NFR: Continuing the theme. The wost singer, band or song to have been successfu

[kevin]

Pink Floyd     The wall    an awful durge

[blingo]

Deck of Cards by Wink Martindale is guaranteed to make me vomit

The Max Bygraves version will make you vomit moreso me thinks Mr Hat lol.

[rogerpbackinMidEastUS]

As much as I like some of their stuff as a band.
Shane McGowan has to have one of the worst voices particularly towards the end their (Pogues) set.
I only saw them once, at the Guinness Fleadh in 1998.

During the show a roadie kept coming on with a fresh cigarette or pint for Shane McGowan.
I couldn't believe when at the end they threw their empty whisky bottles into the crowd.

Having said that the best (IMHO) Xmas song ever is Fairytale in New York.
Strange it's rarely played on commercial radio.

[rogerpbackinMidEastUS]

Deck of Cards by Wink Martindale is guaranteed to make me vomit

CH
What about
"Tie Me Kangaroo Down Sport"  by the very naughty Rolf Harris

[Holders]

Deck of Cards by Wink Martindale is guaranteed to make me vomit

CH
What about
"Tie Me Kangaroo Down Sport"  by the very naughty Rolf Harris

What about "Tie Me Two Little Boys Down Sport" by Mr Harris, sung in A Minor.

[rogerpbackinMidEastUS]

What about "Tie Me Two Little Boys Down Sport" by Mr Harris, sung in A Minor.



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[Holders]

As much as I like some of their stuff as a band.
Shane McGowan has to have one of the worst voices particularly towards the end their (Pogues) set.
I only saw them once, at the Guinness Fleadh in 1998.

During the show a roadie kept coming on with a fresh cigarette or pint for Shane McGowan.
I couldn't believe when at the end they threw their empty whisky bottles into the crowd.

Having said that the best (IMHO) Xmas song ever is Fairytale in New York.
Strange it's rarely played on commercial radio.

Roger, I totally agree about that song. I wouldn't say that it's just a christmas song though, the lyrics are so tightly-written, multi-faceted and thought-provoking that I cannot think of a better crafted song by anyone. As someone who dislikes that particular festival and has no desire to go to America, I want it at my funeral not only as a larf but because of the various meanings of the words. Apparently it took 6 years to refine when they were initially dissatisfied with the original.

Wonderfully sung by McGowan and the late great Kirsty MacColl. I only saw McGowan once but he was just the front-man for a group of good musicians. I remember him clutching a half bottle of whiskey in one hand and the mic stand in the other to hold him up and slurring "do you want some more"? Unforgettable.

As for the original questions, many bands or singers become successful simply because they're promoted in that way as commercial entities and there are many many wonderful musicians who'll never "make it big", maybe because they're true to their art and don't want to be associated with all the hype or because they're never recognised. Give me live music by quality "unknowns" any day.

Most over-rated? Probably the Beatles - poppy pap, IMHO.

[rogerpbackinMidEastUS]

It was actually the one in Finsbury Park, before I moved over here.

I was very lucky the year I went (got the tickets free !)
Besides the Pogues, Corrs, Sinead O'Connor, Eddie Reader Capercaillie (one of my all time favorites)
and ended up with James who were a superb last minute replacement for someone)

Agreed, some of the pub bands floating around London in the mid 1970's/early 80's were very talented.
Racing Cars (Morty Mortimer had a great voice - one of Britain's first white soul singers)
Cado Belle, Moon, Bowles Brothers Band, Meal Ticket, Carol Grimes, Frankie Miller, Shanghai,
Kilburn and the High Roads (Ian Dury & the Blockheads)  etc...etc

[Holders]

Eddi Reader - now you're talking!

[Forever Fulham]

Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath.  What the hell were they going on about?  Beyond stupid.  Fairies dancing with dwarfs? 

[Holders]

Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath.  What the hell were they going on about?  Beyond stupid.  Fairies dancing with dwarfs? 

Pink Floyd have a track called "twenty-seven species of small furry animal gathered together in a cave and grooving with a Pict".

Actually, I liked both bands in my (long lost) youth.

[Buffalo76]

Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath.  What the hell were they going on about?  Beyond stupid.  Fairies dancing with dwarfs? 

:plus one: Terrible vocalist.

[Fulham1959]

Terry Wogan had a hit with the Floral Dance, pretty damned awful if you ask me.
But as a novelty song the lyrics to Ernie by Benny Hill are brilliant.
"  He said, "D'you want it pasturize? 'Cause pasturize is best,"
She says, "Ernie, I'll be happy if it comes up to my chest."

That tickled old Ernie

Pasteurized, even.

[Holders]

Terry Wogan had a hit with the Floral Dance, pretty damned awful if you ask me.
But as a novelty song the lyrics to Ernie by Benny Hill are brilliant.
"  He said, "D'you want it pasturize? 'Cause pasturize is best,"
She says, "Ernie, I'll be happy if it comes up to my chest."

That tickled old Ernie

Pasteurized, even.

Pasteurised, even.

[the nutflush]

Besides 90% of the rubbish that comes out these days I will give you some old names:

Abba.  Pure dross.
Live. 
Train.
Stone Temple Pilots
The Offspring
The Spin Doctors
Bush.
Nickelback.

As you can see most of them are American.

[The Equalizer]

Most of them have pretty good songs. I quite enjoyed Live back in the 90s. Train I've seen play and they were okay. Bush are a British band, Gavin Rossdale is from Kilburn I think. They had some good stuff though, particularly the song 'Chemicals Between Us'.

The rest I agree are dross. Other than ABBA.

[Holders]

Like their songs or not, ABBA were skilled harmony singers, musicians - and particularly composer.

[Burt]

Was Terry Wogan and the St Winifred's School Choir a success? They did appear on TOTP. If so, they are top of the list.

[Buffalo76]

Besides 90% of the rubbish that comes out these days I will give you some old names:

Abba.  Pure dross.
Live.  
Train.
Stone Temple Pilots
The Offspring
The Spin Doctors
Bush.
Nickelback.

As you can see most of them are American.

Completely agree with Bush 100% but STP & Live? Easy tiger.   0001.gif

[andyk]

Poly thrashing it out,


X-Ray Spex - Oh Bondage! Up Yours!






Variously described as a voice that" could strip paint off the wall, effervescently discordant and powerful enough to drill holes through sheet metal". 

I have no doubt she would have been booed off the X Factor stage within 30 seconds, but punk wouldn't have been the same without her.