My god it's so dull :manson: Not quite as bad as Take A Chance On Me but they've really lost it...

Its there worst single to date. If this goes number 1 then the UK should be ashamed

Its there worst single to date. If this goes number 1 then the UK should be ashamed

 

Bit of a rash statement to make. Since this is for charity.

I actually quite liked this on first listen. It's not as good as Take A Chance On Me but I can see it easily becoming my second favourite JLS ballad.

I suppose this will probably just do a Gold Forever and go top three but then plummet? It's not like it's going to be a bit since it has a charity label attached to it.

I feel rather sad that JLS seem to be on the receiving end of 'Tall Poppy Syndrome' at the moment, more so since One Direction and (to a lesser extent given they can't sell albums to save their careers) The Wanted arrived on the scene. People who are writing them off are, in my view, vastly exaggerating it as if they hope they'll go away because they're a boyband or because they're not 'cool' or 'credible' or whatever else it is people say. And to be honest, to start slagging them off for the music they do is to miss the point entirely I think. No, they probably won't be lauded with all the appraisal or God like heaping that's put on some other artists I could care to mention in 20 years from now, but within the context of what they do - which is being a boyband - they do it bloody well.

 

I somehow think a lot of the criticism heaped on them at the moment stems from an example being made of 'Do You Feel What I Feel?' not going top 10, which actually wasn't as big a disaster as people seem to make it out to be. It's just their usual bout of promo they do for singles was in this case, done earlier, before they went on their Christmas break, and they were off when it was released. Had promo been done during release week it might have been a different story. It still did relatively well to go top 20 on what's usually a quiet week post-Christmas sales with no other new releases, and 'Jukebox' is their 3rd platinum album now into the bargain and that went to #2 as well.

 

Whilst I'll say that 'Jukebox' is good but not as good as 'Outta This World' (which I still think is their best album) was, particularly on the last two tracks bar 'Shy of the Cool' (Oritse sounds amazing on that) they have their sound and it works for them and they work so well at it, and so to suggest that they should change it up dramatically at the sake of being more credible or 'cool' to certain people is stupid talk. Look at McFly - they changed up their sound to go more urban or dance for the sake of being more credible on their last album, and whilst the single they did with Taio Cruz was a success, the album flopped, and a lot of their more loyal fanbase who'd kept their albums selling to the 100,000 mark at least deserted them on that album because they'd strayed too far away from what they were about. It's about finding the balance but I'm sure the boys will find that on this next album - I hear they wanna work with Ed Sheeran and I could see that working quite well, if they went on a direction that was a bit more soulful and stripped back like on 'Close To You' and 'Tightrope' from the 1st album.

 

Even taking all that out of the equation for a second - yes, their success is exclusive to here in the UK for now, but why is that a bad thing? Girls Aloud were pretty much a UK only thing that no-one else had really heard of but they still did really well. They quite rightly sell-out arenas (I've seen them live about 3 times in the last year and a bit and they are brilliant live) and in terms of the success they've had over the last 3 years they've worked really hard to get there, something I don't think they get near enough the credit for. At least if the music's not really to your taste you have to hand it to them for how hard they work and how passionate they are.

Hasn't this premiered abit early, I mean its not out for another 8 week :o

Maybe I am being cynical but im sure JLS are doing all these charity-esc singles to make sure they get a number 1.

Hopefully this will bomb like the last Sport relief single, which i believe was Robbie with morning sun peaking at number 44. Doesnt make sense that we are donating to a great cause whilst also boosting the inflated jls egos. Id rather cut JLS out and donate wholey because of the charity

I respect JLS for not sticking to the same predictable club-bangers all the time but they are terrible at ballads. Compared to their usual uptempo output, they are forgettable and showcase that they are actually rather weak singers. Two in such close proximity is a bit of a mistake for them, even if this one is for charity.

Maybe I am being cynical but im sure JLS are doing all these charity-esc singles to make sure they get a number 1.

Hopefully this will bomb like the last Sport relief single, which i believe was Robbie with morning sun peaking at number 44. Doesnt make sense that we are donating to a great cause whilst also boosting the inflated jls egos. Id rather cut JLS out and donate wholey because of the charity

 

Exactly how are they doing this out of 'desperation' or 'self promo' as everyone seems to believe they do? Like I said above, everyone seems to have this idea built up in their head that JLS are these, to quote one rather nasty remark I read on a video of theirs once, 'condom flogging gym bunnies who are robots'. If only those people watched their movie as I did with an open mind, cos' they're really not.

 

As far as this single goes they went out to Uganda at the end of last year to meet the people who are benefitting from the work Sport Relief does. They've also, I'm sure they said when they were in on Chris Moyles yesterday, organised a matinee show of their new tour with Olly Murs and Rizzle Kicks (and a few others that haven't been announced yet) as special guests and the profits from that are being donated to Sport Relief. They're extremely pro-active with a lot of other charity work they do as well, especially Oritse whose mum suffers from multiple sclerosis.

 

I fail to see what's inflated about them giving something back and doing something positive with the success they've had. They take after and aspire to the example of the big American boybands like BSB and *NSYNC and also Take That, who work by the same ethos. I just think for most people it's a case of disliking the fact they've worked hard and had success and are now willing to try and swipe them down, it's pure Tall Poppy syndrome.

BUT you're forgetting all the BAD work they have done. Over the last 3 years they have constantly been inflicting pop monstrosities on the UK public, potentially damaging people's ears and/or scarring them for life! :o BURN THEM.

I've never really liked Jls, but how on earth The Club Is Alive even managed to be released as a single is astonishing. I like to remember in my head it didin't go to number one, although the plummet was nice.

The problem with JLS is they could be really good, if they developed themselves, instead of grabbing any leftovers a top producer will give them. They seem more concerned with the producer's label, rather than building themselves up as musicians.

In a perverse way, another problem they have is that Radio 1 seem to back them, regardless of the quality of their music. The Club is Alive was absolutely dreadful, but Radio 1 treated it as if it was the most amazing song from the most amazing band ever. If they got more honest feedback, they might have pulled their socks up instead of churning out any old dirge. They have done some good stuff, but their early releases remain their strongest, presumably because they expected they needed to earn airplay and sales.

this yet again sounds like so many other songs just rolled into one and just really bland, I hope this does what Gold Forever did, they're starting to get really tiresome, fair enough they are still good at bringing in the money, but the same old generic crap churned out each year is just getting boring

 

 

BUT you're forgetting all the BAD work they have done. Over the last 3 years they have constantly been inflicting pop monstrosities on the UK public, potentially damaging people's ears and/or scarring them for life! :o BURN THEM.

 

See? This is exactly the kind of attitude I am talking about. Fair enough, they might not be to your taste, everyone's different, but this sneering at people that you have 'bad' taste just because you listen to a certain artist is petty and childish, the 'BURN THEM' comment is especially out of order. I'm not particularly fond, for example, of Rihanna's recent output of late. But I know some people do like her stuff and that's their own prerogative. Life's too short to be holding grudges over other's taste in music, it's a subjective thing.

 

In a perverse way, another problem they have is that Radio 1 seem to back them, regardless of the quality of their music. The Club is Alive was absolutely dreadful, but Radio 1 treated it as if it was the most amazing song from the most amazing band ever. If they got more honest feedback, they might have pulled their socks up instead of churning out any old dirge. They have done some good stuff, but their early releases remain their strongest, presumably because they expected they needed to earn airplay and sales.

 

Not necessarily. Chris Moyles didn't like 'The Club Is Alive' and he even told them upfront when they were in promoting 'She Makes Me Wanna' last summer, I think even they've said they're not as fond of the single now - on their tour in the summer last year they swapped it for an acoustic cover of 'Price Tag' by Jessie J.

 

But just a question to everyone now: if what they're putting out at the moment isn't their best work, then what sort of stuff SHOULD they be doing musically?

 

PS On a totally different note, 'Proud' is epic. I do love when they go for the big old ballad like this, the lyrics are really positive as well in light of it being for Sport Relief.

Exactly how are they doing this out of 'desperation' or 'self promo' as everyone seems to believe they do? Like I said above, everyone seems to have this idea built up in their head that JLS are these, to quote one rather nasty remark I read on a video of theirs once, 'condom flogging gym bunnies who are robots'. If only those people watched their movie as I did with an open mind, cos' they're really not.

 

As far as this single goes they went out to Uganda at the end of last year to meet the people who are benefitting from the work Sport Relief does. They've also, I'm sure they said when they were in on Chris Moyles yesterday, organised a matinee show of their new tour with Olly Murs and Rizzle Kicks (and a few others that haven't been announced yet) as special guests and the profits from that are being donated to Sport Relief. They're extremely pro-active with a lot of other charity work they do as well, especially Oritse whose mum suffers from multiple sclerosis.

 

I fail to see what's inflated about them giving something back and doing something positive with the success they've had. They take after and aspire to the example of the big American boybands like BSB and *NSYNC and also Take That, who work by the same ethos. I just think for most people it's a case of disliking the fact they've worked hard and had success and are now willing to try and swipe them down, it's pure Tall Poppy syndrome.

 

Well To be fair, who would watch their movie anyways? And they do flog condoms and take their tops off at every occasion :puke2:

 

Im guessing they paid out of their own pockets to go to Uganda yeah? And that camera that followed them around wasn't there for PR purposes at all? I wonder when they are going back out there next?

 

I don't think they will ever be mentioned in the same breath as BSB, Take That and NSYNC to be fair but I do agree that they are involved in charity. With that said..there are other ways of doing the charity work, rather than thinking of capitalising on the public's reaction to charity to get themselves another number 1 single.

 

 

I've never really liked Jls, but how on earth The Club Is Alive even managed to be released as a single is astonishing. I like to remember in my head it didin't go to number one, although the plummet was nice.

 

It only went there cos they timed it perfectly when there would be no real competition, but that single was an absolute shocker!

 

BUT you're forgetting all the BAD work they have done. Over the last 3 years they have constantly been inflicting pop monstrosities on the UK public, potentially damaging people's ears and/or scarring them for life! :o BURN THEM.

 

LOOOOOOOOOL! In fairness I did like their first single, their second was too cheesy as was their third. Then they took silly pills and released TCIA followed by 2 albums full of overproduced shockers. Expect more of the same at Christmas 2012 when they throw together a few B sides into an album and ship it out again regardless of the quality. In fact, expect more of the same every year as they plan to release albums every year for 10 years or something according to The Sun :puke2:

 

 

Maybe I am being cynical but im sure JLS are doing all these charity-esc singles to make sure they get a number 1.

Hopefully this will bomb like the last Sport relief single, which i believe was Robbie with morning sun peaking at number 44. Doesnt make sense that we are donating to a great cause whilst also boosting the inflated jls egos. Id rather cut JLS out and donate wholey because of the charity

 

Of course they are. Cowell knows that JLS will get loads of exposure from doing the Sport Relief single following their last flop and mediorce album sales. The problem with JLS is they havent actually developed as proper recording artists. I still feel their best material came out from the first album including "beat again" and "one shot". They havent done anything remotely as good since and their songs appear to follow the same boring formulae.

I agree the earlier singles from JLS are their best.

 

As others have said their main problem is they've been given no time to develop artistically. The approach adopted is bang out as many albums as quickly as posssible because they are viewed as having a short shelf-life.

Of course they are. Cowell knows that JLS will get loads of exposure from doing the Sport Relief single following their last flop and mediorce album sales. The problem with JLS is they havent actually developed as proper recording artists. I still feel their best material came out from the first album including "beat again" and "one shot". They havent done anything remotely as good since and their songs appear to follow the same boring formulae.

 

First of all, JLS have nothing to do with SyCo Music, they're signed to Epic Records. That's point one. And point two, since when did a 3rd platinum album i.e. 300,000 copies equal a flop? I suppose that makes every other artist with a platinum album a flop then? OK maybe by their previous albums' sales it's slightly less than usual but calling it a flop is pushing it a bit, it was #2 as well.

 

And why does everyone keep bashing them up about 'The Club Is Alive'? It was coming on two years ago now, yes it hasn't held up as well as the other two singles from 'Outta This World' have but it wasn't as bad as everyone makes it out to be.

 

Well To be fair, who would watch their movie anyways? And they do flog condoms and take their tops off at every occasion sick2.gif

 

Im guessing they paid out of their own pockets to go to Uganda yeah? And that camera that followed them around wasn't there for PR purposes at all? I wonder when they are going back out there next?

 

I don't think they will ever be mentioned in the same breath as BSB, Take That and NSYNC to be fair but I do agree that they are involved in charity. With that said..there are other ways of doing the charity work, rather than thinking of capitalising on the public's reaction to charity to get themselves another number 1 single.

 

And again, more snap judgements based on titbits in tabloids - the condoms are part of the charity initiative they do with Brook Foundation and NHS cos' I think Aston's mum works as a nurse in a family planning facility which is what inspired them to do it. Not many other pop acts would have been willing to do that, but they did and it paid off - the sales of the condoms raised £250,000 for Brook, they presented the cheque to Brook last year. Likewise with Sport Relief, they were asked by the charity to go out there, they could have just as easily said no. They don't do it for the means of selling records, they just do it because it's giving something back and doing something positive with the success they've had. Likewise with Lady GaGa, she's put her support behind a 'Beat Bullying' type organisation in America.

 

And that's the difference here, at least in America people are really willing their own that have been successful and have worked hard to do well, they're like, 'Yeah, go for it, AND go for it!', whereas over here in Britain the press and certain sections of the industry are such negative the greatest girl band in the world that are willing to cut you down the minute you have been successful.

 

Marvin's said in interviews loads of times that they want to keep going for as long as Take That and BSB have been going, and that they've made sure to learn from mistakes those bands and others made with falling out with each other, splitting up and launching solo careers that go nowhere etc. And that's why they have been so successful, because they learn from others and they've stayed grounded as a unit. As I keep saying, yes, their sound probably does need a bit of a shake up for this next album - and looking at the current rollcall of people they're working with in LA over on their Twitter (Babyface is a name being mentioned quite a bit by Oritse? That should be good, he's done some brilliant songs in the past) I imagine it will do - but they do have their sound, and to mock them for what they do when they do it rather well a lot of the time is to miss the point entirely.

Edited January 24, 201213 yr by ThePensmith