Let Me Calmly Explain Why The Ramones are Overrated

I was scrolling through Facebook a few days ago, and ugh is that site becoming more and more absurd and insane by the minute it seems, but I saw a cool thing on a Run the Jewels fan page that I am a part of. In fact, all I have on my front page on Facebook is a few music things, a small amount of friends and sports news, so I was glad to see what I saw.

There was a question asked on the page. The question was simple, but it ended up getting well over 100 comments, in about an hour. The question, or statement was, "unpopular music opinion, Go". And man did people respond. The Beatles. Bob Dylan, Eminem, Bob Marley, EDM, these seemed to be the bands or musicians with the most mentions, and everyone hated them. I saw some other stuff that made my head crane. Someone called Prince overrated, that is wrong. Someone said Tool is better than Pink Floyd. On what planet is this true? People also said Lynrd Skynrd was better than Led Zeppelin. Not now, not ever.

I thought about these remarks, considered my instant reaction, but then thought about the question in place. The person who started this clearly said these are "unpopular opinions". So, after sitting, and thinking about it, I commented too. I mentioned my distaste for The Doors, Jim Morrison and The Beach Boys. I got some angry comments, but I definitely got more people that agreed with my stance. But today I want to put out what I deem to be my "most controversial music opinion". And before I get into it, no I don't have Drake on here, he is already widely considered trash by real hip hop fans. I don't have any of the younger, mumblecore rappers. That is trash too. I don't have the Grateful Dead because I have made my thoughts on them well known, much to the chagrin of two of my older brothers. I feel those are as simple as the people who trashed the Beatles, or gave a group like Limp Bizkit credit.

No, my unpopular opinion on music is, you all ready for this, I think The Ramones are the most overrated, least talented band that has ever existed.

BOOM!

There, I have finally said it. I know that I wrote about them as one of America's greatest bands, but I always felt dirty about it. I felt like I needed to take multiple showers after writing that, or just throw in the towel as a writer. I felt like a goddamn sell out. But now that I am in quarantine, and have been listening to a ton of music, I feel like I can go in hard on The Ramones. I even gave them a chance fairly recently to see if it was just me, if I was the problem. After about three songs, I knew that my initial thought was correct. They are, for me, not good at all. In fact, I think they are more well known as a band that sells t-shirts than a band that played music. I guarantee the myriad of teens and young 20 year olds that wear a Ramones shirt have zero idea who they are, but the shirt is now considered "fashionable". Getting to the music though, it is the most simplistic thing I have ever listened to. Yes, I play guitar, and I was in a few very crappy bands, but I am a mediocre at best rhythm guitar player. But, after listening to some Ramones, I feel like I could've easily been their lead guitar player. The music is so easy and so simple and so entry level. Chords, like major chords, are pretty easy after you figure out how to play them. The old saying goes, "if you know three chords, you can play most songs". Well, The Ramones made it even easier. Instead of playing major or even minor chords, they played power chords. For those that may not know, power chords only encompass 3 of the six strings, they are all on top of the guitar, the easiest strings to reach, and all you have to do is just hammer away with your fingers or a pick. The first time I was taught a power chord, I remarked to my teacher how much easier this was, and asked why more bands don't do this. He told me that it was too simplistic, and that I wouldn't learn if I just stuck with power chords. The Ramones made their living on these. That is insane. It is so easy and so minor and takes the least amount of effort. The same thing with their drummer. He was more brain dead than Meg White, another unpopular opinion from me I suppose. I don't think he even needed a full kit. He could have been fine with just one drum, maybe with a pedal, sticks and a snare. They didn't need anything else. It was just a simple three or four count on drums, and guitar for that matter, and I cannot recall any type of true solos from their music. And then we get to singing. I believe Joey Ramone was the singer(hell, I don't know, and to be quite frank, don't care), and man is he horrible. And this isn't a Dylan or Tom Waits thing, where it is an "acquired taste" This Ramone was just a bad singer. He more talk sang, a la Lou Reed, who I adore by the way, but it was worse. It is so hard to understand. I only know in "I Wanna Be Sedated" that those are the words because that is what the song is called. The same thing can be said with "Rock and Roll High School". I simply don't understand, don't get, any other words he is saying. I think he is one of the worst "singers" in history.

If I'm going to go full scorched Earth on The Ramones, KISS is a better version of what they were trying to do. I don't think they started the punk movement. I'm sure some band, or bands from Europe were doing punk before The Ramones. I don't care about the whole CBGB vibe. Way better bands played at this club that, by all accounts, was a dirty and disgusting place. For me The Ramones are an image. Their fame has nothing to do with their ability or their music. People liked them because they looked different. People liked them because they gave off the vibe that anyone could do what they did. Yet somehow they are in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and looked at as a band that started a movement. I call BS on all of that. If I'm going to listen to punk rock give me Iggy and the Stooges or The Dirtbombs or, hell, that's it for me.

The Ramones stink, and I will go to my grave with this opinion. I do want people to tell me why I am wrong, right and put in the comments your unpopular music opinions. This is a very interesting thought exercise, and I want to hear from the readers. But, just know, The Ramones stink. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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