Is it me?

[andy hughes]

Let me stake my claim from the start - as a music writer, I am aware that tastes vary between ages, and rap music is not aimed at 49 year old white men specifically, but, that said ....The Streets' new single is cod fourth form self-pitying whining dross, unfit for anything outside a school encounter group! Dry your eyes mate? Get some talent mate! It's simply NOT GOOD ENOUGH! Opinions please?

[kags]

Agreed on all counts - bit of "emperor's new clothes" syndrome around this track I believe - well, I THINK IT'S CRAP!!!!

[bobbobley]

you are both wrong of course, the track is a wry insight into the mind of a young chav suffering the heartbreaking pain of rejection from the woman whom he idolises.

however, it is not as strong lyrically or musically as previous singles AND it makes much more sense when listened to on the album in its place in the running order. still, top tune though.

[becks]

I actually HATE The Streets, i think it is mindless drivel that any old dimwit could do, it just happens that it's very orginial. HOWEVER, i love the dry your eyes song, i think the words are beautiful and the classical piece at the beginning and end. oh and actually i did like fit but you know it but that is pure comedy that song. As for the stuff before there was one that went "I'm sitiing in cafe thinking about whether to have some tomatoes of fried bread" or something, i remember hearing it the first time and thinking 'you have GOT to be kidding me' truly awful and talentless. apart from those two songs.

[andy hughes]

Actually bob, kags and i are not 'wrong', neither in fact are we ' right' - we are expressing an opinion in which we happen to agree - and it was opinions i asked for, so we can debate the pros and cons, but no-one, especially me, should claim the moral high ground on this - it's only a pop record!

[nicola_red]

I agree with andy hughes - it makes me feel nauseous.

[beale]

No really, you're wrong. The song is fantastic. It's also a character song from a concept album so can't be self-pitying. Fact.

[jills]

I'm in the I LOVE IT camp...tho Bobbobley is right...it makes more sense in the context of the album. Such strong opinion on The Streets means they must be doing something right. I would suggest they are the Marmite of the music world!!

[IndieSinger]

I'm going to paste my previous answer on this subject here. I am another to add to the "love it" camp and for those who think that anyone could do it - then go out and do it and make money if you're that talented!

I think they do a fantastic job of incorporating real slang phrases (where else would you find "You are really fit", "Leave it out", "I'm not trying to pull you", "But I stopped sharkin' for a minute to get chips", "You look grand", "We've all 'ad a drink, mate", "Fair play", "I did fancy you a bit, though" and "Or what the shrapnel in my back pocket could afford" amongst others in ONE song?!) into their songs. And they're addictively catchy to boot! It makes such a refreshing change to so many english bands singing with an american accent and using american slang. I realise that they're a bit of a Marmite band, but it takes all sorts. If you enjoy a certain song, listen to it, it'll make you happy. The world would be a boring place if we all liked exactly the same genre of music.

If a band/artist can please millions of fans, then you cannot deny them of their talent.

[robber1]

I cant write music and dont claim to have a valid opinion, but like all music , I know what I like to listen to. I am turned 50 and when I heard the track for the first time, I wanted to find out who it was by. I think its great, but then again I'm an "oldie". I like opera and the sex pistols and stuff in between. I judge every artist and song by what I hear and what pleases me.

[Vitrano]

i would have to say, being a mobile jock, that "dry your eyes mate" is one of the streets most requested ever. much better than their usual stuff.

[Mortartube]

The bloke from the streets can't sing for toffee apples. The lyrics to dry your eyes are okay-ish, but at least give it to someone who actually has the talent to sing it, instead of a bloke who sounds like whining council estate car thief. There are people who can really sing well and they don't stand a chance of getting a recording contract, whilst this vocally challenged **** gets into the limelight for no conceivably good reason. Rant over.

[jenky]

watching this thread with interest as it's really rattled some folk! Anyway my turn... to say that vocal talent is the only reason an artist deserves acclaim is utter nonsense, Jimi Hendrix couldn't 'sing', Neil Young can't 'sing', and you'd deny them airtime? Whereas Mariah Carey has an undeniably great voice but has squandered her talent in meaningless pop drivel. Are you saying she deserves more acclaim simply for having a talent?

[beale]

He's supposed to sound like a "council estate car thief". I refer you to Indiesinger's answer.

[jills]

gop Indiesinger...spot on! I like the fact that they're a Marmite band...which is why I used a similar phrase. Spare us please from all the bland mediocrity around...the kind of music that just washes over you unnoticed. Robber1 ..of course you haev a valid opinion..everyone's opinion is valid.

[rja211077]

Having read this question yesterday and pondered my answer overnight I return to find that all my thoughts have been stolen by others...The Streets being a "Marmite" band, the track having more impact in the context of the (brace yourself) "concept" album that is "A Grand Don't Come For Free", and the artist deserving some attention and praise simply for doing something different and being (pretty much) one of a kind.

[MrIxolite]

I agree that the Album is refreshingly different although I don't think iot has got any longevity. They won't get away with a second album of the same.

[bobbobley]

Indiesinger, the first time I heard that line "but I stopped sharkin' for a minute to get chips, and drink" I almost ****** myself laughing! I think Skinner's lyrics are brilliant and capture the mood of the youth on the street (apparently - i'm too old now to know what that mood is now exactly...!) and it is refreshing to listen to him batter on about stuff that's the kind of thing you talk about down the pub with yer mates.

he's a poet of his generation in the same as Eminem is, and I think he will be recognised as such in years to come. As for not being able to sing, I think that's the point innit.

[robber1]

I have listened to other tracks and find most of it a bit bland and boring. Dry your eyes appeals to me, but I would not get the album.

[geedogg]

i love the streets, its poetry. its urban music that a lot of us can actually relate to rather`than 'wannabe gangster garage'(eg so solid crew etc). You listen to the lyrics and you can laugh along with it, reminisce about something similar that might have happened to you. Also, becks how can it be "mindless drivel that any dimwit can do, its just happens that its very original" surely if any dimwit could do it it wouldn't be original. mmmm just a thought. And Mrlxolite, it is their second album so they have managed to get away with it again.

[Philtaz]

I rather like it and their album, and I'm 39 on Friday! To me the lyrics of the song are something just about every teenage male who's been dumped by a girl can relate to. The guy has got a talent for making songs about daily, mundane events that the hoipolloi have experienced and can relate to.