Topic: Gavin Degraw
In this entry I will present the case for why I like Gavin Degraw's music, not necessarily himself as a person, but just his music. I will list the pro's and cons.
PRO'S
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1. His influences include Billy Joel, Marvin Gaye, Elton John, Don Maclean, and The Beatles. All of these artists/bands are awesome. And he incorporates elements of soul singing i.e. Marvin Gaye and I love that type of singing and groove.
2. His music video Chariot was directed by Zach Braff, and as most of us know Zach Braff was on Scrubs and directed Garden State so that's pretty sweet. Zach also did his video because he really likes his music, and we all also know that Zach Braff has an excellent taste in music as shown in his Garden State Soundtrack.
3. He plays piano and guitar, and writes songs for both. I do the same, and I like his compositions for both instruments.
4. His alblum "Chariot" isn't even a new alblum, which his recent blowing up would make it seem. It's actually been out since 2003, where he developed a strong cult following.
5. He did covers of Jealous Guy (John Lennon), Hallelujah (Leonard Cohen, Jeff Buckely, Rufus Wainwright), and Let's Get it On (Marvin Gaye), all 3 songs I have onced covered myself or have hoped to cover at some point. And his covers, unlike most, weren't just carbon copies of the songs. He actually added different chords and voicings to really make it sound like his own, speeding up or slowing down the tempo, and singing it in his own style not just the style of the original singer. Most bands/artists don't do that, they play the cover song exactly like the original band or artist did. Where's the originality in that? And, unles you're playing live, why would I want to hear you play it exactly like the original artist did? I could just go listen to their version which would probably be better. There was another great example of this when Jeff Buckley covered Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah". He made it his own, and now the version that everyone usually thinks of in their head and that other artists have covered was more like his cover version then the original. And anyone that is in Jeff Buckley's company is awesome in my book.
Cons
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1. His song "I Don't Want To Be" is the theme song for the retarded show "One Tree Hill" which I'm proud to say I've never watched. Because of this, most of his fans seem to be screaming teenage girls. This is unfortunate becuase I think it cheapens his music, and makes it look like just the next top 20 crap to come along, another pretty boy that makes the girls go crazy. But we must remember that there was another band that extracted similar emotions and actions out of millions of young girls. In fact, they had the girls screaming for them and passing out. Their name was The Beatles. Enough said.
2. #1 is basically the biggest reason for me or anyone else (especially guys) to not like him and immediately dismiss him and his music. He also seems a little cockly in some of the interviews I've seen of him, which leads me to the fact that I like his music not necessarily him in person. But maybe this is just due to his recent blowing up and things going to his head.
I have made my case for why I like Gavin Degraw's music and I think that anyone who hasn't heard his music or has dismissed him as just the next crappy pop star pretty boy (which I sorta did initially) should take another look and try to overlook or rationalize the situation. And while you're at it check out Damien Rice and Sufjan Stevens, especially Damien's alblum "O" and Sufjan's "Illinois". They are both amazing.
PRO'S
---------
1. His influences include Billy Joel, Marvin Gaye, Elton John, Don Maclean, and The Beatles. All of these artists/bands are awesome. And he incorporates elements of soul singing i.e. Marvin Gaye and I love that type of singing and groove.
2. His music video Chariot was directed by Zach Braff, and as most of us know Zach Braff was on Scrubs and directed Garden State so that's pretty sweet. Zach also did his video because he really likes his music, and we all also know that Zach Braff has an excellent taste in music as shown in his Garden State Soundtrack.
3. He plays piano and guitar, and writes songs for both. I do the same, and I like his compositions for both instruments.
4. His alblum "Chariot" isn't even a new alblum, which his recent blowing up would make it seem. It's actually been out since 2003, where he developed a strong cult following.
5. He did covers of Jealous Guy (John Lennon), Hallelujah (Leonard Cohen, Jeff Buckely, Rufus Wainwright), and Let's Get it On (Marvin Gaye), all 3 songs I have onced covered myself or have hoped to cover at some point. And his covers, unlike most, weren't just carbon copies of the songs. He actually added different chords and voicings to really make it sound like his own, speeding up or slowing down the tempo, and singing it in his own style not just the style of the original singer. Most bands/artists don't do that, they play the cover song exactly like the original band or artist did. Where's the originality in that? And, unles you're playing live, why would I want to hear you play it exactly like the original artist did? I could just go listen to their version which would probably be better. There was another great example of this when Jeff Buckley covered Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah". He made it his own, and now the version that everyone usually thinks of in their head and that other artists have covered was more like his cover version then the original. And anyone that is in Jeff Buckley's company is awesome in my book.
Cons
----------
1. His song "I Don't Want To Be" is the theme song for the retarded show "One Tree Hill" which I'm proud to say I've never watched. Because of this, most of his fans seem to be screaming teenage girls. This is unfortunate becuase I think it cheapens his music, and makes it look like just the next top 20 crap to come along, another pretty boy that makes the girls go crazy. But we must remember that there was another band that extracted similar emotions and actions out of millions of young girls. In fact, they had the girls screaming for them and passing out. Their name was The Beatles. Enough said.
2. #1 is basically the biggest reason for me or anyone else (especially guys) to not like him and immediately dismiss him and his music. He also seems a little cockly in some of the interviews I've seen of him, which leads me to the fact that I like his music not necessarily him in person. But maybe this is just due to his recent blowing up and things going to his head.
I have made my case for why I like Gavin Degraw's music and I think that anyone who hasn't heard his music or has dismissed him as just the next crappy pop star pretty boy (which I sorta did initially) should take another look and try to overlook or rationalize the situation. And while you're at it check out Damien Rice and Sufjan Stevens, especially Damien's alblum "O" and Sufjan's "Illinois". They are both amazing.