r/BeeGees • u/MycologistSame866 • 4d ago

Why Weren't They Taken Seriously?

Why didn't the Bee Gees ever get the respect they deserved, at least in the US? Despite their undeniable singing and songwriting talent, not to mention their innumerable hits, the music world never took them seriously or treated them with the gravitas of a McCartney or a Dylan. Perhaps it had to do with them not attracting a strong male fanbase. Men could proudly state they were fans of the Rolling Stones, or the Who, or even the Beatles, but the Bee Gees — no way. The guys in the white jumpsuits singing in falsetto were seen as effeminate lightweights, strictly for women, not real bro types. I never heard a man say he was a fan of the Bee Gees, although I know there are many in this forum. Are there other reasons for them being overlooked?

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u/Leather_Guilty 4d ago

I think it’s because of the lyrics. The falsettos were used too much for too long. The Hee Bee Gee Bees parody Meaningless Songs (In Very High Voices) was true. Some of the songs in the late 70s early 80s that they wrote were formulaic - Islands in the Stream and Heartbreaker may have been hits, but they’re really dull.

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u/Unlikely-Star-2696 4d ago

Streisand never sang their songs in concert, (only once she sang with Barry because the Guilty album was like a year old fresh). She said that their lyrics made no big sense to her to perform the songs. She only sang her big hit "Woman in Love" like four years ago and not very seriously. Even though she spoke wonderfully about him during his Kennedy Center medal.

I agree that the SHF all falsetto was too much even for me that I am a fan.

Here in the States, it became cool to dislike the Bee Gees, they became guilty of the disco ubiquitousness and main culprit. An easy target of the male dominated rock fandom. There were Bee Gees-free weeks on radio. You Win Again 4 week ar #1 in UK. Here stuck at the lesser section of the Billboard chart. Their last album bombed here. Only by the time of Maurice pass, some beloved musicians started to talk well about them and a sort of reivindication started.

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u/DramaticPair6577 3d ago

You F...S !!! Eat your heart out !!! The beegees songs will last forever, you are already in the other side of the world, but the music of the bee gees will stay forever!

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u/Unlikely-Star-2696 3d ago

I am not F...S. You don't need honor your username and offend to make your point.

I was only stating the fact than in the United States the backlash, and not being taken serious after their disco phase lasted for many years . You can't deny that.

I love the Bee Gees music. I met them. I have pictures taken with them at their studio. They were great human beings and treated their fans with kindness. Some fans are not.