Where would be BNL be today If "Another Postcard" never existed?

[tvfan721]

BNL had alot of American success with Stunt and Maroon and rightfully so. They were both platinum albums and they were great. Even Disc One got alot of exposure from American audiences and they were still huge in the US during that time. I also remember there was alot of anticipation and build up from the press for E2E, it was really exciting. Then the album came out and the first single was "Another Postcard" which was criticized by critics and even alot of the fanbase. Ed even said in his blog that people were writing off the album as a whole simply because of that one song. It wasn't fair obviously but that's what happened. Even critics like Popmatters that loved BNL criticized that one song.

What if "Another Postcard" never existed and another song like Testing 1,2,3 was the first single instead? Would E2E have been as successful as Maroon? I really gotta wonder if "Another Postcard" caused alot of permanent damage and where BNL would be today if that song was never made. Would BNL still be as successful as they were in 2000/2001?

EDIT: Also, I know very well that the record company was responsible for choosing "Another Postcard" as the single. I know it wasn't the band's choice.

[AnotherHeartbreak]

No doubt that contributed to it. I'm sure that if either "Testing 1,2,3" or "Maybe Katie" were the lead single, it may have very well have been a hit.

[Belyha]

Wonder twin powers, activate! Form of: Denial! Shape of: Wishful Revisionist History!:rolleyes: Ok, so I am being sarcastic and bratty, but really? The fate of the band hinged on "Another Postcard?"-- and the fate of my irritation hinges on not reading and responding to posts when I know I should know better and that it will start a chain reaction, but oh well, here goes...While radio play and hit singles are all well and good, this band was built on touring and word of mouth. Their success has come from being out in the trenches and working really really hard. For us. And while I wish them all the success and happiness in the world, I selfishly kinda like that they are still not really that mainstream and still feel more indie, and that they have seemed to remain true to themselves and us fans for the most part. Not that I would complain about more hits-but my loyalty is unswerving and doesn't require it...

I am not surprised that that was what the record company chose- most of us "lifers" get the diversity of BNL, but the reality is that the "Chickety China" fans who only know the funny, so-called "novelty" songs outnumber us more enlightened beings. The band has to play the game... and if that allows them to continue to tour and make music, so be it... and those so-called "novelty" songs are still better than a lot of tripe floating around out there...While not a favorite, I do have a soft spot for "Another Postcard", because I think it is a thank you to the fans...while I never sent them a post-card, I did once send them a series of crazy home-made birthday cards... I love the immediate gratification of the internet but I miss the old days-with snail mail and the newsletter...and making crazy slash-n-burn arts and craft projects for the Ladies. But, while I miss things, I move on.;)

[ProudMommy77]

...I am not surprised that that was what the record company chose- most of us "lifers" get the diversity of BNL, but the reality is that the "Chickety China" fans who only know the funny, so-called "novelty" songs outnumber us more enlightened beings. The band has to play the game... and if that allows them to continue to tour and make music, so be it... and those so-called "novelty" songs are still better than a lot of tripe floating around out there.....

Well said, Belyha. The novelty seemed to give them a big hit, so why would the record companies think differently -- "If it ain't broke, don't fix it". However, this was perhaps too novelty for some, and it didn't go over as well.

No sense in dwelling on the past, though. Let's get "Summertime" released and start another round of number one hits!

[TheHYPO]

If your theory were correct, Thanks That Was Fun would have been a hit for Disc One. It was a moderate success at best. Could another song have been as big as One Week or E2E as big as Stunt? I doubt it. As big as Pinch Me? Maybe, but it might be pushing it to even suggest that.

[AnotherHeartbreak]

Songs that I think would have been hits, or at least moderate hits, if Another Postcard weren't released:

Testing 1,2,3
Maybe Katie
Easy
Wind It Up
Down To Earth
You Run Away
and of course, Summertime (which still has a shot).

[Liam]

Songs that I think would have been hits, or at least moderate hits, if Another Postcard weren't released:

Testing 1,2,3
Maybe Katie
Easy
Wind It Up
Down To Earth
You Run Away
and of course, Summertime (which still has a shot).
I'm not sure I understand the correlation between the chart position of You Run Away (2010) and the previous decision to release Chimps as a single (2003). There's a good 7 years between the 2 releases, a lot can happen in that amount of time in terms of image and rebranding. Heck, Another Postcard wasn't even a big enough hit for the large majority of the public to even remember the band by. I'm really not sure that the low chart positions of Easy, Wind It Up and You Run Away can be attributed to Another Postcard.

[tvfan721]

If your theory were correct, Thanks That Was Fun would have been a hit for Disc One. It was a moderate success at best. Could another song have been as big as One Week or E2E as big as Stunt? I doubt it. As big as Pinch Me? Maybe, but it might be pushing it to even suggest that.

They didn't promote Thanks That Was Fun much though, the video was never even released in the US.

[garyrulez]

Absolutely, categorically no.

And it has nothing to do with the fact that Testing 1,2,3 and Maybe Katie are superior to Another Postcard. It's simply this: have you guys heard the music played on the radio the past few years? The people that buy albums and singles, watch videos, and request music at radio stations have just evolved (mutated?) from the BNL-type sound.

If your theory is true, why wasn't Pinch Me a huge hit?

[tvfan721]

If your theory is true, why wasn't Pinch Me a huge hit?

It was. It was the second biggest hit after One Week.

[AnotherHeartbreak]

Absolutely, categorically no.
If your theory is true, why wasn't Pinch Me a huge hit?
I remember I was 6 when it was. I heard that song every time I got in the car, of course it was a huge hit!

[Cynful1]

It was. It was the second biggest hit after One Week.

I remember I was 6 when it was. I heard that song every time I got in the car, of course it was a huge hit!

Honestly, Gary, of course Pinch Me was a huge hit! What? Did you think those BNL concert goers were jumping to their feet during Pinch Me because they were afraid of blood clots forming?! NO! They're ecstatic to hear a "hit" song! There are ONLY 2 songs those folks know and, by GUM, those boys best not be playing either one of 'em while fans are at the bar freshening drinks!

(psst..did you notice I hit the trifecta of proper usage just for YOU! :D )

[sandimas]

I think it really doesn't matter which single came from E2E.

I think that the pop culture's tastes shifted in the time between Maroon and E2E, and the boys were left behind as a result. By the time "Another Postcard" hit the airwaves, you could hear people going, "Oh yeah, that 'chickety china' band..." but by then they were on to the next thing.

And as much as I hate to admit it, music videos, which I think helped BNL a great deal on "One Week" and "Pinch Me" were on the way out by the time AP's video came out.

Now with one of their lead singers gone, BNL are almost starting from square one. Okay, square two. They're not doing bars yet. ;)

We know how good the album is, but the mainstream isn't there because they're into Shawn whatever or the latest American Idol winner, sadly.

[ProudMommy77]

I....We know how good the album is, but the mainstream isn't there because they're into Shawn whatever or the latest American Idol winner, sadly.

(Disclaimer: This paragraph may offend some.) While this may be true, I have often wondered if society is getting stupider and can't understand the hidden humour within the songs, or just the brilliant writing in the songs at all.

I played Take It Back for someone, as it contains one of the greatest lines in lyrics: It's hard to keep your mouth shut, Harder still to make noise, and do you know what they said when I said "Isn't that a great line?"

"I don't get it." Damn. Granted, it might be my fault. I might need to find smarter acquaintances.