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Post by singingsparrow on Apr 21, 2004 22:56:01 GMT -5
This was the second single from Zwan's "Mary Star Of The Sea", Billy Corgan's one album band after Smashing Pumpkins were pulled the plug.
It's a shame this never became the hit it deserved to be, missing the Top 20 on Alternative and what should have also been a huge Hot AC/CHR/Pop smash.
Sunny, uplifting, and hopeful are appropriate words in defining this opening track to the album.
Sincerely,
Noah Eaton
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halo19
4x Platinum Member
Joined: September 2003
Posts: 4,683
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Post by halo19 on Jul 4, 2004 15:01:13 GMT -5
I agree, this deserved a lot better. It's sad that the band only stuck around for one album. I agree with the rest of what you said as well.
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Brethren
2x Platinum Member
Joined: September 2003
Posts: 2,027
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Post by Brethren on Jul 4, 2004 16:21:40 GMT -5
This song is f**king amazing. I love it, and I'm sad it didn't do much better.
But this song was just superb.
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Post by singingsparrow on Jul 4, 2004 19:08:08 GMT -5
This song is f**king amazing. I love it, and I'm sad it didn't do much better. But this song was just superb. Not just that, it was also quite radio-friendly. Zwan may have been a bit too sunny and upbeat for Alternative, but they were perfectly friendly for Pop radio. "Lyric" with poetic lyrics and gleeful vocals, "Honestly" the lead single with its heart-bouncing rhythm, "Endless Summer" and "Baby Let's Rock" all could have been potential hits. If Smashing Pumpkins were Corgan's darker cognito, Zwan was absolutely his incognito. And it's too bad his incognito never had the chance. Sincerely, Noah Eaton |
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halo19
4x Platinum Member
Joined: September 2003
Posts: 4,683
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Post by halo19 on Jul 4, 2004 20:10:05 GMT -5
One thing about Zwan though, is that they did make catchy songs. Actually, I don't think it was too sunny for Alternative, people thought it was too sunny for Corgan. That's really why most people who love TSP that didn't like Zwan disliked them. People who accepted that Billy was happy happened to like the album.
"Honestly" had single written all over it, I can see why it lasted at least as long as it did. "Lyric" should've been a multi-format smash, something that I thought was unfair. Sadly, Hot A/C wanted to be rock bottom, playing the weakest songs on their format, including an uninspired cover of "Big Yellow Taxi", pop would have rather heard 50 Cent (not a dis), or something like Christina, or an "Unwell"-type track.
But I think Zwan could have still done rather well on Triple A, I thought it sounded like something that would work well on the format. (They obviously are not Active Rock, although Rock would work for them).
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Post by singingsparrow on Jul 4, 2004 22:55:45 GMT -5
One thing about Zwan though, is that they did make catchy songs. Actually, I don't think it was too sunny for Alternative, people thought it was too sunny for Corgan. That's really why most people who love TSP that didn't like Zwan disliked them. People who accepted that Billy was happy happened to like the album. "Honestly" had single written all over it, I can see why it lasted at least as long as it did. "Lyric" should've been a multi-format smash, something that I thought was unfair. Sadly, Hot A/C wanted to be rock bottom, playing the weakest songs on their format, including an uninspired cover of "Big Yellow Taxi", pop would have rather heard 50 Cent (not a dis), or something like Christina, or an "Unwell"-type track. But I think Zwan could have still done rather well on Triple A, I thought it sounded like something that would work well on the format. (They obviously are not Active Rock, although Rock would work for them). I agree "Lyric" also would have worked with Triple A. Usually tracks like that find their way in in crossover form. "Harder To Breathe" (which really isn't Triple A-friendly in my opinion) was an Alternative track that actually worked. "Unwell" cross-overed from mainstream and had impressive longevity. And now Finger Eleven have joined the fray. Then, of course, there are tracks that can stand on their own at triple A. Look at where "Heaven" has gone! :o "Lyric" is poppier than anything Smashing Pumpkins have ever released (Smashing Pumpkins did indeed release some damn catchy Alternative tracks too) but it has a genuine charm to it too, with Corgan's sensitive-as-always lyrics. Shouldn't everyone have the right to be happy? It saddened me to see many Smashing Pumpkins fans reject Corgan's brighter side. But if the more recent Counting Crows' songs could hit big on Triple A (I have no grudge against them, I just miss their AAEA and RTS days) Zwan should have too. besides, not EVERY track on "Mary Star of the Sea" is happy. There are a few light heartwrenchers, like "Of A Broken Heart" and the 14-minute epic "Jesus I (Mary Star of the Sea)" that show some Smashing Pumpkins leftovers. It's sad how that couldn't sate their old fan's hunger. Sincerely, Noah Eaton |
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Radical347
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Joined: September 2003
Posts: 2,251
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Post by Radical347 on Jul 5, 2004 3:09:23 GMT -5
This was my favorite song on the album and I was also disappointed it didn't do better. The Alternative chart runs of "Honestly" and "Lyric" annoyed me because "Honestly" took forever to fall off until they released "Lyric." Then, as soon as "Honestly" fell off it took "Lyric" with it.
I agree with both of you as to why it didn't do as well as it should have, since everyone at the college alternative station has commented that Zwan is too light/poppy. They couldn't get over SP, but that's because Corgan undoubtedly had the most stage presence of the SP (even though the rest of the members were important) and so SP became synonomous with Corgan. Then, Zwan was still Corgan since everyone knows the main reason he created it is because he missed being in the spotlight.
"Lyric" did decenly in Japan when I was there last summer. I also think it should have hit AAA though. "Honestly" charted on AAA but I think it fell clear off from like #24. "Honestly" was a bit too high on the cheez for me, but "Lyric" was better. It only made #30 on my chart but it lasted for like 17 weeks so it got enough points to make my Top 100 of 2004.
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Post by reception on Jul 5, 2004 13:53:20 GMT -5
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Post by singingsparrow on Jul 5, 2004 17:38:48 GMT -5
I remember "Lyric" peaked below the Top 20 on Alternative at #23 or something before plummeting.
Maybe had Zwan released a track as a lead single that at least "sounded" not quite as bright like "Settle Down" less Smashing Pumpkins fans would have been scared away.
Too bad Zwan could never be the successful supergroup like Audioslave and Velvet Revolver have both apparently become.
Sincerely,
Noah Eaton
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