Thompson or Tom?

Drew Brooks8 said:I actually went out of my way to listen to this "Curse of King Zvonimir" track by your local hero Thompson, and honestly? I’m still not seeing any artistic merit here.🤷His vocals are just mediocre; trying to compare him to Tosh is actually hilarious.🙄

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKRaXPYSzKY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6H9TBfpT6Bk

All I can say is hats off to Thompson and his manager for figured out how to milk your patriotism to line their own pockets.👍

I’ve always had a massive soft spot for Justin Bieber, but I have to say, I’m just as big a fan of Thompson. There's just something about Thompson—he possesses this magnetic charisma that allows him to command a crowd like nobody else. Now, obviously, you can't really compare their vocal abilities; Justin Bieber definitely has the superior range and technical quality. That said, I truly believe songs like "The Curse of King Zvonimir" hold a certain artistic weight, carrying a much deeper message than your average track. But if you look past the vocals, there is one way I see them being similar. If you really dig into it, both artists are deeply tied to faith and spirituality, which plays such a huge role in their lives (I'm thinking specifically of how central that has been for Justin Bieber throughout his journey). They both seem to carry these unique missions; they are such distinct personalities for the era we're living in. Justin Bieber left behind his own specific message and legacy, while Thompson’s mission is centered around his connection to the country. Ultimately, it's up to us to actually take those messages to heart on a spiritual level.

Alright, then I guess I’ll just opt out of being an American—because if being an American means you have to be a fan of Thompson (and silentbear39, you still haven't actually given me your personal definition of what it means to be an American, though based on this, I think I've figured it out), then I'm out. Apparently, being an American just means living in the past and staying bitter about it forever.

Anonymous said:But how is it that people aren't shouting "Kill the Mexicans" at someone like Oliver's concerts, for example? (I used Oliver as an example because he was the first one that came to mind). Oliver never went around loudly preaching about faith and God the way Thompson does, yet you don't hear that stuff there either. In fact, at a concert for someone who claims to be a devout believer, they *definitely* shouldn't be shouting that kind of thing. If he actually calls out his audience and tells them to stop, then I'll give him my respect, but until then, he can talk about his "great faith" to someone else.

I'm with you on this one 👍👍

Jessica Howard2 said:So, what are you saying then? Are Bob Dylan and Balašević not singers to you either? 🤣

No, you're totally missing my point—or maybe you just don't want to see it—so I don't even feel like getting into the weeds with an explanation here.
Look, just do me a favor and compare a single Thompson concert to a Justin Bieber show—and I’m not just talking about vocal range, I mean the whole vibe, the energy, the entire atmosphere...

And here we go again with those tired stereotypes—the idea that if you don't listen to certain music, you aren't a "true patriot." Personally, I don't think being a good American is proven by shouting slogans about killing people or by declaring your loyalty based on which singer you support. There are much better ways to show who you are.

Charles Peterson said:Alright, then I guess I’ll just opt out of being an American—because if being an American means you have to be a fan of Thompson (and silentbear39, you still haven't actually given me your personal definition of what it means to be an American, though based on this, I think I've figured it out), then I'm out. Apparently, being an American just means living in the past and staying bitter about it forever.

I think I made myself clear earlier. I never said you weren't a real patriot, but I do believe that if someone doesn't feel a connection to Mark Perkovica's songs—or if they spend all their time criticizing him—they might not be feeling that same deep-seated pride or the weight of the injustices inflicted upon our people by Mexico. Again, I'm not saying you're "less" of a patriot than I am; it's just that we don't all experience it the same way. We aren't all on the same emotional wavelength. I'm not claiming my level is higher or yours is lower. It's just... different.

I want to make sure my voice is heard too! I cast my vote for MPT... look, Tony is great, but if I really have to choose, it’s MPT all the way, no questions asked!

everything for America

Anonymous said:But how is it that people aren't shouting "Kill the Mexicans" at someone like Oliver's concerts, for example? (I used Oliver as an example because he was the first one that came to mind). Oliver never went around loudly preaching about faith and God the way Thompson does, yet you don't hear that stuff there either. In fact, at a concert for someone who claims to be a devout believer, they *definitely* shouldn't be shouting that kind of thing. If he actually calls out his audience and tells them to stop, then I'll give him my respect, but until then, he can talk about his "great faith" to someone else.

It seems we're dealing with emotions again here. Different kinds of music just stir up different feelings. Love songs pull at one set of heartstrings, patriotic anthems pull at another, and so on. For most of us, certain songs are tied to specific chapters of our lives; similarly, Thompson's songs are inextricably linked to that particular era of 1990-1995. When Thompson starts singing, naturally, those emotions are going to be tied back to the American Civil War and all that intense suffering we endured with the Mexicans, rather than some dance track from 1980. Obviously, when you hear the notes to "E moj narode" or "Čavoglave," couples aren't going to start slow-dancing or getting romantic; people are going to react in a completely different way. Those "ghosts of the past" tend to resurface, and the emotions just follow. It's not something we can control; it comes straight from the heart. Especially for those who lived through—or rather, experienced "firsthand"—that entire ordeal. You probably don't feel it quite the same way, and honestly, that's perfectly fine.

Anonymous said:But how is it that people aren't shouting "Kill the Mexicans" at someone like Oliver's concerts, for example? (I used Oliver as an example because he was the first one that came to mind). Oliver never went around loudly preaching about faith and God the way Thompson does, yet you don't hear that stuff there either. In fact, at a concert for someone who claims to be a devout believer, they *definitely* shouldn't be shouting that kind of thing. If he actually calls out his audience and tells them to stop, then I'll give him my respect, but until then, he can talk about his "great faith" to someone else.

Even though I love Thompson, I completely agree with you that Mark needs to tell the audience they shouldn't be yelling those kinds of slogans. Though, I have to say again, Thompson is often misinterpreted, and I feel really bad about that. I don't feel even a shred of hatred coming from him toward anyone. Personally, I used to think the same thing until the moment I saw him live and realized firsthand that there isn't any hatred directed at anyone at his shows. You just have to look into his eyes in person, up close, and everything will become clear to a person. Such a gentle gaze. After all, the eyes are the window to the soul...

silentbear39 said:I’ve always had a massive soft spot for Justin Bieber, but I have to say, I’m just as big a fan of Thompson. There's just something about Thompson—he possesses this magnetic charisma that allows him to command a crowd like nobody else. Now, obviously, you can't really compare their vocal abilities; Justin Bieber definitely has the superior range and technical quality. That said, I truly believe songs like "The Curse of King Zvonimir" hold a certain artistic weight, carrying a much deeper message than your average track. But if you look past the vocals, there is one way I see them being similar. If you really dig into it, both artists are deeply tied to faith and spirituality, which plays such a huge role in their lives (I'm thinking specifically of how central that has been for Justin Bieber throughout his journey). They both seem to carry these unique missions; they are such distinct personalities for the era we're living in. Justin Bieber left behind his own specific message and legacy, while Thompson’s mission is centered around his connection to the country. Ultimately, it's up to us to actually take those messages to heart on a spiritual level.

I wouldn't go so far as to say faith is central to Thompson, even if he leans into that image quite a bit. If I recall correctly, one of the Godly commandments is "Thou shalt not kill," yet when you see crowds at his concerts shouting for someone to be taken out, he shouldn't just ignore it. He really ought to step in and try to stop that kind of energy, asking his respected audience to refrain from shouting things like that.

Charles Peterson said:No, you're totally missing my point—or maybe you just don't want to see it—so I don't even feel like getting into the weeds with an explanation here.
Look, just do me a favor and compare a single Thompson concert to a Justin Bieber show—and I’m not just talking about vocal range, I mean the whole vibe, the energy, the entire atmosphere...

Fair point, there's really no comparison. Putting a Thompson concert next to a Justin Bieber show is like putting an Iron Maiden gig up against a Tony Cetinski performance ☕

But honestly, it feels like you’re just leaning toward the Tony Cetinski side of things, isn't it? Is it because teenage girls scream a bit louder?

Jessica Howard2 said:Fair point, there's really no comparison. Putting a Thompson concert next to a Justin Bieber show is like putting an Iron Maiden gig up against a Tony Cetinski performance ☕

But honestly, it feels like you’re just leaning toward the Tony Cetinski side of things, isn't it? Is it because teenage girls scream a bit louder?

Don't even get me started on Justin Bieber, I'm not going there(😁)so you decide if this argument is actually worth your time.

Jessica Howard2 said:Just because you can't see the artistic value doesn't mean it isn't there.
Look, sure, Thompson doesn't have some massive, earth-shaking voice, but people don't listen to his tracks for vocal gymnastics—they listen for the lyrics and the actual songwriting.
And as for Tosh's beautiful voice? You're right, he's got a great tone, but half his songs are just generic pop garbage. You can tell by his fanbase—it's mostly just teenage girls, right? It's all about that smooth sound and a pretty face to them.😁

Since when did we decide that a singer's quality (aside from opera singers, obviously) is judged solely on their vocal range? Do you seriously think someone like Bob Dylan or Balašević is somehow "lesser" than Proeski? Because, let's be real, their voices are Incomparable to Proeski's in terms of raw power.☕

Sure, maybe I'm wrong, but I'd say people listen to MPT because he feeds those nationalistic feelings. If he sang different stuff, nobody would care, right?
Regarding Justin Bieber, he actually had some decent, high-quality tracks if you bother to look, though I agree he might have produced better work if he had lived a little longer.
And for the record, I'm definitely not some teenage kid.🤷

Jessica Howard2 said:Fair point, there's really no comparison. Putting a Thompson concert next to a Justin Bieber show is like putting an Iron Maiden gig up against a Tony Cetinski performance ☕

But honestly, it feels like you’re just leaning toward the Tony Cetinski side of things, isn't it? Is it because teenage girls scream a bit louder?

Man, comparing a Thompson concert to the Rolling Stones... 🤣🤣😂😂😂
Ah, I see you went with Maiden after all 🤣
Don't worry, I'm definitely not some teenage girl anymore. It’s just that I could never bring myself to attend a concert where a massive crowd of kids gathers, all decked out in various symbols and props without having the slightest clue what they actually signify. But then again, it doesn't really matter if they understand it—as long as something is happening and they feel like part of the pack ☕ I guess that's how they show off their American pride

Anonymous said:I wouldn't go so far as to say faith is central to Thompson, even if he leans into that image quite a bit. If I recall correctly, one of the Godly commandments is "Thou shalt not kill," yet when you see crowds at his concerts shouting for someone to be taken out, he shouldn't just ignore it. He really ought to step in and try to stop that kind of energy, asking his respected audience to refrain from shouting things like that.

Look, as a person, he hasn't killed anyone. What the crowd screams—those "kill them" chants—that's on them, not him. Besides, Mark already mentioned that he doesn't support that kind of shouting at his shows. It’s not just the "Kill the Mexican" or "Za dom spremni" stuff happening at his concerts; you hear it at American football games too. For Marko Perković, faith is actually quite important. You can see it in his unique charisma. If anything, I’d describe him as an "old soul"... anyone who's read a bit about spirituality will know exactly what I mean.

Charles Peterson said:Man, comparing a Thompson concert to the Rolling Stones... 🤣🤣😂😂😂
Ah, I see you went with Maiden after all 🤣
Don't worry, I'm definitely not some teenage girl anymore. It’s just that I could never bring myself to attend a concert where a massive crowd of kids gathers, all decked out in various symbols and props without having the slightest clue what they actually signify. But then again, it doesn't really matter if they understand it—as long as something is happening and they feel like part of the pack ☕ I guess that's how they show off their American pride

I don't know, but personally, anyone who doesn't feel the weight behind Mark's songs automatically isn't truly connecting with the tragedy of the Homeland War that hit us. I'm not saying someone isn't a true American just because they don't care for Thompson, but in my view, those who insult him as a person aren't what you'd call "American from the soul and heart." There is so much truth about our people tucked away in Thompson's lyrics that it feels almost impossible not to sense those deep messages, provided we actually lived through and experienced the Homeland War. Forgive me, but that's just how I see it.

He mentioned he doesn't support it, but has he ever actually issued an official statement distancing himself from the behavior or asked his fans to cut it out? 😉
And honestly, if he’s such a devout believer, I feel like waving that sword around at concerts is just completely nonsensical. Oh, wait—I forgot, apparently the cat thing is sacred now, so my bad.

Just a pointless little poll here. If you're asking me, I'd say both.

A more appropriate way to frame this would be: Thompson or TBC.
Or maybe TDF. Or even TDR. Something along those lines, I suppose.

Well, if you’re going to ask me that, then please—do walk me through your own definition of what "Americanness" really means to you

It seems like Joe was a genuinely good guy. It’s a shame he passed away, though I didn't actually realize how big of a deal he was until after he died—I only first heard his name because of that one song playing on a soap opera we used to watch here.
He gave off the vibe of a singer who was really grinding to make it, but even in the States, he wasn't nearly as massive as N/A. Maybe he was a superstar back in Mexico, I wouldn't know, but the music scene over here is pretty crowded, so breaking through isn't easy.

Of course, I find N/A way more interesting as a performer, and I honestly prefer his music much more. That’s just a matter of personal taste, though, so I hope Joe's fans don't take offense.