What's the general age range of Elbow fans?

NeonChoir wrote:

Holy crap, I'm actually one of the youngest people on here. As I'm one of the oldest members on the main forum I've visited for the past (almost) two years, this is completely different.

I turn 21 next month, by the way.

Just goes to show what excellent taste you have!

Haha, thank you! ^_^ I've received that compliment a lot in recent years. I guess it can't be that bad if I listen to Elbow, right?

haha I'm 20 myself and I must say I'm extremely proud of being an Elbow fan. I always name them in my top 10 or even top 5 favourite bands of all time.

I dont think its cause many people like em it more the fact that they haven't even heard of em! xD

and some say their Boring? Pfff! listen to G4D or LoTFW and tell me that then!

Welcome to the forum Bennington

Thank you!

Bennington wrote:

haha I'm 20 myself and I must say I'm extremely proud of being an Elbow fan. I always name them in my top 10 or even top 5 favourite bands of all time.

I dont think its cause many people like em it more the fact that they haven't even heard of em! xD

and some say their Boring? Pfff! listen to G4D or LoTFW and tell me that then!

Elbow are pretty much my current favorite right now, so I get what you mean.

Yes! Exactly! All the people I know who like Elbow like I do are my Internet friends. I don't think I know anyone in my real life who likes them. On that note, though, I showed one of my best friends a bit of "Switching Off" live, and she was clearly impressed. All she could say was, "Wow. They're really good." Maybe there's hope in that yet.

...Wait, who says they're boring? D: That's ridiculous.

The only reason people think Elbow are boring is because they haven't got the attention span to actually sit down and listen properly.

I don't wanna get into an ageism-type discussion here, but I do think that the more life experience a person has had, the more they will/can enjoy Elbow's music. The songs do such a good job of detailing and illuminating many of the moments that make up a life, and it's possible that many younger people just don't connect emotionally with those types of songs the same way that people with a few more years under their belt might do. Guy's lyrics, even when the band first started, were very world-weary in many ways. I don't know if a lot of younger people have that same perspective just yet. I mean, there's a reason why the pop charts are full of songs that don't say too much beyond "I wanna dance" or "I'm angry" or "I wanna sleep with you", or even "I'm angry 'cause the person I wanna sleep with won't dance with me".

Now, this isn't to say that young people can't appreciate Elbow, or other artists with more substance or emotional range in their songs -that's obviously not the case, and we have proof of that right here on this thread! But maybe that type of appreciation isn't too widespread among younger people in general, because their heads might not be tuned in to the type of subjects that Elbow are singing about, or they might not be seeing them from that particular perspective yet. Just my thoughts on the matter, for what that's worth!

I like to think that in this sense, I'm a lot more mature than most people my age. I have times when I act slightly childish, but it's all out of fun and the fact that I love to see people laugh. I love finding lyrics in a song that actually have substance and mean something to me. This is also why I avoid the local radio here at all costs. (With the exception of NPR, which I haven't really listened to in a while, but that's beside the point) I really tire of hearing things that are completely irrelevant. There's this one song I heard the other day that was like, "Red and yellow, red and yellow, red and yellow..." or something. It was some pointless rap song, and it really got on my nerves. Generally, unless it's a song I find highly catchy for some reason, I don't like this sort of thing. I tire of hearing songs that glorify one-night stands and the degradation of women.

...OK, I feel that made me sound slightly like a musical elitist. I apologize for that, as that wasn't what I was intending. I tend to get carried away sometimes. This happens with music in particular, but only because it means so much to me.

NeonChoir wrote:

...OK, I feel that made me sound slightly like a musical elitist. I apologize for that, as that wasn't what I was intending. I tend to get carried away sometimes. This happens with music in particular, but only because it means so much to me.

Not elitist, just a bit discerning, and there's nothing wrong with that! I've been guilty of that as well, when friends/relatives are listening to something I just can't handle, but I've tried to tone it down some. It's not easy, though.

Oh, no, it's not. It's something that I continue to work on.

I had someone on another forum I visit imply that I take music too seriously the other day after I stated my opinion on how I didn't think Best Coast was my cup of tea and that I found a repetitive line to be annoying. I wasn't really thinking that much into it, but apparently, the way I worded it made them think that I did or something. I don't know.

I'm 17 but been a fan since I was 15. I know a couple of people my age who are fans, but generally I'll mention them and I'll get the usual jokes like "Oooh... are they called Elbow because they play with their ELBOWS?!?! Ha ha ha ha ha..." e.t.c

HAHAHA, how punny. -rolls eyes-

Hi, LikeaCloud, and welcome!

It happens at any age, believe me - I still keep getting quips about "that band you like, Knee or Wrist or whatever body part it is"
Though the situation has improved a bit post TSSK and people are getting the CDs I gave them out, dusting them off and actually listening to them and discovering they actually quite like them...! There seems to be some kind of weird logic out there that you have to have heard of the band before listening to the CD.

While I find it easier to get CDs from bands once I've taken a little bit of a listen, that's not necessarily set in stone. I bought Kaiser Chief's "Yours Truly, Angry Mob" based on the song "Ruby," which appears on "Guitar Hero 3." I didn't really know them, yet got it, anyway.

I'd like to mention, by the way, that seeing all you "older" people on this forum reassures me. My parents (age 55 and 50) pretty much think my music taste in general is garbage, so seeing people like you who love Elbow is pretty cool to me. _

Glendarian wrote:

It happens at any age, believe me - I still keep getting quips about "that band you like, Knee or Wrist or whatever body part it is"

Yeah. But we all know our arse from our Elbow don't we??








I'll get me coat.

Both my daughters are not fans but they really like their music. They do have it rammed down their necks a bit from their father and I but I look on it as an education. They are aged 10 and 13.

I think one day it will become important to them because it's part of their childhood. I remember fondly my folks playing David Bowie, Cat Steves, The Beatles, Pink Floyd, etc and when I listen fond memories come rushing back.

I'm not so sure on that. I merely say that based on my own experiences. In my early childhood, I only listened to classic oldies. Why? That's what my parents listened to-exclusively. When I was 10 (around that time, anyway), I started listening to classical music, and I think at one point, I realized how extremely limiting my parents' tastes were. While it's important in certain ways, it's not important to me in terms of that music actually meaning something to me. In fact, I tend to avoid a good chunk of it nowadays simply because it reminds me of that time when I was naïve and didn't realize exactly how much they were holding me back.

I'm 39 and had my parents round for summat to eat recently, I'd drank far too much wine and put 'Leaders...' on, notably 'Great Expectations' - I was explaining the lyrics to them, but beacuse the lyrics weren't so bloody obvious, the perplexed looks on their faces actually brought me a sense of self satisfaction - i don't WANT my folks to like my music !

You stick to Westlife and IL Divo and leave me with Elbow and The Chameleons !

Awww, I actually like Il Divo.

It's not that I necessarily would want my parents to like my music. I would, however, like them to appreciate it for what it is and respect my choice of music, as opposed to saying that my favorite bands sound awful, implying that my music is complete rubbish.

haha my folks really love there music too and their like late 50's. Not to the extent of me, but they love all soft stuff and even the heavier songs like "grounds for divorce".

I do have a couple of mates that like elbow too, both are the same age as me, one who I'll be going with to see them live soon who thinks AITB is there best album (which i also agree with!). My other friend likes elbow to an extent (thinks tSSK is a great album) but not enough to want to see them live which is a shame. but he's getting there!

Well I'm 16 and I have to say, I don't know where the hell I'd be without Elbow on my iPod. Got a lot to thank my parents for there...

Waaaayyyy too few people appreciate good music at school, meaning only about three other people I know have even heard of them.

Welcome to the forum JMN

Hi, JMN, and welcome! -waves-

Thanks, good to be here!