MAROON 5

'Maroon 5' is a soul-influenced rock band from Los Angeles, California on A&M/Octone Records. Comprising five members: Adam Levine (lead vocals, guitar), James Valentine (guitar, backing vocals), Jesse Carmichael (keyboards, backing vocals), Mickey Madden (bass guitar) and Matt Flynn (drums), the band is best known for their hit singles "This Love" and She Will Be Loved.
Maroon 5 has won several awards for its debut album ''Songs About Jane''. Released in June 2002, the album enjoyed major chart success, going gold, platinum, and triple platinum in many countries around the world.^[1] In support of ''Songs About Jane'', Maroon 5 toured extensively throughout 2003 – 2005, in which a live album was released, entitled ''Live - Friday the 13th''. Original member Ryan Dusick left the band in September 2006, due to injuries sustained by the constant touring, and was replaced by Matt Flynn.
After a hiatus from the music scene, Maroon 5 released their second studio album, ''It Won't Be Soon Before Long'' in May 2007, five years after ''Songs About Jane''. The second set debuted at #1 on the ''Billboard'' 200 with first week sales of nearly half a million. The band performed in various performances throughout the summer of 2007, in support of the album, and will be touring North America in Fall 2007 with The Hives as openers.
Controversy has surrounded both of Maroon 5's albums. Misogynistic lyrics, explicitly sexual videos, and explicit lyrics without a Parental Advisory label have all been issues.

Contents

History

Kara's Flowers

Formation

''Songs About Jane''

Constant touring and Dusick leaving

''It Won't Be Soon Before Long''

Controversy

Explicit content

Discography

Awards

References

External links

History

Kara's Flowers

Main articles: Kara's Flowers

Four members of Maroon 5 have known each other since attending junior high school together in Los Angeles. While attending Brentwood School, Adam Levine and Jesse Carmichael joined up with Mickey Madden and Ryan Dusick to form Kara's Flowers, kara's flowers a garage/grunge band that played its first gig at the Whisky a Go Go on September 16, 1995. At that time, Levine sang with a deeper "grunge" voice as opposed to the high-pitched vocals he is known for now. Maroon 5: Breathe Easy Stas, Heather and Bottomley, C. ^[2]
The band signed with Reprise Records while still in high school and released its only album ''The Fourth World'' in the middle of 1997, just as three of the four members were about to graduate (Ryan Dusick was completing his year at UCLA). A video was made for the opening track "Soap Disco", but it did not find success on MTV. Despite support slots on tours with Reel Big Fish and Goldfinger, the album failed to take off commercially and, in 1999, the band parted company with Reprise Records.
The four attended different colleges across the United States. They discovered new musical styles and developed a love for Motown, pop, R&B, soul, and gospel, experiences that would greatly influence the style and sound of Maroon 5. The four original members of Kara's Flowers remained in touch and started playing together again in 2001. Jesse Carmichael switched from guitar to keyboards, so a need arose for an additional guitarist. James Valentine, formerly with the band Square, joined them to fill that void.

Formation

When Valentine joined Kara's Flowers in 2001, the band adopted the name Maroon 5. The band played showcase gigs in New York City and Los Angeles. Levine credited the interim period with influencing the band's new style stating:
The band signed with Octone Records, an independent record label in New York. They also signed a global music publishing deal with BMG Music Publishing.

''Songs About Jane''

The band recorded ''Songs About Jane'' at Rumbo Recorders in Los Angeles with record producer Matt Wallace, who had also produced for Train, Blues Traveler, Kyle Riabko, and Third Eye Blind. Most of the material on Maroon 5's debut album was directly inspired by Levine's tumultuous relationship with his ex-girlfriend, Jane; "We were breaking up as the band entered the studio," he explains. "After compiling a song list, we decided to name the album ''Songs About Jane'' because it felt like the most honest statement we could make with the title."^[3]
The first single "Harder to Breathe" slowly started to pick up airplay which helped spur sales of the album. By March 2004, the album had reached the Top 20 of the ''Billboard'' 200 and "Harder to Breathe" had made the Top 20 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 singles charts. The album peaked at #6 on the ''Billboard'' 200 in August 2004,^[4] 26 months after its release; this was the longest period between an album's release and its initial Top 10 appearance since SoundScan results were included in the ''Billboard'' 200 in 1991.^[5]
''Songs About Jane'' eventually reached #2 on the Australian albums charts Maroon 5 Album Performance while "Harder to Breathe" made the Top 20 singles charts in the U.S. and UK, and Top 40 in Australia and New Zealand. The album also eventually climbed to #1 in the UK and #2 in Australia. The second single, "This Love", reached #5 in the U.S., #3 in the UK, and #8 in Australian The third single, "She Will Be Loved", reached the Top 5 in both the U.S. and the UK, and went to #1 in Australia. The fourth single, "Sunday Morning", reached the Top 40 in the U.S., Chart History - Maroon 5 UK, and Australia.

Constant touring and Dusick leaving

Maroon 5 was constantly on tour after releasing their album in mid-2002. During this time, the band toured with Michelle Branch, Nikka Costa, Vanessa Carlton, Graham Colton, John Mayer, and The Rolling Stones.^[6] Others they have toured alongside include Gavin DeGraw, Matchbox Twenty, Sugar Ray, Phantom Planet, Big City Rock, The Like, Simon Dawes, Jason Mraz, The Thrills, Thirsty Merc, Marc Broussard, The Donnas, The RedWest and Guster.
Maroon 5 also played Live 8 in Philadelphia in 2005. Their set included a cover of Neil Young's "Rockin' In The Free World" and frontman Levine performed with one of his heroes, and the closing act, Stevie Wonder.^[7] On May 13, 2005, in Santa Barbara, California, the band wrapped up the Honda Civic Tour, which they headlined.^[8]
Over the years of touring with the band, percussionist and back-up vocalist Ryan Dusick had been suffering from the touring life. His arms were injured and, for a part of some tours, he was not able to drum. In his section of '', Dusick detailed his pain and its progression through their tours. It was during the band's early tour that he took his first break with Ryland Steen taking his place for a few shows. He returned for the next tour but was forced to take another break because, as he writes, "I deteriorated to such a degree that both of my arms were pretty much useless."^[9] Josh Day was to be his replacement for a few shows while Dusick underwent tests to determine the cause of his pain. Nine months passed and Matt Flynn, Gavin DeGraw's former drummer, assumed the position of what was initially a temporary replacement, but Dusick officially left Maroon 5 in September 2006 with Flynn replacing him permanently.^[10]

''It Won't Be Soon Before Long''

On May 22, 2007, Maroon 5's second album, ''It Won't Be Soon Before Long'', was released worldwide by A&M/Octone Records.^[11] According to Levine, the follow-up to ''Songs About Jane'' is "sexier and stronger",^[12] gaining inspiration from iconic 80s artists such as Prince, Shabba Ranks, Michael Jackson and Talking Heads. Review: ''It Won't Be Soon Before Long'' — Maroon 5 Before its release, "Makes Me Wonder" was the #1 selling single and video on iTunes. It was also the #1 selling album, with more than 50,000 digital pre-sales. After its release, the album broke iTunes sales records its week of release, selling over 101,000 albums.^[13]
The first single, "Makes Me Wonder", was released to radio March 27, 2007. The making of the music video was previewed on MTV's ''Total Request Live'', and premiered on the show March 29. The song debuted at number 84 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100, the lowest debuting single of the group's five chart entries. In the first week of May, the single skyrocketed from a lowly position of 64 to #1, the biggest jump in ''Billboard'' history.^[14] "Makes Me Wonder" has also achieved #1 on Billboard's Hot Digital Songs, Pop 100, and Hot Dance Club Play charts.^[15] The album is currently number five in sales according to iTunes.
To support the album, the band performed on a "six-date club tour" in which they visited small venues in Boston, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Miami, and New York City in early June 2007.^[16] They followed with a concert that streamed live via MSN Music in mid-June.^[17] Then, on July 9, the band announced plans for their 2007 ''It Won't Be Soon Before Long'' world tour set to begin September 29 in Detroit and conclude November 10 in Las Vegas.^[18] The Hives, as the tour's special guest, will be performing on all of the dates while Sara Bareilles, Kevin Michael, and Phantom Planet will each be performing in a portion of the tour.^[19] On July 10, they opened for The Police, in Miami,^[20] and followed with an acoustic performance at the Miami club, Studio A, the next day.^[21]

Controversy

In the song "Harder to Breathe", parts of the lyrics could be interpreted by some as misogynistic. After accusing his lover of being "condescending and unnecessarily critical", Levine sings, "I have a tendency of getting very physical/So watch your step, 'cause if I do you'll need a miracle." Although the lyrics seem to imply that he will physically strike the woman to whom he is speaking, Levine has said that the song was written in response to the record company pressuring the band into writing more material, because none of the tracks were a single.^[22]

Explicit content

Uncensored (top) and censored (bottom) music video for "This Love"

The music video for "This Love" featured lead singer Adam Levine and his then-girlfriend, model Kelly McKee, in extended sex scenes. The video used creative camera angles to show as much as possible without actually revealing any of the couple's genitalia, thereby avoiding possible FCC action.^[23] A version of the video where a stream of computer-generated flowers cover up more was created for more conservative markets.^[23] When asked about his feelings on this, Levine commented, "That was ridiculous."^[25] Bass player Madden said that it was "an absurd over-reaction."^[26]
More steamy scenes appeared in the video for "She Will Be Loved", which featured a love triangle and sexual imagery involving Levine and actress Kelly Preston, the wife of actor John Travolta.^[27]
Neither ''Songs About Jane'' nor ''It Won't Be Soon Before Long'' bears a Parental Advisory label,^[28][29] in spite of the strong language and explicit nature of lines in the singles "Harder to Breathe" and "Makes Me Wonder" respectively. The former includes the lyrics "Not fit to fuckin' tread the ground I'm walking on," however, the lyrics book that accompanies the CD states "Not fit to ''funkin' tread the ground I'm walking on."

Discography

Main articles: Maroon 5 discography

Awards

2004

★ Billboard Music Award — Digital Artist of the Year^[32]

★ MTV Europe Music Award — Best New Act

★ MTV Video Music Award — Best New Artist for "This Love"^[33]

★ MTV Video Music Awards Latin America - Best Rock Artist—International

★ MTV Video Music Awards Latin America - Best New Artist—International:

★ New Music Weekly Award — AC40 Group/Duo of the Year

★ Teen Choice Award - Choice Rock Track for "This Love"

★ Teen Choice Award - Choice Breakout Artist

★ World Music Award — World's Best New Group^[34]
2005

★ Grammy Award — Best New Artist^[35]

★ Groovevolt Music and Fashion Award — Best Collaboration, Duo or Group for "She Will Be Loved"^[36]

★ NRJ Radio Awards — International Breakout Act & Best International Song for "This Love"^[37]
2006

★ Grammy Award — Best Pop Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal for "This Love" (''Live - Friday the 13th'' version)^[38]
2007

★ MTV Video Music Award - Best Group

References

1. Goodbye, 2004. Hello, 2005!
2. Adam Levine: An Interview with Maroon 5's Frontman KCFan586
3. Maroon 5
4. Maroon 5 Discography - Songs About Jane
5.
6. The Rolling Stones — A Bigger Bang World Tour Warmup Acts
7. Maroon 5 with Stevie Wonder at Live 8
8. Maroon 5 Headlines 2005 Honda Civic Tour
9. Maroon 5 Book Goes Backstage At Jane Tours, Addresses Drummer's Health Struggles
10. Maroon 5 Back With 'Harder' Album After Adam Levine Gets Sick Of Partying
11. Maroon 5 Finds Its Groove On Sophomore Album
12. Maroon 5 Dominates iTunes Sales Chart With Three Simultaneous Number Ones
13.
14.
15. Artist Chart History: Maroon 5
16.
17. Maroon 5 Live from Le Cabaret
18. Maroon 5 Announces Plans for 2007 'It Won't Be Soon Before Long' World Tour
19. Tour Announcement!
20.
21. Reminder - Miami Studio a Make Up Show Information: Tues 7/11 @ 3:00pm
22. Rolling Stone’s Top 25 Songs With a Secret
23.
24.
25. Big Gay Following - Adam Levine
26. An iVillage Exclusive Q&A with Maroon 5
27. Maroon 5, "She Will Be Loved" (Music video) (2005). Octone Records/J/RCA Music Group. Retrieved on July 26 2007.
28. ''Songs About Jane'' review
29. ''It Won't Be Soon Before Long'' review
30.
31. Gold & Platinum Certification
32. 2004 Billboard Music Awards Winners
33. Full Biography - Maroon 5
34. World Music Awards storm Vegas
35. Maroon 5 wins GRAMMY!
36. Pop Awards
37. Maroon 5 Triumph at NRJ Music Awards
38. They Just Won A Grammy, So Why Do Maroon 5 Feel Like Losers?

External links

★ ''It Won't Be Soon Before Long'', Official site

★ Official Maroon 5 MySpace

★ Maroon 5 LyricWiki

★ iVillage: An Exclusive Q&A with Maroon 5

★ Upcoming tour dates