Is Damien responsible for the popularity of singer songwriters?

radiohead33 · 02-01-2010, 08:42 PM

The 2000's so far has seen the rise of the singer songwriter, and that has been a very popular genre of music the last 10 years.

How much is Damien responsible for the popularity of it, and how much is he a person or artist in that genre, someone who was inspired by the rise of the scene?

I am thinking of people like Ray lamontagne, Josh Radin, Fionn Regan, Alexi Murdoch, David Gray, Ryan Adams, Josh Ritter, Jose Gonzalez, Sufjan, Bright Eyes, Iron and Wine etc...

Wheels · 02-01-2010, 10:30 PM

Well a few of those were pretty huge long before Damien...

Rai · 02-01-2010, 10:33 PM

Singer-songwriters have been around forever. The presently dominating style (no social commentary but 200% added bleeding hearts) draws most of its inspiration the New Folk movement, the vibe of the MTV unplugged series and the alternative music scene of the nineties. I don't think that the genre is more popular then at any particular time (and surely less popular then in the sixties, when it was actually about something), so I would not credit Damien Rice for it's present state. He's just a member of the club.

davidcotyalex · 02-02-2010, 12:25 AM

couldn't agree more

MANGO · 02-02-2010, 03:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wheels

Well a few of those were pretty huge long before Damien...

Ditto

borneoman · 02-02-2010, 05:50 AM

I think David Gray paved the way for a lot of singer-songwriters in the 00s, for good or for bad record companies realised that songwriters can sell millions of CDs too after the big success of White Ladder... that might have helped people like Ray Lamontagne to get signed up... but also brought up a lot of fake singer-songwriters put there by record companies ala james Blunt

davidcotyalex · 02-02-2010, 12:48 PM

well said marti........and to be clear Gray self financed draw the line instead of taking the big check..........have to admire that and guys like david ford who try to pave their own way outside of all the nonsense.....save that leaves guys like ford broke. tough business.

Gatsby · 02-02-2010, 02:16 PM

Damien has mentioned that in alot of interviews that David Gray certainly paved a way for him in Ireland.
White Ladder is still the biggest selling album in Ireland. Ever.. (mad i know)
Which was released in America under Dave Matthews label who also had David tour with them.

Its all a full cycle and has been going on for years.. I would put damiens popularity more down to timing than someone else paving the way for him. Even that is harsh because i believe his music transcends any probability.

Samart · 02-03-2010, 01:13 AM

It's been a while since radiohead33 "amazing" new thread. This one is epic.

I wonder why he always start a "wonderful new thread" and barely participate to the debate around his own questions...

borneoman · 02-03-2010, 12:11 PM

The success of David Gray's White Ladder still amazes me. It went to sell 3 million copies in the UK alone. The thing is, before White Ladder, singer-songwriters got lots of praise and critical acclaim but zero sales... cannot remember a single one that did well in the 90s? Everyone loves Jeff Buckley and Cohen but they never sold well...

I'd say David Gray didn't pave the way for Damien but rather for the singer-songwriters that popped up in the 2nd part of the 00s... Damien's success was more due to the word of mouth and constant promo via tour + tv shows, movies... and the fact that O is the best album ever

verenita · 02-03-2010, 12:48 PM

if you´re making a comparisson between 90´s and 00´s, don´t forget the net.
all the people you´re talking about are barely known in this part of the world, but many people (although is not that much compare with all the people who live in southamerica, for instance) have the chance to get info and stuff from their favourite singer-songwriters because of the internet

ps: this is what i thought when i very firts read the title of this thread: damien saying "oh, God, no!", lol.

bearbait · 02-08-2010, 01:06 PM

Just last night I was watching a 35-year anniversary thing on Kris Kristofferson on Austin City Limits . . . folk singer-songwriters have been popular for ages.

02-01-2010, 08:42 PM	#1
radiohead33 Eskimo Regular Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 118	Is Damien responsible for the popularity of singer songwriters? The 2000's so far has seen the rise of the singer songwriter, and that has been a very popular genre of music the last 10 years. How much is Damien responsible for the popularity of it, and how much is he a person or artist in that genre, someone who was inspired by the rise of the scene? I am thinking of people like Ray lamontagne, Josh Radin, Fionn Regan, Alexi Murdoch, David Gray, Ryan Adams, Josh Ritter, Jose Gonzalez, Sufjan, Bright Eyes, Iron and Wine etc...

02-01-2010, 10:30 PM	#2
Wheels Eskimo Enigma Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Peoples Republic of Cork Posts: 7,900	Well a few of those were pretty huge long before Damien... __________________

02-01-2010, 10:33 PM	#3
Rai Eskimontologist Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: The Robo-Hungarian Empire Posts: 2,345	Singer-songwriters have been around forever. The presently dominating style (no social commentary but 200% added bleeding hearts) draws most of its inspiration the New Folk movement, the vibe of the MTV unplugged series and the alternative music scene of the nineties. I don't think that the genre is more popular then at any particular time (and surely less popular then in the sixties, when it was actually about something), so I would not credit Damien Rice for it's present state. He's just a member of the club. __________________ "There's, another example. See, here I'm now sitting by myself, uh, er, talking to myself. That's, that's chaos." "If you find you've got a dragon charging at you at thirty miles per hour snapping its teeth you can always drive it defensively through the covers"

02-02-2010, 05:50 AM	#6
borneoman Insane Eskimo Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 6,151	I think David Gray paved the way for a lot of singer-songwriters in the 00s, for good or for bad record companies realised that songwriters can sell millions of CDs too after the big success of White Ladder... that might have helped people like Ray Lamontagne to get signed up... but also brought up a lot of fake singer-songwriters put there by record companies ala james Blunt __________________ I made you laugh, I made you cry, I made you open up your eyes, didn't I?

02-02-2010, 02:16 PM	#8
Gatsby Eskimo Regular Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Dublin Posts: 5,809	Damien has mentioned that in alot of interviews that David Gray certainly paved a way for him in Ireland. White Ladder is still the biggest selling album in Ireland. Ever.. (mad i know) Which was released in America under Dave Matthews label who also had David tour with them. Its all a full cycle and has been going on for years.. I would put damiens popularity more down to timing than someone else paving the way for him. Even that is harsh because i believe his music transcends any probability. __________________ "Tomorrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms further…And on fine morning - So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past." https://www.twitch.tv/simonjmusic

02-02-2010, 12:25 AM	#4
davidcotyalex Eskimo Regular Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Dallas Posts: 691	couldn't agree more

02-02-2010, 12:48 PM	#7
davidcotyalex Eskimo Regular Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Dallas Posts: 691	well said marti........and to be clear Gray self financed draw the line instead of taking the big check..........have to admire that and guys like david ford who try to pave their own way outside of all the nonsense.....save that leaves guys like ford broke. tough business.

02-03-2010, 01:13 AM	#9
Samart Nothing unusual... Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 231	It's been a while since radiohead33 "amazing" new thread. This one is epic. I wonder why he always start a "wonderful new thread" and barely participate to the debate around his own questions... __________________ http://www.youtube.com/user/monkeyguitarist

02-03-2010, 12:11 PM	#10
borneoman Insane Eskimo Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 6,151	The success of David Gray's White Ladder still amazes me. It went to sell 3 million copies in the UK alone. The thing is, before White Ladder, singer-songwriters got lots of praise and critical acclaim but zero sales... cannot remember a single one that did well in the 90s? Everyone loves Jeff Buckley and Cohen but they never sold well... I'd say David Gray didn't pave the way for Damien but rather for the singer-songwriters that popped up in the 2nd part of the 00s... Damien's success was more due to the word of mouth and constant promo via tour + tv shows, movies... and the fact that O is the best album ever __________________ I made you laugh, I made you cry, I made you open up your eyes, didn't I?

02-03-2010, 12:48 PM	#11
verenita ... trusty and true ... Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Argentina Posts: 6,387	if you´re making a comparisson between 90´s and 00´s, don´t forget the net. all the people you´re talking about are barely known in this part of the world, but many people (although is not that much compare with all the people who live in southamerica, for instance) have the chance to get info and stuff from their favourite singer-songwriters because of the internet ps: this is what i thought when i very firts read the title of this thread: damien saying "oh, God, no!", lol. __________________ ["Read me your favourite line": "No podía sucederme nada peor –pensaba aquel amigo–: tengo el alma delicada."]

02-08-2010, 01:06 PM	#12
bearbait Eskimo Pie Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Maryland, USA Posts: 868	Just last night I was watching a 35-year anniversary thing on Kris Kristofferson on Austin City Limits . . . folk singer-songwriters have been popular for ages.