Remembering Mr Big – Their Good and Bad Contributions to Rock 'n' Roll

As a music lover in the 1990s, it would be hard to ignore the iconic rock band, Mr Big. With their strong guitar riffs and famously technical drumming that defined an era of alternative metal music, this group had an undeniable rocking presence on both international and domestic charts – not least because they scored hits with “To Be with You”, which went all the way up to Number One on Billboard Hot 100. Yet while there were certainly more than enough reasons why Mr Big was so popular then (and still is now!) it's important to look back and ask- what do we have to criticize them for? How has their musical style moved forward over time? In this blog post I will take a critical but balanced look at some of Mr Big’s greatest hits as well a few lesser known tunes from their career – showing how much good, but also bad they have done for Rock'n Roll culture!

If you were a music enthusiast in the 1990s, you would be familiar with the iconic rock band, Mr Big. The group's supercharged guitar riffs and famously technical drumming defined an alternative metal era that many still cherish to date. Mr Big presented an unrivaled rocking presence that made them an international and domestic sensation. One of their greatest hits, “To Be with You,” even ranked as the number one hit on Billboard Hot 100. While there is no denying Mr Big's influence on rock music, it's essential to evaluate their style critically. How has their musical style evolved over time, and what are their contributions to rock 'n' roll? In this post, we take a balanced look at some of their famous hits and lesser-known tunes throughout their career, analyzing the band's good and bad contributions to rock 'n' roll culture.

Mr Big was known for their skilled instrumentation, and their hit single Green-Tinted Sixties Mind is a prime example of their talent. The fusion of Paul Gilbert's imaginative guitar arrangements and Pat Torpey's drumming skills elevates the song to another level of pop-meets-rock that hits the listener's eardrums just right. Their other hit number, Alive and Kickin, proved that acoustic guitars could match up to electric ones. In this song, the band showcased its softer, yet still vigorous side without missing a beat. Mr Big's ability to oscillate between rock ballads and hard-hitting tracks is proof of the band's versatility.

The band's contributions to rock music are undeniable, especially when discussing their influence on heavy metal music. Songs like Addicted to That Rush and Daddy, Brother, Lover, Little Boy established Mr Big's position as one of the groundbreaking bands of their time. They proved that gleaming ambition, skill, and talent could outdo the grunge music that dominated the 1990s. It's safe to say that without Mr Big, rock music would be incomplete.

A critical analysis of Mr Big's music cannot be complete without mentioning some of their low moments. The band's foray into arena rock with songs like Rock and Roll Over and Go For It! failed to make the same impact as their earlier hits. The lack of originality and effort in these songs made them weaker compared to the group's earlier discography. Nevertheless, Mr Big's resilience kept their career going, and they managed to produce some impressive tunes towards the end of their reign, like As Far As I Can See.

Another of Mr Big's flaws was their approach to the subject matter of their lyrics. Often, their songs were about women, which may have contributed to derogatory themes and objectification. Even when the band tried to create empowering songs, such as A Rose Alone, which is dedicated to a single woman unsure of her future, it doesn't genuinely capture the experience of the female population. Mr Big's reliance on broad and stereotypical topics such as women is an issue worth discussing.

Regardless of their flaws, Mr Big's influence on rock 'n' roll remains undeniable. They revolutionized heavy metal music, proved that rock ballads could match hard-hitting tracks and, most importantly, they showed that musicians could be masters of their craft while still being human. While the band often missed the mark on lyrics, their ability to create music that struck a chord with fans speaks for itself. As we take a critical look back on Mr Big's discography, what we see is a group that created timeless music that's worth revisiting time and time again.