Why Don't Americans Appreciate Paul Weller?
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Artist:
I've been a fan of Paul Weller's music since I first heard "That's Entertainment" by The Jam when I was 14 years old. For more than 30 years, Weller has been one of the finest songwriters in rock. He consistently scores hits in the UK and sells out large concert halls there. Yet, here in America, Weller remains something of a cult figure. Why is this?
While Weller has a small but devoted following in the States, he has never come close to the superstardom in America enjoyed by the likes of Eric Clapton, The Who, Pink Floyd, and many other veteran British acts. Some critics have cited the quintessential Britishness of many of Weller's songs as the reason behind his failure to break through in America. I'm not sure if I buy into this. While some of his songs delve into the British class system, he's also recorded plenty of songs that could have (and, frankly, should have) been monster hits, The Jam's "Town Called Malice," The Style Council's "My Ever-Changing Moods," and his solo "The Changingman" being just three examples.
Recently, at age 50, Weller released one of the most critically acclaimed albums of his career, 22 Dreams. The album has garnered stacks of rave reviews on both sides of the Atlantic. Yet Weller will still be playing small and medium-sized halls during his American tour next month. Weller has even been quoted as saying that he only plays the East and West Coasts in America because he'd lose a fortune if he toured in Middle America.
Is Weller not properly promoted in America? It's clear that he doesn't get much airplay on music radio in America. I actually gained renewed interest in Weller's career in 2000 when I started to listen to the music radio stations on the Internet. Weller's music gets quite a bit of airplay on the other side of the pond.
While I enjoy having the opportunity to see a massive talent like Paul Weller playing in intimate venues (his acoustic shows at New York City's Town Hall are among the best live gigs I've ever seen), it would be nice to see him get the proper respect that he deserves in America after 30 years of giving us one great song after another.
I could go on and on, but from this point on I will let Weller's music do the talking.
"All Around The World" by The Jam:
"Running On The Spot" by The Jam:
"My Ever-Changing Moods" by The Style Council:
"Walls Come Tumbling Down" by The Style Council:
"The Changingman" by Paul Weller:
"Echoes Round The Sun" by Paul Weller:
Comments (7)
I'm one of those American's that you speak of. I read MOJO, and other music rags, and he's perpetually on the cover, featured or reviewed.
I'm really trying!
Also, for another - Kurt Wallinger. Waterboys, fine, World Party, eh.
He is a great song writer, but I can't stand his accent....
I think Weller's songwriting is mainly excellent, but it's generally very homespun and perhaps Americans don't relate to it. His influences have mainly been iconic English stylized bands like The Small Faces, The Kinks and The Who. He broadly writes about English life and maybe the fact that we all speak the same language clouds the fact that we are culturally very different. There's been many great British bands that have been lost in translation.
Squeeze and The Manic Street Preachers are two that immediately come to mind.
I love that "All Around The World Clip". It's from Marc Bolan's (T.Rex) tea time kids show. Marc was attempting to re-invent himself as the new Glam/Punk Pop monster after a couple of years in the doldrums. Sadly, he didn't live long after this show was broadcast. Did you notice the way the song falls apart at the end when drummer Rick loses his stick?
Gee, I never considered myself part of Weller's "cult following" in America--I've always considered him to be a great songwriter and performer--legendary, even.
I always thought his lack of exposure here and weak PR had much to do with why his music never flew off shelves in the States. Jools Holland isn't a household name here, either. I bet I could count the number of times in my life that I've heard any songs Weller has written (with the Jam, Style Council, or otherwise) in public places or broadcast on radio/tv in America on one hand. The fact is, other than this "cult following" that I'm apparently a part of, most folks just don't dig very deep for music. If it's not at every bar, shopping mall, tv program, ad campaign, and Clear Channel radio station, it will remain largely unknown. Other than in music mags and record stores, Weller doesn't really get any press here.
All of that aside...my favorite Paul Weller song? Science.
Thanks for the post!
I totally agree. Next to Dylan, Weller is my favorite artist. I usually purchase my Weller items from the UK, because they can't be found in the US or I only find the American version which is substandard. For instance, I had to pay my poor, deflated US Dollars for GBP to get a truly amazing copy of the UK Limited Edition of 22 Dreams. Well worth the money I might add.
I live in the South and am having to fly to Boston to see Weller next month. I disagree that his music is unknown in the US. I just think it is not recognized. I have even heard Muzak in Department stores and pointed out to friends that it is Paul Weller, The Jam or TSC. Remember "Start" from the Cadillac(?) commerical? Numerous Movie albums?
I disagree that is all about his Britishness and English-centric lyrics. Just look at U2 (another favorite). My gosh, how Irish-centric can you get, yet they translated. Everyone can relate to the downtrodden, under-represented masses that The Jam sang about.
Nowadays, he is pure poetry with that infamous musical phrasing that has hardly ever failed him. Wow - who else can write such great musical notes, especially on top of such spectacular lyrics. I love Dylan with a passion that cannot be exceeded, but sorry Bobby, Paul has got you on the musicality.
Weller is one of the truest students of the music form. This album is proof in case you need it. It is so varied and takes you down so many paths that if it doesn't bring a smile to your face - well, don't call yourself a music lover.
One of the saddest days I have had lately was patiently waiting for the Rolling Stone issue with Paul Weller on the cover. I had already read the article and seen the pictures but wanted my own copy. When it was finally issued here in the US, Lenny Kravitz was on the cover with PW in a small feature box at the top. RS be ashamed!! Thank goodness the article ran intact, but this was a perfect opportunity for RS to step up and resume it's founding purpose. Needless to say, I had to pay double or triple for a used UK version.
There are plenty of artists who don't do well on one side of the pond but do on the other. I've tried to get into Weller's work w/Style Council & The Jam but for some reason it just never struck the "right" chord for me whatever the reason. Maybe his style isn't ballsy enough for the US. I don't really know why it doesn't gel for me. I've enjoyed what I've heard but haven't been motivated to buy more.
Thanks for this post......the dude deserves TOTAL respect in all of his endeavors. "Malice" was actually my favorite track on the jukebox (yeah, we had one) in CBGB's in the early 80's, and when Style Council formed it seemed like far from a sellout, but rather a great new project. He's still great to see.
Yes, in the States it seems like we're the cult following. Sad, but then again i proudly fall into that category with several artists that haven't even gotten as much airplay as Style Council did. The Blue Nile (Glasgow) is one of my favorite bands ever and i couldn't believe it when the phone rang and i ended up working with them after their first two masterpiece albums. Cult following.
The UK/US thing has always been a real trip. On euro-tours i used to always buy things at the top of the British charts, knowing that they'd eventually get some notice in the States, or just get copied. We show respect here in a really weird way and it's not always about music. We copped lot of great stuff from the Brits, including things like "All in the Family" and recently "The Office". The list is kind of huge.
But then there's the bands (many) that can't get attention in the States, make some big noise in the UK, then come back big. Go figure.
Luckily today, thanks to radio stations like KCRW in LA (or online), we get to hear a lot of British stuff here that's awesome. They have become sort of a "tastemaker" station over here--one that other radio stations and music supervisors look to for good new music that then trickles down to the public. I don't think there was something like that when the Jam started or I think they might have done better here at a time when people still bought records.