Why is Ben Harper popular?

[JerseyRich]

I was just watching some live video of Ben Harper the other day...performing some songs from his new album.

I know that his gimmick is that he is a good looking black guy, and he plays guitar(the next Hendrix?) but his music is so milquetoast. His voice is not powerful, his tunes are mundane, his new band is a bunch of untalented white guys.

Is there any way to save this mediocre artist from becoming the next Hootie and the Blofish?

http://www.sundancechannel.com/UPLOADS/blog/music_blog/blogpost_data/ben_harper/ben_harper_420.jpg

[Aggie]

Have you ever listened to him............on weeeeeeeeed?

That's all you need to know.

[JerseyRich]

Have you ever listened to him............on weeeeeeeeed?

That's all you need to know.

That would be illegal and I don't do illegal things.

[burrben]

Have you ever listened to him............on weeeeeeeeed?

That's all you need to know.

exactly

[Foster]

wasn't Ben Harper the Green Arrows old sidekick?

[burrben]

and hes married to laura dern wtf?

[~Katja~]

you are just jealous of his well groomed beard

[Aggie]

Dave Matthews gave him his push, that's how it happened. He opened for him on several tours and with DMB's following, they latched on to Ben also.

[A.J.]

I prefer Roy Harper. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roy_Harper)

[JerseyRich]

you are just jealous of his well groomed beard

I recognized that he is a handsome man...that is not in questions. Specifically I was referencing his music. It's just blah.

And seriously, he can do better than Laura Dern. I know they have a kid together, but come on!

[PhishHead]

Dave Matthews gave him his push, that's how it happened. He opened for him on several tours and with DMB's following, they latched on to Ben also.

by the time he opened for DMB, which was like the 1999/2000 tour, he was already pretty big.

[Aggie]

I recognized that he is a handsome man...that is not in questions. Specifically I was referencing his music. It's just blah.

And seriously, he can do better than Laura Dern. I know they have a kid together, but come on!

http://calcuttaglobalchat.net/calcuttablog/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/the-best-of-mandy-moore.jpg

[Freitag]

I actually understand why Ben Harper is popular.

I don't understand why John Legend is popular.

[Aggie]

by the time he opened for DMB, which was like the 1999/2000 tour, he was already pretty big.

Nah, he opened for him back in '96 my senior year in Camden. Then he opened for him again around the time you said when Dave was playing Giants Stadium and huge venues.

[JerseyRich]

I actually understand why Ben Harper is popular.

I don't understand why John Legend is popular.

Irrelevant.

Different genres. Stay on topic.

[JerseyRich]

http://calcuttaglobalchat.net/calcuttablog/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/the-best-of-mandy-moore.jpg


Mr. Adams is definitely way out of his league with her...
She is gorgeous...he is nuts.

[EddieMoscone]

I liked this one:

http://www.theaudioeagle.com/fav_music/ben_harper_blind%20boys_there%20will%20be.jpg

[~Katja~]

I recognized that he is a handsome man...that is not in questions. Specifically I was referencing his music. It's just blah.

And seriously, he can do better than Laura Dern. I know they have a kid together, but come on!

possibly love?

[JerseyRich]

I liked this one:

http://www.theaudioeagle.com/fav_music/ben_harper_blind%20boys_there%20will%20be.jpg


I agree. Out of the two albums of his that I own, this is my favorite.

But honestly, can the Blind Boys make a bad album? I think he is not really a part of why this album us good.

[PerryWinkle]

http://calcuttaglobalchat.net/calcuttablog/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/the-best-of-mandy-moore.jpg

the best of Mandy Moore? Really?

[PhishHead]

Nah, he opened for him back in '96 my senior year in Camden. Then he opened for him again around the time you said when Dave was playing Giants Stadium and huge venues.

yea but by 1996, he was still pretty big considering who he was trying to appeal to. He was well known in Cali by then and popular among college students.

I was only 16 and I already loved him he had 3 albums out by then.

I would have to say he was already popular before DMB.

It is like comparing DMB opening for the Dead in 1995. they were already pretty big.

[Aggie]

the best of Mandy Moore? Really?

That's exactly what went through my head. HA!

[Furtherman]

I served Ben Harper a few Heinekens a couple years back. Nice guy.

[led37zep]

If he's so popular why does he always have to steal his kisses from you?


See what I did there?



:thumbdown:

[JerseyRich]

yea but by 1996, he was still pretty big considering who he was trying to appeal to. He was well known in Cali by then and popular among college students.

I was only 16 and I already loved him he had 3 albums out by then.

I would have to say he was already popular before DMB.

It is like comparing DMB opening for the Dead in 1995. they were already pretty big.

But please talk about his music. Do you like his new album? I was watching him perform some songs on KCRW.com (http://www.kcrw.com/music/programs/mb/mb090326ben_harper_and_relen) and honestly...I think he's lost it. His band is not good and his voice is and the melodies are not up to snuff.

[JerseyRich]

I served Ben Harper a few Heinekens a couple years back. Nice guy.

I think you might have hit the nail on the head. He is probably a really nice guy and record companies like to keep giving him a shot because he is so cool.

[PhishHead]

But please talk about his music. Do you like his new album? I was watching him perform some songs on KCRW.com (http://www.kcrw.com/music/programs/mb/mb090326ben_harper_and_relen) and honestly...I think he's lost it. His band is not good and his voice is and the melodies are not up to snuff.

To be honest I have not heard the new album.

His old music is awesome though and I have always loved his style and songs. The Relentess 7 are a weird group for him, he needs the Criminals back. I think he needs to go back to the lap steel guitar.

[toolshed]

He is...not good. Not as atrocious as Jack Johnson, but on that same spectrum.

I think the rule of thumb is: if you wear sandals on stage at your concert, you stink. I'm looking at you Jimmy Buffet.

[Aggie]

He is...not good. Not as atrocious as Jack Johnson, but on that same spectrum.

I think the rule of thumb is: if you wear sandals on stage at your concert, you stink. I'm looking at you Jimmy Buffet.

:thumbdown:

Jack Johnson is good, clean, happy music, sir! Actually he just came on my iPod.

[PerryWinkle]

:thumbdown:

Jack Johnson is good, clean, happy music, sir! Actually he just came on my iPod.

ewwww

that has to be difficult to clean

[toolshed]

:thumbdown:

Jack Johnson is good, clean, happy music, sir! Actually he just came on my iPod.

No offense, but it is nursery rhyme music. It is everything I hate about that guy in college writing terrible songs on the quad. "What rhymes with 'my favorite girl?'--oh! 'whole wide world!'"

But to each their own...

[razorboy]

Jack Johnson is good, clean, happy music, sir!

There is only one Jack Johnson and mofo ain't good, clean or happy, and he sure as fuck doesn't surf.

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c297/razorboy_/BIG20JACK20JOHNSON20PROMO20BW.jpg

and how long before the why is Elizabeth Harper Kucinich or Harper Lee popular threads?

[El Mudo]

Mojo had my favourite line EVER about Ben Harper...


"Jack Johnson should be shot with a gun made out of Ben Harper"

[instrument]

I was just watching some live video of Ben Harper the other day...performing some songs from his new album.

I know that his gimmick is that he is a good looking black guy, and he plays guitar(the next Hendrix?) but his music is so milquetoast. His voice is not powerful, his tunes are mundane, his new band is a bunch of untalented white guys.

Is there any way to save this mediocre artist from becoming the next Hootie and the Blofish?

http://www.sundancechannel.com/UPLOADS/blog/music_blog/blogpost_data/ben_harper/ben_harper_420.jpg


this would make sense 10 years ago when they were a new band.
but seriously.

and why the need to compare him to hendrix? the only similarites are his F'N race.

racist.

[EddieMoscone]

There is only one Jack Johnson and mofo ain't good, clean or happy, and he sure as fuck doesn't surf.

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c297/razorboy_/BIG20JACK20JOHNSON20PROMO20BW.jpg

and how long before the why is Elizabeth Harper Kucinich or Harper Lee popular threads?

I'm a fan of BlackJack Johnson myself.http://www.concreteloop.com/images/2006/feb/mosdef.jpg

[hammersavage]

Because of this suit:

<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/PeLZCo1qaG8&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/PeLZCo1qaG8&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>

[Ricky24]

I actually understand why Ben Harper is popular.

I don't understand why John Legend is popular.

You're mentally unstable. John Legend has single handedly saved R and B from everyone getting jiggy with it. he actually plays an instrument exceptionally. he sins songs that he writes. he crushes it live. He is a great talent. Ben Harper is okay. I LOVED the song faded when it came out. After that, I was surprised at how routinely underwhelmed I always was. So, in short, I agree with this thread.

[JerseyRich]

this would make sense 10 years ago when they were a new band.
but seriously.

and why the need to compare him to hendrix? the only similarites are his F'N race.

racist.


Please tell me you are joking.

His new back up band is called Relentless 7... They have not made albums together before.

And don't you dare call me a racist again. I fucking hate it when people throw that word around with no basis.

Don't say things to people that you wouldn't say to their face. Got it buddy?

[IamPixie]

Irrelevant.

Different genres. Stay on topic.

all black people musicians should be compared to each other, regardless of genre. God Rich you're so stupid sometimes.

[JerseyRich]

all black people musicians should be compared to each other, regardless of genre. God Rich you're so stupid sometimes.

I know, right?

I'm also really racist too, apparently.

[ToiletCrusher]

Fucking love Harper and the Blowfish.

[TheMojoPin]

Mojo had my favourite line EVER about Ben Harper...


"Jack Johnson should be shot with a gun made out of Ben Harper"

Thank you. I was going to bring it back, but you beat me to it.

[Donnie Iris]

I was just watching some live video of Ben Harper the other day...performing some songs from his new album.

I know that his gimmick is that he is a good looking black guy, and he plays guitar(the next Hendrix?) but his music is so milquetoast. His voice is not powerful, his tunes are mundane, his new band is a bunch of untalented white guys.

Is there any way to save this mediocre artist from becoming the next Hootie and the Blofish?

http://www.sundancechannel.com/UPLOADS/blog/music_blog/blogpost_data/ben_harper/ben_harper_420.jpg

I agree, he is lame, but I can think of many others to which I would pose that question before him.

[TheGameHHH]

Nah, he opened for him back in '96 my senior year in Camden. Then he opened for him again around the time you said when Dave was playing Giants Stadium and huge venues.



Yea Harper was opening for Dave in the mid to late 90s. And I seriously wouldn't even qualify Ben Harper as popular