The Chainsmokers enjoyed a successful year with some global hits and Closer becoming the second-longest no. 1 run on the pop songs chart. But, with soaring success comes a lot of criticism. Esquire wrote an article calling them the Nickelback of EDM, saying the duo brings all the worst cliches of the genre and just might destroy it. Take a look.
Here’s an excerpt from the article.
The problem is, like Nickelback, The Chainsmokers sell their lowest-common-denominator sound using shameless sexism. Let’s look at their first Number One single, “Closer,” a duet between The Chainsmokers’ Drew Taggart and Halsey. It’s about him running into an ex, having sex with her in a car, then realizing he hated her the whole time. Then there’s their breakthrough single, “#Selfie,” which proudly mocks women taking pictures of themselves. (Compare those songs to the 2008 Nickelback hit “Something in Your Mouth,” with lyrical gems such as the following: “You’re so much cooler when you never pull it out / ‘Cause you look so much cuter with something in your mouth.”)
Now, if you read something like this written about your creation, you’d obviously be a little upset. But, The Chainsmokers reacted in a different manner. They uploaded a video of a mash-up of ‘Paris’ with ‘How You Remind Me’.
. @esquire @Official_MattM It’s not like you to say sorry so.. pic.twitter.com/7zS38kauWI
— THE CHAINSMOKERS (@TheChainsmokers) January 31, 2017
It was quite sporting of The Chainsmokers and the Internet loved it.
Soon, Ryan Peake from Nickelback also followed suit by uploading this.
.@TheChainsmokers you may find this hard to believe, but we’ve been called way worse. It’s only music guys, keep up the great work. #Truth pic.twitter.com/HnTpkELZha
— Nickelback (@Nickelback) February 2, 2017
Seriously, it’s only music. Relax and keep the hate away!