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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to ask mumsnet to settle an argument about Crowded House?

315 replies

Specksofwhiteallaround · 07/12/2022 19:03

My husband is absolutely convinced that your average person in the Uk will not have heard of the band Crowded House. This is entirely based on the fact he can only name one song by them. Despite me listening to them on a weekly basis during 16 years I’ve been with him…
I’m equally convinced he’s wrong but I do have to admit I grew up in New Zealand and didn’t move back to the Uk until 1998 so probably fairly biased. I’m willing to concede they probably weren’t that popular here and I don’t think they had many big hits but I refuse to believe they were as unknown as he claims.
So who’s right?

OP posts:
MakeItADouble2 · 07/12/2022 19:24

Love Crowded House.
Over 40.

SolitaryMind · 07/12/2022 19:24

Loved them, I’m 36. My mum was a fan too

GrannyAchingsShepherdsHut · 07/12/2022 19:25

Love crowded house - I'm 38 if that's of interest!

I used to put one of their CDs on really loud when the neighbours were out and dance like mad in the living room! Would have been mid to late 90s. Haven't got anything to play a CD on now!

CleopatrasBeautifulNose · 07/12/2022 19:25

CleopatrasBeautifulNose · 07/12/2022 19:21

I went to a theatre show for kids last week where the 'popular culture reference for the parents' was Crowded House and that was the soundtrack that played the audience or at the end. So I think that settles that and your dh is wrong.

Show was this one, very good it was too
g.co/kgs/E6NZBQ

SwedishEdith · 07/12/2022 19:26

BloodAndFire · 07/12/2022 19:16

They're totally shit but I have heard of them so I voted yanbu

There's always one

ShinyMe · 07/12/2022 19:26

For some reason I cannot explain, I have never forgotten a random advert for a Crowded House Greatest Hits album that was released in what must have been mid 90s. I remember standing on a train station platform on my way back to uni, and hearing the ad on the radio, it was John Hannah saying "you know more Crowded House songs than you think you do" and then it had some snippets of songs. I don't know why I remember that, but I remember it vividly, and can hear his voice saying it now. I bought the album because apparently I did know more Crowded House songs than I thought I did.

elp30 · 07/12/2022 19:26

I'm not from the UK, I'm from the US, but I have always loved Split Enz since I was a young girl. In fact, Split Enz and Flowers/Icehouse were my very first favorite bands back in 1981 when I was only 11. I followed their various outputs throughout the years and that included Crowded House.

My English husband and I were penpals in the 1980's and he sent me a mixtape through the mail that included Crowded House. The song was "Something So Strong" back in 1986/87. I got another mixtape from him in the early 90's with "Chocolate Cake" on it. At least one person in the UK followed them.

When I finally moved to England I did catch them a few times on tour and there were a few people at those gigs. They may not be massive but people know them.

@Specksofwhiteallaround
Hopefully you can see the photo I posted of an autograph I still have from 1986.

AIBU to ask mumsnet to settle an argument about Crowded House?
Marigoldandivy · 07/12/2022 19:27

Yes I have heard of them. Only one song, but I do remember it.

ConfusedGin · 07/12/2022 19:28

SNWannabe · 07/12/2022 19:08

I do...but id say those under 40 won't

I'm under 40 (but only by a few years!) and At Your Feet / Weather With You are in regular rotation on my Spotify

ShinyMe · 07/12/2022 19:28

AtomicBlondeRose · 07/12/2022 19:09

Not only have I heard of them, I immediate thought of this old advert … “you know more Crowded House songs than you think you do”!

Omg that'll teach me to read the thread before I reply in excitement. But how weird that I'm not alone.

I was convinced for a decade at least that Crowded House were Scottish because of that ad.

Alphabet1spaghetti2 · 07/12/2022 19:28

Well over 50 and we both know them and I have an album. Played to death in the car over many many long journeys.

itssquidstella · 07/12/2022 19:29

I’ve heard of them. I’m 37.

KatherineofGaunt · 07/12/2022 19:29

ShinyMe · 07/12/2022 19:26

For some reason I cannot explain, I have never forgotten a random advert for a Crowded House Greatest Hits album that was released in what must have been mid 90s. I remember standing on a train station platform on my way back to uni, and hearing the ad on the radio, it was John Hannah saying "you know more Crowded House songs than you think you do" and then it had some snippets of songs. I don't know why I remember that, but I remember it vividly, and can hear his voice saying it now. I bought the album because apparently I did know more Crowded House songs than I thought I did.

It seems there are a few of us who remember that advert!

MakingNBaking · 07/12/2022 19:30

I'll bet him my small boat made of china that I do know who Crowded House are.

Purplebaker · 07/12/2022 19:31

Yes!
First concert I went to in my teens, and I saw them again this year during their tour.

AWaferThinMint · 07/12/2022 19:31

Of course I have. Was obsessed in the 90s. They are fab.

EasterIsland · 07/12/2022 19:31

Well, I remember Split Enz. So your DH is a bit wrong ...

ShowOfHands · 07/12/2022 19:32

I like them an awful lot and they're on several of my Spotify playlists. 15yr old DD and 11yr old DS are also fans

PiggyPlumPie · 07/12/2022 19:33

Yes, Crowded House and Split Endz. Went to see CH at Leicester de Montford Hall bCk in the day. Early 50s.

ChristmasCrackler · 07/12/2022 19:34

I'm 55 so It's Only Natural they i have them on my Spotify playlists

sweetlimes · 07/12/2022 19:35

Our wedding song was actually a crowded house song! 'It's only natural'. We were 24 and 26 at time time, ten years ago so probably missed actually growing up with their music but we just loved the lyrics and listened to Woodface a lot together when we first started going out. Happy memories.

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 07/12/2022 19:35

Absolutely loved Crowded House and like many pps saw them in concert.

Still listen to their stuff now.

Original poster
Specksofwhiteallaround · 07/12/2022 19:35

So relieved to see I’m not going mad, he’s absolutely convinced that they had one maybe two hits. It sort of irks me as I love so many of their songs.
For further context I’m 38 and he’s 40, neither set of parents were fans but as mentioned I did grow up in NZ . As I have no experience of music in the uk during the 90s it’s hard to make of an argument against him.
I’ve pointed out a couple of times that I saw the Finn brothers live in this country and the theatre was packed but he was still adamant they weren’t very popular 😅

OP posts:
postcardpuffin · 07/12/2022 19:36

Loved them! Weather With You was one of my favourite hits of the 90s. They had quite a presence here, charted too. I had quite a few of their albums. Shame they haven’t tried to make a comeback like lots of other bands of that era!

Greensleevevssnotnose · 07/12/2022 19:36

Sure big in the ,90s

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