This month, we are asked to highlight music from artists whose names start with ‘M or ‘N’. My selection today is a Canadian rock band most people either love or hate – or hate to admit they love! I’m talking about Nickelback, founded in 1995 and still going strong.
Case in point, their signature song, ‘How You Remind Me’ was rated the number-one rock song and number-four alternative song of the 2000s.
Well, I’m an unapologetic fan who’s a ‘little older’, and don’t care what others think. As they said, music is subjective. So what if Nickelback’s music isn’t ‘deep’? There’s a good mixture of beautiful ballads, fun songs, and hard rock.
THERE’S EVEN A DOCUMENTARY! [now streaming on Netflix]
OLG Stage, Niagara Falls,Ontario, June 29, 2024
‘How You Remind Me‘, with lyrics written by lead singer Chad Kroeger and music composed by the band, was released on July 17, 2001, as the lead single from their third studio album, Silver Side Up (2001). A ‘Gold Mix’ was made for later editions of the single, with the heavier guitars edited out of the chorus
Considered to be Nickelback’s signature song, ‘How You Remind Me’ reached the top of the US Billboard Hot 100 and was named the number-one most played song on US radio of the 2000s, being spun over 1.2 million times on US airwaves since between 2001 and the end of 2009
The song was featured in the music video game Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock and in a recut, PG-13 version of Deadpool 2 titled Once Upon a Deadpool. The song played a large role in a Saturday Night Live skit on March 10, 2018, with Sterling K. Brown in which the lyrics are a dying woman’s final words.
A NICKELBACK SAMPLER:
Poignant anti-suicide anthem. 😢
Nostalgic memoir. 😌
Fun favourite! 😀 (Lyrics on YouTube, under the video)
Smokin’ show stopper! 🔥💥🤘 (Lyrics on YouTube, under the video)
The discography of Nickelback comprises 10 studio albums, two compilation albums, one extended play (EP), 44 singles, five video albums, and 38 music videos. Their latest album, ‘Get Rollin’, was released in November 2022.
As of Nov. 2019, Nickelback has sold over 50 million albums worldwide.
Nickelback Concert Photos:
[Click on the image – opens in a new tab]
Other ‘Mixed Music Bag’ posts this week will be added here as they become available.
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Dog Mom and (retired) Canine Innkeeper in suburban Toronto, Canada, known as The Doglady. Former corporate workaholic. Writer, photographer, digital creator. Animal lover, music fanatic, inveterate traveller. Eternal hippie/rockchick. History, literature and cinema buff. Hockey and soccer fan. Dedicated night owl. German/Canadian binational, multilingual. Let me entertain you!
As I’m sure you know, I pretty much stopped listening to Rock music some time in 1986. I just didn’t like the direction it was going in. Therefore, I’ve just heard Nickelback’s ‘How You Remind Me’ for the first time. I don’t find anything really objectionable about it. It’s certainly not my mugga beer, as it sounds to me like a lot of other bands whose music doesn’t appeal to me for similar reasons.
BUT!… I sure don’t see why so many people decided to hate on Nickelback. As others have alluded to, my first suspicion would be that they just became TOO POPULAR, so jumping on the Hate bandwagon became a fad. Truth be told, the vast majority of people everywhere are followers, though most would deny it. And with bands, a lot of people will love them because so many others do. The opposite side of that same coin is equally true: a lot of people will hate the band because hating them has become a popular trend. Frequently, there’s a whole NOT of thinkin’ goin’ on!
I distinctly remember in the ’70s how it became very popular for young people to declare how much they hated The Carpenters. I’ve always loved The Carpenters and would say so. And I clearly remember thinking often: How can The Carpenters be so hated, while simultaneously selling millions upon millions of records?!!
And then, I believe it was in the ’90s, it became a fad to run around yakking about how much one hated The Eagles. (Maybe that’s still a fad to this day, I don’t know.) And I remember thinking: How can so many people vehemently hate what was one of the very most popular / successful music-makers of the 1970s? Where did all these haters come from so suddenly? I recall that “commercialism” was one of the primary charges leveled at The Eagles. Well, yes, if having seventeen Top 40 hit songs (including five #1 hits) makes a band “commercial”, then indeed The Eagles were commercial. But is there really any artist who doesn’t want their art to be appreciated by people they present it to?!
IMO, the whole nonsense is really just followers following fads; either the Pro-fad or the Con-fad. And this all reminds me of the derogatory term “Karen”, which I imagine you’re aware of. That one REALLY irks me! Not only is it unfair to all the females named Karen, but no one even knows the origin of it. It’s utterly nonsensical, but some knucklehead started to use the word, and then it caught on with ‘those who follow’. Me, I quickly “unsubscribe” from writers and YouTube ‘content creators’ who lazily use that ridiculous term. Well, I’ve said too much. (What else is new, eh?)
Stephen, I agree with everything you said about why people hate or love certain musicians. It’s primarily a fad. I hadn’t heard about the ‘hate The Eagles’ movement, but the same accusations were levelled at Nickelback, ie, ‘too commercial’. Sheesh! 🙄 As for the Carpenters, they, too, were incredibly successful, so I think envy has something to do with it as well. I don’t know when or how ‘Karen’ became an insult, but if that was my name, I’d be pissed off about it!
I don’t get why Nickelback is dissed when they applaud people like Ariana Grande or some of these others that sound insipid and uninspired. My hubby loves them and I really like them. I think they are original and have more depth than most
I neither hate or love Nickelback. I haven’t really paid any attention to their music. I do recognize a few of the songs in your line up and I think they have a sound that I can get into, though. The Rockstar video has a star studded cast!
The Rockstar video is my favourite! 😀 It even has Gene Simmons in it, plus Billy Gibbons (ZZ Top). I like Chad Kroeger’s vocals a lot. Thanks for coming by, Cathy. I hope you’re having a pleasant summer.
I know, sorry Pete. 🙂 You’ll find a lot of rock music at The Den. Thanks for your continued support, regardless. 🌹 ‘How You Remind Me’ was the best-selling song of the 2000-2010 decade, so it would be hard to miss. Happy weekend to you! 🥂
With you Deb on Nickelback. What the heck happened that they were trashed as a great band? I remember something, but seriously, they disappeared off the radio radar? <3
Yes, radio stations refused to play their music! 😲 Thanks to the documentary, which premiered at the Toronto Film Festival last fall, they are considered ‘acceptable’ again. Their live show was excellent! ❤️🔥
Thanks, Jean! 🙂 This band has always been interesting to me, and I don’t understand why they were so maligned over the years. Thanks to the documentary (which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival last fall), they have become popular once more. 😀
I must admit that I did not know this band, but their music sounds good, the review video is interesting too. Must explore your site since I found myself being quite much without knowledge concerning bands😊
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24 thoughts on “MIXED MUSIC BAG: 🎼 HATE TO LOVE OR LOVE TO HATE? 🎭”
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DEBBIE ~
As I’m sure you know, I pretty much stopped listening to Rock music some time in 1986. I just didn’t like the direction it was going in. Therefore, I’ve just heard Nickelback’s ‘How You Remind Me’ for the first time. I don’t find anything really objectionable about it. It’s certainly not my mugga beer, as it sounds to me like a lot of other bands whose music doesn’t appeal to me for similar reasons.
BUT!… I sure don’t see why so many people decided to hate on Nickelback. As others have alluded to, my first suspicion would be that they just became TOO POPULAR, so jumping on the Hate bandwagon became a fad. Truth be told, the vast majority of people everywhere are followers, though most would deny it. And with bands, a lot of people will love them because so many others do. The opposite side of that same coin is equally true: a lot of people will hate the band because hating them has become a popular trend. Frequently, there’s a whole NOT of thinkin’ goin’ on!
I distinctly remember in the ’70s how it became very popular for young people to declare how much they hated The Carpenters. I’ve always loved The Carpenters and would say so. And I clearly remember thinking often: How can The Carpenters be so hated, while simultaneously selling millions upon millions of records?!!
And then, I believe it was in the ’90s, it became a fad to run around yakking about how much one hated The Eagles. (Maybe that’s still a fad to this day, I don’t know.) And I remember thinking: How can so many people vehemently hate what was one of the very most popular / successful music-makers of the 1970s? Where did all these haters come from so suddenly? I recall that “commercialism” was one of the primary charges leveled at The Eagles. Well, yes, if having seventeen Top 40 hit songs (including five #1 hits) makes a band “commercial”, then indeed The Eagles were commercial. But is there really any artist who doesn’t want their art to be appreciated by people they present it to?!
IMO, the whole nonsense is really just followers following fads; either the Pro-fad or the Con-fad. And this all reminds me of the derogatory term “Karen”, which I imagine you’re aware of. That one REALLY irks me! Not only is it unfair to all the females named Karen, but no one even knows the origin of it. It’s utterly nonsensical, but some knucklehead started to use the word, and then it caught on with ‘those who follow’. Me, I quickly “unsubscribe” from writers and YouTube ‘content creators’ who lazily use that ridiculous term. Well, I’ve said too much. (What else is new, eh?)
~ D-FensDogG
Stephen, I agree with everything you said about why people hate or love certain musicians. It’s primarily a fad. I hadn’t heard about the ‘hate The Eagles’ movement, but the same accusations were levelled at Nickelback, ie, ‘too commercial’. Sheesh! 🙄 As for the Carpenters, they, too, were incredibly successful, so I think envy has something to do with it as well. I don’t know when or how ‘Karen’ became an insult, but if that was my name, I’d be pissed off about it!
Thanks for coming by and adding your two cents! 🙂
Nickelback in a good group. There are a lot worse out there.
Thanks, Patrick. I agree! 🙂
thanks for the comment. I loved Rockstar!
You’re welcome! 🙂 Thank you, as well. ‘Rockstar’ is also one of my favourites. None of those famous people hated Nickelback! 😀
I don’t get why Nickelback is dissed when they applaud people like Ariana Grande or some of these others that sound insipid and uninspired. My hubby loves them and I really like them. I think they are original and have more depth than most
I agree with you 100% Birgit! 🙂 “Insipid” is an appropriate description for a lot of today’s music. 😛
I neither hate or love Nickelback. I haven’t really paid any attention to their music. I do recognize a few of the songs in your line up and I think they have a sound that I can get into, though. The Rockstar video has a star studded cast!
The Rockstar video is my favourite! 😀 It even has Gene Simmons in it, plus Billy Gibbons (ZZ Top). I like Chad Kroeger’s vocals a lot. Thanks for coming by, Cathy. I hope you’re having a pleasant summer.
I may have jut one Nickelback CD (Silver Side Up) but that doesn’t mean I hate them! 🙂
If you did, you wouldn’t have that CD either! 😉 Thanks for dropping by, Glyn, and for hosting this weekly musicfest.
I’m not much of a rock music fan, but I certainly recognise their big hit ‘How You Remind Me’.
Best wishes, Pete.
I know, sorry Pete. 🙂 You’ll find a lot of rock music at The Den. Thanks for your continued support, regardless. 🌹 ‘How You Remind Me’ was the best-selling song of the 2000-2010 decade, so it would be hard to miss. Happy weekend to you! 🥂
I’m with you, Debbie. I’m a fan — always have been — and I don’t care who knows it. 😂
Hurray for all of us unapologetic Nickelback fans out there! 👏👏👏 Thanks for the support. 🌹
I’ve always thought the NB hate was just people who don’t like someone else to be popular.
Yes, I thought jealousy was a big part of it. I mean, surely, 50 million people can’t be wrong?! 🙄
With you Deb on Nickelback. What the heck happened that they were trashed as a great band? I remember something, but seriously, they disappeared off the radio radar? <3
Yes, radio stations refused to play their music! 😲 Thanks to the documentary, which premiered at the Toronto Film Festival last fall, they are considered ‘acceptable’ again. Their live show was excellent! ❤️🔥
Every single videos were very interesting to watch, very good music, you have always amazing good info included, I admire that🌺
Thanks, Jean! 🙂 This band has always been interesting to me, and I don’t understand why they were so maligned over the years. Thanks to the documentary (which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival last fall), they have become popular once more. 😀
I must admit that I did not know this band, but their music sounds good, the review video is interesting too. Must explore your site since I found myself being quite much without knowledge concerning bands😊