Woman's Gotta Have It
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Tuesday, December 11, 2007

Chris Daughtry and his Backstreet Boys

Finally finally finally! - A newspaper writer has spoken the truth (and that's what we specialize in here), about Chris Daughtry and his group of Backstreet Boys - yes, those faux rockers - guy liner, key chains and bald heads in tact. This guy has a life span of about 2 years and then he'll fade into pop music oblivion where most of the faux rockers end up. I never could understand the attraction to Chris Daughtry. His arrogance and stage presence makes my stomach chirn. There's nothing original or interesting about him. His sales mean nothing and says nothing about his below average singing, songwriting and innovativeness. You see, I've seen the great rock bands of the past, and Daughtry is just an embarrassment in comparison. Remember, New Kids On The Block sold millions too. I really hate to insult the real Backstreet Boys like this (they actually had a couple of listenable songs), but they're just a minor footnote in pop culture history now - exactly where Daughtry will end up in short order.

Here the writeup from the Harford Couriant:

Chief among the various sins of "American Idol" is the way the televised competition has codified clichés.

Sure, it takes a modicum of talent to actually win, but plenty of finalists coast pretty far on what they, and the audience watching at home, imagine is the way a pop star should look and sound. For example: Chris Daughtry.

Bounced off the show as one of four remaining finalists in May 2006, he fit the image well enough to land a record deal, and his self-titled 2006 debut has sold more than 3 million copies. Last week, he was nominated for four Grammys.

Yet his performance Sunday night at Foxwoods Resort Casino was never more than a wan rehashing of conventions cribbed from the past 20 years of hard rock, with a particular (and unfortunate) emphasis on the late '90s and early '00s. His songs have all the dour angst of nu-metal, but without the bite.

In fact, the 75-minute concert felt at times like Daughtry was still trying to impress the "American Idol" judges as he strove to demonstrate his range, which is limited.

With a shaved head and scruffy cheeks, he looked the part. But Daughtry is an average vocalist — and not much of a songwriter, either, if you prize originality.

That was never more painfully clear than when he and his four-piece band launched into an abridged version of Guns N' Roses' "Paradise City," a juiced-up firecracker of a tune that made his own songs seem as thin and watery as gruel.

The GNR tune was easily the most advisable of his cover choices, which also included over-emoting on John Lennon's "Imagine" — a song that all but begs for understatement — and, in the middle of Daughtry's Richard-Marx-meets-late-'80s-Heart mash-up "What About Now," a verse from Johnny Cash's "I Walk the Line."

Daughtry's originals were mostly maudlin minor-key rockers, with chugging guitar parts and bombastic choruses. He offered a new song, "Back to Me," which he performed alone with an acoustic guitar, and thrilled the crowd with sing-alongs such as "Used To" and the break-up song "Over You," which ended his main set. His lyrics seemed largely to consist of platitudes about lost love, loneliness and overcoming hardship in this mean old world.

That's powerful stuff, and easily relatable. Yet Daughtry was unable to transcend the clichés that have made him a star, and although he performed throughout as though he yearned to take flight, he never quite managed to leave the ground.

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

Isn't this a Taylor Hicks site. Who gives a crap about Chris Daughtry.

Anonymous said...

Wow! What is the reason to attack a man for trying to earn a good living doing something he loves? I’m sure you do not know Chris Daughtry personally so you do not really know the man you have only seen the performer. I would guess the same goes for the man in whom your site is dedicated to. Is there a good reason for you to slam another artist? Could you not just enjoy the one you like and say that Daughtry is just not for you? How would you feel if you found out that Taylor and Chris were friends and that they both hate that the “fans” keep comparing them, attacking, and belittling? I think it is great that we have so many choices in music…. Something for everyone.. Can we not just let them enjoy what they do and support them we love without cutting down the ones we don’t?

maybee said...

I'm glad I found this blog. Thanks for all the great info. But I do agree with the other comments. We don't need Chris Daughtry reviews, good or bad.
I wish the man the best but I'm not a fan of that type of music.

Anonymous said...

jealous much? at least DAUGHTRY is being heard about unlike ummmm...what was his name again?

soulthing said...

Welcome to all of the new Daughtry fans checking out the Taylor Hick's blog! :) Glad to have you here!

maybee said...

Yuck, fan wars. Please don't mention the "d" word again. Let them enjoy their generic pop rock elsewhere.

Anonymous said...

Wow! Harsh review man! I need something to cheer me up now. How about my new copy of Chicken Soup for the American Idol Soul. You should read it too to turn you frown upside down. Cheer up, Daughtry bashing only makes you sadder.

soulthing said...

Actually Ethan, it felt quite good letting the truth of the matter spill out onto the page. Thanks for your concern though. While we're on the subject of books, however, let me suggest to you another book - Heart Full of Soul by Taylor Hicks. It will absolutely warm the cockles of your heart and you'll be totally inspired after reading this truly heartwarming memoir.

Anonymous said...

Soulthing, you just don't get it, do you? Your continuous bashing of Daughtry does Taylor more harm than good. This may come as a shock to you, but it is possible to appreciate the talents of both men -- and yes, I do think they are both talented. And irrational as it may seem, it's comments like yours that turn some people away from Taylor himself...

soulthing said...

anon - I get it quite well, actually. I don't appreciate Chris Daughtry at all - and its got nothing whatsoever to do with sales. Sue me. IMO, he's a faux copycat one trick pony and just like those those faux rockers before him, and they number in the thousands. Their lifespan is about 2-4 years and then they go to the has-been rocker pile. I see nothing innovative about him. I've been listening to rock for 30 years and know from experience what happens to copycats. It's like a cheap piece of plastic. And as far as Taylor is concerned, either you get him or you don't. I can't be concerned about those fair-weathered fans who can't make up their minds whether they like him based on comparison articles. People like that should be able to figure out which music they like regardless of what is written.

Anonymous said...

Geez! I was googling Taylor info about losing his contract and found this on your site. This sort of immature fan war, artist mutilation is the very reason I abandoned the Soul Patrol and various Taylor boards. Why can't Soul Patrol show some class and just focus on Taylor while other artists in the world live and let live? Is it so hard? You give Taylor and the rest of the Soul Patrol a bad name. I'm ashamed to have ever called myself a Soul Patroller. This is disgusting. Best of luck in the future to both Taylor and Chris Daughtry. I honestly believe both are deserving of success--and deserving of great fans with class. Shame on you!

Sabra said...
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Sabra said...

Chris Daughtry treats some people like dirt and does not care. He thinks he can do anything he wants.