Poll: Is releasing a ballad risky?

JonnyϟLightning

Hello friends! We got a fun and exciting topic to discuss today!

Recently Katy Perry released her chart topping record 'Wide Awake' (written for the future Academy Award Winning film: Part of Me 3D). We have seen it rise to the top of the charts like a Firework and I originally thought it would flop, but I was wrong!

Others like Beyonce (Best Thing I Never Had), Rihanna (California King Bed), Madonna (Miles Away), Nicki Minaj (Fly feat Rihanna) have all release ballads that didnt fare so well but, most of them, top the charts with dance songs.

So is releasing a ballad risky in this day and age?

Cap10Planet

"Fly" is a ballad?

I have a hard time calling "Wide Awake" a ballad. It is, but it's not so inaccessible to the point that it would have a hard time climbing to the top. It's a ****ing Dr. Luke production.

madonnas

Depends on the ballad.

KESTER

I wouldn't really say Wide Awake is a ballad. But yeah I do think it's risky. I think ballads are good promotional singles for albums so they can be performed on tv and award ceremonys etc... but they never really do that well on radio.

KB.

I don't consider Wide Awake a ballad really, but if that's what it's classified as

Rihanna has also released Take A Bow- #1, Unfaithful- #6, Russian Roulette- #9

KESTER

Also I'm from the UK and Best Thing I Never Had was EVERYWHERE. Was played on music channels so much. And peaked at No.3 so it did very well over here

umich

I guess it's all about timing.

Harmonic Dreamer

Wide Awake is more of a mid-tempo.
And so are most of the songs listed.
But anyway... it depends on the climate of the charts. If everything else is fast paced and synth driven untz untz, then yes it is risky. I mean who would release this to pop radio in the midst of all party fist pumping songs and expect it to do well?

Grenn-O

Quote:

So is releasing a ballad risky in this day and age?

not if it's as amazing as pink's "glitter in the air".

and also:

Quote:

future Academy Award Winning film: Part of Me 3D

LMAO!!

Skeleton Boy

A pure ballad with barely any beat is very risky - it has to be amazing to have an impact (i.e. Someone Like You).

Wide Awake is a mid-tempo/ballad.

Lil Misty

It's not when you're the queen of the charts Jonny boy

mike_10

yes, it will probably do great in digital sales but flop in radio (at least you're adele

)

KESTER

Quote:

Originally posted by KΔΥ.ΒΣΣ

I don't consider Wide Awake a ballad really, but if that's what it's classified as

Rihanna has also released Take A Bow- #1, Unfaithful- #6, Russian Roulette- #9

Russian Roulette peaked at No.2 in the UK. Maybe the UK are just more accepting of ballads? I'm not sure..

jose168

yes it is, suprised it smashed liked it did but hey radio loves her

edit: just because the song is mid-tempo doesn't mean its not a ballad

umich

Quote:

Nicki Minaj (Fly feat Rihanna)

KB.

Quote:

Originally posted by SAFEYEAA

Russian Roulette peaked at No.2 in the UK. Maybe the UK are just more accepting of ballads? I'm not sure..

I don't think #9 is bad at all for a ballad.

Tsuko

Yes, it is risky to release ballads.

It used to be possible to get hits with ballads fairly confidently until 2008 (Bleeding Love, Take a Bow, etc.), but since then, it's been very difficult.

It's just changing times. Once upon a time, it was risky to release a dance-pop song for a single, now it's the opposite. I reckon ballads are slowly coming back.

ALSO: The word "ballad" has many definitions. One of which is "a mid-tempo love song", so using that definition, songs like Fly, Wide Awake, Love the Way You Lie, etc. can count as ballads.

Skeleton Boy

Quote:

Originally posted by jose168

yes it is, suprised it smashed liked it did but hey radio loves her

edit: just because the song is mid-tempo doesn't mean its not a ballad

Mid-tempo makes it more radio friendly.

KB.

So is "Hate That I Love You" a ballad too?

Beyonceist

Not really. Ballads are usually good promo singles.