The New Sensations from Sweden...

Sweden! Has there ever been a country more famous for its contributions in pop? It's the home of ABBA, one of the most commercially successful acts in the history of popular music (and I'm sure I don't need to tell you that). I mean come on, they're still remembered 40 years onwards.

Even though I don't often talk about pop on this blog, it doesn't mean I don't like it. I LOVE pop, just...good pop. I'm just allergic to meaningless repetitive songs that people forget about in a month's time. This however I do like:

Just listen to the drums! Here's their website if you happen to like them as much as me :) http://www.thosedancingdays.com
They're called Those Dancing Days, named after the Led Zeppelin song 'Dancing Days'. Well, this song definitely makes me want to dance...although my version of dancing looks like a constipated chicken frustratedly flapping her wings.
Anyway..what do you think of them?

Pop may be rocking the charts...but rock is rocking the concerts...

Not that I have anything against pop music. I love it, I really do, it's just that today's charts are mostly filled with the crappy pop and hip hop songs that people forget about in a year's time .Not the wonderful pop that people remember for decades afterwards.
It's all about which songs get the most airplay...
But, while people have been wasting mere pennies on annoying tracks from itunes...it's the dedicated fans who are paying real money to see better artists live.
This post was meant to be posted about four weeks ago, but I'm the queen of procrastination and I've managed to find a new excuse to not post it every day.
So without further ado...the Top Four Earning Tours of 2010!
1.Bon Jovi's 'The Circle' tour.
Money earned:$201.1m (£130.7m)

Um....am I allowed to admit I actually kind of like Bon Jovi? Just the tiniest, incy-wincyiest bit...I know lots of people find them annoying and cheesy, but they've made some pretty decent songs. I mean, come on, 'You give love a bad name' and 'Livin' On a Prayer' are so catchy! And you have got to love that 80s hair. Jon Bon Jovi should never have cut it all off...

2.AC/DC's tour
Money earned:$177m (£115m).

All I have to say is wow! They've been ongoing since 1973, with practically no breaks. And they're number two? And they were number two last year as well? Guys, I salute you.They've obviously got some very loyal fans out there. But with awesome songs like 'Thunderstruck" and "Highway to Hell" it's no surprise.

3.U2's tour

Money earned:$160.9m (£104.6m)

U2 were actually the top worldwide act last year as well. It's a shame they've slipped down, but hey, at least they're in the top three! They deserve it too, with their amazing live performances. Check this one out...I can't decide whether the girl on the stage is really embarassed or just overwhelmed.



I'm not the biggest fan of U2's music (not my taste) , but I guess they're good at what they do.
4.Lady Gaga
Money earned:$133.6 million (£86.8 million)

Yeah, well I never said these charts were completely rock dominated, did I? I actually used to like Lady Gaga, a couple of years ago when I rock music still scared me. But, hearing 'pa-pa-pa-pokerface' a hundred times on the radio, chanted by people at school and simply EVERYWHERE, needless to say, I felt like doing more than poking her face. To be fair though, Lady Gaga has worked very hard to get this position in the chart. She played 138 shows, whereas AC/DC only played 40, Bon Jovi played 80 and U2 played 32. I've heard her performances are as spectacular as her outfits too.


So there we have the top four earning tours of 2010! I just wanted to mention, Paul McCartney (my favourite Beatle! Apart from when it switches to George) made it to 8th place on the top ten! His tour made $93 million (£60 million)! I'd just like to congratulate him on that, because I think it's amazing people still listen to his music, even though it's been 50 years since the Beatles started performing. To give this post a great ending, here's a video of him performing 'Yesterday' (doesn't he look so cute?! He has the same nose as my little brother). Listen out for random hysterical screaming in  the audience. Girls don't even scream like that for Justin Bieber. 





So what did you guys think of the Top Four Earners of 2010? Were you surprised by any or not really? 
Don't be shy, give me your thoughts!

When we fall down...we have to pick ourselves up again.

I love rock. End of story. Classic rock. Hard rock.  Indie rock. Grunge.

But when I'm feeling really angsty-mad-teenager (like I really want to break something), only Paramore will do for me. They're like a whole new genre of rock all on their own. A potion of punk, pop and alternative, all mixed up together in a cauldron. Lots of people older than me won't like Paramore, and yes, I have to admit they are becoming a lot more commercial. But Paramore are like comfort food for me...like a Big Mac(and I'm supposed to be a liberal vegetarian...bah), like chocolate fingers, like marshmallows. They're familiar, they're the band that first introduced me to rock music. I started with Paramore, I moved on to Muse, I heard Muse liked Nirvana so I decided to check them out, things spiralled on from there. I soon discovered classic rock, I even went all the way back to the 50s and found Chuck Berry. A part of me forgot about Paramore. But a part of me still needed them.

So...you can't blame me...when I heard rumours Paramore were splitting up-ok, I cried. A lot. Before pulling myself together and reminding myself that rumours on the internet are not necessarily always true. I found out that although the Farro brothers were leaving the band, Hayley Williams, Taylor Yorke and Jeremy Davis were staying. Paramore had fallen down...pretty badly...I mean Josh and Zac Farro were two of the bands founding members. When the founding members leave...that's is basically almost as bad as it gets.

But. Paramore were picking themselves up again. Hayley, Taylor and Jeremy were definitely staying, and trying very hard to find a new guitarist and drummer. I still felt a tiny bit broken afterwards though. Paramore's band chemistry live was amazing. What if that all changed?

And then....I found this article in the Rolling Stone magazine:

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/ex-paramore-members-slam-hayley-williams-20101222

It says some very controversial things about Hayley Williams, who I adored for years. Apparently, she's been taking control of the band, and the band is becoming all about her. I don't know what to believe...I mean I know the media lies...I know that well enough- it's all very confusing. I found myself feeling very angsty-mad-teenager again, so I ended listening to more Paramore. But their softer songs, like We Are Broken.

Well, anyway, Paramore taught me a good lesson. The past can hurt. But the way I see it, we can either run from it or learn from it. And yes, that is quoted from the Lion King. (I like old Disney movies ok?! Well at least the classics...as for High School Musical...I better not get started).

Does anyone reading this remember a band close to them breaking up/almost breaking up when they were young? How did you react?

Thanks for reading if you did(well, you would have, if you're reading this) I appreciate it. Please comment, even if it is a couple of words.