Why Are All Oi BandsTerrible?

Question

So why exactly are all Oi bands so lyrically-challenged, so musically clunky and so downright bleedin' terrible? Do they deliberately set out to be crap? Or can they just not help it? Y'see, I just can't understand why a band would actually decide to set themselves up as an Oi band unless they're determined to be a load of shite.

If an Oi band actually wrote a good song, it would mean they'd evolved into a proper punk band, wouldn't it? So they wouldn't be an Oi band any more. So what's the point of being an Oi band in the first place if no-one takes you seriously as being a punk band? Am I missing something here?

Answer 1

Not all

Answer 2

Oi! is very, very mysterious. For example, most Oi! bands seem to worship the Cockney Rejects as the kings of Oi!, but the Rejects were already up and running as a very nifty punk band before Garry Bushell saddled them with the Oi! label - and even their poorest material is way better than what Oi! is now considered to denote. God knows how today's Oi! got so dumed down.



On the other side of the coin, the Old Firm Casuals try to be an Oi! band but it doesn't ring true because they're just too damn good, so they qualify as proper punk. Meanwhile, Hard Skin set out to be a spoof Oi! band, taking the piss out of the scene, but although their mimicry of moronic lyrics is spot on, their musicianship is way too good for real Oi!, so they'll forever be spoofers rather than the real thing.



Like Dan, I find it hard to imagine someone saying "Let's start an Oi! band," because it's like saying "Let's make total c**ts of ourselves."

Answer 3

Rahowa is a good OI band (even though they have a goth theme to them)...i think the drum beat in 'oi' is more catchy than punk.... The songs from the "romper stomper" soundtrack were awesome...I've never known who the band was though

Answer 4

They aren't terrible, you just don't get them right. You need to drink 9 beers a day to like them.

Answer 5

You're bleedin terrible!