Justin Hawkins: From One Hit Wonder to YouTube Clickbaiter

[@butMydesign]

Justin Hawkins is a man with a lot of humility and charity, who baits people and then challenges their bandwagon negativity. I think it's beautiful.

[@ROBERTTONUS]

he's the kind of tw*t that gives the rest of the world the impression that all english people are tea drinking big toothed soppy snobs. he's unbearable.

[@AtheistDD]

"I am a grown up" he said sitting in a 12 year olds room...

[@arzabael]

*He said sarcastically, with a knowing expression that it’s untrue

[@chi_cedar14]

As an American myself, you're really keeping up with the self righteous stereotypes there buddy. It's clear that you don't understand how many things work and you're a little bitter. As for the Maroon 5 video, the challenge was, he had to "say something nice." He was searching for things nice to say in the start of the video, then, he finally got broken. He actually hates Maroon 5. As for his appearance, he does still wear catsuits, but I'm not sure why you want him to appear exactly like he did in 2003. Time does happen.

[@justenbenally522]

You know you've hit rock bottom when you're making outrage videos about KZbin thumbnails

[@treasuredcollectibles]

i disagree with your shill ass

[@suneyeintuition4315]

Well, he's cute and that's all that matters.

[@xenos_n.]

I stopped watching his videos because I never knew what any of them were about because the titles were always vague. Not very good at click baiting for me at least.

[@DustyEchozy]

It's the same problem with Professor of Rock, the dude's titles and thumbnails are so eye-aching and he titles it as if the artists he talks about are Beatles, Led Zepplin or whatever.

[@dannycool69]

Hear me out: A supergroup with Justin Hawkins, James Rolfe, The Feldog and Josh. Make it happen, God of Rock

[@xjamesxreedx]

Justin Hawkins loves criticizing other musicians, which is well within his right. But remember when he got all bent out of shape when Lemmy wrote a bad review of “I Believe in a Thing Called Love”? Dude can dish it out but can’t take it lol

[@xdeadbeatboi6666x]

Lol based Lemmy.

[@jonnw]

I forgot about Justin's channel, because I blocked him for clickbaiting.

[@sbalsamo410]

I’m happy to know there are people in the world who tackle the tough subjects. The hard hitting issues. The decay of our civilization. Good Lord…

[@alexvergara1487]

Justin Hawkins likes little boys

[@butMydesign]

Justin is not some upstart, trying to build an audience from scratch; he has a built-in audience that probably represents the majority of his views. Most people probably know the game he's playing and don't care.

[@DancingwithGhosts]

meh i don't know about that

[@mowogfpv7582]

@butmydesign yes, this seems like a pretty classic case of "person who is not in the target audience gets angry that media is not made for them". ...I mean how dare JH make content that is targeted toward the 1.5m British people who bought permission to land? He should make videos for American millennials who don't understand sarcasm or irony.

[@suneyeintuition4315]

@@DancingwithGhosts The Darkness are only a "one-hit wonder" by U.S. standards. You sound American, I'm guessing you are. They actually had eight total hits on the U.K. Official Singles Chart, five of those were Top 10s. A sixth song was almost top 10, peaking at #11. They have a famous Christmas song over there that's played every year. "Christmas Time (Don't Let The Bells End)" that peaked at #2, which is quite an achievement. Not even many of the most famous acts in history have one of those, when you think about it. And now I will give you these song titles: Bald, Keep Me Hangin' On, Open Fire, Japanese Prisoner of Love, Heart Explodes, Speed of the Nite Time. Those are one song each from their 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th albums. Whether most people are still listening or not, they keep getting better and better. Those songs, IMHO, are far better than most of anything on their first album.

[@opaljk4835]

He seems like an okay dude. The thumbnails and corresponding text are misleading, but I think he’s at least breaking down pop stuff from a perspective of someone who is musically literate. I definitely watched some of it, and it wasn’t terrible. I have no real dog in this fight…but this outrage of yours feels a little manufactured this time around. I’m not sure what your issue is with this guy. The thumbnail thing is a pretty common and lame tactic, but is it worth putting him on blast for? And if he’s jockeying for Mr Rogers of KZbin, does that mean you’re jockeying for the Andy Rooney of KZbin?

[@DancingwithGhosts]

yes, i'm well aware many people clickbait, but the level that this guy dies it is beyond the pale and really starts leaning into deception and that is not ok and should be called out

[@silver87142]

You have less than 3% of the number of followers Justin has got, and your idea of content is bitching about more successful youtubers thumbnails...😂

[@chi_cedar14]

He's only posting this because he knows suckers that are Justin's fans will click on it! 😂

[@silver87142]

​@@chi_cedar14 Well, maybe I'm a sucker, but if the majority were, it'd have more views.

[@ryantorres9518]

U got Justin Hawkins hatorade.

[@Thomasmemoryscentral]

Josh, you dont fully despise this guy do you?

[@DancingwithGhosts]

don't know if this is a real question or not but naw he seems like a chill dude I just really despise his level of clickbaiting to game the system and get subs

[@Thomasmemoryscentral]

@DancingwithGhosts Nah its real and thanks for answering! Niw id love to see you do a video showcasing Peter Gabriel's embraces of pop and Collins Genesis getting serious since some seem stuck in the mindset Phil's run only seemed silly pop driven

[@TheChadTI]

The Darkness reformed just a few years after they broke up and have been a successful touring act since, as well as releasing new albums regularly. While never big in America they still play here pretty often and tour the world every year. You make it sound as if he went from 2004 to KZbin. 😅😅

[@Ghoulstille]

Define successful? Ripping off the Cult's sound on their 4th album? Oh yeah there's success for ya.

[@JustDatBoi]

@@Ghoulstillena, The Darkness ruled and I’m not even a big fan of Justin

[@tmmsnj11]

The darkness sucks ass

[@DancingwithGhosts]

I checked their chart positions and after their first two albums they basically failed to chart anywhere and fell into obscurity outside of the occasional "I believe in a thing called love" karaoke cover at one of my shitty karaoke gigs (but yes, he's still more successful than me by a longshot)

[@kennynicholas8450]

Yanks for you. Thick as shit.

[@p1aa.xx.]

And sorry who are you? Did he not sell out a uk tour touring this channel?

[@EliaszPimpicki]

justin and the darkness are from a coastal town called lowestoft, in england. and here's the thing about it: it's nation famous for being a sh*t hole, but better than that, many interesting, known and famous characters come from there, my self included unfortunately. even ed sheeran grew up around there and shot his music video "no strings". i spent most of my life there, moved out only 5 years ago, and i'm now back close in the area temporarly. don't ask why. once the sea was over fished sometime around the 80s, the town had no means of making money and it died. same story with a lot of uk coastal towns. however it managed to draw in so many interesting characters there. some tried to change it, all failed. some people are sucked in it like a black hole until they die, usually a sad, and lonely death... a very mysterious place. stay away. justin lives in swetzerland now, ed sheeran stayed in his village and bought most of it now. my dad is buried there and my mum works there still. i'll forever be near that place in some way. damnn...

[@That1MetalheadDude]

A Gabi Belle clip in a Dancing With Ghosts video was NOT on my bingo card today.

[@DancingwithGhosts]

haha yeah man I really like her channel, she's pretty funny and seems like someone I'd actually get along with IRL

[@ng0249]

so Justin seems like a highly regarded individual. any thoughts on Moby creeping on a barely legal Natalie Portman?

[@DancingwithGhosts]

according to Moby's side of the story, she was creepin' on him and this was in the late 90's/early 00's when people weren't as touchy about that kind of thing

[@ng0249]

@DancingwithGhosts i mean that's definitely a perspective lol.

[@Spectrum_Tube]

Very valid video! Justins videos will make it look like hes going to tear into something and itll be really entertaining but when you watch it its just him saying he casually likes it. Moby Play CD in there love to see that!

[@youreadyfreddie]

Cool story, bro.

[@ПётрПавловский-щ1х]

why u mad

[@ReaperCH90]

Interesting topic, didn't expect that. He lives in the same city as I do (but I can't remember ever having seeing him). I did like his videos about publishing, drugs and the music industry, especially the business side, but it's probably more than a year since I watched one. I do like the Darkness.

[@DancingwithGhosts]

yeah i mean.. he's got a shitload of videos i'm sure they're not all bad but the ones where he's supposedly dunking on bands are all deceptive trash

[@ReaperCH90]

​@@DancingwithGhosts Totally agreed, the reason I haven't watched him in ages.

[@JojoFryrocks]

I’d love to have a chat with you about this for my channel. I’m a massive fan of Justin and The Darkness, I’ve done a few videos about my experiences as a fan over the last 20 years, having said that I think I’m also able to be critical and I think you make some valid points.

[@XCHADHIGGINSX]

I wish this video was longer Josh. Thank you for calling this bullshit out.

[@ellanes77]

Beef with friendly, funny and talented Mr Hawkins? But why??…. 🥱

[@JamesJohnson-tr1gu]

RGT85 does a lot, and I mean a lot of Nintendo clickbait. Even his subscribers be giving him shit in his comments about it sometimes

[@Marina-bd4le]

That's why I unsubscribed from him recently, got to be almost every video. "The "Truth" about x game!" Says nothing of value.

[@DancingwithGhosts]

Anyone associated with that Spawnwave podcast are all guilty of clickbaiting deception

[@countdrewcula970]

The Darkness' first two albums are really, really good. If you like the idea of Freddie Mercury fronting AC/DC with clever wordplay lyrics - check 'em out

[@nickwilliams6621]

Freddie Mercury was the lead singer of Primus wasn't he?

[@ShelfWarmer]

@@nickwilliams6621 nah he was the bassist for Red Hot Sugar Magik he wore the pants covered in Barbie dolls and did H on stage

[@ComeInAlone00000]

bro, who cares. He's an old out of touch rocker who has a team editing and adding clickbait to his titles..don't know if i'd call them "one hit wonders" either since they're massive in the UK. Also, their hit single is probably the worst song off Permission to Land. I listened to that album over and over again when I was 14 so Justin can use as much clickbait as he wants about Maroon 5 or Post Malone or whatever. Not trying to be a dick but you just come off kind of jealous..which is crazy..because this is a dude who sold hundreds of thousands, millions? of records..you guys aren't even playing on the same board

[@immortaluglyfish2724]

Hey, I'm Justin!

[@DeanH92]

Silverman?

[@immortaluglyfish2724]

@DeanH92 yes, certainly

[@DeanH92]

@@immortaluglyfish2724 Oh hi Spielberg! Can’t wait to convince Mike I spoke to you. Brb muh kids need a new VPN ad read

[@richiemyoozik]

Hey Justin love I believe in a thing called love ❤

[@DeanH92]

@@immortaluglyfish2724 As if I wasn’t aware

[@jdd3786]

I felt the same way you did until I realized what he's actually doing. He appears nice, but it's in a satirical and passive-aggressive way. Which then lends itself to the thumbnail.

[@DancingwithGhosts]

yeah exactly... high amounts of English passive-aggression

[@mowogfpv7582]

@@DancingwithGhosts it's really insightful of you to have noticed that. I'm impressed by your ability to read subtext and to understand that people from different cultures and generations than you might have subtler, less direct ways of communicating.

[@marcen12]

I occasionally watch his videos but, for some reason, they don't get sent to me for months at a time.

[@snowblind9551]

Reminds me of Woody Harrelson using his Reddit AMA to plug his new movie. It's interesting how these old industry veterans are completely out-of-their-element when it comes to the blunt honesty of internet forums. Their brains are trapped in inoffensive photogenic TV interview mode.

[@DancingwithGhosts]

yeah for real.. the industry political correctness is just dripping off this guy.

[@mondoprime]

That's the modern youtube landscape, unfortunately. It stinks, but this surely can't be news to you, can it?

[@DancingwithGhosts]

Dude this level of clickbaiting is absolutely not what i am used to seeing. The people I sub to don't use these deception tactics.

[@SuperAnthony3]

Great video! Not sure what to make of the The critique, that seems it's been used since the dawn of time - The Who, The Doors, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones (that's about all I've got)

[@DancingwithGhosts]

It was absolutely a weird little trend from like 2002-2004 trust me. I should probably make a video about that topic. Kelly Osbourne even stated in some interview when asked what kind of music she hated, she said "All the "The" bands"

[@chernobylcoleslaw6698]

Though I could never stand his band, I did like his videos - he's goofy, fun and seems natural in front of the camera. But yeah he does clickbait.

[@charlescarnage]

Aww, hey you're still good looking too:)

[@mathmusicstructure]

The thumbnail for this video needed way more big fat red arrows

[@DancingwithGhosts]

lol i literally crafted the thumbnail after one of his thumbnails

[@mathmusicstructure]

@ 😆

[@laurisaarinen1126]

Yeah, never been a fan of clickbait titles but the guy seems pretty nice and chill otherwise. I remember "Thing Called Love" being on MTV constantly in like 2004 or whenever it came out, but here in Finland i think they had couple of other hits, One Way Ticket To Hell (And Back) was played a lot aswell as some Christmas song i don't remember the name of. But here people just love campy shit like that, i never cared much of their music myself but they were pretty funny.

[@BadHairDay365]

Interesting thanks. I doubt he has anything to do with uploading, thumbnails or the titles of his stuff though. I hate clickbait - it's everywhere - look at any news site. But more recently, he's been reviewing lesser known bands, naming them in the title and ditching the shit clickbait strap (ons). Probably doesn't help the viewing figures because clickbait attracts numbers doesn't it? But it's better.

[@DancingwithGhosts]

you can still make compelling thumbnails and titles without it being clickbait though

[@JustDatBoi]

Can’t stand clickbait. It waters down KZbin more than it already is. Most of the people who clickbait already make bank anyway.

[@kennynicholas8450]

Make money* talk properly ffs

[@JustDatBoi]

@ says the guy who couldn’t even spell out “for fucks sake

[@Evilgrebo]

Couldn't escape The Darkness in the UK. For a few they were everywhere and no their follow up singles didn't get any better.

[@ManuDunno]

I've had to unsubscribe from so many channels due to the constant clickbaiting, I can only 100% agree with your arguments Josh. This shit sucks and I hate it.

[@MonoGrinded]

I love their first album but the clickbait is not cool at all

[@XCHADHIGGINSX]

I'm so glad you are talking about this. I eventually stopped clicking on his videos because they were always so wildly misleading and frankly, boring.

[@samamies88]

I have noticed that some hema, history and martial arts channels also stared to do this. I hate it but i still watch their videos cuz the alternative is to watch someone less skilled/knowledgeable or with less variation in their content.. or not consume any of these anymore. I wish content creators got their confidence back to treat their audience as adults instead of clickbaits, introhooks and spamming call to action 3+ times per video. I know yt is a game and these people want bigger numbers but damn the cost of not showing confidence to both to their own content and towards their own core audience just saddens me.

[@jimmywhyte7181]

Great Josh, i think you are smart at this stuff. And fair,

[@wes773105333]

Seen that dude pop up on my recommendations but never watched him. Had no idea he was in that band and I honestly don't like the one song they did. As far as other click bait channels(not music related), Switchforce click baited Nintendo Switch Pro/2 several times a day for years. My favorite click bait is Scotty Kilmer, the mechanic KZbinr. I rarely watch his stuff anymore, but I enjoy seeing notifications that pop up saying things like "My wife is kicking me out", "The truth about my past", and "Toyota just announced a new engine and I'm scared!" The videos never have anything to do with his titles and he changes the titles quickly after posting so it seems like you're crazy when you click on the notification and the title is completely different. I suspect he has some younger people running his channel, but I think it's funny to believe that an old man really enjoys trolling his audience.

[@DancingwithGhosts]

damn this is the second time i'm hearing about the whole 'changing the title of the video thing' ... i guess that's another one of their sneaky tactics

[@nu385]

Initially I watched his videos, but it became quickly apparent that he was engaging in major clickbait. I don't waste my time anymore.

[@joshuachristian5443]

Do a video on the "SHAGS "!!!

[@joshtoten]

I had friends that were REALLY into The Darkness. Thankfully, I didn't join them. I felt the same way about them that I do about that one Led Zepplin "inspired" band that people foam at the mouth over still. But I've noticed like.... 99% of my recommended feed pulls this shit now days. Title being something entirely different from what's actually in the video, and it makes me just click less and less unless it's a channel I already know pretty well.

[@DancingwithGhosts]

yeah... a lot of videos aren't really delivering on what that shiny little thumbnail is advertising

[@AkujinGG]

Dude, I've also stopped following him for the exact same reasons you pointed out, lol. I did enjoy his takes, specially when he bust out his guitar and played along while explaining music theory and what made things work and I'm completely fine if he didn't want to be too critical, burn any bridges or bring down fellow musicians but then don't deceive me over and over again with clickbait thumbnails where I'm clearly expecting heavy criticism from a knowledgeable guy and I get none of it, ever. He did this so many times that I eventually tuned out. But hey, it worked out for him I guess...

[@CrimsonKing_85]

I meant to ask about a new edited video in the last live stream. Nice surprise

[@DancingwithGhosts]

the livestreams are 100% just for fun, these edited videos are the ones i put the work into

[@Azwel]

1000%

[@FarmerSlideJoeBob]

Well dat Gabi Bell clip wasn't expectable, but I like her Mustang Guitar in the back of her room. And talking about JUSTIN, I was watching a bit of his videos last year or so but felt boring after watching a fews and also not impressed by his opinions or his music too. But yah thanks for the Video Joshstar :D

[@jesuisunstroopwafel]

Still less awful than Rex Viper.

[@gunsrtheanswer]

Never even heard of this guy before. Looks like the only cool thing he did was wear that Obituary shirt. 16:09

[@melancholoid]

Awesome Vid! Thank You very much for Your Work, Josh! I had almost the same Experience, when I discovered Justin`s Channel. I really liked some of his Songs, especially "Get Your Hands off of my Woman". But when I saw a Couple of his YT Vids, I realised that he`s a shameful Clickbaiter with almost no Substance. A bit slimey and fraudulent. I unsubscribed shortly afterl, but now I know I`m not alone. Greetings from Germany

[@Ghoulstille]

That UltraMegaMusicGeek the Professor of Rock does the exact same shit with his video's. The only difference is he click-baits by not mentioning the band name, he just gives you a vague description of their biggest drama or the year of their biggest hit and leaves you with the choice of playing his game by clicking play or scrolling to a better waste of time than hearing him huck another glasses frame company or food box sponsorship. Justin Hawkins is equally as asinine.

[@DancingwithGhosts]

ahh yeah that shit is so annoying but IT WORKS apparently

[@SidMassiveXM]

Another thing these channels would do is to have some information on the thumbnail, like text or photo, but it's blurred out. Or video titles like ' I did THAT, but then THIS happened'. But those are mild, this guy here takes the cake, it's beyond bait, he's misleading.

[@DancingwithGhosts]

oh god yeah i hate that shit

[@lovefactory666]

100% my experience after watching a couple of his videos. Total clickbait garbage.

[@Shadowhunt92]

Hell yeah this guy has been molesting my feed for months!

[@debonaire_nerd]

"Daaaaaanciiinnng with ghooooostss haunts again!" Click baiting is a pretty crusty practice...

[@DancingwithGhosts]

yeah especially when it's THAT deceptive

[@Gary_Hun]

18:28 - This video """SHOULDN'T BE POSSIBLE""" yet here it is, you say?..

[@ObnardWicket]

The one where he's talking about getting his teeth fixed isn't clickbait. To a guy who grew up in a shithole English town in the 1980s, that would've been a huge deal. It also would've completely changed the way people perceived him. The tabloids always bashed Justin for his teeth, because it marked him as working class. I wouldn't really expect a young American to understand that, but to make a video explicitly 'calling it out' is still an ignorant and cunty thing to do. As for the rest of the thumbnails...they aren't really clickbait either, he's taking the piss.

[@DyspotikOriginal]

I first saw i beleive in a thing called love at like 3am, overtired chillin with close friends. One of the few times we didnt drink or smoke that night we were like @_@ wut. The hugging blanket towel monster thing 😂

[@DancingwithGhosts]

lmao yeah that video was something else for sure.. they definitely had they little pop in 2002 or whenever it was

[@HarakiriRock]

For a second there I thought Gabi Belle clickbaited me by changing her channel to DWG

[@DancingwithGhosts]

hah.. yeah she's a unique creator I'm honestly surprised I like her content so much but here I am. She seems like someone I'd actually really vibe with IRL.

[@HarakiriRock]

@@DancingwithGhosts Same here. Usually don't watch channels like hers but she seems pretty cool and genuine.

[@cranklabexplosion-labcentr8245]

His vids were meh but now it’s parroting other YT music media. I had to skip that intro he does *every video.* I can’t stand falsettos

[@DancingwithGhosts]

i like some people's falsetto like Peter Gabriel's. Justin Hawkins uses that annoying 80's cock-rock falsetto though, yeah the intro is pretty annoying and not a very catchy jingle either i might add

[@EaselCat]

you have an l ron hubbard book thats sus

[@DancingwithGhosts]

i find scientology fascinating, it's a cult for sure, but I find cults interesting

[@seanmckelvey6618]

One hit wonder? arguably not true, but even if so that's still one more hit than your ass has had, so y'know, can't say I really care that much.

[@iseeundeadpeople9]

Not an argument.

[@TheCristianalvarez]

Oh I get it now. That's why he click baits because he had more than 1 hit. You absolute bum

[@Tellhimhesdead-m1y]

Ou et le irony?

[@mutantdog.]

Not sure if he (or whoever manages his channel) still does it, but he used to do the thing where the title and thumbnail would get changed after a few hours to look like it’s a different video on the same subject, often several times for each vid.

[@DancingwithGhosts]

wowww that's some how level baiting right there

[@groalerable]

99 percent of the time "smart" rock stars who give their opinion all the time annoy me. That "6 times Marily Manson owned interviewers" vibe. Also I don't relate to Hawkins lyric obsession. I just couldn't make the effort to nitpick a bunch of generic lyrics about drugs and sex or whatever.

[@DancingwithGhosts]

for real

[@xenos_n.]

Oh and The Darkness' first album was a masterpiece. I fucking love that album.

[@DancingwithGhosts]

i remember the second single "you're really growing on me" didn't do anything for me so I didn't bother buying the CD

[@xenos_n.]

@DancingwithGhosts check out Get Your Hands Off Of My Woman, Givin Up, Stuck In A Rut, and Black Shuck. I always liked those. Yeah those two singles I think were some of the weaker tracks on the album.

[@deengew]

I dunno Josh it kinda seems like a joke to me

[@kyuslife5832]

if you take some allergy meds with your pain pills or whatever your nose won't itch as much bro your gonna rub that thang off

[@DancingwithGhosts]

light sensitivity.. i got 2 big ass bright lights off camera and it drives my nose crazy

[@kyuslife5832]

@Dancingwithghosts gud vid I had the same feel with this dude like 4 yrs ago where I got click baited and watched like 10 of his vids and then clicked the lil "not interested in seeing this content" button

[@WarpedRecord]

What would have been cool is if you had nothing but nice things to say about him. Very meta.

[@kyuslife5832]

@@WarpedRecord giving advice is nice so I guess we're both nice guys buddy

[@ARAMP1]

Post did kill in on the Nirvana covers.

[@wrxfrontier6584]

Lol fr. Ill stay away. click bait socks

[@Yanks1005]

Another Crusty Justy

[@ng0249]

so the darkness was like a shitty version of Steel Panther? barf.

[@xdeadbeatboi6666x]

At least Steel Panther don't take themselves seriously.

[@DancingwithGhosts]

yeah actually now that i think about it pretty much.. In one of his video Hawkins defended himself saying "Well Aerosmith and several other classic rock bands didn't take themselves that seriously" like bruh... you ain't no Aerosmith, and I don't even like Aerosmith lol

[@ng0249]

@@xdeadbeatboi6666x fr

[@westywest4480]

Justin Hawkins and the Darkness, Just shit init?

[@DancingwithGhosts]

d'yknow wot i mean?

[@PolytronikDigital]

youve literally just click baited me with your video.

[@DancingwithGhosts]

how is it clickbait if i delivered everything that was promised in the title? (unless you're just jerkin' my chain)

[@minderoded2383]

Finally someone calls out this dainty Brit

[@DancingwithGhosts]

i was kinda surprised that nobody had called him out on this yet