Doug Hopkins' aching heartbreak plays out over jangly guitars in two-part harmony. What they used to call "the blues" becomes a new generation's power pop linchpin. Art happens.
I really enjoyed your deep dive into Found Out About You by Gin Blossoms. The background of Doug Hopkins' song writing and the band's journey add such rich context. Highlighting various covers was fantastic, especially Molly Parden's rendition. This is a brilliant tribute to a timeless song!
Thanks so much, Jon! It's always been the highlight of their catalog for me! Of their 3 or so songs featured on the karaoke database at the club I frequented a decade ago, "Found Out About You" was my GBs karaoke go-to! As fun a song to sing as it is to hear!
This was a tough call. It’s not fair to pit artists against Cover Queen Kelly whose vocals impress me every single time. 😄 Yeah, I voted for her. But Paolo’s cover was really captivating and is almost a tie cover b/c his musical interpretation was the most unique.
Also, band lesson #1 — don’t fire your best song writer if there is an alternative solution.
Drag him kicking and screaming to rehab. Tie her/him to a bed and bring in an RN for DT treatment. Anything to right the ship.
Now, if he/she has done something illegal, turns out to be a racist ass, or is violent in nature, that’s a different story. But I’ve seen a number of bands lose their career momentum and fade away after firing or leaving their songwriter/lyricist out of a record deal.
And, if the band knew ANYTHING about Doug's struggles, you're right....make him seek counseling BEFORE you fire him! Besides the alcoholism, and apparent depression, seeking help might've ID'ed a more serious malady, like manic depression that could've been helped with meds, and not just met with being kicked out of the band. Thanks for reading and voting Thea!
As for Kelly, yeah, I watched about the first 10 seasons of "A.I." and thought she was remarkable. When Carrie Underwood's year came up, I kept talking back to the screen...."that girl is perfect! She's not botching a lyric, she's not missing a note, she's not pitchy" (as Simon and gang loved to assert!)!
The Gin Blossoms had a marvelous and unique songwriter in Doug Hopkins, who gave them their only gold record and whose two songs were responsible for New Miserable Experience going multi-platinum. And what does the label do but insist that they fire him from the band because he can't play on the record. Then the label withholds $15,000 from Hopkins until he signs over half his publishing royalties to them and half his mechanical royalties to Scott Johnson, even though Scott did not play on the album. Then they later issue bonus tracks and 8 out of 22 are by Hopkins.
Hopkins was right to not want to sign with that label (I'm not naming them here deliberately -- people can find the name online), but you reap what you sow. They should have helped Hopkins -- what efforts did they make to do so? none it appears -- and kept him on as a songwriter even if he couldn't keep playing guitar. He was the golden goose as far as songwriting goes and after the next album the band fizzled out imho.
So kudos to Doug Hopkins for writing some brilliant songs that live on, and to you for showcasing one of them.
Well said, Ellen. Even if band and/or label didn't know of Doug's addiction(s) and mental struggles, all of what you laid out was unconscionable and unfair, at best. Once he passes, all involved just look uncaring and heartless.
What an interesting deep dive and selection of covers! I love the melancholy and sadness of the song, especially the acoustic version.
I'm very surprised that I didn't actually vote for Kelly's version, but by Wind in Sails instead. Before listening to them all, I was pretty sure Kelly's would be my favourite, as she sits right within the category of singers I enjoy the most (and her biggest influence was mama Carey, as you know). Yet, I tend to prefer Kelly's voice when she sticks to jazzy/soulful stuff. For example, her cover of At Last is, in my opinion, the absolute best cover of that song anyone has ever done (apart from, of course, Etta). Back to Found out About You, there's something truly special about the Wind in Sails version. I'm not sure what it was: the slower tempo, which instantly appealed to me, or the rich and velvety timbre of his voice, or how spot on and right on pitch the harmonies were. Or a combination of all of the above and more. In sum, thanks again, Brad, for the continued education!
This was a fun and sad one for me, too, Andy. I sense that Kelly grew up liking this song, too, as she would've been a kid at the time, and as she did her "Idol" stint at the turn of the century in her early 20s, I think. In that way, it was fun to see her tackle this.
You mentioned slower tempo on the Wind in Sails. How about that rapid, "we gotta get outta here.....my car is double-parked" manic early take by GBs!
I like the Wind in Sails, too. His voice is all you said it is, plus it sounds younger, which helps make the message a little more believable when singing about bus stops and schoolyards! I'd enjoy hearing a talented teen singing this with some angst and longing. Thanks, Andy!
Thank you, Brad! Yes, I agree with all your points. Kelly is such a versatile and truthful singer. She sings with passion, brilliance and honesty, a rare feat among her contemporaries.
Definitely the younger voice of Wind in Sails gives the song a very interesting twist.
I remember the song but listening to it felt like opening a time capsule. It's so specifically 90s. I'm not sure what it is about it, but it was amusing to watch the video and then scroll down to the YT comments and see everyone talking about it as pure-90s.
Bingo! And, that’s exactly what makes it so odd that it hit MY radar at the time! I was, by then, certainly not in the biz, but wasn’t really tuned into popular music.
However peripherally I was aware of “new music” of the day, I managed to hear a couple of GBs songs, and this one’s always stuck out.
As a tangent, this reminded me that there was a Tune Tag which had touched on 90's indie rock, and I was able to find it (this is my comment in which I said, "I was going to joke that it looks like a music video for a song that would later become famous for being in a Gap ad" -- https://bradkyle.substack.com/p/tune-tag-23-with-matt-madurski-of/comment/46945999 )
As I said somewhere here, '90s indie rock, or any "modern" music, really, I wasn't paying attention to in that decade! So, for this song and that group to get my attention (somehow) was unusual, but points out how special the song is. Of course you do, but anyone who knows me and my tastes, should be able to draw a straight line from it and the Blossoms to my musical happy place!
Despite that being a decade when I was listening to a lot of music, I was never listing to much of what was on the radio, so I'm always a little surprised when I not only recognize something but have such a clear association with it.
There again......sometimes a song just "sticks out." And, this one did for both of us, almost in spite of itself! I have no idea when and how I first heard it. I'm willing to bet it wasn't anytime near the time of release, but years later, but, again, with no idea how! A "blind buy" with one of those CD clubs? I think I was a member of one of them in the '90s!
It could've been one of my 12 for a penny! I don't know about anyone else, but I used to have to strain to get to my allotted "freebies"....."OK, I've picked out the two I really want! Guess I'll have to really work at picking 10 more to give a listen to for my penny!" I can't have been alone in that dilemma, was I?
I really enjoyed your deep dive into Found Out About You by Gin Blossoms. The background of Doug Hopkins' song writing and the band's journey add such rich context. Highlighting various covers was fantastic, especially Molly Parden's rendition. This is a brilliant tribute to a timeless song!
Thanks so much, Jon! It's always been the highlight of their catalog for me! Of their 3 or so songs featured on the karaoke database at the club I frequented a decade ago, "Found Out About You" was my GBs karaoke go-to! As fun a song to sing as it is to hear!
This was a tough call. It’s not fair to pit artists against Cover Queen Kelly whose vocals impress me every single time. 😄 Yeah, I voted for her. But Paolo’s cover was really captivating and is almost a tie cover b/c his musical interpretation was the most unique.
Also, band lesson #1 — don’t fire your best song writer if there is an alternative solution.
Drag him kicking and screaming to rehab. Tie her/him to a bed and bring in an RN for DT treatment. Anything to right the ship.
Now, if he/she has done something illegal, turns out to be a racist ass, or is violent in nature, that’s a different story. But I’ve seen a number of bands lose their career momentum and fade away after firing or leaving their songwriter/lyricist out of a record deal.
And, if the band knew ANYTHING about Doug's struggles, you're right....make him seek counseling BEFORE you fire him! Besides the alcoholism, and apparent depression, seeking help might've ID'ed a more serious malady, like manic depression that could've been helped with meds, and not just met with being kicked out of the band. Thanks for reading and voting Thea!
As for Kelly, yeah, I watched about the first 10 seasons of "A.I." and thought she was remarkable. When Carrie Underwood's year came up, I kept talking back to the screen...."that girl is perfect! She's not botching a lyric, she's not missing a note, she's not pitchy" (as Simon and gang loved to assert!)!
Yes and yes!!
The Gin Blossoms had a marvelous and unique songwriter in Doug Hopkins, who gave them their only gold record and whose two songs were responsible for New Miserable Experience going multi-platinum. And what does the label do but insist that they fire him from the band because he can't play on the record. Then the label withholds $15,000 from Hopkins until he signs over half his publishing royalties to them and half his mechanical royalties to Scott Johnson, even though Scott did not play on the album. Then they later issue bonus tracks and 8 out of 22 are by Hopkins.
Hopkins was right to not want to sign with that label (I'm not naming them here deliberately -- people can find the name online), but you reap what you sow. They should have helped Hopkins -- what efforts did they make to do so? none it appears -- and kept him on as a songwriter even if he couldn't keep playing guitar. He was the golden goose as far as songwriting goes and after the next album the band fizzled out imho.
So kudos to Doug Hopkins for writing some brilliant songs that live on, and to you for showcasing one of them.
Well said, Ellen. Even if band and/or label didn't know of Doug's addiction(s) and mental struggles, all of what you laid out was unconscionable and unfair, at best. Once he passes, all involved just look uncaring and heartless.
What an interesting deep dive and selection of covers! I love the melancholy and sadness of the song, especially the acoustic version.
I'm very surprised that I didn't actually vote for Kelly's version, but by Wind in Sails instead. Before listening to them all, I was pretty sure Kelly's would be my favourite, as she sits right within the category of singers I enjoy the most (and her biggest influence was mama Carey, as you know). Yet, I tend to prefer Kelly's voice when she sticks to jazzy/soulful stuff. For example, her cover of At Last is, in my opinion, the absolute best cover of that song anyone has ever done (apart from, of course, Etta). Back to Found out About You, there's something truly special about the Wind in Sails version. I'm not sure what it was: the slower tempo, which instantly appealed to me, or the rich and velvety timbre of his voice, or how spot on and right on pitch the harmonies were. Or a combination of all of the above and more. In sum, thanks again, Brad, for the continued education!
This was a fun and sad one for me, too, Andy. I sense that Kelly grew up liking this song, too, as she would've been a kid at the time, and as she did her "Idol" stint at the turn of the century in her early 20s, I think. In that way, it was fun to see her tackle this.
You mentioned slower tempo on the Wind in Sails. How about that rapid, "we gotta get outta here.....my car is double-parked" manic early take by GBs!
I like the Wind in Sails, too. His voice is all you said it is, plus it sounds younger, which helps make the message a little more believable when singing about bus stops and schoolyards! I'd enjoy hearing a talented teen singing this with some angst and longing. Thanks, Andy!
Thank you, Brad! Yes, I agree with all your points. Kelly is such a versatile and truthful singer. She sings with passion, brilliance and honesty, a rare feat among her contemporaries.
Definitely the younger voice of Wind in Sails gives the song a very interesting twist.
Thank YOU for all this great stuff!
You know it's my pleasure, Andy! And, wait til you see Tuesday's Tune Tag with Robert C. Gilbert! Ooooooo-weeeee! See ya then, Boobie!
Looking forward to it!!
Wow. The Gin Blossoms. Bringin' back memories, Brad.
That's what we do, Jim, FRONT ROW & BACKSTAGE, as you know! It's all about the rememberies!
I remember the song but listening to it felt like opening a time capsule. It's so specifically 90s. I'm not sure what it is about it, but it was amusing to watch the video and then scroll down to the YT comments and see everyone talking about it as pure-90s.
Bingo! And, that’s exactly what makes it so odd that it hit MY radar at the time! I was, by then, certainly not in the biz, but wasn’t really tuned into popular music.
However peripherally I was aware of “new music” of the day, I managed to hear a couple of GBs songs, and this one’s always stuck out.
As a tangent, this reminded me that there was a Tune Tag which had touched on 90's indie rock, and I was able to find it (this is my comment in which I said, "I was going to joke that it looks like a music video for a song that would later become famous for being in a Gap ad" -- https://bradkyle.substack.com/p/tune-tag-23-with-matt-madurski-of/comment/46945999 )
As I said somewhere here, '90s indie rock, or any "modern" music, really, I wasn't paying attention to in that decade! So, for this song and that group to get my attention (somehow) was unusual, but points out how special the song is. Of course you do, but anyone who knows me and my tastes, should be able to draw a straight line from it and the Blossoms to my musical happy place!
Despite that being a decade when I was listening to a lot of music, I was never listing to much of what was on the radio, so I'm always a little surprised when I not only recognize something but have such a clear association with it.
There again......sometimes a song just "sticks out." And, this one did for both of us, almost in spite of itself! I have no idea when and how I first heard it. I'm willing to bet it wasn't anytime near the time of release, but years later, but, again, with no idea how! A "blind buy" with one of those CD clubs? I think I was a member of one of them in the '90s!
It could've been one of my 12 for a penny! I don't know about anyone else, but I used to have to strain to get to my allotted "freebies"....."OK, I've picked out the two I really want! Guess I'll have to really work at picking 10 more to give a listen to for my penny!" I can't have been alone in that dilemma, was I?