Beck Hanson oversees a seismic shift in the Billboard charts with "Loser," a song that inadvertently defined a generation by mixing folk stylings with a hip-hop beat and terrible rapping
I remember when this song was out. I had a conversation with a member of Gen X. I said I didn't really understand why everyone loved the song. He said, "What?! The song reflects my entire generation!" I never really got why Gen X'ers would consider themselves "losers!" I was a bigger fan of "Mr. Jones" - my number one song that year!
I fit into a weird sub-genre of "generation" born between 1978 and 1982 called "Xennials," which really is a nice sweet spot. We have the boundless optimism of Millennials with the grounded, gritty outlook of Gen X. I scoff at participation trophies while secretly coveting them. It's a weird place, but one where I sincerely lack the angst of my older generational brothers and sisters. "Loser" never resonated with me as something reflective of me or my generation, so I guess Beck won't be mad at me like he is with everyone else!
I love "Mr. Jones" as well, but it's not my favorite Counting Crows single of 1994. That one's coming up soon...
I was certainly a fan of ‘Loser’ though as a bit of a drug-addled mess of a human being at that point, I didn’t really dissect the lyrics too closely. And to your point, thank god that the song and album, and then Odelay, were successful enough to give Beck Hansen a career as I couldn’t imagine living in a world that doesn’t include the magic of 2002’s Sea Change.
That Counting Crows debut album was a stunner, one of the best debuts of all time in my opinion. Mr Jones may have been my least favorite song on the album. It was a brilliant effort never again to be equaled in their career.
I remember when this song was out. I had a conversation with a member of Gen X. I said I didn't really understand why everyone loved the song. He said, "What?! The song reflects my entire generation!" I never really got why Gen X'ers would consider themselves "losers!" I was a bigger fan of "Mr. Jones" - my number one song that year!
I fit into a weird sub-genre of "generation" born between 1978 and 1982 called "Xennials," which really is a nice sweet spot. We have the boundless optimism of Millennials with the grounded, gritty outlook of Gen X. I scoff at participation trophies while secretly coveting them. It's a weird place, but one where I sincerely lack the angst of my older generational brothers and sisters. "Loser" never resonated with me as something reflective of me or my generation, so I guess Beck won't be mad at me like he is with everyone else!
I love "Mr. Jones" as well, but it's not my favorite Counting Crows single of 1994. That one's coming up soon...
Hmmm...maybe "Round Here?" That was also in my Top Ten in '94.
I was certainly a fan of ‘Loser’ though as a bit of a drug-addled mess of a human being at that point, I didn’t really dissect the lyrics too closely. And to your point, thank god that the song and album, and then Odelay, were successful enough to give Beck Hansen a career as I couldn’t imagine living in a world that doesn’t include the magic of 2002’s Sea Change.
That Counting Crows debut album was a stunner, one of the best debuts of all time in my opinion. Mr Jones may have been my least favorite song on the album. It was a brilliant effort never again to be equaled in their career.