Discuss: What's Dido's Appeal?

[Pet Shop Boy]

I'm not being negative here, cos I own both her albums and I love them. But a lot of people have questioned why she's SO huge at the moment, and why 'White Flag' is turning into such a smash.

I personally think she's just hit the perfect formula. Her albums aren't the sort you can put on and really, really listen to, especially not the new one, but they're perfect 'background' music. This will sound terrible, but i absolutely love putting 'Life For Rent' on at low volume as I go to bed, it's just so soothing, but not boring.

However, we're not in Enya/lift music territory here, because in themselves the songs stand up individually. They work as singles. 'White Flag' is the perfect radio song, and you can really relate to what she's saying.

[irice22]

For some reason that is beyond me, "WHite Flag" seems to have mas appeal. It doesn't appeal to me, but people with all kind of musical tastes like this song. They say it's enchanting, to me it's just mediocre and somewhat on the boring side.

[Deleted]

The verses are extremely annoying.

[irice22]

The said:

The verses are extremely annoying.

Exactly! So why do you think she appeals to so many people right now?

[jond7699]

Alot of people find Dido very talented and happen to think "White Flag" is a great song hence mass appeal. I am a huge fan of this song it is one of my top ten of 2003 but it is even surprising me with it's success

[Deleted]

I have no idea. I wouldn't expect many people my age to like this, and they don't, but most older people I know change the station when this comes on.

[jond7699]

The said:

I have no idea. I wouldn't expect many people my age to like this, and they don't, but most older people I know change the station when this comes on.

Well maybe radio programmers are making a huge mistake and everyone really hates this song and they are oblivious

[Pet Shop Boy]

If everyone hated the song her album wouldn't be selling and nobody would be requesting the song.

[Love Plastic Love]

I dont know anyone who does not like it....and I have loved it for a long time

[strong4PMB!]

I love "White Flag," and I really don't know why. I've never been too much of a Dido fan, but I just really like "White Flag." Maybe because it's fun to say, "I will go down with this ****," instead of "ship."

[j]

It took months for me to like "White Flag". It's actually a rather inspiring song, which isn't so obvious at first.

[Sean]

I think it's beyond "White Flag" people. Dido's last album sold massively basically worldwide and the new one is doing the same. There's obviously something about her that A LOT of people like and I have no idea what it is. I just think she's OK and I do enjoy her albums but I'm really into most music so I'm not a good indication.

I don't understand why she's so big... she's not that 'cool', the music isn't THAT good, her singles aren't THAT huge, her music is not just what's hot at the moment. It's just something...

I think perhaps it's just she's the chosen 'it' girl of her genre. She (well, her music) was in the right place at the right time and she got noticed and it all snowballed from there. It's kinda like the Norah Jones thing...

[Ragin]

I believe we are reaching a place in music where there is a major polarization between that of musical substance versus musical style. You have fans of both that tend to hate the other.

Dido, Norah Jones, Coldplay, Matchbox Twenty, and The Dave Matthews Band fall under the heading of musical substance and are embraced by the musical substance crowd. Whenever an artist gets embraced by this crowd album sales go up and often that will lead PDs to play the song more on radio.

The reason Dido is being embraced now is that she happens to have a song out, and she is an alternative to the artists of musical style.

These artists would be Britney Spears, Outkast (although I'd argue they have substance as well), Simple Plan, Kelis, Kelly Clarkson etc.

I think you'll find another artist being similarly embraced in Jack Johnson.

[Luckie Starchild]

Dido is a one trick pony. Her vocal range is limited to like, three notes. That's why she has ZERO chance of winning the Grammy for Best Pop Female.

[Ragin]

Luckie said:

Dido is a one trick pony. Her vocal range is limited to like, three notes. That's why she has ZERO chance of winning the Grammy for Best Pop Female.

I thought her album with "Thank You" on it was pretty boring, so I guess I'd tend to agree. Even though I lump her in with artist of musical substance, it is only because of where she is accepted, not my own personal belief.

[Love Plastic Love]

So if someone has a limited vocal range they automatically have no chance of winning a Grammy? Have you seen some of the people who have won before????
I like her voice-I like her little accent and I think she does a good job with what she has. She has a unique voice.

[Luckie Starchild]

Poetry said:

So if someone has a limited vocal range they automatically have no chance of winning a Grammy?

Nope. Not when they're up against Christina's performance of "Beautiful."

[Love Plastic Love]

Well I do think that Christina has the best chance of winning, but in general, I dont think a limited vocal range hurts you TOO much nor should it-there is room for every vocal type in the world

[Devil Marlena Nylund]

I have Dido's 'No Angel' CD and to be honest, after a bunch of listens over a few months the CD didn't jump out at me as a whole. There are a few songs on it I liked but besides the singles, 'Don't Think Of Me' and 'Take My Hand', I didn't find the CD to be anything above average. That's probably why I haven't rushed out to buy her new one yet either. 'White Flag' to me is also just average, however, there was a period awhile ago after the song had been out for months where I suddenly loved it and was always singing it. Maybe that's what Dido is able to do. Some people catch on early, some people late, and some people in between, thus keeping interest in her songs over a long period of time.

[Rumors]

I love the song White Flag and I love Dido's voice. There is something soothing about it. I can't really explain it. However, I purchased her new album on the strength of White Flag. The rest of the album doesn't do much for me. It is very mellow and the songs seem to run together. Whoever posted above that they like her music to fall asleep to hit the nail on the head. I listen to the album at work while I'm busy. Good background music.

I can also say the same thing about Coldplay's music. Now, there is a group that I like but I certainly think they are overrated. I just bought their album also and while I like the record a lot, there isn't much of a change in musical style from one song to another. I wonder how they are able to get away with that with the critics while other bands are not.

[Ragin]

Rumors said:

I love the song White Flag and I love Dido's voice. There is something soothing about it. I can't really explain it. However, I purchased her new album on the strength of White Flag. The rest of the album doesn't do much for me. It is very mellow and the songs seem to run together. Whoever posted above that they like her music to fall asleep to hit the nail on the head. I listen to the album at work while I'm busy. Good background music.

I can also say the same thing about Coldplay's music. Now, there is a group that I like but I certainly think they are overrated. I just bought their album also and while I like the record a lot, there isn't much of a change in musical style from one song to another. I wonder how they are able to get away with that with the critics while other bands are not.

I don't really agree with you on Coldplay, at least as far as "A Rush of Blood To The Head" goes anyway. That is one fine album.

I do agree Coldplay is a might bit overrated though.

[Rob64]

took a long time for me to like this. it's still not great though

[NORTHCOAST]

I like White Flag a lot. I think the video has helped the song too. I think Dido seems to have something pretty rare these days with female performers... "class". I'd put Sarah McLaughlin and Nora Jones in the same category. Now, if I see her writhing around in her next video, I'm going to totally change my opinion of her! LOL!

[ExActLy99]

I think that there's just a group of people who like this kind of music, I'm one of them, it's what I call "quality music" it's what kind of music I want to listen to, not a bunch of crap that is just screaming (heavy metal) not overly trying too hard (some alt. bands) and not a bunch of lyrics/songs that don't mean squat (rap/hip-hop) Other artists that I put in the category are as already stated Matchbox Twenty and Sarah McLachlan, Goo Goo Dolls, and a lot of my other favorites.