Why is New Order so special? — Forum Archive

30 Nov 2002, 13:38

Seriously, I was watching the Finsbury Park DVD yesterday, and I don't remind so many groups that you can seriously relate too..

Is there many groups who are in t-shirt and jeans on stage? just having fun and everything? if it wasn't for the drug abuse, I'd say New Order might as well be your next door neighbours.

Let's see...

Barney is not really a good singer.. you won't get him to sing opera for instance, he's horrible live, but we can mostly relate to that, and that might be what makes him special.

Steve is quite low-profile on stage, he drums like a machine.

Gillian is just an ordinary girl, in this word where you need implants to be part of show business, she's not that type at all, so many people can relate.

The enigma is Hooky, this is the bass-god, looked like a bum all his career, has tatoos and everything, but someone with short hairs he looks more hum.. "vulnerable".. but nobody plays bass like him, and he's a massive gig animal. He's seriously the only "rock star" of this band.. but he just looks like it, he's not acting like it.

Of course, I've never me the band, so it's actually my feeling about all this.. but seriously, if you've been to several concerts, have you seen many lead singer coming on stage in jeans, t-shirt and sneakers... dancing like an idiot on BLT and Blue Monday and not caring about it, and who can't remember his lyrics?

Nah, New Order, 4 normal persons who everybody can relate to.. that's why I think they are so special.

30 Nov 2002, 16:21

It was always special, it was like water down the drain. I'm intoxicated...

30 Nov 2002, 16:26

So long as Barney doesn't shove his crotch in the camera lens the next time they're playing live somewhere, I can concur with the "4 normal people" estimation.

They all came from backgrounds where music wasn't necessarily the obvious career choice, and they somehow managed to get together and make some magic. For a group with "an image" they really seem like they couldn't care less about maintaining that image. They make great music that's still worth listening to.

30 Nov 2002, 16:30

you've hit on the thing that i find most special about neworder. they are not great musicians and have their bad spots but something magical happens when they get together. this is my favorite band no question. bono and dave gahan can go straight to hell with their "rock god" bits...i'll take Hooky and the lads any day.

30 Nov 2002, 17:07

Speaking of live, has Gillian and Hooky ever jam side by side? Barney & Gillian played keyboards together on Blue Monday on 3:16, but that was the only time I seen Gillian and Barney side by side. I have never seen Barney and Gillian play guitar side by side. Does she just stand in her corner and never let anybody near her? I have seen Phil and Barney and Hooky all jam together, quiet a few times.

So anybody with concert experence, can you answer this?

30 Nov 2002, 17:50

it's all the music. they know how to make simple, beautiful melodies with substance (not necessarily lyrical substance though;)). it's just as simple as that.

or you could play the influence card...blah blah blah.

30 Nov 2002, 17:51

Have been lucky enough to share a coupla beers with Hooky & know a couple of folk from Salford who know him quite well. He really is a normal sort of bloke - albeit one with quite a few quid in his pocket these days ;) We all know his love of gigging & that this is where he projects his "Viking Axe God" persona and we've all heard of his gruff "f*** off" line when signing autographs etc but behind all that, its just Hooky, Salford lad done good & father of 3. Cheers

1 Dec 2002, 00:53

... because they could mix a great rock band with the best dance rhythms. ... because they´re not virtuosos but they play what they need to play (who said playing the guitar well is playing 20 notes per second?!?!?). ... because they always put emotion to what they did. ... because maybe lyrically they´re not the best but in a way they always talk about things that happens to common people (well, happens to me). ... because they always have something to say. ... because of the way barney sings like his voice was a rhythmic instrument. ... because of the power that hooky gives to their music, that thing that makes you want to kick the wall of your bedroom down when you hear it. ... because of the softness of gillian´s keyboards that makes you dream. ... because of the way stephen programs his drum machine not as a mechanic loop but a construction of sound. he breaks with that statement that says "drummers are a musician´s best friend". ... because they also have that attitude... they´ve always took the hard path because they´ve always deffended what they´ve done and how they´ve done it. that´s pretty remarkable. they were independent not because they wanted to be pretentious or elitists but because that was the only thing that trully kept their musical freedom away from music industry´s executives. and I´m with that. they set an example for me, as a musician, and others too. do they care about this influence on us? surely f***king not!!! and that´s the good thing because they never wanted to do things in order to become adored about that (such as bono does). that´s not the end they looked for. maybe even they haven´t got a clue of what´s that "end" because they just do what they want. that sense of freedom inspired me not only musically but in my ordinary life. and I´m pretty proud of doing that even if the world usually is against me. ... because they have unique fans to talk to. ... because they´ve touched my heart and soul so deeply. ... because they made me cry, think, dance, play instruments, sing, jump, laugh, etc, etc ... because thanks to them I made the best girl in the world fell in love with me by playing to her new order songs on my guitar. .... because of all of that... and because none of that.... because I like new order and period... is there any reason that would be better than this one for a new order fan? what do you think NO members would say about this.....?

1 Dec 2002, 01:14

Many of their songs could have been made yesterday, or 20 years ago. The timeless factor
Real people play the music. The personal factor
They live according to their own choices. The honest factor
They do not attempt to be perfect, other than being perfect at experimenting. The real factor
The music is simple and yet causes so much response in the mind of the listener. The synergistic talent factor
All four people make it happen. The tight band factor

1 Dec 2002, 02:09

Originally posted by Major Tarantino It was always special, it was like water down the drain. I'm intoxicated...

me & Shug in total agreement.

Barney was and still is always the main man, but dont get me wrong Hooky is special, when ya down at the front and Hooky growls at ya theres nothing li]ke it in the world :)

New Fookin Order forever

1 Dec 2002, 18:49

[Content deleted by a very small boy on 12/1/2002 6:57:30 PM EDT]

2 Dec 2002, 01:14

I can't answer that question. I must stop listening to them immediately!