Re: Weekend News Bytes for April 11 -13, 2008 (update for April 12 on post #21)
Thanks for sharing. This article was interesting, if a little stretched. Here's my take on it: As annoying as it is to hear the "He's getting old!" bit, it's true and the youth-obsessed music market is certainly a concern. I would say especially so for artists who made their mark there, but MJ has long straddled the lines between young & old... right? Or at least at targeting different markets... I mean, didn't "Scream" get pop station airplay while "Stranger in Moscow" get adult contemporary airplay (or something like that) back with the HIStory album? But since MJ has been "absent" from the scene for a while (which is laughable really, given that he's been sampled 24832304830 times in the past seven years and because today's artists so heavily draw from him as the article points out - even though them youngings think otherwise
& don't realize where the influence is coming from
), I suppose we have to wonder at how is new material will be received. But to say
"But who is left to buy it?" is honestly a bit of a stretch. If T25 sales are any indication, then his new album should be fine. After all, it's not just fans & older generations buying it.
"Jackson's odd behaviour and his Neverland Ranch indiscretions have definitely decimated his 21st-century fanbase. Although memories of earlier triumphs remain powerful, he will mostly likely never overcome his ***** reputation, and, as he heads into his '50s, may well retreat into injured silence, or continue to rework his back catalogue in favour of new material."
Decimated? (In a weepy Southern Belle accent) "Say it ain't so!" {Insert crying smiley here} "Oh, what am I doing with my life!" *Sniff*
Lol, I hardly think that's the case. MJ's the kind of artist who - well, I mean his name is enough to sell albums. When he comes out with new stuff, suddenly everyone remembers they're a fan and goes out to buy it... At least this was the case. Hm, so long as the new PR keeps working in his favor, and if MJ backs his new stuff with performances, etc. then I think we'll see a resurgence of fans. As far as overcoming his overall reputation though... I dunno about that.
Also from the article:
"More interestingly, though, 19-year-old US pop star Chris Brown is shaping up to become the next prince of pop, thrilling audiences with his innovative Jackson-style dance moves and a more adventurous approach to music."
Yeah, his
Jackson-style dance moves are really
innovative . Chris Brown is definitely a charismatic young artist, no doubt about that. But the guy rips MJ moves & concepts like nobody else (well, maybe except for Usher
). I think - at least I
hope - nearly everyone can see that. And Chris Brown is more
adventurous in his approach to music? Whose
more adventurous than Mike? I agree that MJ could've perhaps done some things a little differently & that perhaps he could've branched out in other ways. But his sound is nothing if not unique and very much his *own*. There are certain MJ tracks that don't sound like anything else out there, and I defy anyone to tell me otherwise!
All in all, I just strongly hope that MJ doesn't retreat into that injured silence though... he can't! He's too proud for that, isn't he? I mean, as far as we can tell. No... I think he's been waiting to give the world a big FU - no, scratch that. Rather, remind the world that he's Michael Effin' Jackson and show the youngings like Chris Brown, JT, & the rest of the "I wanna be like Mike" crew just how it's done. Then he can sit down and be like "You were saying?.... Carry on."
C'mon Mikey! Prove em wrong! You're
everywhere and yet
yourself nowhere to be found! Come back and kick some a**! And turn this author's silly head!
