eighthnoterojo
Proud Member
Is it important for MJ to have another hit? And is it important that his future music receive critical acclaim and/or awards of recognition? If so, why, and just how important are these things? Which of these post-album release results are the most important?
Maybe this has been asked before, I don't remember. If so, this thread can be merged or moved.
Quincy Jones has said something to the effect that anyone who says they can create an album with the sole intention of getting it to number one and succeed in doing so is lying. (Sorry, I don't have the exact quote.)
MJ has said something along the lines that his intention when making Thriller was to make the best-selling album all time. (Sorry, I don't have that quote either. lol If someone knows the exact quote, they can post it.)
Hmm.
How exactly does one go about having a hit album, let alone a hit song? Is there logic in taking this approach? What makes for a hit? My answer: I don't think anyone really knows exactly.
Generally, I think I agree with Q. So how is it that it worked in MJ's case with Thriller, an album chock full of hits, well lauded and award-sweeping? I think the way he used a 'unified diversity' of styles and genres on the album helped with the album's success in that there were many things for many people on it, and that helped it to produce a lot of hits. Along with other factors as well, including ground-breaking videos and other out-of-this-world enhancing visual performances.
It seems there are certain factors that can increase your chances of having a hit, or at least a great song. Although even having a great song is no guarantee that you'll have a hit. And sometimes, even songs that are not very good become hits. (Ex. *insert generic not good hit song here*)
In no particular order:
-Top of the line musicians, engineers, producers.
-Having an established name that people recognize for past good music.
-Good timing. If one is lucky, there won't be too many other great songs that come out at the same time, creating competition for the top spot.
-Innovation. Not a requirement, but can help. Something new and different; could be a fresh sound, a new melding of genres, or some other element. People get bored.
-Exposure, promotion and marketing. (Money.) People have to hear your song, and the more often the better so they will remember it.
-Quality and/or catchiness in at least two of the five main elements of music: melody, harmony, rhythm, timbre and lyrics. Highly subjective.
-More heads can be better than one. Not all, but many top songwriters work in tandem with other songwriters and/or lyricists and get better results than when they go it alone.
-Quality visual enhancement. Such as interesting videos and fine concert performances.
Well, that is what I have come up with so far; there may be other things as well.
In terms of critical response and awards, albums with social significance, or deeper subject matter tend to do better than 'feel-good' albums. And will has said the new album is a 'feel good' one. Now, I have a beef with this issue. I feel that 'happy' music doesn't get a fair deal. It can take just as much effort and skill to make such music as the deeper stuff, yet is deemed less 'worthy' somehow. This can be seen in film as well. The awards generally go to films that deal with serious issues (dramas) and not to the comedic ones. I resent this. lol I wonder why it is this way. Both types of music produce an emotional response. Isn't that enough? Isn't that what's important? Aren't there enough bad things going on in the world and in our daily lives? Do we have to be reminded all the time? We need positive music! Well really, I want positive music. lol There can indeed be fun music that tells a good story, or can make us think. Alright, enough ranting. lol
I've just been reading a thread elsewhere about MJ's last studio album, Invincible. This album gets a lot of flack; some say it's too retro in style, and that there's nothing ground-breaking about it. Others say it's ahead of it's time. Talk about polar opposites! lol Who is right? With something as subjective as music, it's hard to find a consensus, and there's obviously no pleasing everyone.
Ok, I'm gonna wrap up it up with this; on every MJ album there are always at least 5-6 tracks that I enjoy a lot, and usually at least 1 or 2 that I absolutely flip out over, sometimes more. And sure, I would be happy if MJ had another hit. But as long as the music is really good, quality music that I enjoy, that's all that really matters to me. The music can be fun, edgy, deep, a mix of these, whatever, (although I hope it's mostly fun lol) as long as it's good. Based on MJ's past output, I figure I won't be dissapointed.
I hope MJ, the Tiger Woods of the music biz lol, hits an eagle with this new album, and succeeds in whatever goals he has for it. If anyone can do it, it's MJ.
Maybe this has been asked before, I don't remember. If so, this thread can be merged or moved.
Quincy Jones has said something to the effect that anyone who says they can create an album with the sole intention of getting it to number one and succeed in doing so is lying. (Sorry, I don't have the exact quote.)
MJ has said something along the lines that his intention when making Thriller was to make the best-selling album all time. (Sorry, I don't have that quote either. lol If someone knows the exact quote, they can post it.)
Hmm.
How exactly does one go about having a hit album, let alone a hit song? Is there logic in taking this approach? What makes for a hit? My answer: I don't think anyone really knows exactly.
Generally, I think I agree with Q. So how is it that it worked in MJ's case with Thriller, an album chock full of hits, well lauded and award-sweeping? I think the way he used a 'unified diversity' of styles and genres on the album helped with the album's success in that there were many things for many people on it, and that helped it to produce a lot of hits. Along with other factors as well, including ground-breaking videos and other out-of-this-world enhancing visual performances.
It seems there are certain factors that can increase your chances of having a hit, or at least a great song. Although even having a great song is no guarantee that you'll have a hit. And sometimes, even songs that are not very good become hits. (Ex. *insert generic not good hit song here*)
In no particular order:
-Top of the line musicians, engineers, producers.
-Having an established name that people recognize for past good music.
-Good timing. If one is lucky, there won't be too many other great songs that come out at the same time, creating competition for the top spot.
-Innovation. Not a requirement, but can help. Something new and different; could be a fresh sound, a new melding of genres, or some other element. People get bored.
-Exposure, promotion and marketing. (Money.) People have to hear your song, and the more often the better so they will remember it.
-Quality and/or catchiness in at least two of the five main elements of music: melody, harmony, rhythm, timbre and lyrics. Highly subjective.
-More heads can be better than one. Not all, but many top songwriters work in tandem with other songwriters and/or lyricists and get better results than when they go it alone.
-Quality visual enhancement. Such as interesting videos and fine concert performances.
Well, that is what I have come up with so far; there may be other things as well.
In terms of critical response and awards, albums with social significance, or deeper subject matter tend to do better than 'feel-good' albums. And will has said the new album is a 'feel good' one. Now, I have a beef with this issue. I feel that 'happy' music doesn't get a fair deal. It can take just as much effort and skill to make such music as the deeper stuff, yet is deemed less 'worthy' somehow. This can be seen in film as well. The awards generally go to films that deal with serious issues (dramas) and not to the comedic ones. I resent this. lol I wonder why it is this way. Both types of music produce an emotional response. Isn't that enough? Isn't that what's important? Aren't there enough bad things going on in the world and in our daily lives? Do we have to be reminded all the time? We need positive music! Well really, I want positive music. lol There can indeed be fun music that tells a good story, or can make us think. Alright, enough ranting. lol
I've just been reading a thread elsewhere about MJ's last studio album, Invincible. This album gets a lot of flack; some say it's too retro in style, and that there's nothing ground-breaking about it. Others say it's ahead of it's time. Talk about polar opposites! lol Who is right? With something as subjective as music, it's hard to find a consensus, and there's obviously no pleasing everyone.
Ok, I'm gonna wrap up it up with this; on every MJ album there are always at least 5-6 tracks that I enjoy a lot, and usually at least 1 or 2 that I absolutely flip out over, sometimes more. And sure, I would be happy if MJ had another hit. But as long as the music is really good, quality music that I enjoy, that's all that really matters to me. The music can be fun, edgy, deep, a mix of these, whatever, (although I hope it's mostly fun lol) as long as it's good. Based on MJ's past output, I figure I won't be dissapointed.
I hope MJ, the Tiger Woods of the music biz lol, hits an eagle with this new album, and succeeds in whatever goals he has for it. If anyone can do it, it's MJ.