My theory about music. Prove or disprove
 

Hypothesis: In the last 60 years of popluar music, the greatest bands have tended to be English while the greatest individual acts have been American. Define GREAT as being popular, creating influential music and having staying power.

Some examples for:

Bands

The Beatles
The Who
Led Zepplin
Queen
The Rolling Stones
Pink Floyd
U2 (I know, they're Irish)
The Clash
Spice Girls (jk)
Radiohead

Solo Artists

Elvis
Chuck Barry
Jerry Lee Lewis
Johnny Cash
Billy Joel
Michael Jackson
Prince
Madonna


Examples against:

Bands

The Beach Boys
The Supremes
Jackson 5
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Beastie Boys

Solo Artists

Elton John

Re: My theory about music. Prove or disprove
 

If you vote Completly False, please provide counter-examples.

Re: My theory about music. Prove or disprove
 

Generally true, taking country size into account. Originality = F.

Re: My theory about music. Prove or disprove
 

a) This is not a "theory" that can be proven or disproven.

b) This is a worthless theory at any rate, what about any number of great jazz bands/musicians from America that had much more effect on popular music than half those bands you put up? Radiohead? give me a [censored] break. Not to mention countless blues/motown/etc... bands that also hailed from america.

Re: My theory about music. Prove or disprove
 

who cares

Re: My theory about music. Prove or disprove
 

Good point about Jazz/Blues etc. I was originally going to call it "Rock n roll" music, but changed my mind.

I only included Radiohead because they get a lot of love from OOT. Personally, I'm not a big fan.

Re: My theory about music. Prove or disprove
 

Even if you would have called it rock n roll music, the point would be exactly the same. rock n roll came from jazz and blues.

Re: My theory about music. Prove or disprove
 

If you aren't joking then you clearly don't know very much about American music. Maybe the best British bands were better or more popular but: Beastie Boys? Red Hot Chili Peppers? Jackson 5? WTF?

How about:
The Grateful Dead
The Eagles
Bruce Springsteen (E Street Band)
The Doors
CCR
Van Halen
Nirvana
The Band
Sly and the Family Stone
Jefferson Airplane

There are probably more examples I cant think of.

Re: My theory about music. Prove or disprove
 

[ QUOTE ]
If you aren't joking then you clearly don't know very much about American music. Maybe the best British bands were better or more popular but: Beastie Boys? Red Hot Chili Peppers? Jackson 5? WTF?

How about:
The Grateful Dead
The Eagles
Bruce Springsteen (E Street Band)
The Doors
CCR
Van Halen
Nirvana
The Band
Sly and the Family Stone
Jefferson Airplane

There are probably more examples I cant think of.

[/ QUOTE ]

Hijack: I have a really weird reaction to the Doors. They're so familiar to me that I forget how good they are. I always stop listening to the Doors for months, listen to a bunch of other stuff, then put the Doors back on and think "Holy crap, these guys are good."

Re: My theory about music. Prove or disprove
 

[ QUOTE ]
who cares

[/ QUOTE ]
Example for:

OP

Examples against:

Everyone else

Re: My theory about music. Prove or disprove
 

Examples against:
Van Halen
Metallica

Re: My theory about music. Prove or disprove
 

[ QUOTE ]
If you vote Completly False, please provide counter-examples.

[/ QUOTE ]

The Band
The Doors
The Grateful Dead
Boston
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Aerosmith
Metallica
Eath Wind and Fire
The Beach Boys

solos

Eric Clapton (with any carnation of a band is still really just him [cept cream and yardbirds but I digress]
John Mayall
Rod Stewart
David Bowie
Peter Gabriel
Peter Frampton


I can do this all day ...

Re: My theory about music. Prove or disprove
 

The Ramones

Re: My theory about music. Prove or disprove
 

[ QUOTE ]
Hypothesis: In the last 60 years of popluar music, the greatest bands have tended to be English while the greatest individual acts have been American. Define GREAT as being popular, creating influential music and having staying power.

[/ QUOTE ]

This is so ridiculous I don't even know where to begin. This is complete "world is me" syndrome. Since you are exposed to much more music with english words naturally it is assumed that all the greatest popular music comes from those countries.

Re: My theory about music. Prove or disprove
 

I have taken music history classes and generally love music of all styles whether new or old. I understand what you are trying to say, but everyone has different opinions on what the best music is and where it originated from. The artists and bands you listed may be great according to you but there will be people who disagree and end up naming what they think is best, which other people will then disagree with. The cycle will just keep repeating.

Everyone has a favorite artist or band that they think is the greatest and cannot understand why everyone else doesnt feel the same way.

Re: My theory about music. Prove or disprove
 

Rap and country (two of the largest genres of music) are nearly devoid of any UK influence.

Re: My theory about music. Prove or disprove
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Hypothesis: In the last 60 years of popluar music, the greatest bands have tended to be English while the greatest individual acts have been American. Define GREAT as being popular, creating influential music and having staying power.

[/ QUOTE ]

This is so ridiculous I don't even know where to begin. This is complete "world is me" syndrome. Since you are exposed to much more music with english words naturally it is assumed that all the greatest popular music comes from those countries.

[/ QUOTE ]

Nobody gives a [censored] about your Los del Rio [censored].

Re: My theory about music. Prove or disprove
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Hypothesis: In the last 60 years of popluar music, the greatest bands have tended to be English while the greatest individual acts have been American. Define GREAT as being popular, creating influential music and having staying power.

[/ QUOTE ]

This is so ridiculous I don't even know where to begin. This is complete "world is me" syndrome. Since you are exposed to much more music with english words naturally it is assumed that all the greatest popular music comes from those countries.

[/ QUOTE ]

Nobody gives a [censored] about your Los del Rio [censored].

[/ QUOTE ]
lol

Re: My theory about music. Prove or disprove
 

Pavement
Pixies
Sonic Youth

Re: My theory about music. Prove or disprove
 

Rage isnt from england, i just proved your theory false

Re: My theory about music. Prove or disprove
 

[ QUOTE ]
Rap and country (two of the largest genres of music) are nearly devoid of any UK influence.

[/ QUOTE ]

example against from rap: slick rick

Re: My theory about music. Prove or disprove
 

Bands (besides those already mentioned):
Bob Marley and the Wailers
Temptations
Four Tops
Four Seasons
Alabama
Run DMC
Bee Gees

Solos
Lucky Dube (RIP)
Pato Banton
also, any other reggae great like Gregory Issacs, Dennis Brown, Jimmy Cliff, etc.
Celine (I hate her, but you have to acknowledge her influence and hold over millions of women)
Jackie Cheung

Re: My theory about music. Prove or disprove
 

This is more of an observation than a theory. A theory would be if you said I think this is case because Americans are selfish.

Re: My theory about music. Prove or disprove
 

Eh, while it isn't a real theory with holding power like everyone has said, I am just going to agree for two reasons.

Favorite band:
The Beatles

Favorite Solo:
Bob Dylan

The end.

Re: My theory about music. Prove or disprove
 

[ QUOTE ]
Not to mention countless blues/motown/etc... bands that also hailed from america.



[/ QUOTE ]

I hate the term "band" when referring to motown type acts. How about singing group? Did the Supremes or the Temptations play any instruments, write those hit songs etc?? Hard to put them in the same category with bands that actually wrote their songs and played their instruments.

Re: My theory about music. Prove or disprove
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Rap and country (two of the largest genres of music) are nearly devoid of any UK influence.

[/ QUOTE ]

example against from rap: slick rick

[/ QUOTE ]

Dizzee Rascal ftw!

Re: My theory about music. Prove or disprove
 

can we have some more indie music fans come on here and name some bands or acts a dozen people have heard of to disprove this theory

Re: My theory about music. Prove or disprove
 

[ QUOTE ]
This is more of an observation than a theory. A theory would be if you said I think this is case because Americans are selfish.

[/ QUOTE ]

hmm, interesting theory actually.

Re: My theory about music. Prove or disprove
 

I have nothing to add to this thread, except to say that I am surprised anyone except me and all other Long Islanders/New Yorkers would put Billy Joel in a "greatest..." post.

Re: My theory about music. Prove or disprove
 

I don't think anyone can argue that the UK has produced a disproportionately large number of amazing rock bands in the period 1950-1980 or so. I would have to say more than the US in the same period and especially a lot more if you take the size of the country into account.

I don't really have an opinion about solo artists. Except that you left off Jimi Hendrix. Or is that because his band was English?

EDIT: [censored] rap and country. WTF. Who even names [censored] like that? We're talking about music here. /personal rant

Re: My theory about music. Prove or disprove
 

These discussions are beaten to death, on top of the fact that they are based on opinions and record sales. Who cares if the Beatles are the most influential to other bands, and who cares if Brittany has the number 1 album. People claiming that they are proving the theory false by naming band X are contributing nothing to a theory that holds no ground. All that band X is a band that is held in high regard in the opinion of the majority of people. Opinions don't prove theories, people. I had this same discussion with a friend who claimed the same arugument as the OP by saying "There must be a reason why British bands have been held in such high regard" like the fact that "there must be a reason" proved anything.

On a side note, what matters in music is the relationship you have with whatever you listen to. That's all that matters. If a list of the greatest or what your friend likes influences why you like a band, then you're a [censored] retard.

Re: My theory about music. Prove or disprove
 

[ QUOTE ]
Bands (besides those already mentioned):
Bob Marley and the Wailers
Temptations
Four Tops
Four Seasons
Alabama
Run DMC
Bee Gees


[/ QUOTE ]

Sadly they are English also

Re: My theory about music. Prove or disprove
 

Well, perhaps we need to parameterize the discussion a little
bit... Let's just say, during the years, 1967 - 1980, living
in the U.S.... the best bands were British... and the best
solo acts were Americans... Hmmm...

I would agree with the "band" portion of the statement.
In fact, I used to play a little game to prove my point.

You name me a great American band from that era, and I would
name the better british counterpart. Ready? It would go
something like this:

Aerosmith -- Led Zeppelin
ZZ Top -- Black Sabbath
Boston -- Deep Purple
Doors -- Yes
Jefferson Starship -- Pink Floyd
Rolling Stones -- Beatles

( lol ... hopefully, you get the point... )

As for individuals though, I think the Brits still get the
edge...

Billy Joel -- Elton John
Iggy Pop -- David Bowie
Bob Dylan -- Chumba Wumba

my brain is fuzzy ... can't think of much more...

Re: My theory about music. Prove or disprove
 

[ QUOTE ]

Bob Marley and the Wailers
Bee Gees


[/ QUOTE ]

uh...

Re: My theory about music. Prove or disprove
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
This is more of an observation than a theory. A theory would be if you said I think this is case because Americans are selfish.

[/ QUOTE ]

hmm, interesting theory actually.

[/ QUOTE ]
My theory about theory's or that Americans are selfish?
Anyways it probably has to do with genres of music. Most of these have to do with Pop/Country/Rap which are largely solo artists, while most of the groups listed are classic rock bands.

Re: My theory about music. Prove or disprove
 

[ QUOTE ]

Well, perhaps we need to parameterize the discussion a little
bit... Let's just say, during the years, 1967 - 1980, living
in the U.S.... the best bands were British... and the best
solo acts were Americans... Hmmm...

I would agree with the "band" portion of the statement.
In fact, I used to play a little game to prove my point.

You name me a great American band from that era, and I would
name the better british counterpart. Ready? It would go
something like this:

Aerosmith -- Led Zeppelin
ZZ Top -- Black Sabbath
Boston -- Deep Purple
Doors -- Yes
Jefferson Starship -- Pink Floyd
Rolling Stones -- Beatles

( lol ... hopefully, you get the point... )

As for individuals though, I think the Brits still get the
edge...

Billy Joel -- Elton John
Iggy Pop -- David Bowie
Bob Dylan -- Chumba Wumba

my brain is fuzzy ... can't think of much more...

[/ QUOTE ]

Your brain is fuzzy indeed.

First, the Beatles and Rolling Stones are both british. Led Zeppelin and Aerosmith are not from the same era. Neither are Black Sabbath and ZZ Top, and it's a huge stretch to call them counterparts.

Re: My theory about music. Prove or disprove
 

why arent Guns N Roses on any list?!?111111111

Re: My theory about music. Prove or disprove
 

Post 1980 I guess.

Re: My theory about music. Prove or disprove
 

The problem with the OP is that one could argue that all the big bands from 90s on are American. You can even stretch that to the mid 80s and beyond, with only U2 being a prominent non-US band. All the big movements since the 80s (grunge, metal, boy band, rap, new country) have been dominated by American acts. You can certainly make a case that from the mid 60s to the punk movement, British bands dominated the music scene. But it hasn't been the case since then.

Re: My theory about music. Prove or disprove
 

More examples against:
Van Halen
Metallica
Aerosmith
Kiss