Beck

Beck Hansen (born Bek David Campbell, July 8, 1970) is an American musician, singer-songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist, known by his simple stage name of Beck. With his pop collage of mus

Beck Hansen (born Bek David Campbell, July 8, 1970) is an American musician, singer-songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist, known by his simple stage name of Beck. With his pop collage of musical styles, oblique, ironic lyrics, and post-modern arrangements incorporating samples, drum machines, live instrumentation and sound effects, Beck was hailed by critics and the public as among the most idiosyncratic artists of 1990s alternative rock. Beck rose from underground popularity following the "junk culture" zeitgeist of grunge (one early Beck song was called "MTV Makes Me Wanna Smoke Crack"). Indeed, many labeled his breakthrough single "Loser", a hit in 1993, as a novelty.

However, Beck was not easily categorized into a single genre. Some likened his absurdist, free-flowing lyrical style and the lo-fi folk songs of his early career to Bob Dylan, while the Beastie Boys were notable templates for his embrace of hip hop influences, and his later eclecticism sparked comparisons with Prince. In several albums beginning in the late 1990s, Beck developed a slower, more melancholy sound, merging his trademark style with psychedelic rock, electronic, Brazilian Tropicalia, and the music of English folk icon Nick Drake and French avant pop star Serge Gainsbourg. To most listeners, Odelay (1996) and Sea Change (2002), two of Beck's most popular[citation needed] and acclaimed[citation needed] recordings, represented polar opposites in style.