Defend the Indefensible: AIR SUPPLY

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Hey, I completely forgot about "Even The Nights Are Better". I like that one!

Myonga Von Bontee (Myonga Von Bontee), Saturday, 23 April 2005 02:52 (nineteen years ago) link

Air Supply have always turned my stomach, from the time I was a kid. To me they epitomize the most depressing era in pop music, or at least US FM radio. As disco died and before Van Halen/Duran Duran/the Go-Go's went platinum, one could tune in and "enjoy" Anne Murray, Eddie Rabbit, Styx, "Sometimes When We Touch," Dan Fogelberg, etc.

The only possible defense for this putrid entity is that it was referenced in the title of Peach of Immortality's album "'Jehovah' My Black Ass - REM is Air Supply!"

(On a semi-related note, Skullflower released a song a few years later called "Satan My Black Ass, Steve Albini = Jim Steinman." I wonder if Albini's band Shellac recorded "My Black Ass" as an "answer" song.)

Curt W, Saturday, 23 April 2005 07:49 (nineteen years ago) link

Phoo.

J (Jay), Saturday, 23 April 2005 15:44 (nineteen years ago) link

Having spent time on the dole and playing in a band, I got a rude awakening in 1980. My mother said to me that it was about time I got a job (the next band being slow to come together) so I applied for a part-time job in a shop in Bayswater that developed photos, and also sold newspapers, sweets and tourist trinkets. I got the job but really hated it. I remember the time Ken Lockie from Cowboys International walked in to buy some cigarettes or a newspaper or something (he was living up the road at the time, unknown to me) and was shocked to see me there putting price labels on Mars Bars. Anyway, they had a transistor radio permanently on in the shop, tuned to Capital, and it seemed like Air Supply's 'All Out of Love' was getting 10-15 plays a day at that time. It became a particular reminder of my imprisonment. I remember getting a friend of mine to go to the shop one evening when I wasn't there and annoy the staff by pretending to be a tourist that couldn't speak English. He recorded the ridiculous exchanges with the shop assistants on a cassette recorder hidden in his bag and when we played the tape back later it was no surprise that 'All Out of Love' could be heard faintly at one point. Of course it just had to be the bit that goes 'what are you thinking of.. what are you thinking of..' which was the really annoying bit for some reason.

I don't have a problem with their rehabilitation. They did seem pretty hateful at the time though.

Oak (small items), Saturday, 23 April 2005 18:43 (nineteen years ago) link

You've never been in love if you can't appreciate Air Supply.

molly, Saturday, 23 April 2005 18:53 (nineteen years ago) link

"'Jehovah' My Black Ass - REM is Air Supply!"

haha I hadn't thought of that but Automatic-era ballads do kind of sound like "All Out of Love" - the fingerpicked standard chord progressions, the string arrangements and tasteful piano tinkling, the earnest whitebread singing, even those echoed chords in the chorus!

(I don't think I actually know any other AS songs.)

Sundar (sundar), Saturday, 23 April 2005 19:02 (nineteen years ago) link

Did Air Supply consider themselves or did other people consider them to be New! Wave! in some way(s)? Did they wear New Wave clothes and/or have New Wave haircuts? Did they play New Wave instruments? "Air Supply" seems like a New Wave name.

Tim Ellison (Tim Ellison), Saturday, 23 April 2005 20:28 (nineteen years ago) link

it was 'easy listening' all the way to my recollection.

teeny (teeny), Saturday, 23 April 2005 21:52 (nineteen years ago) link

I'm just puzzled as to why an easy listening band would call themselves Air Supply.

Tim Ellison (Tim Ellison), Saturday, 23 April 2005 22:13 (nineteen years ago) link

Or any band other than weirdo post-punk avant-gardists, for that matter.

Tim Ellison (Tim Ellison), Saturday, 23 April 2005 22:14 (nineteen years ago) link

five years pass...

"Even the Nights are Better" is a fantastic song. Great arrangements.

oscar, Wednesday, 19 May 2010 23:54 (thirteen years ago) link

It just occurred to me that Air Supply would be the perfect Geir Hongro test case -- if melody really is everything (or almost everything), then Air Supply should be one of his favorite bands of all time; the melodies in their hits are unstoppable. Indeed, if one doesn't care much about rhythm, groove, or attitude, then there is little reason to avoid ranking Air Supply as one of the greatest artists of all time. Anyone for Taking Sides: Air Supply vs. James Brown?

medelman, Thursday, 20 May 2010 03:35 (thirteen years ago) link

Their greatest hits singles are some of my favorite songs. But they sure made a lot of filler over the years. One of these days I'm going to catch them at a casino. For real.

Nate Carson, Thursday, 20 May 2010 09:15 (thirteen years ago) link

one year passes...

my first favorite band!

i can make u every promise that has ever been made and i can make all ur demons begone

mookieproof, Wednesday, 25 April 2012 05:52 (twelve years ago) link

three years pass...

^^^

still remember being an 11yo going to b&d records -- where i would later get my zepp and even my used copy of transient random-noise bursts -- and being like no, the pastel one, not the one with the balloon, as both b&d scorned me

mookieproof, Tuesday, 12 May 2015 03:06 (eight years ago) link

you know you cant fool me

difficult-difficult lemon-difficult (VegemiteGrrl), Tuesday, 12 May 2015 05:54 (eight years ago) link

three years pass...
eight months pass...

Do they sing "Carry On My Wayward Son?" If so, I don't think even the late Johnny Cochran (god rest his soul) could defend them.
― Lemonade Salesman (Eleventy-Twelve), Thursday, April 21, 2005 2:33 PM Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

That's Kansas, nevermind.
― Lemonade Salesman (Eleventy-Twelve), Thursday, April 21, 2005 2:34 PM Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

fuck the NRA (Neanderthal), Saturday, 16 February 2019 22:25 (five years ago) link


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