Just... one... song... will make it better
I'm going to see General Fiasco again this week, at The Stiff Kitten, on Wednesday night. Looking forward to that gig, I was thinking back to some of the early GF shows I'd attended, you know, back in the day. In this review of a show in Belfast nearly two years ago, I made a point I'd made a few times previous and several times since.
"When you think about it, all (Northern Ireland's music scene) has been missing to make the rest of the world pay attention, is one song. A hit. Something that will go top-ten and generate a sing-along at the student disco. It would open the floodgates and a dozen bands from here would storm through."
I was referring to General Fiasco's Rebel Get By, convinced it would be that song. Now, we still don't know if this will be the case - Rebel Get By hasn't had the type of full release that would allow it to damage the chart and it won't until the album is finally released this year. I stand by the basic point though, convinced Rebel Get By could have a lot to answer for when we're all old and grey, reminiscing about this decade we've just welcomed and a glorious time for local music.
Since that review however, many, many bands have presented themselves as capable of writing a song that could have similar success and start that elusive snowball rolling. Cashier No.9, Cutaways and for a start.
Just for fun then, let's look at five contenders. I'm going to put aside the obvious (well, if you ever listen to ATL, it's obvious) fact that I love each of these songs as a simple fan of music, and try and be objective. Like an evil industry insider, if you will...
Two Door Cinema Club -
It's a happy song, that's for sure. And people like happy songs. Especially at summer. If they were from Bolton instead of Bangor and England won the world cup, this could be number one come July.
Panama Kings - Let's face it - Panama Kings are unlikely popstars. In the same way I'd be slightly dubious about bringing Amy Winehouse home to meet my ma should she end up my girlfriend, I'd be dubious about Niall Kennedy ending up on the wall of any future daughters I may have, should he become a popstar. Having said that, the guitar riff on Children packs as much punch as the riff on Time to Pretend, so they're well capable of being indie darlings this time next year. As long as they behave themselves in the meantime.
A Plastic Rose - Does anyone think this has the type of epic, eurphoric, grab-yr-bleedin'-best-mate-and-give-him-a-big-beery-kiss chorus that can make a band a million pounds overnight? I can see it in some daft American TV show about teenagers being all emotional and stuff, you know, the type where actors play people half their age. In short, A Plastic Rose are the most likely local band to "do a Snow Patrol" and having Brad Pitt turn up at their gigs in Madison Square Gardens, New York. Or Jimmy Nesbitt, in Botanic Gardens, Belfast at least.
Lafaro -
Like Rebel Get By, this has been in our lives for a very long time, but has a whole new life to look forward to when it's finally released as a proper single, which is bound to happen this year. And while you'd think the world would need to be destroyed and repopulated with a whole different type of human being with, you know, better ears and stuff, before this band could have a massive hit, I actually think the riff in this song is just so good Lafaro could find themselves unlikely stars of T4 on The Beach alongside Cheryl Cole and Tinchy Stryder. God love them! (Tinchy and Cheryl, I mean)
- Hello Death
Unlikely - but can we all please try and make this happen? If it worked for Rage Against the Machine...
General Fiasco and A Plastic Rose join Yes Cadets for a show at the Stiff Kitten this Wednesday. .
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