Rant: Band names
Posted: July 31 13, 4:47 pm
I believe a band's name* is truly one of the contributing factors to their historical success, i.e., longevity. Some of the band names I'm seeing these days are just too weird. I don't understand, in a day and age when a lot of music is market researched/tested, somebody in marketing doesn't stand up and say, "Woah! Let's go with something a little more catchy or memorable than ____." It also seems that, more often than not, length works against a band.
Look back through history. The Doors, The Beatles, The Police, Genesis, Rush, Pearl Jam, Metallica, The Cars, Heart, etc.
As a negative example of this theory (and this is not a slight on the band, as I have never heard a microsecond of their music), Neutral Milk Hotel. Who thought of that, and what does that even mean?
On the flip side, I don't believe The Lumineers' band name works against them at all. I don't like their music, but thumbs up to the band name.
There are certainly exceptions to this theory. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers come to mind, though it does have a person's name in it, so it falls in a gray area.
Yes, as time goes on, names get taken. But we're talking about creative people here! We can do better! All I'm saying is, give yourself a chance! Don't shoot yourself in the foot with the starter's gun.
Am I the only one who has thought about this? If so, at the very least, it felt good to rant about it.
*The exception to this theory is a person's name, like Jimi Hendrix or Eric Johnson. Those can go either way, but you can't get upset at someone for their name.
**Again, this isn't a commentary on a band's music. It's about their chances at being historically successful (i.e., longevity).
Look back through history. The Doors, The Beatles, The Police, Genesis, Rush, Pearl Jam, Metallica, The Cars, Heart, etc.
As a negative example of this theory (and this is not a slight on the band, as I have never heard a microsecond of their music), Neutral Milk Hotel. Who thought of that, and what does that even mean?
On the flip side, I don't believe The Lumineers' band name works against them at all. I don't like their music, but thumbs up to the band name.
There are certainly exceptions to this theory. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers come to mind, though it does have a person's name in it, so it falls in a gray area.
Yes, as time goes on, names get taken. But we're talking about creative people here! We can do better! All I'm saying is, give yourself a chance! Don't shoot yourself in the foot with the starter's gun.
Am I the only one who has thought about this? If so, at the very least, it felt good to rant about it.
*The exception to this theory is a person's name, like Jimi Hendrix or Eric Johnson. Those can go either way, but you can't get upset at someone for their name.
**Again, this isn't a commentary on a band's music. It's about their chances at being historically successful (i.e., longevity).