Does anyone know why Christopher Cross was black balled?
11-02-04 | 06:20 PM
#1
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From: MN
Does anyone know why Christopher Cross was black balled?
A friend and I had a discussion the other day when "Sailing" came on the radio I said "whatever happened to him?" to which my friend said he was black balled (no this doesn't belong in mature 
) but he did not know the reason. So I am curious as to what happen to get him the black balled status or if my friend is talking out his ass as to what happened to CC. Many thanks to whom ever can answer this!
) but he did not know the reason. So I am curious as to what happen to get him the black balled status or if my friend is talking out his ass as to what happened to CC. Many thanks to whom ever can answer this!
11-02-04 | 06:36 PM
#2
Mod Emeritus
http://www.christophercross.com/bio.htm
The next question would be, “Well -- what did happen?”
Christopher’s entry into the public eye was complicated by unfortunate terms like “meteoric rise,” “rocketed to fame,” and the dreaded (and seldom accurate) “overnight success.” Longed-for terms before the fact, intoxicating in their fruition, and finally next to impossible to parlay into a long-term career, particularly in a business on the verge of being revolutionized...
Four years, two albums, eight hit singles, several world tours, five Grammy's, and one Oscar later, Christopher rested. Wouldn’t you? But waiting there in the wings was that music merchandiser’s dream, that music purist’s nightmare, that soon-to-be-ubiquitous usurper of the imagination -- the music video. The world suddenly wanted its MTV, and it didn’t take long to see, in this new era of self-invented media darlings, that no amount of quick cuts, exotic locations, or writhing chorines would disguise the fact that, on the outside, Christopher Cross was just a regular guy.
While he rested, his “moment” passed.
Christopher’s entry into the public eye was complicated by unfortunate terms like “meteoric rise,” “rocketed to fame,” and the dreaded (and seldom accurate) “overnight success.” Longed-for terms before the fact, intoxicating in their fruition, and finally next to impossible to parlay into a long-term career, particularly in a business on the verge of being revolutionized...
Four years, two albums, eight hit singles, several world tours, five Grammy's, and one Oscar later, Christopher rested. Wouldn’t you? But waiting there in the wings was that music merchandiser’s dream, that music purist’s nightmare, that soon-to-be-ubiquitous usurper of the imagination -- the music video. The world suddenly wanted its MTV, and it didn’t take long to see, in this new era of self-invented media darlings, that no amount of quick cuts, exotic locations, or writhing chorines would disguise the fact that, on the outside, Christopher Cross was just a regular guy.
While he rested, his “moment” passed.
11-02-04 | 08:54 PM
#5
DVD Talk God
What? What does this have to do with me?
11-03-04 | 08:28 AM
#9
DVD Talk Godfather & 2020 TOTY Winner
Funny true story:
In early 1990, I was living in Santa Barbara. For Earth Day, there's a big star-studded concert wth Jackson Browne, Kenny Loggins and others. The last performer was an unannounced Christopher Cross. Now, even though this was 14 years ago, it had still been a long time since most of us in the audience had heard or seen Mr. Cross. We were, almost universaly stunned at how much weight he had gained in the interval. You could kinda hear a general murmer go though the crowd as he got ready to perform. Then, just as his band stopped tuning their instruments and there was a moment of silence on stage, a little boy near the front yelled very loudly to his dad "HE'S REAL FAT!!!". Everybody nearby broke out laughing. The embarassed father smiled and said "Well, he calls 'em like he sees 'em". I felt bad for poor Christopher Cross that day, but it was kinda shocking after having not seen him in so long.
In early 1990, I was living in Santa Barbara. For Earth Day, there's a big star-studded concert wth Jackson Browne, Kenny Loggins and others. The last performer was an unannounced Christopher Cross. Now, even though this was 14 years ago, it had still been a long time since most of us in the audience had heard or seen Mr. Cross. We were, almost universaly stunned at how much weight he had gained in the interval. You could kinda hear a general murmer go though the crowd as he got ready to perform. Then, just as his band stopped tuning their instruments and there was a moment of silence on stage, a little boy near the front yelled very loudly to his dad "HE'S REAL FAT!!!". Everybody nearby broke out laughing. The embarassed father smiled and said "Well, he calls 'em like he sees 'em". I felt bad for poor Christopher Cross that day, but it was kinda shocking after having not seen him in so long.
11-03-04 | 09:35 AM
#14
DVD Talk God
Originally posted by Tarantino
"Jump, jump...the daddy mack'll make ya, jump jump, chris cross will make ya, jump jump..."
"Jump, jump...the daddy mack'll make ya, jump jump, chris cross will make ya, jump jump..."
It's Kris Kross
09-02-14 | 06:05 PM
#16
DVD Talk Hero
Re: Does anyone know why Christopher Cross was black balled?
CBS Sunday Morning had a feature on him plus a Serena Altschul sighting.
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/christop...h-a-new-album/
I was going through TSA -- this has been a year, or maybe two years ago," Cross recalled. "And a woman took my boarding pass. And she said, 'Oh, Christopher Cross, there used to be a singer named that! He passed away! But he was a great singer.'
"And I said, 'He passed away?' And she said, 'Yeah.' 'So when was that?' And she said, 'A few years ago. But he was a lovely singer, and I loved his music!'"
Luckily, reports of Christopher Cross' demise have been greatly exaggerated. The 63-year-old singer is alive and well and still touring -- that is, when he isn't recording at his home studio in Austin, Texas.
"And I said, 'He passed away?' And she said, 'Yeah.' 'So when was that?' And she said, 'A few years ago. But he was a lovely singer, and I loved his music!'"
Luckily, reports of Christopher Cross' demise have been greatly exaggerated. The 63-year-old singer is alive and well and still touring -- that is, when he isn't recording at his home studio in Austin, Texas.
09-02-14 | 06:52 PM
#17
DVD Talk Godfather & 2020 TOTY Winner
Re: Does anyone know why Christopher Cross was black balled?
He's still real fat.
09-02-14 | 07:02 PM
#18
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Re: Does anyone know why Christopher Cross was black balled?
I'm sure he's doing the best that he can do.
09-02-14 | 09:32 PM
#19
Re: Does anyone know why Christopher Cross was black balled?
Long ago, I worked in a retail store that played inoffensive adult contemporary. And I personally I would rather be water boarded than have to listed to "Ride Like The Wind" ever again.
I don't think it's so much that he was blackballed as it is that his music is just excruciating.
I don't think it's so much that he was blackballed as it is that his music is just excruciating.
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09-02-14 | 10:04 PM
#20
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Does anyone know why Christopher Cross was black balled?
Odd, but there's no allmusic page for him. I've noticed this before. Bryan Adams isn't on there either. Anyone know why? Is it a glitch?
09-02-14 | 10:24 PM
#21
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Re: Does anyone know why Christopher Cross was black balled?
Long ago, I worked in a retail store that played inoffensive adult contemporary. And I personally I would rather be water boarded than have to listed to "Ride Like The Wind" ever again.
I don't think it's so much that he was blackballed as it is that his music is just excruciating.
I don't think it's so much that he was blackballed as it is that his music is just excruciating.
09-02-14 | 10:53 PM
#22
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Re: Does anyone know why Christopher Cross was black balled?
Ride like the Wind and Think of Laura were not good songs, but Sailing and Arthur were.
09-03-14 | 05:50 PM
#23
DVD Talk Reviewer & TOAT Winner
Re: Does anyone know why Christopher Cross was black balled?
His voice was really annoying, but Ride Like The Wind was a great record regardless. I have a dance version of it on a 90s techno compilation. Loved hearing it start out "Anchorman 2" also.
09-03-14 | 05:52 PM
#24
09-04-14 | 03:47 AM
#25
Re: Does anyone know why Christopher Cross was black balled?
Overplayed is one thing, but the hits were, at the very least, good. I have his first three albums and they do diminish in quality but they have some songs of merit. What Am I Supposed To Believe from Another Page is a great ballad and Love Is Love is a cool tune.
Still think his best song is Minstrel Gigolo.
Still think his best song is Minstrel Gigolo.