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Lisa, I get what you are saying. I just get frustrated sometimes, you know what I mean?
Blake is so talented and his record is great, so I really can’t understand why it is not doing well. So much for my predictions. I always thought Blake was going to be more successful than Jordin, but I guess I was wrong.
Right now, I’ll just sit down and wait that HMW takes off. Hopefully the label knows what they are doing. It’s our only hope right now.
Just to follow up on my post in the last thread about the Lansing station’s Idol promo, so far they have played Kelly Clarkson, Jordin, Chris Daughtry, Maris Vasquez, Carrie Underwood and Blake. Hope they keep playing Blake’s song!!!!!!
Bully, I’m lost. What/where is the StaxxBros video?
Just bringing over my link from the last thread. Hope that is OK, I just didn’t want it to get lost in case people were interested in reading it. I just thought it was so interesting, especially the payola/promo part.
How Top 40 Works
Hey now, I liked Mario Vasquez a lot when he was on the show. :) He had major buzz before he dropped out, too. His version of “How Do You Mend a Broken Heart” still makes me swoon, to this day.
Of course the record company knows what they’re doing. It’s not like they don’t have a track record with successful artists on it, or anything. There are hits and misses in the music industry just like there are in every other facet of life.
Yes, and a few of us here tried to help you try think in a more realistic way and you were getting annoyed. Setting yourself up with expectations so high can sometimes set you up for a fall. Success is a crapshoot no matter how talented the person may be.
Sarah, would you have a link for that? I didn’t watch AI during Mario’s season but I loved “Gallery” and saw him perform at a couple of events. I thought he was really talented.
EOTW I just posted below about the article you posted. It was a very interesting read.
Sorry Star– Here’s the YouTube joy to share with everyone who hasn’t seen it yet! (okay it’s rap, but it’s Fun, so watch it thru the lame beginning. My kids could tell who was beatboxxing the second the vid started! LOL) They are playing on a street corner, you-all. That is just crazy good, people doing stuff like that. I am fascinated.
The Staxx Brothers friended me yesterday, and they have some good music on their site. The first one that plays is my favorite–
“Easy Rider”. The guy Davin wrote me the nicest e-letter, and said that SLTW was actually recorded from one of their shows at Columbia. :-) He also included a very nice pic of BShorty that I didn;t have yet, and it’s on the MS now.(It’s in BlakeCentric Album.)
My point about the StaxxBrothers was, it reminded me of all the other stuff Blake is a part of in his varied, eclectic talents. He is way more than this one album. Pretty much any time he opens his mouth to sing, I know I’m in for a treat. His interests being still towards instrumental? More piano improv, hmm? Who knows? I think that’s why he is having a hard time being “packaged” is because of his doesn;t fit neatly in one folder or type.
BigD– make sure you read my post from the last thread okay? re Jewelry.
:-) *hugs*
Here you go Lisa. It’s not great video quality but you can still hear. :) I’ll see if I can find a better one.
Mario Vasquez - How Do You Mend a Broken Heart
Sarah– I wasn’t watching that year, but he has a very nice style.:-)
Thanks for sharing that!
His and Mikalah’s year was S4 right?
You’re welcome Bully. :)
Yeah, their year was season 4. Mario was one of my initial faves from auditions, and it didn’t hurt that I had a friend who had auditioned and made it to the final cut before they chose the top 40/44/48/whatever and spoke very highly of Mario. So anyway, when he dropped out, it was a win/lose situation for me, because Mario was gone, but Nikko Smith (who took his place) was also one of my faves. (Bo, Mario, Nikko, Carrie, and Vonzell were my faves that season.)
Bully,
I have to agree with that. Blake doesn’t just fit in the POP, HAC, or typical rhythmic mold. This could be, and I’m not saying this is the case, only as an opinion, that the label has been trying to figure out the best way to market Blake to various stations and because he is so varied as you mentioned and doesn’t fit into that typical “pop” box could explain part of the problem.
btw, I saw the jewelry and it is beautiful. :-)
Sarah– :-)That’s neat to know, about your friend being a part of that process.I can only imagine the type of person that it would take, to step up and want to perform like that. It’s amazing.
One thing is certain, you have to really want to be famous, being on Idol. Everybody knows you, then! I wonder if the famous part catches people by surprise?
That vid was beautiful Sarah. I only watched bits and pieces of season 4. Season 5 was the first one I watched the entire way through from the auditions to the finale so I wasn’t as familiar with Mario as some others might have been.
It’s funny, I actually had a pretty thought-provoking conversation about something similar to this with a co-worker the other day.
It started as a conversation about child stars and why some have turned out good and some not so good (Hilary Duff vs. Britney/Lindsay, Miley vs. Jamie Lynn). Our semi-conclusion there was that part of it had to be how the people around you who have known you for a long time react to your success and fame. If those people are fame-whores themselves and using YOUR fame to their benefit, they’re obviously going to be “yes” people, and not always advise you to do things that are in your best interest if it doesn’t benefit them. But if you have people around you who honestly care for you as a person, and not just a celebrity, that helps in keeping your head and staying grounded.
I think that’s the biggest part of keeping an even head with the fame that AI brings. The people around you who will bring you back down to earth when you need it.
That was really beautiful, Sarah. Thanks. I’m looking at some more of Mario’s performances on here and he’s a good example of someone I thought would have ended up being a big star but I suppose you really can’t predict these things. His audition - wow. Star quality right there.
Mario’s career was marred by some scandal if I remember correctly…
That is the hardest part I think in any friendship, but they say the most Important when it comes to celeb. It’s hard to say “No” to a celeb when you’re on their payroll. People tend to want to hear Yes, whether their celebrity or not! heh. In celebrity case, it can make or break self and sobriety.
It was very good, all the points you brought up. It’s just sad that Britney Spears is a case study right now, in that. :-/
They say too, that once you’re famous that it can be hard for regular folks to understand what’s going on there. That’s why celeb date and marry other celeb. Britney going back to Louisiana, I wonder how long that will last? Can she stand being in regular situations? Can her town keep away the paparazzi? Can Dullsville(while healthy) be stomached after LA glitz and glam? Isn’t their fame the reason why they need to go to chic-chic rehab places? Security and privacy?
Personally, I think with the level of fame Britney has attained, she needs a more secure environment, and people “trained” to deal with celebrity personalities. It will teach her the value, of having only healthy people around her, that she can trust. Not users.
I might love Blake, but I wouldn’t use him for anything. But then, that’s not my way. Valuing a person one on one is the only way it can counterbalance the extremes in any friendship.Will they love you enough back to hear “No”? to negotiate?
I’ve worked in the past with alot of very wealthy people, and I do realize there is sort of a invisible “caste” system, but I was loathe to accept any tips or favors. I don’t like the sensation that someone can “buy” me.
Love may tie me, but no one can buy me!;-)heh.
Wow - EOTW - Thanks for that article about how Top 40 works. Of course, I found the part about promotion to be very interesting. It isn’t actually payola, but the stations are given promotional items by an independent promoter that is not from the label.
And lastly, that I find interesting, is that the cost comes out of the artist’s royalties, not the label.
You guys are right. Success really is a crapshoot. I just wanted Blake to taste some of it, but it’s tough. I know he will be happy if he had to go back to play small clubs only in the Seattle local area, but in my heart I just wanted him to so much more than that. Oh well, just time will tell, at least I got his CD.
To be fair, who knows how Blake would be selling if he got the huge airplay and promo that Jordin did. She’s the Idol winner so her budget is bigger in that regard. And as I’ve said before, FEMALE solo artists vastly outnumber white solo males in the industry now on the music charts for God knows what reason. I can’t say I’m surprised at all that Jordin has more CD sales than B when her songs and music video are actually getting spins. She’ll be singing the national anthem for the Super Bowl too so if she does a good job, that’s huge exposure….
I do think Arista went cheap with B but I also read that they supposedly cut million of dollars from their overall budget. So unless you are named Alicia or Carrie, don’t expect too much. Time will tell how much they’ll promote Leona.
Remember Ryan Tedder’s “Justin takes up so much space” comment with regard to white male artists?? Is JT essentially monopolizing the air waves when it comes to white solo males and if so, why? I heard the new Timberlake song, and to be frank, I thought it was very subpar! :/ As in, it’s probably getting airplay due to the name recognition factor because KMN is MUCH better than that song IMO.
Maracaibo,
I’m not all puffy hearts and rainbows myself ;) but it probably is a good idea to just wait and see what happens, you know? We have no idea how the second single will be promoted or received, if it’ll get airplay or not, if he’ll get a decent music video or not, etc. I’m going to try to not worry too much as long as the song is released SOON. If he does have a guest appearance on Idol this spring, that means around *30 million* will be watching and that’s way better exposure than a late night talk show or “The View.”
I was curious since we are talking about the second single about the popularity of the songs in other countries. I looked at i-tunes (for fun and to kill a little time). Looks like KMN and HMW are popular outside US as well.
Denmark 1000 miles WU BA
Japan BA HMW SIG
Fineland KMN HMW
Germany BA KMN HLH
UK HMH KMN HMW
You speak with much wisdom.
Can I rant about how much I cant stand JT? He is on my top 5 list of “I can’t stand them” list of singers. Maybe its because I am pro-Britney, and blame him for her demise. I just can’t stand him, or Avril, or Beyonce, tho I knw she can sing, she just gets too much exposure and I hate the music style.
Seriously? I hardly think Britney’s issues have anything to do with JT. That was years ago and she (reportedly) cheated on him. Even if he was a jerk (which I don’t know if it’s true) many people survive bad breakups and don’t fall apart.
If ya don’t like his music, that’s cool. But I hardly think he’s the cause of Britney’s problems. I wouldn’t even blame K-fed, who is a more likely candidate than JT if one is going to cast blame.
Hi B fans,
Thanks Bully for the thanks on the Jewelry. Thanks End of the World for the How Top 40 Works. I know know a lot more than I did half an hour ago. You see B doesn’t explain all those facts about how it works. I do know he said he record sales are important in the scheme of paybacks. Also, he dying to get on tour and I am sure TPTB know they need to get him on a tour. After all it’s his stage performance that got him to no. 2….
Thanks for the Mario Vid Sarah. I, We, didn’t watch idol until B got there and I must say Mario has a sweet voice. Why did he drop out. I heard a story that someone around that time dropped out because they didn’t want to be obligated to 19 for 3 years. Is that the reason?
The tag about the “Stars” getting sidetracked from humanity by their stardom is interesting. It is the true friends that help keep us grounded. Reality after all is “everyday life”. B one time mentioned “his people” meaning the support he gets from the label and 19 and I reminded him that those people get paid for everyday jobs, just like we do and that he was the one paying. He has a respect for those people because he also has mentioned and realizes that the people are what have helped him step up in front of the camera. I have gained a new respect watch him from afar and seeing that he is staying grounded. I do also know that it is a huge adjustment from working construction to performing on the big stage. So, Lets all hope that the 2nd single takes off in March. And if it doesn’t, the tour will help for sure.
I said way to much. Just thanks to the fans. You are all great.
d
Dallas, Thanks so much for coming here and giving us your insight. You are so right about how our true friends keep us grounded. From what I’ve seen and heard, B has close friends who will always say and do what is right for him. They all seem like a very loyal bunch…crazy, but loyal. LOL
Thanks Mr. Lewis, for the insightful and informative comments. You of all people know what goes on inside B’s head, and his motivation and rationale for the decisions he makes. He does seem to be quite grounded in spite of his escalating fame and good fortune. I’m sure his fanbase is only one factor is his approach to his career. His background, your support, and the way he was raised are obviously huge in his decision making and where he is heading. We fans might be a little crazy, but you can definitely count on the loyalty for the long haul!
Big D- I could wax poetic for pages about all you just said, but it would all come down to this: It’s easy to see where B gets his loyal, generous spirit and work ethic to succeed. If my own kids have half the respect for my husband and me that Blake has for you and Dinah it’ll be a job well done.
Thanks, as always, for giving us the scoop!
CJ, I really like what you said, in this above.
One of the things that keeps me attached to Blake as a fan is his steadfast mentality. His attitude, being grounded and having integrity in the way he’s pursuing his life–that makes me attach myself in a way that I didn’t expect to back in June. I “get” the construction worker mentality, and I’m a plain-speaker myself, so this is a big appeal to me personally.:-) It makes me like him. I do still embrace the thought of wanting to help a guy who deserves it and has the dream succeed.
Blake appreciates us, but we aren’t the reason for what he’s doing. He’s doing it because it’s there burning inside to get out. I don’t want anybody snapping a leash on him, I want him to just keep creating.
Thanks BigD for the shout-out! We always so appreciate it when you post! :-) I hope you found something nice at that jewelry site. You seem to have a good head on your shoulders, and that is a good thing to see.
Hi Dallas! Thanks, as always for your insight. :)
Re: Mario dropping out. There was never any official announcement about specific reasons, if I recall correctly, just an announcement that he was dropping out for “personal reasons” that were family-related. There was tons of speculation, of course, but nothing specific.
However… he did end up signing with J Records and released a single (”Gallery”) and album. The single charted pretty well and got a lot of radio play, but the album didn’t sell well. I don’t think he got a second single.