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Post by tokiohoteluk on Oct 20, 2007 9:26:51 GMT 1
I agree with a couple of your points, midori, and disagree with a couple too. Regarding singles - the reason that they hardly exist in the UK shops is because people have moved to downloading, not that people are downloading because they can't get singles. The entire music industry is very different here and part of that I observed when I was in France. A couple of these issues are important for bands that are just starting out and who are marketed like a 'boy band'. Firstly, boy bands have traditionally released singles in different formats to climb the charts. They did this with TH - two different CDs, a 7", etc - this is to push them up and encourage fan girls to buy multiple copies of the single. With the physical formats not being as popular in this country, it's going to be very hard to continue to do that and sell them. The downloads need to be stronger. Thus the single has to be stronger. And to make it stronger, it needs to be be promoted better. Secondly, emo. I know fans deny them the emo label, but I think they slot very nicely into the emo niche. Now more than ever having seen exactly the fans that they draw abroad. London didn't really give me an idea of that, but when you're slap bang in the middle of 8000 what can only be described as emo chicks, you have to accept that's what they do. Not to mention the emo angst of a lot of their songs. What's great about TH is that they are lovely happy boys and it's just an image thing, but it's that crossover that confuses industry types. UK fangirls, believe me, can be as mental as German fangirls over a band. I've seen it. Not in a while, because it's not been my type of thing for a while, but boy bands induce that kind of behaviour in the UK. McFly are probably the most notable one that are current and I suspect that UK TH fans will get there when TH become popular. The whole issue about Bill's English is sadly the biggest problem TH have. I wish we weren't that pathetic and narrow minded in the UK, but I know for sure that it's a huge reason why they weren't on TV, radio, etc, for RSG. I've spoken to the record label about that. As was said - they were competing with huge American artists for airtime and the UK shows just don't want to try something new. And the translator just slows it all down. I have never seen a band on TV that had to speak through a translator. And I think that not only would it be weird, no one in the UK would give them a chance if they saw them using a translator to communicate. Bill needs more confidence and practice, but they're being worked so hard at the moment that he has no opportunity to do that. They need time in London or something to use their English and become less uptight about it. Bill is very uptight about it. Also, I wanted to mention that the UK is very different from France and Germany in that teen magazines hardly exist here anymore. When I was in France I was shocked to see the sheer number of teen magazine Bill graced the cover of when I walked into a shop. There was at least 10 in any given shop. Here, they're closing teen magazines on a weekly basis. Wereas when I was a teen there was millions of magazines, like there was in France, now there isn't. That can be a big problem for a band like Tokio Hotel who won't have a Bravo to support them. But the UK teens mostly connect on the Internet, so I think it's fine - once they're hooked there's a massive and excellent TH presence on the Internet. Claire x
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Post by midori on Oct 20, 2007 14:05:38 GMT 1
Thanks for that, Claire!
I thought as much, that it’s because of the popularity of downloads that singles hardly exist in shops and not the other way around. Personally, I just find it strange sometimes because I can’t really relate to downloads that much. But that’s just me.
I don’t mind Tokio Hotel being labelled as emo. You have good points there, Claire. I agree that it’s just an image and also that it’s the crossover that is confusing to industry types. I mean, if people see them as strictly emo, it must look like Tokio Hotel are not very good at it. Maybe the band could define a new (sub-)kind of emo? ;D
Hm yes, I get what you’re saying about the English issue. I can appreciate that it must be weird for the UK to see a translator being used or having to read subtitles and just because it shouldn’t be a problem doesn’t mean it’s not. To me translators and subtitles are just the most normal things because I’m used to it and would expect it. Obviously it’s more of an effort for TV and radio stations and they would go with the less time consuming etc option. Yes, Bill needs more confidence and practice. I’m sure he’ll get there and hopefully sooner rather than later but it’s not that easy. Especially because it seems he wants to be perfect at it. I can understand he’s uptight about it. I could barely get myself to open my mouth during English lessons back in school because I felt like an idiot and that was not even amongst native speakers that would notice every little mistake I’d make. Still today I make lots of mistakes and curse myself for sounding stupid and feel embarrassed about it. For Bill it’s a whole different level because he has got thousands of people listening to him, paying lots of attention and not all of them are as forgiving as his fans, finding it “cute” when he speaks English.
Interesting what you have to say about teen magazines. It would be nice if they had something like Bravo to give them the exposure and support them over here but that’s not the case and that’s just one of the things I think people should consider before talking about total failure just yet. But I have to say, I’d rather have them featured less in decent magazines than have them plastered all over popular gossip magazines although that probably get them more attention.
Ah, I'm going to be late for work! I'm a prime example that not all Germans are very punctual...
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Post by kiri on Oct 20, 2007 22:53:22 GMT 1
see that would confuse me "emo boy band" cos when i think of a boy band i think of really cheesy pop (like US5, sorry if anyone likes them!) and even tho i think its silly i know many peole who wouldnt even give a "boy band" a chance cos they consider themselves too old to listen to that kind of music! and if they'r tryin to let TH appeal to emo fans i think that'll work only on a certain number of people, i might b wrong but i just get the impression that many "emo" kids are quite elitist n stick to what they consider elite or they'll be branded as posers!
i agree on the translator thing too! i guess in mainland europe people r just used to it! i used to get very self-conscious when i had to speak in front of people... i still do in front of my mumu cos i'm afraid she'll correct me!lol but really bill has to realise he doesnt have to b perfect! i'd really like them to get more tv exposure, but that's just cos i'm a bit of a tv addict!
going back to what was written in the magazine i thought it was a really strange decision highlighting to that extent a band's "failure", shouldnt u big up one of ur country's biggest exports n focus on the MANY positive things they achieved? i really didnt see the point in that! plus, the comments about the brits, if they were tryin to b witty well they failed, i just found it really annoying! i'm not british but i hate labels, stereotypes n not-so-funny nicknames
midori, i'm totally with u on this one! i like coming back from a music store with a cd in my hands!lol
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Post by tokiohoteluk on Oct 21, 2007 17:04:21 GMT 1
Personally, I see TH as a 'boy band'. That's how they're marketed in Europe. For me, they're a new breed of boy band. When once clean cut all dancing all singing boys were popular with teens, as tastes mature and different styles and attitudes become hip, so the boy band changes too. All pre-teen and teenage girls need a boy to drool over - the reason why TH works is because they're young and clean cut, so safe and non-threatening for young girls, but they're still different and rebellious, so they are edgier than a group like US5. They crossover big time, which is why I think they became so popular.
I think people are just pulling stuff out of their asses to be honest, on why RSG didn't do well. It's obvious why - no marketing. A couple of magazines and a couple of plays on a couple of music channels is not going to make a big hit. They need to be putting money into cornering the market. As the street team we've identified loads of ways that could be done, but we have no resources to do it. We wanted to hit schools, fresher's week at universities, all sort of things, but we can't get fliers or promo items or promo CDs or anything. All it takes is a couple in each school and that's enough. Unfortunately, they either haven't put any money into the marketing here, or they have plans I'm not privy to. I'm hoping the latter!
But I have ranted on about this enough in the past. I'm doing what I can with what I have for the street team. It's funny but it's really important to me that TH do well here. I mean, if they don't, I'm doomed to travelling to Europe to see them live for starters, which is just a pain and more expensive. And also because I've put a lot of time and energy into it already, motivating people and encouraging people to be active in promoting the band in the UK. But, the more time that passes and less official activity and effort in the UK, the more I'm concerned that the UK fans will lose interest. With every new tour date, public appearance, activity announcement, single/ablum release in all the other countries, the more I can see people feeling disheartened and fed-up and disappointed. It all comes out through the emails and the messages, which I have to deal with, but the record label and management don't! They have no idea, though I have done my best to convey it.
Ah, well, we'll keep on trying!
Claire x
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Post by kiri on Oct 21, 2007 19:56:44 GMT 1
we sure will! ;D u know there have been bands in the past i liked just as much as TH but this is the first time i've cared so much to join a street team!
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Post by midori on Oct 22, 2007 19:18:41 GMT 1
I'm really glad it's important to you that Tokio Hotel do well over here, Claire! To be honest, I don't know where we would be without you and all the work you've put into the street team so far. Nowhere near where we are now, I think. It's a shame you don't have more resources to play with but yeah, we'll keep on trying! Like Kiri, I've never joined a Street Team before but this time I just had to.
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Post by bijoux on Nov 12, 2007 15:07:30 GMT 1
hi everyone, just thought I'd share this with you to show that the word about TH (and their well deserved fame) are truly spreading far and wide ;D this is a short feature about TH in an Afrikaans magazine called "huisgenoot"... (sorry for the poor quality and size of the image..) it's not a glossy/rock/fashion mag, but it is marketed as a family magazine. the good thing about this is that almost every average Afrikaans speaking south-african family buys this magazine (there is an English equivalent of the magazine available but I don't know if it has the target market of the Afrikaans version). unfortunately it is not an interview with TH but they are just giving general info on how TH started out, their rise to fame and general facts about each band member like when they where born, where they where born and their favorite band. i think that this small feature introduced a lot of south-africans to TH and hopefully this helped to increase the number of TH fans in south-africa. There is absolutely no reason why they won't have a huge south-african fan base and as I guess you all know, TH themselve have visited south africa to shoot the music video for monsoon in cape town. (and I'm still kicking myself for not knowing about this before it happened )
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Post by Ecomo on Nov 12, 2007 18:19:57 GMT 1
Hehe, they put Gustav as bass player and i'm guessing it says drums for Georg. Other than that, it's awesome that they're getting coverage in south africa
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Post by midori on Nov 12, 2007 19:28:27 GMT 1
Yeah, that's very exciting. Thanks for sharing, Bijoux! At least it's the only thing they got confused about Georg and Gustav... we've seen worse, right? *absolutelynotthinkingofTotP*
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Post by bijoux on Nov 13, 2007 6:45:33 GMT 1
Hehe, they put Gustav as bass player and i'm guessing it says drums for Georg. Other than that, it's awesome that they're getting coverage in south africa he he, oh yes, i forgot to mention that mistake they made! but at least all of us know which way around it should be and like you said, just the fact that they are getting coverage here is great!
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Post by kiri on Nov 13, 2007 14:24:54 GMT 1
hehe! they also have georg as being taller than the twins! but i'm just being overly meticulous!lol ;p
great! more press coverage in foreign countries!!! yay
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Post by tensi on Nov 16, 2007 12:59:05 GMT 1
wow, they're in an African magazine? that's awesome!!! hehe, really nice =]
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Post by 19gothicbabe94 on Nov 18, 2007 19:29:39 GMT 1
That pic of the guys in lad mag they are soooooooooooooooooooooooooooo adorable
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Post by Jenni on Nov 18, 2007 20:33:49 GMT 1
R they going to be in any more magazines in the uk soon? and r they in this months sugar?
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Post by Skye. on Jan 4, 2008 20:18:59 GMT 1
to some points made above i think TH fans are alot more open minded about breaking the language barrier than alot of others if im playing music and a TH comes on in german when im with other people they are very judgemental but i think it shows a much better connection to the music and it proves TH as a band are much more talented than they think if they can get millions of people to connect to a language they dont even speak. they deserve alot more UK recognition than they get they deserve to play HUGE arenas and stadiums cause if you think about it, coming here must be a MASSIVE set back from playing to 19,000 people in Paris and then only 3,500 in London must feel like turning back the clock. mmmm i still love them and i love the whole Tokio Hotel community it makes everything so much more enjoyable. xxxxxxx
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