The Editorialist: Band Names – What Came First, The Ocean Or The Ghost?

posted in: Music News • Rock

Anyone who has ever started a band knows how difficult it can be to come up with an original name. And the more bands that pop up every day, the harder it gets. You would hope that this would encourage artists to push themselves to really think outside the box and come up with something truly unique, but we all know that’s not the case. The result is an over-saturation of bands whose names all incorporate the same words, themes, ideas, and imagery to the point where they almost become indistinguishable from one another. Some words and terms, in particular, are used in excess just because they sound cool or familiar. I’ve found”and I’m sure many of you may have noticed this same trend”that two of the most commonly overused concepts in the indie/rock and punk/hardcore scenes are the words “ocean” (or water-related imagery) and “ghost.” Don’t know what I mean? Allow me to provide you with a list or examples. From small local bands you’ve never heard of to huge international acts with devoted fans, the following are just a few of the many bands who either didn’t know or didn’t care how many other bands used similar monikers incorporating these terms:

• The Ocean (Way to capitalize on most of the Earth’s surface, guys!)
• Oceans (Ah, I knew there would be more.)
• Oceano (So far they’re just changing the last letter… I guess that’s acceptable?)
• Oceana (Okay seriously?)
• Oceanics (Finally some “variation.”)
• Ocean’s Eyes (Aw, that’s cute.)
• Ocean’s Deep (Sure is.)
• Glass Ocean (Now is that like an ocean of broken glass, or is it just frozen over?)
• We Are The Ocean (No, the guys at the top of this list are The Ocean.)
• I Am The Ocean (Ugh, you too? Listen, we already went over this. You can’t all be The Ocean!)

• Seahaven (Oh, so now we’ve moved onto the sea. You know what? At this point, even though it’s basically the same thing, it is sort of like a haven, so thank you for that.)
• I Am Waves (Wait, so does that make you part of the first band?)
• Like Waves (Oh, I see. It’s just a comparison. You’re not literally made of water.)
• Wavves (You’re right the second “v” makes way more sense.)
• Sea Wolf (Is this a real thing? If so, I’m never going swimming ever again.)
• We’re Sinking (We sure are.)
• Sinking Ships (Oh, that’s what you meant? Sorry.)
• Small Leaks Sink Ships (Okay, I get it now.)
• Ships & Sailors (Well yeah, you can’t have one without the other, unless…)
• Man Overboard (Sorry, I had to do it.)
• Wind In Sails (Okay, just be on your way then.)

• Ghost (Good. Simple.)
• I Am Ghost (No you’re not! The band before you is. What is it with these people?)
• The Ghost Inside (Deep. Creepy. Brutal.)
• Ghost Thrower (Is that even physically possible? You must be a jedi.)
• Jukebox The Ghost (You mean like a ghost whose name is Jukebox?)
• Ghostland Observatory (Most unique one here actually.)
• The Golden Ghosts (And then The Silver Ghosts, The Red Ghosts, the blue ones, etc. Right?)
• The Ghost Of A Thousand (Might be an exaggeration, but there are definitely a lot here, that’s for sure.)
• Great American Ghost (GAG…)
• Give Up The Ghost (Yes! Please, just give it up already!)

Ghost Ocean

• Ghost Ocean (Case and point.)
• Ocean Of Ghosts (How are these two band names allowed to exist at the same time?!)
• Ghosts Of Sailors At Sea (Need I say more?)