What's the Big Deal With OneRepublic?

News Type: Event — Sat Mar 8, 2008 7:47 PM EST

entertainment, music, the, popular, mainstream, charisma, whats-the-big-deal, fray, onerepublic, aternative, tedder

One of the newest popular bands on the scene, OneRepublic has taken it by storm. Their first single, "Apologize" (which I'm about 90% sure you've heard) is catchy, dramatic and rhythmic. The second single they've released has about the same attributes, but is a tad more upbeat than the aforementioned "Apologize".

The band, lead by singer, writer and instrumentalist Ryan Tedder has all the traits to become the next big band - given they drop some of their worse problems. Sadly the most tragic of these is their close to pathetic live performances.

Timothy Finn, a writer for The Star and it's music blog, Back to Rockville writes:

OneRepublic? Not as much. They guys played for about 85-90 minutes, and the crowd was with them for the first 30 minutes or so, even through songs that weren't so familiar. Their sound is pleasant: suburban adult-alt pop-and-soul. But even with an electric cellist in its midst (Brent Kutzle), OneRepublic didn't generate one of those arresting or defining moments. Once the initial charm wore off, the crowd slowly lost interest, at least where I was standing -- up in the balcony, then on the floor by the soundboard. Way up front, the band was still getting some screams and cheers, but farther back, people were chatting among themselves, some loudly, waiting for the big moments,

The newly sprouted band, shot into stardom by the reputable Timbaland, has a serious problem on their hands when it comes to their lackluster performances. The problem lies in the equation that makes a hit single turn into more hit singles: Any band that releases a brilliant single and then has newly devoted fans come to their concerts only to be disappointed usually loses those fans. In many peoples opinions, a band that does not play well live shouldn't be as popular as they have become, probably because that means they are a fake - as many prominent bands nowadays are.

However, the problems don't end there: They're nothing fresh. If we compare OneRepublic to bands such as The Fray, and even such veterans like Coldplay and U2, we see they are very similar. Tedder, the leader of the band should be displaying more talent, it's no secret he has it to show. Charisma would be best for him to display, because if they want to keep the fans they have, a good live performance will be necessary.

So, what is the big deal with OneRepublic, after all? For one, their music is rhythmic, melodic and dramatic, but what they earn in the recording department they lack in the performance charisma and freshness.

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5.4

1.4

{"commentId":1556393,"authorDomain":"Kiser"}

Brandon Kiser

What do you think about OneRepublic?

{"commentId":1556393,"threadId":"231672","contentId":"1352995","authorDomain":"Kiser"}

1 vote

#1 - Sat Mar 8, 2008 7:54 PM EST

{"commentId":1557008,"authorDomain":"deatienza"}

Eric Atienza

(which I'm about 90% sure you've heard)

Ha! I haven't heard a single thing by this band! Take that!

I've heard the name before though. Is this the stuff you kids listen to these days?

{"commentId":1557008,"threadId":"231672","contentId":"1352995","authorDomain":"deatienza"}

2 votes

#2 - Sat Mar 8, 2008 11:51 PM EST

{"commentId":1557572,"authorDomain":"Kiser"}

Brandon Kiser

Yeah, I guess it is.

You've still probably heard it and not known it - it's everywhere!

{"commentId":1557572,"threadId":"231672","contentId":"1352995","authorDomain":"Kiser"}

1 vote

#2.1 - Sun Mar 9, 2008 9:15 AM EDT

{"commentId":1557233,"authorDomain":"thelimeybrit"}

theLimeyBrit

I was sucked in by Apologize, but underwhelmed by the album (which came as a Christmas present). I had tickets to see them in Dallas, but unfortunately the show was collateral damage in a recent battle with my appendix. Perhaps tellingly, I was unable to even give the tickets away, much less recoup any of the purchase price.

{"commentId":1557233,"threadId":"231672","contentId":"1352995","authorDomain":"thelimeybrit"}

1 vote

#3 - Sun Mar 9, 2008 1:44 AM EST

{"commentId":1557578,"authorDomain":"Kiser"}

Brandon Kiser

but unfortunately the show was collateral damage in a recent battle with my appendix

If that hadn't been so painful I'd likely be ROTFLMAO.

Yes, I've heard the album was very slow and depressing, so I didn't buy it - Is that what turned you off about the album?

{"commentId":1557578,"threadId":"231672","contentId":"1352995","authorDomain":"Kiser"}

1 vote

#3.1 - Sun Mar 9, 2008 9:17 AM EDT

{"commentId":1558717,"authorDomain":"thelimeybrit"}

theLimeyBrit

It's not so much that the album turned me off. It's very inoffensive to listen to, makes decent background music. It just doesn't compel me to listen to it and digest every little detail. Maybe I'll revisit it in a few months and it'll catch me then, but that was my first impression.

{"commentId":1558717,"threadId":"231672","contentId":"1352995","authorDomain":"thelimeybrit"}

1 vote

#3.2 - Sun Mar 9, 2008 4:05 PM EDT

{"commentId":1557247,"authorDomain":"dirtclodis"}

DirtClod88

Haven't heard them. How do they stack up against the Fratellis? Or is that like comparing apples and oranges....

{"commentId":1557247,"threadId":"231672","contentId":"1352995","authorDomain":"dirtclodis"}

2 votes

#4 - Sun Mar 9, 2008 1:53 AM EST

{"commentId":1557583,"authorDomain":"Kiser"}

Brandon Kiser

More like comparing apples and galactic space fruit. :P

{"commentId":1557583,"threadId":"231672","contentId":"1352995","authorDomain":"Kiser"}

1 vote

#4.1 - Sun Mar 9, 2008 9:22 AM EDT

{"commentId":1557945,"authorDomain":"dirtclodis"}

DirtClod88

Well with that, now I GOTTA go do some research lol.

{"commentId":1557945,"threadId":"231672","contentId":"1352995","authorDomain":"dirtclodis"}

1 vote

#4.2 - Sun Mar 9, 2008 12:09 PM EDT

{"commentId":1557982,"authorDomain":"vikibabbles"}

Viki Babbles Gonia

I like both of their songs that have been playing on the radio, but rather than buy the CD I'll probably just download the singles from iTunes or Amazon mp3.

It sounds to me like their sound is more a result of Timbaland's slick production than of their own cohesivness as a band. If they suck at playing live, then they probably don't play together that often, or not often enough. Which means their sound won't evolve at all.

I love the voice on the lead singer.

{"commentId":1557982,"threadId":"231672","contentId":"1352995","authorDomain":"vikibabbles"}

2 votes

#5 - Sun Mar 9, 2008 12:19 PM EDT

{"commentId":1558000,"authorDomain":"Kiser"}

Brandon Kiser

Their singles are nice, but to me their nothing new or exciting, just a redo of what we hear all the time.

Tedder does have a nice voice, but to me, he could do a lot more with it, you know?

{"commentId":1558000,"threadId":"231672","contentId":"1352995","authorDomain":"Kiser"}

2 votes

#5.1 - Sun Mar 9, 2008 12:24 PM EDT

{"commentId":1558086,"authorDomain":"vikibabbles"}

Viki Babbles Gonia

Yeah, he could.

I hope they're able to evolve a bit. It'll be interesting to hear a second album that's not produced by Timbaland.

{"commentId":1558086,"threadId":"231672","contentId":"1352995","authorDomain":"vikibabbles"}

1 vote

#5.2 - Sun Mar 9, 2008 12:45 PM EDT

{"commentId":1561858,"authorDomain":"RebelGirl"}

RebelGirl

Stop and Stare and Goodbye Apathy are better songs to me than Apologize and I don't like Timbalands version the original slower version is better. They do have a great CD, although they aren't my favorite right now.

MuteMath - Typical and Noticed rocks...

The Caesar's - Jerk it Out and Paper Tiger is good too.

Band of Horses - The Funeral

That's my 2 cents for today ;O)

{"commentId":1561858,"threadId":"231672","contentId":"1352995","authorDomain":"RebelGirl"}

1 vote

#5.3 - Mon Mar 10, 2008 2:56 PM EDT

{"commentId":1561574,"authorDomain":"stolte-sawa"}

Ryan Stolte-Sawa

These guys are lame. I could have written "Apologize" in my sleep, and the video looks like a Kohler ad.

{"commentId":1561574,"threadId":"231672","contentId":"1352995","authorDomain":"stolte-sawa"}

2 votes

#6 - Mon Mar 10, 2008 1:42 PM EDT

{"commentId":1561645,"authorDomain":"hemphill"}

hemphill

Everytime I hear that bloody song, I want to scream "enunciation is a good thing"

{"commentId":1561645,"threadId":"231672","contentId":"1352995","authorDomain":"hemphill"}

1 vote

#6.1 - Mon Mar 10, 2008 2:00 PM EDT

{"commentId":1715533,"authorDomain":"JazzyFizzle"}

JazzyFizzle

I think OneRepublic is a very talented band. I love their music.

As far as Timbaland's role with them. They don't need him at all.
I don't understand how he is the one that "shot them into stardom."

He just keeps repeating "eh" over and over again, yet if you search the song it says "Apologize" by Timbaland ft. OneRepublic. That's just irritating.

They are far more talented than Timbaland. He can barely shoot himself into stardom and resorts to tag along in other songs like "Ayo" by 50 cent and JT and "Give it to me" by Nelly Furtado and JT.

He surely does not need to be getting as much credit as he does.

{"commentId":1715533,"threadId":"231672","contentId":"1352995","authorDomain":"JazzyFizzle"}

#7 - Mon Apr 21, 2008 12:28 AM EDT

{"commentId":1727668,"authorDomain":"mpmullin"}

holyhandgrenade

They all look interesting...which isn't very interesting because every band wants to look interesting. How cool would it be to look absolutely normal. Or have every person from the band represnt one different niche of people. One emo, one prep, one metalhead, one etc. Whoa! So my roomate's flippin the channels and found a show about marijuana. Who knew that existed? There's some like 40 year old official and professional dude all dressed up in business clothes...with a huge bong in his office. I'd expect to see him on the history channel. Kinda cool I reckon, it's goin over all the history and that jazz.

{"commentId":1727668,"threadId":"231672","contentId":"1352995","authorDomain":"mpmullin"}

#8 - Thu Apr 24, 2008 3:07 AM EDT

{"commentId":1742602,"authorDomain":"kirkus-scarlatti"}

roogoo

From an honest point of view i can really say this band has talent. the blog Timothy Finn wrote didnt fit the description of what i saw.

i read the rest of timothy finn's blog about 1R and i actually saw the total opposite in their concert >.> maybe he saw them in an earlier concert? idk. when they were a little bit unpopular.

the band was very warm, they really got the crowd going [the lead singer is very good at impersonations lol]. ryan tedder even sprayed the front row with some sunscreen lol.
they did a few covers and i should say that ryan has got quite a voice. he knows how to blow out a chorus...but yea the album does need a few more upbeat songs. played live they really know how to present them and get the crowd to sing along.

FYI timbaland didnt produce the album ;D

{"commentId":1742602,"threadId":"231672","contentId":"1352995","authorDomain":"kirkus-scarlatti"}

#9 - Mon Apr 28, 2008 12:57 PM EDT

{"commentId":2168017,"authorDomain":"lukeynield"}

Luke Nield

You what !!!
this is actually not true at all !!! the truth is OneRepublic are an insanely talented group of individuals ... this review is seriously wrong.

{"commentId":2168017,"threadId":"231672","contentId":"1352995","authorDomain":"lukeynield"}

#10 - Fri Jul 11, 2008 2:38 PM EDT

{"commentId":2867474,"authorDomain":"kevinkathrotia"}

Kevin-516052

Listen to songs like Prodigal, Someone to Save You, and Mercy.

Don't judge a band by crap thats listed as Timbaland feat. anything.

They probably lost the crowd because they were there to listen to Apologize and expected a hip hop act to accompany.

{"commentId":2867474,"threadId":"231672","contentId":"1352995","authorDomain":"kevinkathrotia"}

#11 - Wed Sep 10, 2008 5:43 PM EDT

{"canLink":false,"threadId":"231672","isPrivate":false}

BRANDON KISER

Backyard

What's the Big Deal With OneRepublic?

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