R&P: What are your thoughts on the terms "overrated" and "sell outs"?

Good afternoon Opiner :)

Personally, I find both terms very subjective.

I have yet to understand just what makes someone a "sell out", and it seems the 'meaning' differs depending on who is saying it about whom.

I've seen several Deep Purple / Rainbow fans call Ritchie Blackmore a 'sell out' for forming Blackmore's Night. Now, how does choosing to record a style of music you've always loved {and still doing some Rock} make one a 'sell out'?!

As for "overrated", to me that is when someone {or more usually, their album} fails to live up to the hype. I think this is the most likely to be subjective, as a lot depends on individual tastes, and if peoples expectations were too high.

As to your question, I'm not sure. It's not just younger music fans who say that about bands like The Beatles - some of the nay-sayers are 'of-an-age'.

I don't think many people use to term "Sell outs" correctly, to me selling out is the act of changing one's sound for the sole purpose to gain more cash, to me selling out has nothing to do with how popular you are or are becoming. And I don't consider groups who change their sound because they want to regardless of the money difference even if the new sound is more mainstream to be sell outs.

Most people use this term for any band that changes their sound and any band that's mainstream.

Now for the term "overrated", well it's so opinionated that it's hard to say if it's used right by most or not, as again, it's shear opinion. But I think most people use that term just because they're angry and sick and tired at so many people going on and on about a band even if their influence deserves that.

And yes I do think they would have different opinions had they witnessed the rise of the band they're talking about, however, I doubt they would be different as in thinking "no that's not overrated", but even more on the "overrated" side of the spectrum, as the band would be getting even more attention back then making them even more annoyed.

Hey now hon. Don't care for these terms. Feel they are thrown around and overused.

Why is a band/artist a sellout if they want to make money? Isn't that why we all work? Just because their "job" is making music, doesn't mean they don't want to make money. I mean, would any of us not take or want money for doing what we do? Just me...

As far as overrated, there will always be those who don't like a certain band/artist and will use that to cover their dislike for them. And that could be due to someone (like me) asking them "what's your reason for not liking band/artist"? They can't come up w/a viable reason. I have been known to use this term (not often) w/some artist(s) but it's usually when they are so "beloved" by critics that they cannot discuss other artists just as good if not better. Again, just me...

overrated - yes, possibly. but anyone who was around during a band's ascension, and still didn't get it, would be justified in saying 'i think radiohead are overrated'.

there are those who will say it after listening, and those who say it because it is a mantra recited by their mates. one opinion is much more valuable than the other.

sellout - i would have thought it was more likely that people who were around at the beginning would use this term. there are many bands who achieve commercial success with their 3rd/4th/5th album, sometimes with a shift of sound or emphasis. whether this is a deliberate attempt to be more accessible, or a genuine change of direction, only the band can tell you.

there may be an amount of inverted snobbery at work, the unwillingness to share the beauty of a well-kept secret, but occasionally the verdict is unequivocal.

from youth and young manhood to sex on fire. sellouts.

and now, some music

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tud4XfETtIM

I don't really have many thoughts on it, all I can say the artist has the right to do with his/her music as they like, there into to make a living, and most enjoy what they are doing, and they also like to experiment with their music, so it does not make them a sell out. I don't like the Beatles so does that make them overrated for sure it does not, they were great and gave the music world a boast in the arm.

I think so to a point but there are also people from that era that think along the same terms as the ones you have mentioned. Back in 1963 I never liked The Beatles, not because I thought they were overrated, just because their music did not appeal to me. As did bands with the blues/rock feel, like the Stones, Who, Animals, Yardbirds and Kinks did for me.

take care

dave

The people who use these term generally do not like the band they are discussing for whatever reason. Usually these critics have a very narrow appreciation for just certain bands or genres.

Almost every band that has made it big has lots of talent and other big things going for them because there are lots of local and regional bands that are great and even doing original material that we rarely or never hear.

Overrated as a term is overrated.

I just looked up overrated in the dictionary and there was a picture of Radiohead

For sell out, it is about approach. For example, I followed U2 and REM from literally the very start when they were only being played on college radio.

I consider U2 to be sell-outs, but not REM even though they had great commercial success. Mainly because REM never put out a bunch of radio friendly pop-cornball like Joshua Tree.

Edit- What's funny is how U2 has tried to "un-sell out."

I have no problem when people say something is overrated, but "sell out" always kind of makes my eyes roll. It's like if a band becomes a success, then they are "sell outs" give me a break...

Sellouts is a tough thing because people need to make money, right? You can't be a starving musician or there is really no point in it. I think the best are the ones that can be artistic and not too commercial but can make money

Both words are used too much, but most bands and artist have to make a living somehow. If its not from music then it is something else. Which means no music for us.