WotUNeed
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Post by WotUNeed on Mar 31, 2009 14:57:05 GMT -5
I think some of it has to do with the way the band has evolved. Not only have they somewhat polished their sound, but they've also started writing songs that are lyrically more accessible without resorting to baseness. At rock formats, lyrics still count for more than they do at, say, CHR, where songs like "Right Round" and "Poker Face" can achieve great things with words that are at best, unintelligent and, at worst, relatively meaningless. Because lyrics still matter, songs like "Sex on Fire" and "Use Somebody," which not only sound good (or, at least, do so in my opinion), but also have a fairly straightforward delivery and address subjects to which most people can relate, are naturally going to have a broader appeal and a decent shot at high spots, including the apex of the charts. I think this goes a long way into considering why something like "Rise Above This," which is both musically and lyrically generic, can also do quite well here. (And don't get me wrong, while I don't worship it as wonderful, I don't dislike "Rise Above This," but it seems like an obvious example of a recent song that doesn't really stand out in any way, but still did well and connected with a decent number of people.) I may be biased, since the Only by the Night era has changed what was my relative prior general disinterest in Kings of Leon to the point where even "The Bucket" has been kicked into higher rotation, but such is my take on the matter. I got more out of the lyrics of "Rise Above This" than I do out of the lyrics of "Use Somebody" or "Sex On Fire". But I'm also not saying that "Rise Above This" was a #1 either. I guess, for me, all three have lyrics that are fairly well-written but incredibly generic. Like, for example, a friend of mine called the lyrics to "Rise Above This" "a pep talk from a coach who doesn't really know you," and I think that's dead on. For me, "Use Somebody" has that same quality of capturing the want for companionship without getting too specific, and "Sex on Fire" has a sort of heat-of-passion thing going on that is slightly less generic, but still fairly easily adaptable to similar situations.
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PHOBES
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Post by PHOBES on Mar 31, 2009 15:00:28 GMT -5
Take "Rise Above This" in with all Shaun has gone through, I guarantee it'll have more meaning for you then.
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pen
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Post by pen on Mar 31, 2009 15:10:15 GMT -5
I know that, but I was pointing out why people associate them with quoting. Besides, saying "inverted commas" makes you sound like an educated dick.
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pen
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Post by pen on Mar 31, 2009 15:13:22 GMT -5
I got more out of the lyrics of "Rise Above This" than I do out of the lyrics of "Use Somebody" or "Sex On Fire". But I'm also not saying that "Rise Above This" was a #1 either. I guess, for me, all three have lyrics that are fairly well-written but incredibly generic. Like, for example, a friend of mine called the lyrics to "Rise Above This" "a pep talk from a coach who doesn't really know you," and I think that's dead on. For me, "Use Somebody" has that same quality of capturing the want for companionship without getting too specific, and "Sex on Fire" has a sort of heat-of-passion thing going on that is slightly less generic, but still fairly easily adaptable to similar situations. On a similar subject, it kind of irks me when people keep calling things generic. I know it's true, when you do comparisons, but at the same time it sucks all the feeling out of it, y'know? I mean, Shaun wrote that song for his dead brother. There's a meaning to him behind those lyrics that are a little more than just words to a catchy song, y'know? I'm sure the same goes for Kings Of Leon. People just latch on to songs in different ways for different reasons. To call anything generic really kind of undermines any reason why the song was written in the first place. Unless it's another song about getting wasted and fucked, there's no deeper meaning there.
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WotUNeed
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Post by WotUNeed on Mar 31, 2009 15:17:07 GMT -5
I guess, for me, all three have lyrics that are fairly well-written but incredibly generic. Like, for example, a friend of mine called the lyrics to "Rise Above This" "a pep talk from a coach who doesn't really know you," and I think that's dead on. For me, "Use Somebody" has that same quality of capturing the want for companionship without getting too specific, and "Sex on Fire" has a sort of heat-of-passion thing going on that is slightly less generic, but still fairly easily adaptable to similar situations. On a similar subject, it kind of irks me when people keep calling things generic. I know it's true, when you do comparisons, but at the same time it sucks all the feeling out of it, y'know? I mean, Shaun wrote that song for his dead brother. There's a meaning to him behind those lyrics that are a little more than just words to a catchy song, y'know? I'm sure the same goes for Kings Of Leon. People just latch on to songs in different ways for different reasons. To call anything generic really kind of undermines any reason why the song was written in the first place. Unless it's another song about getting wasted and f**ked, there's no deeper meaning there. I use the term because, in my mind, generic <> wrong. I say generic in the classical sense of being easily categorized into a certain literary or poetic genre, and in the traditional sense of not specific, but not in the stuck-up hipster sense of "ewww not unique enough to matter." I do not think generic things are bad; if they were, they wouldn't be able to be generic in the first place, because the category would have died out for lack of a significant audience. If it helps, substitute "relatable" or "nondescript" or whatever similar synonym carries a less negative connotation for you into my argument, and that will likely carry more of the intended spirit.
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pen
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Post by pen on Mar 31, 2009 15:29:35 GMT -5
Relatable works. It's just that generic has been twisted so much by people into such a negative term, because what they really mean is that it's not special or unique enough to deserve their attention. So yeah, pretty much exactly what you said.
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Ivy Leegue™
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Post by Ivy Leegue™ on Mar 31, 2009 19:06:01 GMT -5
You guys are crazy lol. They are a GREAT band, and this is a GREAT song. Seriously, what other song in the Top 10 is more deserving of a #1 than this? It's so weird, because EVERYONE I know likes them, and then I come here on Pulse, and they aren't liked at all. They deserve all of their success IMO. I agree 200%. I saw them in concert. They were unbelievable. I have an emotional connection with all of their songs.
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Post by My Life Is A Stereo on Mar 31, 2009 22:30:01 GMT -5
I'd rather have generic that I can connect to in some way then lyrically poetry that sounds like verbal insanity dressed up as genius. Then again at the end of the day I'm normally drawn to the music and the lyrics are honestly just and enhancement to sing along with. Sometimes I really like lyrics but most of the time I don't give a crap. I'm pulled in by the melody and riffs.
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(Artie Ziff)
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Post by (Artie Ziff) on Apr 1, 2009 17:00:35 GMT -5
It seems Kings Of Leon has a fine mixture of riffs, melody, and words. Although the lyrics seem to have taken a back seat on the new album. But they've turned their poppiest side up to success. Good for them I guess.
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Nicholas2.0
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Post by Nicholas2.0 on Apr 2, 2009 23:22:38 GMT -5
You don't know how to use quotes, so when I read that post I heard it in Joey's voice from that episode. Then there's me. I saw nothing wrong with his quotes around Green Day, because I thought he was referring to the upcoming Green Day single that we didn't know the name of yet, so he was just using the band name as the song title's placeholder... ...Until now, when I realized we all know "Know Your Enemy" is the name of the upcoming Green Day single. I guess I just don't get the same amount of awe and excitement out of them as other people seem to be. To me, a Top 10 band, okay. A top 5 band....maybe. I can kind of get that. But two songs straight to #1? I just don't think they're that great of songs. To me a #1 should be like a f**king dynamite song. Like, holy s**t, this is a great song kind of song. I guess it's all down to individual tastes. I agree 100% with this. I guess I just don't get the same amount of awe and excitement out of them as other people seem to be. To me, a Top 10 band, okay. A top 5 band....maybe. I can kind of get that. But two songs straight to #1? I just don't think they're that great of songs. To me a #1 should be like a f**king dynamite song. Like, holy s**t, this is a great song kind of song. I guess it's all down to individual tastes. I think some of it has to do with the way the band has evolved. Not only have they somewhat polished their sound, but they've also started writing songs that are lyrically more accessible without resorting to baseness. Yet, right there in "Sex on Fire" is the line "Head while I'm drivin'." ;) (Which I didn't even catch for months until a magazine pointed it out for me.) I've said it many times, but lyrics are usually of little importance to me. Actually, I think a couple of reasons preventing me from liking KOL more are 1) their universal hipster and critical acclaim and 2) the twang in Caleb's voice.
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WotUNeed
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Post by WotUNeed on Apr 3, 2009 0:19:00 GMT -5
I think some of it has to do with the way the band has evolved. Not only have they somewhat polished their sound, but they've also started writing songs that are lyrically more accessible without resorting to baseness. Yet, right there in "Sex on Fire" is the line "Head while I'm drivin'." ;) (Which I didn't even catch for months until a magazine pointed it out for me.). For me, sexual content in and of itself isn't necessarily base. Like, for example, I see a big difference between "head while I'm driving" and, say, "I'm driving my big car because I'm rich / You know it turns you on, so suck it, b***h." They're both head behind the wheel, but it's all in the presentation. (On a related note, there's also the consideration of if it fits the song or it just seems gratuitous, but that's somewhat more subjective, I suppose.)
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Ragin
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Post by Ragin on Apr 3, 2009 7:45:51 GMT -5
So much of it is song structure though. People go on and on about lyrical content, but the truth of the matter is, I'll take simpler lyrics anyday if they are cleverly distributed in a superior song structure. Half the time what most people consider "genius" I consider self-indulgent garbage. There is a fine line between creating images and being empty-headed and vague. Very few groups and song-writers manage to create vivid images along with a a catchy melody and good sogn structure, they usually have to give up something in the process. I've always contended that if it is all about the lyrics, go get a poetry book, or get yourself immersed in literature. I like both, but I'm not a lyrical snob like what I see on here.
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PHOBES
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Post by PHOBES on Apr 3, 2009 12:26:05 GMT -5
^I like poetry....heck, I WRITE poetry. What of it?
You see, there's a fine line there. There's unintelligent lyrics, and then there's the absurdly overt sexual nature of songs like "Get Stoned" and "Crazy Bitch." Me, most of the time I don't mind hearing Pop Evil state the obvious to the fact that I can't tell if they're insulting my intelligence or if they simply have short-term memory loss. Their songs that I've heard are catchy enough that I like them, regardless of the lyrics. However, if a song's chorus starts with: "She likes to shake her ass!" then I'm likely changing the station.
I probably put a bit more importance on lyrics than most people here, but I wouldn't consider myself a "Lyrical Snob" so to speak. Either way it's all subjective, and I think it's anyone's right to be a "snob" about whatever they like.
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Pipa
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Post by Pipa on Apr 3, 2009 14:06:21 GMT -5
I'm the type that doesn't care about lyrics unless they're so painfully stupid that they ruin the song. (So Hott, Crazy b***h, etc) Of course, there are exceptions. However, if a song's chorus starts with: "She likes to shake her ass!" then I'm likely changing the station. And yet, Framing Hanley can sing "Shorty wanna hump, you know I like to touch ya lovely lady lumps" almost painlessly.
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pen
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Post by pen on Apr 3, 2009 14:09:17 GMT -5
Painless for who?
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Post by My Life Is A Stereo on Apr 3, 2009 14:09:50 GMT -5
Pass the morphine please!
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(Artie Ziff)
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Post by (Artie Ziff) on Apr 3, 2009 17:40:07 GMT -5
Adding to the monster success of the song, it holds the biggest bullet ever for a #1 song (that didn't debut there) in the history of the Modern chart. Also, Kings Of Leon is the first act since 1995 to have their first two charting top tens reach #1.
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Ivy Leegue™
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Post by Ivy Leegue™ on Apr 4, 2009 15:38:31 GMT -5
I am so happy for these guys finally getting the success they deserve in their home country!
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Post by fran182 on Apr 4, 2009 16:29:53 GMT -5
Adding to the monster success of the song, it holds the biggest bullet ever for a #1 song (that didn't debut there) in the history of the Modern chart. Also, Kings Of Leon is the first act since 1995 to have their first two charting top tens reach #1.
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(Artie Ziff)
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Post by (Artie Ziff) on Apr 6, 2009 15:24:24 GMT -5
This will be #1 again next week according to Nielsen.
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jgsports37
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Post by jgsports37 on Apr 7, 2009 2:21:44 GMT -5
yeah and "Feel Good Drag" (according the neilsen) should be no.2 but R&R has been robbing them...personally though, i love "Use Somebody"
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(Artie Ziff)
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Post by (Artie Ziff) on Apr 8, 2009 15:12:45 GMT -5
Feel Good Drag will be #2 next week.
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Ron57
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Post by Ron57 on Apr 8, 2009 15:18:04 GMT -5
Nickelback performed a cover version of this song last night, With Ryan Peake as the singer instead of Chad Kroeger.
It was actually decent, I was very surprised.
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(Artie Ziff)
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Post by (Artie Ziff) on Apr 13, 2009 14:08:31 GMT -5
This will mark its third week at #1 next week with hard charging Incubus, 311, and Seether making a run.
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jvandyck87
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Post by jvandyck87 on Apr 13, 2009 20:27:18 GMT -5
Anberlin still has a shot for next week I would think. And if radio stations get "Know Your Enemy" in the next few days, you never know. I'm guessing that's still another week away though.
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Cody
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Post by Cody on Apr 13, 2009 21:19:54 GMT -5
the next single, "Revelry" is just awful
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pen
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Post by pen on Apr 13, 2009 21:26:42 GMT -5
Eh, "Revelry" is decent but I wanted "Crawl".
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crash46
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Post by crash46 on Apr 13, 2009 21:57:49 GMT -5
Also, Kings Of Leon is the first act since 1995 to have their first two charting top tens reach #1. OK I've gotta ask, who in 1995 did this? (It didn't happen on R&R, but I'm curious anyway.)
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jvandyck87
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Post by jvandyck87 on Apr 13, 2009 21:59:26 GMT -5
I have no answer, but Live would be a decent guess.
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Cody
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Post by Cody on Apr 13, 2009 22:03:08 GMT -5
I believe hes referring to the Artie Rock Radio chart. Where KoL are the first act since 95 to accomplish that feat, where Rob Thomas goes for adds, following in the footsteps of Artists Stand Up To Cancer with Stand Up!, and where the all time most played group is Eagles Of Death Metal
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