PDA

View Full Version : Artists that aren't famous in America?

Amora's_best_friend
10/01/2007, 13:00
This weekend, I was watching "Friday Night With Jonathon Ross" (an interview show in the UK, its funny) and Beth Ditto of the band "The Gossip (http://www.last.fm/music/The+Gossip)" was on it. She's a laugh and a half.

She remarked upon how that despite her being born and bred in Arkensaw, their main fanbase is in the UK. Their "debut" single (they've actually had several albums previously, none of which have done much) "Standing In The Way Of Control" was featured as the theme tune of a really successful TV show "Skins" over here, so most people know the song.

I was wondering whether they are famous in US at all. Has anyone heard of them?

The album is seriously good. And Beth can sing. She seems to effortlessly belt out notes.

The Gossip - Standing In The Way Of Control (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMFExJzaO1c)

I recommend the album of the same title, and the song "Yr Mangled Heart".




Also, are The Sugababes or Mutya Beuna (an ex-member of The Sugababes) famous in the US?

"Song 4 Mutya" rocks.
Gacy's Clown
10/01/2007, 13:04
I've never heard of any of them and I tend to know what's going on in pop culture here. I'm sure others may have heard of them, though.
hail_eris
10/01/2007, 13:18
I was wondering whether they are famous in US at all. Has anyone heard of them?
Megaproducer Rick Rubin is interested in them, so that got them no small amount of press. I follow the Pacific northwest music scene quite a bit, so they've been on my radar since 2001 (they consider Portland, Ore. to be their home). The college and public radio stations out west started playing "Standing in the Way of Control" in heavy rotation last year, and I started hearing it on XM not too much after that. They still haven't cracked mainstream broadcast radio, though.

And Sugababes will occasionally pop up in a club DJ set, but I don't think anyone could really put a name to any of their songs. Sadly, a lot of it gets written off as latter-day Kylie pop.
charlesx
10/01/2007, 14:13
She remarked upon how that despite her being born and bred in Arkensaw, their main fanbase is in the UK.

I haven't heard about these bands, but as for the person's birthplace - do you mean Arkansas, USA? I know, it's one of those silly American spelling thangs. :p (Arkansas = Ar-ken-saw, not Ar-kan-sas. Go figure.)
VelvetGuru9
10/01/2007, 15:22
My friend is a songwriter and she lives (most of the time) down here in South Florida and she writes songs that are recorded by other people. She wrote a hit in the UK that went to #1 there. The song was Grace Kelly by Mika.

I would love to see another British Music Invasion in the US. I think we're way overdue for one.
Amora's_best_friend
10/01/2007, 15:28
She wrote a hit in the UK that went to #1 there. The song was Grace Kelly by Mika.

No way!

That was literally the biggest song of Spring.

I really dislike it, but still its famously famous here.

I haven't heard about these bands, but as for the person's birthplace - do you mean Arkansas, USA? I know, it's one of those silly American spelling thangs. :p (Arkansas = Ar-ken-saw, not Ar-kan-sas. Go figure.)

LOL!

I only heard it, I just assumed it was spelt Arkensaw! :speechles :cheeky:
VelvetGuru9
10/01/2007, 15:41
No way!

That was literally the biggest song of Spring.

I really dislike it, but still its famously famous here.
She's written Grace Kelly for Mika and written a hit for Alejandra Guzman also. Sadly, she used to wite songs for us, but I think she's with Universal Music Group now.
Superfro
10/01/2007, 16:43
Well to be fair, The Gossip has been putting out albums since 2001, maybe even ealier, so it took awhile to catch on anywhere at this point. ;)

"Standing In The Way Of Control" is a fantastic album. Seriously though...Beth Ditto scares the hell out of me.

Mika got some play over here, but nowhere near what it did in the UK. I honestly only like 2 songs from the album, but my wife really likes it.
Superfro
10/01/2007, 16:49
Just to add too.....I'm friends with a band from Baltimore called Splitsville. They have put out a number of albums here in the states but they really never really reached any success here. However, they were huge in Spain. Seriously. Doing concerts for Spainish television, playing sold out shows, etc, etc.

How does that stuff work?! It blows my mind. :cheeky:
Amora's_best_friend
10/01/2007, 17:01
Seriously though...Beth Ditto scares the hell out of me.

She's my favourite lesbian.


Apart from the ginger one from t.A.T.u.



On that note, were t.A.T.u ever big in America?

They had a number 1 for like 7 weeks with "All The Things She Said" here.
Superfro
10/01/2007, 17:07
On that note, were t.A.T.u ever big in America?


I think for about 4 minutes before everyone saw through their completely bogus act and sound. It was funny actually.
EmperorNorton
10/01/2007, 17:13
My friend is a songwriter and she lives (most of the time) down here in South Florida and she writes songs that are recorded by other people. She wrote a hit in the UK that went to #1 there. The song was Grace Kelly by Mika.

Tell her I said hi and that I don't like that song.
VelvetGuru9
10/01/2007, 17:28
Tell her I said hi and that I don't like that song.
I don't think I'll do that :angry:
EmperorNorton
10/01/2007, 17:31
I don't think I'll do that :angry:

Well, you could also tell her that one of my friends really likes the song (but he doesn't say hi).
Pashmina
10/01/2007, 18:24
All The Things She Said is one of my favourite songs.

Moving on..

I know Bjork has a fair fanbase in the US.

Scissor Sisters famously are more popular here.

What about Joss Stone? She's a young soul singer who sings in an american accent and actually aterted speaking in one, but we in the UK made fun of her so she stopped.

She's quite good.
EmperorNorton
10/01/2007, 18:34
What about Katie Melua?
JKLantern
10/01/2007, 18:48
Snowy White and the White Flames is another one. His albums are only available here via import, and as far as I know, only via the internet.
Amora's_best_friend
10/01/2007, 18:53
Do you get Dido in America?

I love the album "Life For Rent". It's so serene, yet depressing at the same time, but also beautiful.

It's hard to explain. Like evokes several oxymoronic emotions at once.
VelvetGuru9
10/01/2007, 20:37
Do you get Dido in America?

I love the album "Life For Rent". It's so serene, yet depressing at the same time, but also beautiful.

It's hard to explain. Like evokes several oxymoronic emotions at once.
Dido was quite poular here in the states a few years back after the release of No Angel. The thing that helped break her here was that Thank You was such a great first single with a good hook.

Life for Rent did quite well for her here also.
VelvetGuru9
10/01/2007, 20:59
What about Joss Stone? She's a young soul singer who sings in an american accent and actually aterted speaking in one, but we in the UK made fun of her so she stopped.

She's quite good.
Joss has done reasonably well here. I've heard a few people "in the biz" who were totally blown away by her. They felt like she was the second coming of Elvis, but for soul. A Janis Joplin for soul music. I think she still needs to put out a truly great album of songs that'll blow us away. When we get that record, she'll be a household name everywhere.
Stuart_Rex
10/02/2007, 05:43
It depresses me that the majority of British music that makes it anywhere near big in the US is stuff that I consider to be blander than bland, dinner party rubbish. I'm talking Joss Stone, Dido, Coldplay and their ilk.

On the other hand we tend to get some reasonably vibrant American stuff that is ignored at home. The first Scissor Sisters album is great (The most recent is awful), The Gossip have been mentioned. For a brief month back in the mid nineties, even the mighty RFTC had a flirtation with the spotlight in the UK.

I can only apologise for a great deal of the trash we export to you.

I still feel guilty about Bush.
VelvetGuru9
10/02/2007, 09:32
I still feel guilty about Bush.
Their first album wasn't bad :p
Obsidian3d
10/02/2007, 12:10
Anyone heard of Danko Jones? Very cool three-piece rock group out of Eastern Canada. They're pretty popular in Europe from what I've heard, but even a lot of people here (that'd be Canada) don't know who they are, which is a shame.
Superfro
10/02/2007, 12:15
I still feel guilty about Bush.

I can still listen to Sixteen Stone and Razorblade Suitcase, so you shouldn't. :cool:

Actually I'll totally trade Gavin for Gwen if you guys will take her. Just promise me I don't have to see her ever again. :p
technohead
10/02/2007, 12:23
what about David Hasselhoff lol..!!!!
Stuart_Rex
10/02/2007, 13:21
Anyone heard of Danko Jones? Very cool three-piece rock group out of Eastern Canada. They're pretty popular in Europe from what I've heard, but even a lot of people here (that'd be Canada) don't know who they are, which is a shame.

Danko is my favourite live band of all time. Amazing. I commented on them in these forums.

And Superfro, I'll trade Gavin for Gwen anyday. Seeing her is no hardship at all, it's hearing her that causes pain.
Pashmina
10/02/2007, 13:42
I can still listen to Sixteen Stone and Razorblade Suitcase, so you shouldn't. :cool:

Actually I'll totally trade Gavin for Gwen if you guys will take her. Just promise me I don't have to see her ever again. :p

I love her (In No Doubt). Her first album was good, but Sweet Escape is like "...". She's great live.

I need to get more Bush stuff. I only have Swallowed at the mo'. Feels cheap.
Stuart_Rex
10/02/2007, 14:10
Machne head is a good Bush song. Definitely a good place to start...and stop.
Obsidian3d
10/04/2007, 01:56
Sadly I've never been able to catch Danko Jones live. :(
Amora's_best_friend
10/04/2007, 20:31
Gwen Stefani actually exceeded my expectations. I expected her to be mediorce live, but she can actually sing for real.


Overload - The Sugababes (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nm7MjQLKfA8)
This was their first single back in like 1999 or something. I still think it's the best - I love the bridge bit.