Here is a post from Live's BB. The thread is entitled What Live can learn from Creed? There are more responses aside from this, but this was the thread opener. If anyone wants to check out the whole thread, here is the link: friendsoflive.com. Go to discussions, under Live, and you will see the thread. My response follows this post.
posted December 03, 2001 09:30 PM I know the concept of +Live+ learning anything from Creed may seem pretty much ridiculous... but Creed's recent "success" makes one wonder why is Creed selling so many albums.. Creed, in my opinion, is lyrically no where close in terms of "depth" compared to +Live+. If you look at Human Clay, songs like "What If" or "Are you Ready" are guitar driven songs that though "over the top" really don't compare to songs like "TSUPFL, RTTW, etc, etc, etc"
However, it seems that Creed has found a lyrical style that though not as deep as Live.. appeals to the masses... (this is not really that surprising)... lets face it.. if you want to sell millions of albums... you can't mention concepts like the "conservation of energy" as in TSUFL. (or at least it is very difficult to) It then seems that Live sacrifices popularity for their higher order of lyrical depth... and most Live fans would say so what.. who cares if they don't sell millions of cd's... that they shouldn't sacrifice their lyrical depth for such things.. and personally even though i agree with this reaction.. i constantly feel that Live's goal is to reach people through their music... and in order to do this.. people must HAVE their music...
This may require cutting down the lyrical depth to some level.. as Creed has done.. and just to straight up bust out the guitars...
(what made Throwing Copper so successful was that it was lyrically deep but was guitar driven and had choruses that people could identify with..
"V" is also an attempt to cut back on the lyrical depth.. and eventhough saleswise it has suffered.. i think it is a good attempt by the band to appeal to the masses without sacrificing their message... one must remember that many people probably still have an impression of +Live+ pre-V era.. and it may take some time for that impression to change...
My response:
First of all, I would like to say that you are entitled to your opinion, but in my opinion, it is completely BOGUS.
I was a fan of Live way before I became a fan of Creed, and I am now a fan of both bands.
You speak of lyrical depth and state that Creed doesn't compare to Live's depth lyrically. I have YET to see a Live song with the depth of the song "My Own Prison" by Creed.(in my opinion) Pillar of Davidson is one of my top 10 favorite songs of ALL TIME. I have seen Live 12 times in concert, so before you try to write me off as a Live hater and basher, know that I have been a fan of this band for about 8 years. It isn't the depth in the lyrics that is holding them back from success. It is the lack of decent material that is keeping them on the bottom these days. Ever since their releases after 'Throwing Copper', they have been on the decline. You guys can rationalize all you want about Live having horrible promoters, but take a look back at the success of 'Throwing Copper' and "Lighting Crashes", and your argument is completely invalid.
Speaking of "Lightning Crashes", it is a beautiful song, but it is completely simplistic in nature. The music and lyrics are both simple.
Many of you are saying that Creed tries to reach the masses and has had support from MTV, but you are all failing to realize that 'My Own Prison' had NO support from MTV. MTV played "Higher" for a short period of time, but 'My Own Prison' did not gain recognition through MTV at all, yet still had 4 number one rock songs, all of which were NEVER played on top 40 stations! If you want to get technical here, MTV used to have a show called 12 Angry Viewers, and Creed's song "My Own Prison" was ridiculed and mocked!
Also, if you want to speak of trying to reach out to the masses, let's speak of the song "Deep Enough". That is the saddest attempt I have seen of an artist trying to sellout. Let's face it, Live does NOT belong trying to fit into the Rap-rock scene, which is EXACTLY what they are trying to do with that song. Everyone speaks of "My Sacrifice" as being "Higher" 2. Look at "Overcome", talk about a "Lightning Crashes" number 2!
If you listen to Creed's three albums, I do not see how you can say they all sound the same. How in God's name do songs like "Bullets" sound like "Torn" or "Lullaby" like "What If" or "Faceless Man" like "Signs"? There are NO similarities if you ask me.
Also, I believe that the music is the first thing that attracts a listener to a song, not the lyrics. It is almost impossible to know the lyrics on the first listen, but it is VERY possible to know if you are digging the sound of the song, which blows your lyrical argument completely away, if you ask me.
Any hate mail or comments can be sent to CREEDGIRLL@aol.com!