeners as being liberally-minded.
Also, if you notice on their official web-site, a lot of the artists they listen too are liberal-minded in terms of politics. Bright Eyes, Coldplay, Radiohead, Death Cab For Cutie, Elliot Smith. It may mean nothing in that they just like the music, but it is fairly coincidental.
Like they said, their music is more about the politics of the heart than anything else.
Sincerely, Noah Eaton
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JCMF3
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Post by JCMF3 on Jul 26, 2005 9:35:30 GMT -5
However, there is a HUGE difference. Green Day began with tremendous alternative credibility. Their first three singles didn't produce any major pop hits. I agree that "Basket Case" and "Longview" were minor pop hits, but up until "When I Come Around", they had an amazingly large alternative audience. Green Day then went on to release five consecutive hard-rocking songs, into Nimrod, before "Good Riddance". Then they continued to release harder-rocking songs. The album, Dookie, produced five Top 10 songs on this format. Green Day has received some slack for their "sell-out" to mainstream pop radio. Alternative stations will still play them, however, because, as you mentioned, they still put out songs that appeal to the alternative rock listeners. First off, The Beautiful Letdown is Switchfoot's 4th album, not their first. And I know you used the word "major", but I don't know what you mean by that. Their previous 3 albums spawned lots of hits on Christian radio, and many of those songs could easily have crossovered if given a chance. You actually want other alternative stations to ban Switchfoot? Wow, you have it out for this band, don't you? I personally think Switchfoot belongs on mainstream rock radio. They bring a different sound to the radio stations.
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Post by American Idiot on Jul 26, 2005 10:52:22 GMT -5
I agree. They are one of the only bands with this kind of sound similar to late 90's alternative (Third Eye Blind, Vertical Horizon, Sugar Ray, Better Than Ezra, etc) that still gets played a lot on Alternative, and I'd like to see that all come back.
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jdmasta289
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Post by jdmasta289 on Jul 26, 2005 17:44:58 GMT -5
I disagree. I wouldn't go as far as to call them a "copycat" band, but members have noted the hook in the song, as well as the entire chorus itself, sounds similar to Creed, a band that has been shed by the majority of alternative stations nationwide.
I don't think there was anything "alternative" about Vertical Horizon or Sugar Ray to begin with. I can probably see alternative stations still playing 3EB or maybe Better Than Ezra, but VH were really a Hot AC band getting airplay on an extremely AC-leaning alternative format. Remember when Limp Bizkit, Disturbed, and Korn were spitting out Top 10 hits like crazy on the alternative charts?
That said, I think this format has returned, for the most part, to where it should be - a happy medium between Sugar Ray (pop-leaning artists) and Limp Bizkit (active-leaning artists).
I agree wholeheartedly. They are well-suited for pop, Christian, or Hot AC. But alternative just isn't for them. That doesn't mean you can't like them, and it certainly doesn't make them "bad". I'm just trying to prove a point. They don't have that alternative "sound" that other bands have that are enjoying alt. success.
Of course, you could also make an argument that Crossfade don't have that alternative "sound" either, but, well, that's another story.
I think there are really two levels of selling out. It's really more about your lyrics and sound. I don't know. Blink and the Offspring "sold out". No Doubt, 3 Doors Down, Creed, and Good Charlotte took it a step further and now they're only getting more pop airplay than alternative airplay.
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agon666
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Post by agon666 on Jul 26, 2005 19:02:43 GMT -5
Green Day didn't really sell out... they're still getting their hits on Alt, aren't they? "Selling-Out" is sacrificing your sound that you have had since your beginnings, the sound that your core fan group loved you for, for more mainstream appeal and a chance on pop.
Switchfoot couldn't "sell-out" because they never changed the sound that Alt started playing them for. (a'la "Meant To Live")
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Matt4319
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Post by Matt4319 on Jul 27, 2005 12:16:23 GMT -5
This has rebounded to +185, but there's tough competition ahead. I think the #10-#12 prediction I made earlier is very possible at this point.
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alexcuse
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Post by alexcuse on Jul 27, 2005 14:39:27 GMT -5
Does anyone remember the chart run for "Meant to Live"? How slow was it before it finally reached its peak on the alternative charts? Does anyone know the number of weeks before "Meant to Live" and "Dare You to Move" reached the top ten? I'm not too worried about "Stars" potential chart position yet.
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Post by singingsparrow on Aug 9, 2005 17:21:45 GMT -5
www.switchfoot.com/indexframe.htmMore samples of the new album have been placed on the official web-site, including new tracks "Lonely Nation", "Happy Is A Yuppie Word", "The Shadow Proves The Sunshine", "Easier Than Love", "The Blues", "The Setting Sun", "Politicians", "Golden", "The Fatal Wound", "We Are On Tonight" and "Daisy". This album sounds great, and I believe I'm going to buy it. Here's my thoughts on it. 1) I'm skeptical they will have much of a future on Alternative. I believe they made the right choice for a lead single, and releasing "Politicians" or "Lonely Nation" or possibly "We Are On Tonight" would be most effective Alternative releases. I'm under the impression they want to follow in the footsteps of the Goo Goo Dolls and become a mainstream staple that came out of Alternative's tunnel. 2) Despite my feeling that Switchfoot will not remain an Alternative staple, there's plenty of potential hits in this set. "Easier Than Love" would make a great follow-up, and though there is no ballad as immediate as "Dare You To Move" in this set, "The Setting Sun" would be their best bet at that kind of hit. "Golden" also could hit I bet. 3) "Nothing Is Sound" is obviously their anti-Christian band answer. They want to break away from that hovering perception that they're a Christian band, when this album actually has a lot of social commentary and political themes, from "Lonely Nation" to "Politicians" to "Happy Is A Yuppie Sound".
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pen
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Post by pen on Aug 9, 2005 18:16:10 GMT -5
I understand the idea that if bands that are percieved as unalternative are erased from the stations then other bands will take their place, but I think every band deserves a chance at wherever they can find success. Switchfoot is a rock band, therefore they belong on rock radio, and they're not heavy enough to be solely an active rock band. Therefore, alternative should be their home regardless of whether they sound too "pop". I actually don't think they sound any more pop than half the bands on alternative right now anyway.
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Post by American Idiot on Aug 9, 2005 22:22:53 GMT -5
The samples sound very good. Another end of the year album that I'm looking forward to. Even if they may or may not belong on rock radio, they are a pretty good band that will probably be around for years to come with much future success.
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jdmasta289
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Post by jdmasta289 on Sept 2, 2005 16:20:37 GMT -5
I've been meaning to say this for awhile, but I do take back what I previously said about Switchfoot. My station has actually started to play them, and are actually giving away concert tickets next week to see them in San Diego. I probably gained to wrong impression of them by hearing word from several friends about their political ties, and judging that they released two consecutive pop-sounding ballads from their last album. This song, while quite contemporary and mainstream, still proves that they have a place on alternative. They should really stick to this type of sound though, for credibility's sake. I'm just surprised this is already losing steam so quickly in what, it's tenth or eleventh week? 15 17 SWITCHFOOT Stars 1098 1199 -101 wow
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pen
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Post by pen on Sept 3, 2005 11:38:16 GMT -5
Man, there is never a more ridiculous thought process in the world of music fandom than this; that a band can't make a song they feel like making or release a certain single because they have to worry about keeping credibility with the fairweather fans who are only in love with one song or album or sound and refuse to accept anything else. Not saying that you're one of those but it sounds like your feelings about Switchfoot are traveling along the same lines. I'm sure Switchfoot doesn't care about keeping credible with ultra-strict alternative fans.
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Mega248
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Post by Mega248 on Sept 4, 2005 20:04:52 GMT -5
15 17 SWITCHFOOT Stars 981 1127 -146
Geez, this has lost 117 spins in the last two days. This isn't even going to make it to recurrent at this rate.
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Post by American Idiot on Sept 5, 2005 10:12:34 GMT -5
Its unfortunate that this didn't do anywhere near what I expected and wanted it to since it was my favorite Switchfoot single so far. I guess they should start thinking of a second single already, and there are many that could be qualified as on the new album. I've only listened to it once, but the one that sticks out in my mind most for a single I guess would be Politicians.
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pen
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Post by pen on Sept 5, 2005 10:16:58 GMT -5
I think it should be Lonely Nation.
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Post by singingsparrow on Sept 6, 2005 14:11:34 GMT -5
I think it should be Lonely Nation. This and "Politicians" are the two singles that could keep them on the charts here, even if they're already destined to fall from the format. "Lonely Nation" is a very edgy-sounding track, and with the way other artist's politics have welded deeply into the format, Switchfoot can benefit off that trend that Green Day and others have established by releasing this. Sincerely, Noah Eaton
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