celebrating oneness

I love the 30 Seconds to Mars song Kings and Queens.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bx364Lm53Aw&feature=related

Oh.

But.

This song is no different then everything else they have done. Their sound is big. Anthemic. Theatrical.

As a side note, their video to A Beautiful Lie should open every global warming or environmentalist conference (big sound. big concept video. beautifully done. they should get credit for using song and video perfectly to make a statement and communicate a strong message).

Here is A Beautiful Lie video (i think this is the short version and the long version has an awesome message beginning): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_EcX4OtLWVs&feature=related

So. You get it.

Everything they do is big. And to top it all off?

All the songs sound exactly the same. Every song. And, I admit, I love it.

So hearing this song made me start thinking about good bands (ok. music I like to listen to) whose songs all sound the same.

Situations where I believe the band’s portfolio is made up of one big song just with different lyrics.

30 Seconds makes the list because they inspired this writing.

And the grandmaster of oneness?  Bob Marley.

The songs are infectious. Easy to listen to. And make me want to grab a Red Stripe (which is a bonus). But if you don’t throw a live version into the mix it is just one big song. I guess that is the cool thing about raggae. Its not just one big party it is one big song sung by different reggae singers.

And then there is Coldplay.

Love their stuff. And that big hit of theirs.

yellowclocksfixmedontpanicvivaspeedofsound.

Coldplay Clocks: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5KkWGy7W3_o&feature=avmsc2

Unfortunately another favorite band of mine is slowly shifting into oneness. U2.

The first several albums? Nope. While always big in their sound each song was message driven and raw.

Then came their “beautiful messaging strategy”.

Beautiful Day (with a commercial in front):  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=co6WMzDOh1o&feature=avmsc2

Now. While I am not opposed to positive song writing (and it does sound good coming from them) No Line on the Horizon, All that you Can’t Leave Behind and the Dismantling the Bomb stuff is all one big rambling multi refrained riff driven Bono soaring song.

Once again. Side note. I do find some humor in that one of their best songs is actually called One (and if you haven’t heard the version of that song with Mary J Blige … see celebrating Oneness part 2 for this song).

So let us hope they continue to celebrate their oneness because it makes for good music.

Oh.

I had no lack of bands and singers I could have snuck onto this list. But these seemed the biggest positive ‘one’ offenders. I avoided country because it was too easy. Rap? Surprisingly it may be more difficult than you would think. Classical? hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. And jazz? Well. Not being a jazz aficionado I admit the entire genre could be called out for ‘oneness’ to me.

Okay. On to Oneness 2.