The Billboard Hot 100 #1 & #2 Spot...BRIGHT EYES?! [Archive]

View Full Version : The Billboard Hot 100 #1 & #2 Spot...BRIGHT EYES?!

TheMojoPin

11-11-2004, 07:48 AM

What the flying fuck?

Real fast...Bright Eyes is a band (But mostly just one guy, Conor Oberst) from Omaha. Li'l "indie"-type band, make very fey songs about being miserable and such. So, obviously, a real niche band, and about as much chance as getting "big" exposure as the Black Plague.

And yet, SOMEHOW, Bright Eyes has not only has the top spot on the Billboard singles chart...but the SECOND as well.

Sweet jumpin' Jesus, is the world spinning backwards?!? (http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/news/04-11/11.shtml)

And really, I have zero interest in whether people know of this guy, or Saddle Creek records, or like him, or whatever...I just wanna know how this happened?!? Doesn't the Billboard singles chart take in sales AND airplay? Has anyone heard EITHER single on their local alterna-station? Shit, I haven't even heard either on any of the college stations around me...

Something seems off...

I'm just assuming Arienette went out and blew her law school tuition and bought a kajillion copies.

<img src="http://scripts.cgispy.com/image.cgi?u=TheMojoPin">
1979 <> "You can tell some lies about the good times we've had, but I've kissed your mother twice...and now I'm working on your dad..."

BoondockSaint

11-11-2004, 08:10 AM

Kulbel attributed the high chart position to two things: Major labels rarely release singles anymore, and Bright Eyes fans were ready for new music. (http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_pg=1458&u_sid=1254939)

I'm a little surprised but not shocked. Guys like him tend to have very rabid and loyal fans that will buy anything they can get their hands on. It's only 4600 copies of each single, so if you assume most fans would buy both, it's not that shocking.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v11/squrl/huntnixsig.jpg

Furtherman

11-11-2004, 08:11 AM

Turn around bright eyes...?

<IMG SRC="http://www.chaoticconcepts.com/randomizer/random.php?uid=7">
...with thanks to JustJon

badorties

11-11-2004, 08:16 AM

he's huge among the simian crowd ...

http://sfstory.free.fr/images/PlaneteSinges/53.jpg

<img src="http://scripts.cgispy.com/image.cgi?u=badorties"> 

+|+|+|+|+|+|+|+|+|+|+|+|+|+|+

Mike Teacher

11-11-2004, 08:45 AM

Im guessing ya know this, but for those who dont Billboards way of ranking albums changed Utterly a few years back, from Polling Stores to numbers based on actual scans of sales, or something close to it.

The old way was, in a corrupt record industry, corrupted, stores had pressures put on them, or were awarded to report sales that werent necesarily what was going on at the register. It was often opinion, or a reflection of instore stock, as opposed to what was selling. An album can ship Gold, and sit on the racks forever; Kiss Solo Project Albums continue to litter the earth.

That the old way was so 'bad' was evident the second they switched over. You had exactly the 'spikes' in sales we see now. Back then it just wasnt reported as quickly or as well, so an album, even sailing up the charts, didnt debut at number 1 nearly as often as now. And the top spot seem much more fickle, seems the days are gone where an album or song could hold the top spot for months, but then again the last time I looked at a Billboard Mag...

and now i got that fucking bright eyes song in my head!!!! ARRRRRGGGHHHHHHHH !!!!!!

<IMG SRC="http://members.aol.com/miketeachr/esig">

Tazz

11-11-2004, 09:21 AM

It's good to see that another Down-Syndrome inflicted person is becoming successful.

<img src=http://tazz1376.homestead.com/files/homersig.gif>

JustJon

11-11-2004, 09:59 AM

Arienette, comment?

<img src="http://www.chaoticconcepts.com/bans/rfjustjon11.gif"> <A href="http://www.chaoticconcepts.com">Chaotic Concepts</a>

TheMojoPin

11-11-2004, 10:15 AM

He's a redneck Morrissey.

With uglier music.

I guess.

<img src="http://scripts.cgispy.com/image.cgi?u=TheMojoPin">
1979 <> "You can tell some lies about the good times we've had, but I've kissed your mother twice...and now I'm working on your dad..."

Tenbatsuzen

11-11-2004, 10:22 AM

Arienette, comment?

Beat me to it.

<center><img src="http://s95227862.onlinehome.us/sigs/chadsig1.jpg"></center>

This message was edited by Tenbatsuzen on 11-11-04 @ 2:28 PM

Tenbatsuzen

11-11-2004, 10:27 AM

4600 copies makes it number one.

4600 copies = #1? Are you KIDDING me?

They just need to sell 95,000 more singles to get mainstream notice.

And 495,000 copies to go gold.

Hey, since your first week is usually your biggest spike for an established artist... thumbs up!

<center><img src="http://s95227862.onlinehome.us/sigs/chadsig1.jpg"></center>

TheMojoPin

11-11-2004, 10:44 AM

They're singles, not albums.

The albums aren't out yet.

<img src="http://scripts.cgispy.com/image.cgi?u=TheMojoPin">
1979 <> "You can tell some lies about the good times we've had, but I've kissed your mother twice...and now I'm working on your dad..."

Tenbatsuzen

11-11-2004, 12:26 PM

Snoogans

11-11-2004, 12:47 PM

every album ive bought in the last 10 years has more than 10 songs on it unless it was one of those 7 dollar rhino best of things
edit, even if i dont listen to alot of them, i usually know about alot of artists, at least who they are, and i dont recall ever hearing of this bright eyes

http://home.comcast.net/~rmfallon/RFnetSnoogs.jpg
http://snoogans194.blogspot.com/
GO SAWX!!!!!
The worst choke job in the history of sports Snoogans 1, Monitor 0

This message was edited by Snoogans on 11-11-04 @ 4:47 PM

BoondockSaint

11-11-2004, 12:50 PM

They're releasing two albums. One single is from each album. And if you sell 500,000 singles it's actually platinum. It's different then albums.

edit: OOPS. It is the same as albums. You have to sell a million for it to be platinum. I could have sworn it was 500,000. Oh well.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v11/squrl/priestsig.jpg

This message was edited by BoondockSaint on 11-11-04 @ 4:55 PM

Snoogans

11-11-2004, 12:53 PM

ive never once, in my life, even considered buying a single. first off, they are usually still like 8-9 bucks, at least around here. Also, who wants to pay that to get 2-4 songs when you can get like 14 for 12.99 or so.

and dont gimmie that i buy singles to find out if i like the band, just download some songs, its not hard

http://home.comcast.net/~rmfallon/RFnetSnoogs.jpg
http://snoogans194.blogspot.com/
GO SAWX!!!!!
The worst choke job in the history of sports Snoogans 1, Monitor 0

keithy_19

11-11-2004, 01:01 PM

The guy from Bright Eyes soudns like a bitch. He practically cries in his songs. God awful.

http://64.177.177.182/katylina/keithy.gif

Mike Teacher

11-11-2004, 02:00 PM

Just remembered if memory serves The Beatles once held Five of the Top Ten on the Singles Chart.

<IMG SRC="http://members.aol.com/miketeachr/esig">

ADF

11-11-2004, 02:12 PM

I'll buy a single if it has some rare b-side or song you can't get anywhere else.

It's already been mentioned before, but fans of Bright Eyes (such as Arienette) will buy pretty much everything they put out.

They have some good songs, but are certainly an acquired taste. I've seen them a few times and they do the alt-country-emo-rock thing pretty well.

<center><a href="http://somesuch.org" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.somesuch.org/sigpics/heroine.gif"></a> And that's the end of my show.. donk.</center>

TheMojoPin

11-11-2004, 02:43 PM

They're singles, not albums.

The albums aren't out yet.

Considering an average album is 10 tracks, and Bright Eyes just released two singles with two B-sides, (unless it was just one-track CD's), they just released 40 percent of their album... to less than 10,000 copies the first week.

It's nothing but downhill from here.

He's putting out two albums.

And even if it were from the same album, B-sides are traditionally non-album tracks.

Buying singles is pretty weak, unless they're imports. UK and Japanese versions of singles tend to to have 5-8 songs on them, and are well worth the import price if the band is good. But US singles? Forget it.

Boondock, you might have been thinking of the UK. 500,000 sold is platinum there, and 100,000 is gold.

And seriously, the music business has gotten as bad as the movie industry, in terms of obessions with units sold. 10 years ago even, a gold record here in the US would easily be enough for an artist to stay signed for a major labor...now if they can't hit a million, it's not even considered just a "low key" album...it's a flop. Absurd.

I mean, let's say a guy like Bright Eyes sells 500,000 copies of one of these new albums. And they all sold for at least $10 each. That's at LEAST 5 million dollars made for the company right there...and artists of his level are rarely signed for more than a million or two at the very best, and the CD's cost less than a buck to make, package ship and market...there's plenty profit being made there.

What's wrong with gold? Or even just selling 100,000-400,000? Still seems pretty impressive to me...especially since most acts doing that have little to no label or marketing push. Hell of a lot more impressive than an album that sells 8-10 million and was blizted on the public through advertising.

<img src="http://scripts.cgispy.com/image.cgi?u=TheMojoPin">
1979 <> "You can tell some lies about the good times we've had, but I've kissed your mother twice...and now I'm working on your dad..."

This message was edited by TheMojoPin on 11-11-04 @ 6:44 PM

Snoogans

11-11-2004, 03:36 PM

I'll buy a single if it has some rare b-side or song you can't get anywhere else.

you can get anything on the net free

http://home.comcast.net/~rmfallon/RFnetSnoogs.jpg
http://snoogans194.blogspot.com/
GO SAWX!!!!!
The worst choke job in the history of sports Snoogans 1, Monitor 0

Hottub

11-11-2004, 03:46 PM

ive never once, in my life, even considered buying a single.

I've got 2 boxes of 45's sitting (rotting) in my basement. Along with 4 milkcrates full of LP's.

Kiss Solo Project Albums continue to litter the earth.

One track from those four albums is gold Mike. GOLD!! (but still doen't justify that cluster-fuck)

Many years since I was here, on the street I was passin' my time away
To the left and to the right, buildings towering to the sky
It's outta sight in the dead of night
Here I am, and in this city, with a fistful of dollars
And baby, you'd better believe
Chorus:
I'm back, back in the New York Groove
I'm back, back in the New York Groove
I'm back, back in the New York Groove
Back in the New York Groove, in the New York Groove
In the back of my Cadillac
A wicked lady, sittin' by my side, sayin' 'Where are we?'
Stop at Third and Forty-three, exit to the night
It's gonna be ecstacy, this place was meant for me
Feels so good tonight, who cares about tomorrow
So baby, you'd better believe
chorus
I'm back, back in the New York Groove (repeats out)

<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v381/artemisentreri/hottub.gif" border=0 align=right>

"Ahh, Beer. The cause of, and answer to all of life's problems"
Big A.S.S.#22127
The Cruising Vessel (http://www.silentpix.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=Myalbums&file=thumbnails&album=41)

This message was edited by Hottub on 11-11-04 @ 7:57 PM

Arienette

11-11-2004, 04:09 PM

first of all, the only thing that made me happier than hearing about this whole bright eyes thing is the fact that everyone here apparently hears the name bright eyes and automatically thinks of lil' ol me. i've really made it!

i think this is so freaking awesome, although i can't say that i'm not surprised. i know that they do have a very devoted fan base (see: me), and have gotten nothing but critical acclaim over the past few years, but i still wouldn't have expected this. bright eyes is a great band, conor is amazing, and it's just nice to see how many people are realizing it finally. i feel like a bit of a proud parent.. a proud parent with a really hot, super talented son.

and tazz, you're just bitter because kid rock is irrelevant.

and keithy, you're the biggest bitch i've ever seen. i bet conor could hang with the pot smoking girl.

<center><img src="http://somesuch.org/sigpics/aricheat.gif" height=100 width=300</img> in my secret drawer, in my pockets deep you will find the reasons that i can't sleep and you will still want me</center>

Tenbatsuzen

11-11-2004, 04:17 PM

first of all, the only thing that made me happier than hearing about this whole bright eyes thing is the fact that everyone here apparently hears the name bright eyes and automatically thinks of lil' ol me. i've really made it!

Incorrect. When I think of Angel and Buffy, THEN I think of you.

Then I remember they were cancelled.

<center><img src="http://s95227862.onlinehome.us/sigs/chadsig1.jpg"></center>

Arienette

11-11-2004, 04:23 PM

Incorrect. When I think of Angel and Buffy, THEN I think of you.

Then I remember they were cancelled.i'm pretty sure i didn't do it. but that's another positive connection. i guess it pays to only talk about three things ever.

<center><img src="http://somesuch.org/sigpics/aricheat.gif" height=100 width=300</img> in my secret drawer, in my pockets deep you will find the reasons that i can't sleep and you will still want me</center>

Tenbatsuzen

11-11-2004, 05:23 PM

i'm pretty sure i didn't do it.

Incorrect. You go to Law School, you no longer watch the show, ratings go down, THEY BOTH GET CANCELLED.

YOU KILLED BUFFY! YOU KILLED ANGEL! MURDERER!! MURDERER!!!

<center><img src="http://s95227862.onlinehome.us/sigs/chadsig1.jpg"></center>

JustJon

11-11-2004, 08:01 PM

Actually, Angel had good ratings. WB axed it in favor of poorly rated dramas like The Mountain and Jand and Bobby. WB execs are rumored to have recently reached out to Joss to bring Angel back because they miss having people watch their channel.

<img src="http://www.chaoticconcepts.com/bans/rfjustjon11.gif"> <A href="http://www.chaoticconcepts.com">Chaotic Concepts</a>

grlNIN

11-11-2004, 08:04 PM

Actually, Angel had good ratings. WB axed it in favor of poorly rated dramas like The Mountain and Jand and Bobby.

Who is this Jand you speak of?

 
 <center><img src="http://scripts.cgispy.com/image.cgi?u=ninny">
 Each journey lasts an age and my throat feels dry</center>

Arienette

11-12-2004, 08:28 AM

Incorrect. You go to Law School, you no longer watch the show, ratings go down, THEY BOTH GET CANCELLED.

YOU KILLED BUFFY! YOU KILLED ANGEL! MURDERER!! MURDERER!!!who said i stopped watching the show? that's entirely false, and i resent your accusations.

perhaps i'll sue.

<center><img src="http://somesuch.org/sigpics/aricheat.gif" height=100 width=300</img> in my secret drawer, in my pockets deep you will find the reasons that i can't sleep and you will still want me</center>

Tenbatsuzen

11-12-2004, 08:40 AM

who said i stopped watching the show? that's entirely false, and i resent your accusations.

perhaps i'll sue.

Nielsens don't pick up VCRs

<center><img src="http://s95227862.onlinehome.us/sigs/chadsig1.jpg"></center>

Tazz

11-12-2004, 03:17 PM

and tazz, you're just bitter because kid rock is irrelevant.

Yet every single one of his albums has gone Top 10, and he gets constant radio play. I guess relevance only comes with obscurity.

<img src=http://tazz1376.homestead.com/files/homersig.gif>

JustJon

11-12-2004, 08:29 PM

Actually, Angel had good ratings. WB axed it in favor of poorly rated dramas like The Mountain and Jand and Bobby.

Who is this Jand you speak of?
See, no one actually watches Jack and Bobby, so no one really cares I spelled it wrong.

<img src="http://www.chaoticconcepts.com/bans/rfjustjon11.gif"> <A href="http://www.chaoticconcepts.com">Chaotic Concepts</a>

Arienette

11-13-2004, 03:33 PM

Nielsens don't pick up VCRswhat if i had someone tape and watch it for me?

Yet every single one of his albums has gone Top 10, and he gets constant radio play. past tense, though. i don't hear all that much of him on the radio anymore, and i don't think he's hit the top ten anytime recently. i didn't say that he's never been relevant.

I guess relevance only comes with obscurity.and how obscure can they really be if the occupy the number one and number two billboard spots right now? this thread's existence kind of refutes that.

<center><img src="http://somesuch.org/sigpics/aricheat.gif" height=100 width=300</img> in my secret drawer, in my pockets deep you will find the reasons that i can't sleep and you will still want me</center>