Do you guys really think???? No, really???

[Nikkogino]

That the kings will actually gain any kind of real fame??? I know they have done well in England, but rock & roll sucks everywhere else. The US would rather watch a bunch of homies who can't even speak english rapping about the same old shit over and over again. Or watch a guy talk about how cool it is to get shot and then rap about how he is a hard "gangsta". I have heard people say things like "the kings of leon will be as big as the rolling stones"...blah blah blah.

My question to you is...Can the Kings REALLY become a force to be reckoned with, or will they remain a band that will forever play small venue shows (i know they opened for U2, but I have yet to hear anything about them in the press)?

For the record, I am a huge KOL fan, so I am not trying to be a dick. I am merely frustrated by the SHITTINESS of the music over here in the USA. Back in the 90's rock ruled the radio, but now all we have is pure garbage dominating the airwaves.

I hear it isnt much better in other European countries, most noteably Germany, who is now becoming bombarded with Rap and remains loyal to techno. The only Rock that exists in France are the ones on the ground. Is it true that England is the only country that really gives a shit?? Or am I just frustrated by the state of musical tastes??? I don't understand it when a person would rather listen to (ANNOYING ASS) lil john, or lil kim, or lil wayne, or lil romeo, or lil bowwow (yeah, there is a lot of originality existing within the rap scene) rap about the same old shit over a beat that they didn't even write. They would rather listen to that shit than REAL music where people actually do weird things, such as:
1) Write music
2) Play instruments
3) Sing
4) Hold brains in their head


AHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So, do you think the Kings will change anything, or are they just another rock band with a lead singer with a bad voice?

[cornflake]

You bring up a good point. I think the North American music scene (American primarly) is really suffering. We are at least a couple of years behind England when it comes to accepting good music.

For example, it took a while for Americans to accept The White Stripes. Born and bred in America, they had to go over seas with their music to find acceptance. When Elephant finally came out, that was the point that really drove them into the limelight. But now with Get Behind me Satan, they finally have cemented acceptance and a huge fan base here in North America.

I believe that though this album for the Kings of Leon has been incredibly successful, it will really be about their next album which will make or break them here. I am hoping that they keep experimenting and keep being honest in their music. That is what will make them stay on top.

Oh and speaking about the bad voice...honestly, I have tried to get my boyfriend, my sister and one of my friends into KOL, but they have all said that the music sounds good, but the singing is horrible. WTF? That could be something that is turning people off. I don't know. I love Caleb's voice. Different strokes for different folks I guess. Also, the press has a lot to do with their success. People don't like being force feed what to like, so the press should really watch that they don't over hype the guys...

Or they can do what other bands do to get further in the music business, date a famous chick. Worked for Tommy Lee. Caleb, maybe you can try to rope Angelina Jolie into your bohimian dancin'.

[Sanguine]

I agree, most of the music here in America sucks. I can't believe that rap is so popular over here. It's frusterating that good bands with actual musical talent, like KOL, have a hard time here in America. Real music is really suffering.

[csolis]

well answering ure question, i think that the Kings have a long way to go to become REALLY famous, but theyll get there eventually, or maybe not, maybe theyll be like (i dont know much about it) but maybe theyll become like the Kills or the Pixies, who have a lot of street cred and are respected in the rock industry but arent really famous, maybe thats how KOL will be, theyll make good music but maybe they wont get to the level of playing sold out coliseums. Seriously i think they wont get super famous, i dont think it ill happen, but they willget more famous than they are now.

About the hip hop thing, its just a face, hip hop is right now what "grunge" was to the 90's and itll go away, people will get tired of it and will be looking for a new sound of music to ruin.

[cornflake]

Here is something intresting that I just read over at Rolling Stone magazine. It was from the review of The White Stripes Get Behind Me Satan (which got an amazing 4.5/5 stars).

"....the music is so wild, it could make you weep over how pitilessly the Stripes keep crushing the other bands out there. Having clocked all rivals, the Stripes have to settle for topping their 2003 masterpiece, Elephant, the way Elephant topped White Blood Cells. If you happen to be a rock band, and you don't happen to be either of the White Stripes, it so sucks to be you right now. "

Yeah, it does suck to be in a rock band trying to break out in a country where rap and hip-hop are popular.

Ok...maybe this reviewer doesn't remember Aha Shake Heartbreak....probably KOL are excluded from the "it so sucks to be you right now" statement. Maybe not...but they are living like kings and they are enjoying it

[csolis]

i mean also the industry likes to categorize music. How the compare every new good band to The Strokes is so annoying!!!!

[Dotty]

This has nothing to do with the topic, but there's something really beautiful about those small great bands that play at crappy venues. I don't know... I guess you just know they deserve a lot more credibilty than they get. Ok, I'm just rambling.

Another thing, I really hate it when there's a band that I've been a fan of for such a long time, then all of a sudden there's a wave - they have a whole new wierd fanbase and they get played on the radio.

[sel]

Dotty said:

Another thing, I really hate it when there's a band that I've been a fan of for such a long time, then all of a sudden there's a wave - they have a whole new wierd fanbase and they get played on the radio.

why? i know i half do sometimes, but then i think it's good for the artist that their music is being appreciated by more people. i think that sometimes we're all a little hard on the people who arent totally into music but probably do appreciate it but dont really know how to find these good little bands, unless they have friends that tell them.

[ILoveTheRazzleKid]

i know what she means - i mean i find it really irritating when my friends in exeter are like 'they suck' and then a few months later they are like 'oh i love them so much what do you mean i never said they sucked ive loved them since like forever'.. THAT annoys me. but they do deserve success.. just please please dont' play in arenas.. GAAH!

[Kimmie <3]

i don't really know a lot about what happens in the states. it seems that the stripes, strokes and kings, are only popular in the uk.

I don't know much about the music in all of europe, but i know that denmark is finally catching up. Last year it was norway (Kaisers Orchestra), the year before it was sweden(Kent), but 2005 could be the year of denmark. We have Tim Christensen, Kashmir, Superheroes, Saybia and so on, and i really hope that theese bands will get out of denmark and maybe be succesful in the uk. ( i know you've heard Junior Senior, but they got quite annoying after a while....)

Theese bands are awesome, but we have so much more. Indiebands pop up everywhere, and awesome rockbands like Powersolo, and i hope hope hope, that they'll become popular. I *heart* powersolo! lol

I also love england! Most of the music i listen to is english. Not that i don't like the music in denmark, but i would rather listen to Coldplay than Kashmir, simply because they make sort of the same stuff, but coldplay is better (i think - maybe others will like Kashmir better)

LINKS!

www.powersolo.dk/home.html POWERSOLO

www.kashmir.dk/news.php KASHMIR

www.saybia.com SAYBIA

www.timchristensen.dk/ TIM CHRISTENSEN

and this band don't exist anymore, but Tim Cristesne was the leadsinger

www.dizzymizzlizzy.com DIZZY MIZZ LIZZY

hope you'll like it

[jacktor]

keep in mind that like pop the only rap selling is the crappy stuff, I like hiphop but I long for the day when its stripped down like garage rock. And they dont talk about money and hoes. I am sure as with the existence of KOL that there are groups out there like that, but you will never hear them. The state of music is like the state of movies, quantity over quality. Sad but true, and in America, that seems to be the motto these days. Well I hope KOL gets successful but I will miss them in small clubs. Also I always harp on this station, but I love it. Its I think the way radio is going, or at least I hope so. www.woxy.com. they only broadcast online and they play whatever the f*ck they want. They dont have to play what the demographic suggests.

[juls458]

There are so many wonderful rock acts that aren't on the TRL countdown on MTV for everyone and thier mom to sing along to and are still considered "successful". Personally, I would actually hate to see KOL become that....most bands like that suck. I think if they continue to sell albums and have a large fanbase they will be happier and be more honest to themselves and thier fans. Look at a band like Phish (I know most people on here don't dig thier sound...) they have had virtaully no commerical success...however, before thier demise they were one of the top touring bands EVER!(not due to radio play, endorsements or anything "commercial")...I think its possible to have fame and to be successful but it has to be on thier terms. Nothing good ever comes easy!

[saltyleave]

I think the Kings would want you (us) to just let it go about the fame and recognition thing. Im sure they're honest when they say they don't give a sh*t and neither should you. Yeah, its nice to sell records and have people like your band but, eventually, it becomes overrated and annoying.

We've spent the last 10 years or so here in the US trying to find the next Nirvana, and it will not happen. So we just have to hold on to what we have and forget what everyone else likes. Its their time to waste.

[KingsofNouns]

i know everyones all up on the look how good europe is with their music right now, but remember when the boy bands like backstreet boys blew up in europe and then went on being famous over here, and wasn't american idol started over there. Yea, not too far advanced musically. And 50 cent is still huge over in england i know. And i dont' understand how they can brag about liking an american band, and then say americas shitty, what u like the american band? So alright its cool kings are big over there, but i don't understand the whole musical superiority deal.

[ohhi]

i dunno about america but i'd say canada's music scene isn't too bad. you have to look harder for good bands than in the uk but once you find them you hit gold. seriously. the resources for good bands are out there, some people just have to get up off their asses and look but they are too lazy to do so, so they like what they're told to like on mtv and the such.

however this wasn't my point. my point is that i think they could actually be pretty well liked and better known in canada if they FREAKIN' PLAYED SOME SHOWS HERE (bar vancouver and toronto) jesus. seriously. play somewhere else and you'll get more fans. gah.

[Clair]

KingsofNouns said:

i know everyones all up on the look how good europe is with their music right now, but remember when the boy bands like backstreet boys blew up in europe and then went on being famous over here, and wasn't american idol started over there. Yea, not too far advanced musically. And 50 cent is still huge over in england i know. And i dont' understand how they can brag about liking an american band, and then say americas shitty, what u like the american band? So alright its cool kings are big over there, but i don't understand the whole musical superiority deal.

i think you'll find its Americans that are always saying how much better our music tastes are, not us.

ive never said America was shit when it came to music, cause i dont know whats popular there and whats not.

[The Morning Seed]

First i will say i think the kings music is genius and brilliant, but its not pop. Sure mollys chambers got played on a commercial and they have their break out songs in some t.v show, but i highly doubt the kings will ever be huge. What good rock band today is huge anyways, minus the whitestripes but they are arnt that huge. My point is that they dont write pop music, its catchy yes but i dont think it has a broad audience appeal, its very specific to the rock inclined. So to answer the question, no i dont think they will ever make it huge, they may be the next rolling stones but they will never be as big as them simply due to the fact that this isnt the 60's, sadly enough.

Mabye someone has already said this, but the real question is, do you really want them to go huge? I myself am not sure yet.

[telluah]

▪cornflake▪ said:

Here is something intresting that I just read over at Rolling Stone magazine. It was from the review of The White Stripes Get Behind Me Satan (which got an amazing 4.5/5 stars).

"....the music is so wild, it could make you weep over how pitilessly the Stripes keep crushing the other bands out there. Having clocked all rivals, the Stripes have to settle for topping their 2003 masterpiece, Elephant, the way Elephant topped White Blood Cells. If you happen to be a rock band, and you don't happen to be either of the White Stripes, it so sucks to be you right now. "

Yeah, it does suck to be in a rock band trying to break out in a country where rap and hip-hop are popular.

Ok...maybe this reviewer doesn't remember Aha Shake Heartbreak....probably KOL are excluded from the "it so sucks to be you right now" statement. Maybe not...but they are living like kings and they are enjoying it

rollingstone listed ASH as a "get it now" album for three issues, and gave it a pretty good review. i'd say rs is giving kol the best recognition in the US for a magazine. thank god someone is because the radio isn't being to nice to them

[AccuratePassion]

First of all let me just say that the majority of this is my opinion so I hope no one gets offended. The rest (although it is just a few things) is pretty much fact…<br>

Nikkogino said:

My question to you is...Can the Kings REALLY become a force to be reckoned with, or will they remain a band that will forever play small venue shows (i know they opened for U2, but I have yet to hear anything about them in the press)?


AHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So, do you think the Kings will change anything, or are they just another rock band with a lead singer with a bad voice?

My answer to you in a nutshell is: YES! The real question is when it will happen. I think that it will happen by the next album. It is hard to determine how long the Kings will last. We all want to think they are going to go on forever but they have a special relationship and that will truly be the deciding factor for their longevity. Their longevity will also determine the amount of success they will reach… I don’t think they will get arena size anytime soon but I wouldn’t bet against it either.

Also, about Caleb’s voice: A lot of people I know are turned off by it as well. I honestly think that is one dimension that makes the band so fucking unique. With time I think people will either begin to like it and pay attention or just at least appreciate it.

csolis said:

About the hip hop thing, its just a face, hip hop is right now what "grunge" was to the 90's and itll go away, people will get tired of it and will be looking for a new sound of music to ruin.

Rap has been around for over 30 years (at the least). It has become not only a music genre but an art form, a fashion, and an overall lifestyle. It is not going away.

▪cornflake▪ said:

"..... If you happen to be a rock band, and you don't happen to be either of the White Stripes, it so sucks to be you right now. "

I think what this quote meant is that it sucks to be anyone but the White Stripes because they have set the bar pretty high… Not that everyone but them sucks.

Dotty said:

This has nothing to do with the topic, but there's something really beautiful about those small great bands that play at crappy venues. I don't know... I guess you just know they deserve a lot more credibilty than they get. Ok, I'm just rambling.

Another thing, I really hate it when there's a band that I've been a fan of for such a long time, then all of a sudden there's a wave - they have a whole new wierd fanbase and they get played on the radio.

Grrrr… I hate that too! It has happened with the Kings but rather than let it get to me I just try to appreciate it because it means record sales and record sales means tours and tours means live shows etc.

jacktor said:

... I like hiphop but I long for the day when its stripped down like garage rock. And they dont talk about money and hoes.

There is definitely a hip hop scene that is absolutely brilliant. It just happens to be over shadowed by the generic bullshit. Just like every other music genre.

If you want good hip hop listen to:
M.I.A.
Dizzee Rascal
Sage Francis
Common
Kanye West
Talib Kweli

Just to name a few…<br>

saltyleave said:

I think the Kings would want you (us) to just let it go about the fame and recognition thing. Im sure they're honest when they say they don't give a sh*t and neither should you. Yeah, its nice to sell records and have people like your band but, eventually, it becomes overrated and annoying.

We've spent the last 10 years or so here in the US trying to find the next Nirvana, and it will not happen. So we just have to hold on to what we have and forget what everyone else likes. Its their time to waste.

This isn’t about fame and recognition as much as it is about longevity, “success” and the North American music scene. To say that the Kings of Leon don’t care about success is complete shit… They do care. Whether, you want to sugar coat that is up to you. They have to care about it. It feeds and clothes them. It is what they love to do. I think they don’t care about the rockstar lifestyle but they care about making good music.

If you took the time to read this… Thank you!

[caroline, maybe]

honestly, I have no idea.

If I were cocky and foolish, I'd say I have the best f*cking musical taste ever and that all of North America should agree with me.

but, of course, I'm not so dumb as to think that way. I've seen too many small, underground bands I like start out and gain cult status and then die out because it's too hard to make a living being a musician in a world of ashlee simpsons. I'm not saying that kol will do that, cause they've definitely passed that milestone long ago-- but it in the current industry, it takes a certain marketability to make it to the big time, and I don't think, badass or not, that kings of leon has a place (at least I certainly hope not) amongst the predictable, boring "pop", rap and r&b artists that dominate the charts right now. And I certainly wouldn't want them to sell out.

I'd love for the whole world to recognize kol as the geniuses they are, and God, I hope they prove me wrong-- but I think, in today's extreeemmely segregated music industry, that kings of leon can only hope to become a staple among true rock fans. I hate to give way to another Strokes comparison, even though it's not related to the music, but, I think their status will be something at that level. Most people know who they are, but they aren't being played on Kiss FM.