Better Than The Real Thing?

[woolebull]

I think all of us have acts who, in our mind, copied someone else's style, music, etc. However, can you name someone who took someone else's "style" and actually was more successful on the charts?

The idea came to me listening to the Dees 10/13/84 show hearing John Cafferty and how he didn't want to be compared to Bruce Springsteen. While I have never thought of Cafferty intentionally trying to be Springsteen, I do think "On The Dark Side" probably got a bigger push on radio in 1984 instead of 1983 because of The Boss (HBO certainly helped as well) and the massive monster "Born In The USA" was. All of that being said, Cafferty and the BBB had a solid few years on the charts, but nothing like Bruce and the ESB.

I also don't want to include acts like Elvis who could be debated was influenced by particular music, but really didn't try to mimic one particular artist.

Any artists come to mind? I will be thinking about it as I wait to see if you all come up with any contenders.

[LC]

One could argue that the Eagles took the country-rock sound of early Poco and the Flying Burrito Brothers and turned it into chart paydirt.

Not to mention Led Zeppelin and all the American blues artists they ripped off, I mean, copied.  

[1finemrg]

How about the Stray Cats, taking rockabilly to another level?

[woolebull]

One I have thought about is Toni Braxton. When she first came out, I heard on more than one occasion she was just a clone of Anita Baker. And while Anita certainly had success on the charts and throughout her career, neither her chart success or overall success seems to be in the same league as Toni.

[dukelightning]

Interesting that you bring that up. In the AT40 I heard the other day, Shadoe mentioned how Anita rejected 2 songs for the BOOMERANG soundtrack. Toni said she was not reluctant to sing songs that Anita Bryant dismissed. One of those was her first hit, the duet with Babyface.

[doofus67]

Hmmm...just can't get my head around Toni Braxton covering "Paper Roses."

[mga707]

Oct 17, 2024 17:28:58 GMT -5 doofus67 said:

Hmmm...just can't get my head around Toni Braxton covering "Paper Roses."

...or shilling for Florida orange juice.

[mrjukebox]

Hi,dukelightning-I think you meant to say Anita Baker.

[dukelightning]

Wow where was my brain then?

[djjoe1960]

Lots of acts from the 1980's took what M started with Pop Muzik in 1979 (keyboards and drum machines) into the dominant sound of the decade and beyond.

[LC]

Every time I see this thread, a certain hit song by U2 gets stuck in my head....

[dth1971]

Oct 18, 2024 21:20:41 GMT -5 LC said:

Every time I see this thread, a certain hit song by U2 gets stuck in my head....

The U2 "Even Better Than The Real Thing" song was a SNEAK PEAK on a Shadoe AT40 show but never made the AT40 reaches.

[woolebull]

Oct 18, 2024 17:21:42 GMT -5 djjoe1960 said:

Lots of acts from the 1980's took what M started with Pop Muzik in 1979 (keyboards and drum machines) into the dominant sound of the decade and beyond.

I really like this one...you could make the case for M and Gary Numan...and also the likes of Haircut 100 as well from a first wave perspective.

[woolebull]

Oct 18, 2024 8:59:00 GMT -5 dukelightning said:

Wow where was my brain then?

Sometimes I wonder when I post is it actually worth it...you have given me an image that was certainly worth it! Seeing Anita Baker singing "Sweet Love" in an orange grove is exactly what I need! Thanks to both Anitas for that one!

[dukelightning]

Yes "Pop Muzic" is to synth rock what "Rock the Boat" is to disco and "U can't touch this" is to rap. They are all the first #1 hits in those genres.