Vic wrote
I'm not familiar with the music of the Parlotones...I've heard only one of their songs on the radio.... where the guy wants to get at it on the floor... ? In show business only one thing counts for the masses imho...and that is how well you entertain (meant in the broadest sense here) in a particular segment of the business.....albeit comedy or classical concert performance or whatever...and it's only the voice of the masses that 'll determine whether you'll be successful or not at making money to sustain yourself in that....and not necessarily your musicianship or creativity or your level of technical competence. On the other hand...never underestimate the "intelligence" of the masses and that of the mass media. These will always play the dominant role in the careers of those in show business.
In the case of the Parlotones clearly the media and masses of this country put them where they are....the question is why ?
Well that's the baffling thing. There seems to be no relationship at all between musical merit and public acclaim. Sometimes the two intersect - EG The Beatles. Sometimes they don't. John Martyn (whose admirers include Messrs Clapton and Gilmour) wasn't a household name, Boney M are. Rory Gallagher was less well known than Bucks Fizz. Etc etc.
There may be other factors involved. Nick Drake might have done better if he could have handled live performance and learned some stagecraft, but in general I see no correlation between the two.
I also am wary of concluding that because there is public acclaim there MUST be talent. Apart from anything else, taking that line would force one to conclude that The Nolans must have more fundamental merit than Wilco.
Which doesn't leave us, the great public, looking so smart.
