The UK has better taste in music and Debarge were complete bollocks, a great, dirty boil on Motowns perfectly-shaped arse. complete mulletted shite.

Cheers!

Any UK fans? explain yourselves.

Marrk said:

You know you done open up the gates of hell, right? Wait until scriptgirl come in hurr.

Timmy84 said:

Unless she's from the UK, i'm not really that bothered. Can someone post their chart history, even the U.S. one? i bet it's not that impressive even there.

I want to know what the hell they contributed besides a more cheesy song than Lionel's 'Dancing on The Ceiling' i.e 'Rythym Of The Night'.

Lemme check....

# Stop! Don't Tease Me" - R&B #46
# 1983: "I Like It" - US #31, R&B #2
# 1983: "All This Love" - US #17, R&B #5
# 1983: "Time Will Reveal" - US #18, R&B #1
# 1984: "Love Me In a Special Way" - US #45, R&B #11
# 1985: "Rhythm of the Night" - US #3, R&B #1, UK #4
# 1985: "Who's Holding Donna Now?" - US #6, R&B #2, UK #83
# 1985: "You Wear It Well" - US #46, R&B #7
# 1985: "The Heart Is Not So Smart" - US #75, R&B #29
# 1987: "Dance All Night" - R&B #33
# 1988: "I Got You Babe" - R&B #73


They did have some great tunes

They had great tunes and great music. Who cares if they weren't big in the UK? The only thing that matters is that their music has stood the test of time.

Marrk said:

DeBARGE CHART HISTORY (1982-1988):

Singles
1982: "Stop! Don't Tease Me" (#46 US R&B)
1982: "I Like It" (#31 US, #2 US R&B)
1983: "All This Love" (#17 US, #5 US R&B)
1983: "Time Will Reveal" (#18 US, #1 US R&B)
1984: "Love Me in a Special Way" (#45 US, #11 R&B)
1985: "Rhythm of the Night" (#3 US, #1 US R&B, #4 UK)
1985: "Who's Holding Donna Now?" (#6 US, #2 US R&B, #83 UK)
1985: "You Wear It Well" (#46 US, #7 US R&B)
1985: "The Heart Is Not So Smart" (#75 US, #29 US R&B)
1987: "Dance All Night" (US R&B #33)
1988: "I Got You Babe" (US R&B #73)

Albums:
All This Love - US #24, R&B #3
In a Special Way - US #36, R&B #4
Rhythm of the Night - US #19, R&B #3

bboy87 said:

I added their album charted listing in mine's.
[Edited 1/16/09 15:30pm]

bboy87 said:

hmm. Well the charts back then were fierce, i'll give them that, but those positions arent really that impressive.
[Edited 1/16/09 15:34pm]

Marrk said:

I think they had three number-one singles on the ADULT CONTEMPORARY chart here in America too.

What's hilarious to me is that some kool-aid drinking groupies will swear up and down that DeBarge was/is such a hit overseas, respected, treated like royalty and in hot demand--even today.

I'm like clearly those people have never left the States.

I've been all over the world-for months at a time--and have NEVER heard a DeBarge song played or requested.

Speaking of UK, what's up with Do Me Bad Things? I heard they broke up. What a shame. Good group.

I know that Debarge was never big overseas. There is an article that was done in 85 that I read on lexis/nexis that says the same thing. The english interviewers seemed quite perplexed by the group, but acknowledged their talent.

Oh yeah, I love my country and all, but when it comes to music, the UK does walk all over us.

They were playing some American artists in a clothing store I was in once-songs I've NEVER heard played anywhere over here--and it was JAMMING!!!

When it comes to music and clothing, the UK's got us.

BUT...

Your food sucks!!!

I agree up to a point-a lot of their rnb acts have short lived careers-the black ones anyway. The UK has the most brilliant white soul singers. But I digress

scriptgirl said:

No, I mean, they were playing like some JaRule or something that I've NEVER EVER EVER heard over here. I was like Now I know Ja didn't go and drop some singles in the UK that will never be released over here...OR, the UK has their own JaRule sound alike.

And I DON'T EVEN CARE FOR (most) RAP, but that song had me bobbing my head. And they were playing it LOUDLY too.

I know that a lot of British artists have songs on their CDs that are not released on the same CD here, but I never thought it would be the same of American artists.

And they still LOVE them some Michael Jackson. They do not think he's weird, don't believe he's a pedophile...So, Blacks can have lasting careers over there. It's just that those DeBarges didn't have the type of impact their fans would like to believe.

Karen71 said:

Many of the other Motown artists still remain popular in the UK. DeBarge by comparison is virtually not as known over there since UK fans never really dug the post-1970s Motown music though the artists connected to the 1960s Motown sound and the Northern soul sound still remained popular and that may have a lot to do with how Marvin and Diana and Michael's post-Motown records did well over there versus DeBarge. Boyz II Men was even more popular overseas in the UK than DeBarge. Then again, DeBarge never TOURED England so... LOL!

Karen71 said:

Errr, I'm British, and I certainly think he's weird and certainly think (know) he's a child molester. You're right though that his music is still very popular over here.

midnightmover said:

Yes, but you're in the minority. The majority think he's just fine. (Or, maybe that's just the people I know over there.) I will say this: He's more respected as a person over there than here.

Hey, what's up with Do Me Bad Things?

I also need to get back over there to the bookstores. You guys beat us in the literary department too. Apparently, Mica Paris wrote a book that I'd love to read...Eminem's mama's book was JUST released here (boo! who cares!).

Who cares? The UK is not the end all be all of what's great music.

Karen71 said:

Nope, I'm not in the minority. It just depends what type of people you're hanging out with. His music is played all the time over here, but he's still seen as a freak by millions.

EDIT: I should add that the most vehement anti-MJ people I've met have been Africans for some reason. The last one I spoke to said Michael was "a bad nigger". The other one just said "He's a paedophile" in an indignant tone of voice. For sure though, there are plenty of supporters in this country who think he's a paedophile, but just don't really care. My sister's one of them.
[Edited 1/16/09 16:32pm]

With the celebration of Motown 50 and the airing of the Unsung special, would this be a good opportunity to re-release Debarge's albums? I'm sure they're out of print like Rick James' albums

bboy87 said:

Motown 50???? Oh, lawd. I didn't even know. We just don't let stuff go, do we?

Uh, re-releasing DeBarge albums? Those who care can buy Best Of albums anywhere. That's more than enough. The real DeBarge fans already have all of their stuff. There aren't enough others who give enough of a damn to warrant a re-release of anything they've done.

Vendetta1 said:

Yeah, but they come damn close.

I don't think the thread starter needed to go so far as to call them...what..a boil on Motown's arse, but...he has a point.

Karen71 said:

Check out my sticky thread up top.

One thing I'll say about EDB is that his vocal ability is highly overrated on this website. He was okay, but certainly not great. He sounded a bit wimpy most of the time.

Karen71 said:

And I disagree. I can't name five artists out of the UK in the past 10 years that I am remotely impressed with.

Vendetta1 said:

No, I mean the music that's actually played in the UK. Visit the UK, and you're likely to be quite impressed with their music. However, it's hard to find Americans today who are impressed with the stuff we try to pass off as music over here.

I wonder if most Americans can name 5 AMERICAN artists they've been impressed with in the past 10 years.
[Edited 1/16/09 16:51pm]

Timmy84 said:

Oh, I see your little bios.

I thought you meant there's going to be a Motown 50 TV special. I was like, "Please make it stop!"

Karen71 said:

There will be along with a Broadway show and numerous other TV specials
[Edited 1/16/09 16:55pm]

Karen71 said:

That ain't gonna happen. Thank God... because most of the original Motown legends have passed away.

But there will be a two-hour documentary coming out in the fall on its history.
[Edited 1/16/09 16:56pm]

midnightmover said:

I have to give El credit for his voice. I remember listening to "Love Me in a Special Way" and thinking about how "crisp", "clean", and "clear" his voice sounds.

The DeBarges were talented and should have achieved greater success, but they didn't. While I'm a fan of sorts, I haven't lost sight of that fact.