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The Nickelback 'Rockstar' mystery

Published Wednesday, Feb 6 2008, 17:44 GMT | By Alex Fletcher | 40 comments

Never underestimate the power of a decent music video or the British punter's ability to baffle. At the end of 2007, Nickelback seemed like a distant and rather uncomfortable memory. The grunge-lite stomp of 'How You Remind Me', which wooed the nation back in 2001, was far enough in the past to be dismissed as an unfortunate and ill-judged fling - Chad Kroeger, the band's beardy, gruff-voiced singer had long since scuttled back to his native Canada.

Alas, the story does not end there. As we saunter through the early months of '08, we find the hairy guitar-sluggers back at the top of the pop tree with their 'Rockstar' single, which has slowly wiggled - like a rather sinister snake - up to number three in the charts. The track's success is made even more baffling by its age: it's taken from the band's 2005 album All The Right Reasons, an LP that pretty much sank without trace upon its original release.

So how do we explain this lapse in taste from the British record-buying public? Not since the days of Robson and Jerome, Zig and Zag and Wet Wet Wet have we experienced this kind of chart shocker. Well, there are two possible explanations: either a) we've warmed to Chad Kroeger's humourous and original look at the rocker lifestyle, or b) we're all just suckers for mildly amusing music videos with celebrities in.

To help you make your mind up, here's the vid:

What do you think of the Nickelback single? Is Chad Kroeger a rock 'n' roll genius or a walking atrocity? Give us your views in the usual place.

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Your Views

40 Comments

Your Responses

Estinguisher, Macedonia, on September 6th, 2008
Hey the guy has a great voice and the lyrics of the song is amazing. Plus there is the video witch has no animation, no special effects, just random shoots nicely edited and aranged! It's in my top 10 videos ever!

Karen, Devon, on July 11th, 2008
best song and band ever??? come on people get a f***in grip!! Guns n Roses all the way! And Steven Feb 7th, what are you on???Chad Kroeger-a rock n roll genius????He may be a good song writer/ singer but genius he ain't!!!!!! I'm guessing by your comments that you're about 13?

mim-wmids, on April 18th, 2008
I'm an older rocker than most that may post here, I never payed much attention to this band until now. Well done on a great track, it's good to hear something lighter and fun. There's not much of it around anymore. (But I still like the heavyer stuff.)

Eds disgruntled music mentor, on April 16th, 2008
If this song were a colour, it would be beige. what a load of absolute cludge.

kevin, houston, tx, on April 14th, 2008
the number of comments from people who like this song is really bothering me...i don't really understand; we do all realize that this is the worst band of all time, right? i mean...they are. i can never fully respect any of the celebrities in this video again, and that's sad for me because h-town natives zz top and paul wall are in it. but you know what, it can't be forgiven. at least chamill stayed out. just the fact that kid rock's in the video should clue you in to the fact that it's complete trash.

Daniel , Seaham, on April 12th, 2008
This isn't a cheap cash-in like the awful Crazy Frog. It's by a band that know what is good, listen to Nickelbacks albums in full and you'll hear why.

shezzy sheringham, on March 23rd, 2008
this song rocks wow

Adam, UK, on March 19th, 2008
No point in bad mouthing the song, the majority of the british public must like it considering the success of it, I for one think it was one of the best songs of 2007.

Allan, Norwich., on March 16th, 2008
FANTASTIC.....I love it....

christine frost , on March 8th, 2008
fantastic song, great video, nickleback your ace

laura, ireland, on February 23rd, 2008
brill song, brill vid. seen them live and they rock. who cares if people dont like them. thats their problem xx

Nadine--USA, on February 16th, 2008
This song is the Bomb!! Very catching tune, and sticks in your head!! I love Nickelback!! Video was perfect for the song!!

mandy & jodie/bournemouth, on February 15th, 2008
Rockstar rocks we have loved this song since we heard it on virgin radio before xmas! My daughter Jodie brought it me for xmas & I hope it breaks all records as it suits everyone as we all just want to be a ROCKSTAR!! x

allan, London, on February 14th, 2008
I do quite like. I don't think it's a number 1 record, but then we've had basshunter at the top for 6 weeks, so you can't predict anything. I do reckon that its a song that the novelty wears off quickly. so im surprised that people are consistently buying it, and not got bored of it. It's not just me that listens to a song on radio/tv for 16 weeks, then thinks :week 17, im logging on to iTunes and buying that record. Its great. Still, it could be worse, Adele could be number 1, that pretty awful.

Lynsey - Sunderland, on February 14th, 2008
Its head banging air guitaring brilliance - best song thats been in the charts for a long long time.

DB from York, on February 13th, 2008
This is THE best song ever!

Val, England, on February 13th, 2008
Chad Kroeger and Nickelback are brilliant. Obviously they aren't everyones favourites, but as that would be an impossibility, I think that the following they do have is impressive. They are obviously hitting the right notes with a lot of people and that is what music is about.

sue wrexham, on February 12th, 2008
Briliiant track, excellent cd

Katerina, Switzerland, on February 9th, 2008
To be honest i think that melody-wise its about the worst song on the album but the lyrics are great. Anyway though you have to check out the full album to judge, and you'll see that these guys truly ROCK!

Dee, Dublin, on February 9th, 2008
It's bloody brilliant!

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