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Music News: Radios: "Suit" will be embraced
ATRL Contributor
Member Since: 11/5/2011
Posts: 100,491
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Radios: "Suit" will be embraced
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A sampling of radio programmers shows almost consensus early approval for "Suit."
"Over the years, we've come to expect the unexpected with Justin's music, which I think is fantastic," Pop Songs panelist WHTZ New York program director Sharon Dastur says. "'Suit & Tie' doesn't sound like anything else out in pop music right now and we can certainly use those kinds of songs. For some people, it'll be a slow build, while others love it after the first listen, including myself. We welcome Justin back with open arms."
"I love it," Pop Songs reporter KIIS Los Angeles assistant PD Julie Pilat concurs. "Just like Justin brought Pharrell and Timbaland's beats to the mainstream in 2002, R&B has been having a huge resurgence in the underground with Frank Ocean, the Weeknd and Miguel. I think Justin will bring that movement to the mainstream in 2013. I couldn't be more excited that he's back and from the look of social media posts and hallway chatter, many fans are feeling the same way."
Clearly, female PDs are factoring the appeal of Timberlake to fellow women, who aren't likely to complain that Timberlake (even as a newlywed, to Jessica Biel) has brought his sexy self back.
"What woman over the age of 25 doesn't love Justin Timberlake?" asks Charese Fruge, PD of Adult Pop Songs panelist KMXB Las Vegas. "As for whether this song is a long-term hit? I guess we'll find out."
"I think 'Suit & Tie' is very different and I feared that his time away from the music industry would produce an out-of-touch single, like Mariah Carey's last year ['Triumphant (Get 'Em)," which stalled at No. 53 on R&B/Hip-Hop Songs]," Pattie Moreno, PD of Pop Songs reporter KHHM Sacramento, Calif., says. "However, he managed to bring a very sexy record to the table. Jay-Z adds grown-man credibility and Timberlake's R&B touch and Robin Thicke-esque vocals add a smooth edge."
Male PDs likewise value the 'event' status that Timberlake provides. "Anytime a huge artist releases a song, the audience expects to hear it on their local contemporary pop station," says Chase Murphy, PD of Pop Songs contributor KXXM San Antonio, Texas. "In this case, Timberlake hadn't dropped a single in more than five years, so there's at least a curiosity with both the audience and the radio community. We're expected to expose the audience to ('Suit'). It's what we do.
"Personally, I like it and think it will be a hit. I think it's different and might be a sign of the times on where the format and texture of music is headed," Murphy muses. "It serves as a relief from a lot of the adult, folk-rock sounds that seem to be gaining a lot of momentum." That, says Murphy, is a good thing. "The format flourishes when we have many different styles from which to choose."
Of PDs contacted by Billboard today, only the gatekeepers at Pop Songs panelist WBBM Chicago seem more than slightly concerned about the viability of "Suit" at the format. Even then, they feel that the song will ultimately be embraced. Seemingly worth remembering: a similar consensus reticence accompanied "SexyBack," which many programmers and fans deemed jarring before similar-sounding songs by the Black Eyed Peas arrived and the EDM movement blossomed. "(Suit) doesn't seem to be creating a ton of chatter with our listeners as of yet," says PD Todd Cavanah. "Still, it's Justin Timberlake. I would not bet against him. We'll let the audience decide."
"Suit" is generating "somewhat mixed opinions thus far," adds WBBM assistant PD/music director Erik Bradley. "I'd say it's 50/50. But, it's No. 1 on iTunes and still trending on Twitter. It's definitely going to get the chance to prove itself. Personally, I liked it after the first listen, liked it even more after the second and, once I heard it on the radio, I totally loved it. It's Justin and he typically comes with game-changing lead singles, so I'd expect the same in this case."
Clearly, the start of "Suit" could be just the start of pop radio's potentially strong bond with "The 20/20 Experience."
"Simply put, don't doubt JT," says Dylan Sprague, PD of Pop Songs reporter WXKS and Rhythmic panelist WJMN Boston. "He is always doing something different; in this case, an update on past R&B."
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Member Since: 12/16/2008
Posts: 59,380
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I'd wait few weeks to see if that's truth.
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Member Since: 11/4/2010
Posts: 34,287
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his album is gonna be biiiiiiiiiiig
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Member Since: 3/23/2012
Posts: 1,775
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I love the song. but i don't think its gonna bring R&B to mainstream again
there's nothing special to begin with, it sounds like another track from futuresex/lovesounds, not saying its bad tho, there's just nothing new about it, we've heard it before.
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Member Since: 3/5/2011
Posts: 15,413
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I'm still not feeling the song.
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Member Since: 11/2/2011
Posts: 9,796
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We'll see. Julie also said Xtina's YB would be huge.
It's sad people are acting like this is something fresh when so many other songs are ignored. It's only because it's JT that it's doing well. sigh
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Member Since: 2/26/2006
Posts: 62,897
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Who would have thought that the one who would bring R&B back to the mainstream would be Justin Timberlake.
They are right though. Suit & Tie sounds like nothing on pop radio at this moment.
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Member Since: 8/9/2012
Posts: 6,580
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I'm just going to wait for the album, this song
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Member Since: 5/14/2007
Posts: 25,912
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Member Since: 3/4/2011
Posts: 13,093
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They'll stop when the amount of people tuning in plummets each time the song comes on
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Member Since: 11/23/2011
Posts: 46,048
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Front loaded. Radios think people will want to hear JT due to his long winded absence, and that may be true to an extent but, S&T is just not a good song. The "bopability" factor of the song is mediocre, limited to the R&B audience at most. The general mainstream audience won't be too keen on the song.
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Member Since: 8/15/2012
Posts: 6,964
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I'm not too much into the song but we all subconsciously knew it was going to be a hit and people would welcome it with open arms.
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Member Since: 5/7/2012
Posts: 8,404
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Ha! Knew it!! Beyonce is next! Then Rihanna has Pour It Up coming. Urban music is back on Pop radio get over it!
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Member Since: 8/22/2010
Posts: 12,270
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@ Triumphant being dragged
If it does become a hit, I think it will be viewed in the Blow Me (One Last Kiss), One More Night, Let Me Love You kind of way. Overplayed, but generally unliked.
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Member Since: 11/9/2010
Posts: 10,446
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Quote:
Originally posted by Cas
I'm still not feeling the song.
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It's not just you. I can't even remember what S&T sounds like, and I can't force myself to listen to it just to learn the melody and lyrics, because it's a chore to do so. The song is just so light. I have no interest in adding this to my playlist/rotation.
It's just not that usual organic love/chemistry with the song like when Like I Love You, Cry Me A River, Senorita, My Love, What Goes Around...etc were released. Even Carry Out hits harder than S&T.
Looking forward to the album tracks, interludes and deep cuts from 20/20 experience, but as a lead single, I think this was a botched opportunity.
Forget about the sales/chart numbers from the obviously JT-starved public. I'm talking strictly the sound and the musical output. It's just not the same. But I have high hopes for what's to come.
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Member Since: 9/1/2011
Posts: 3,625
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Quote:
Originally posted by Shelter
We'll see. Julie also said Xtina's YB would be huge.
It's sad people are acting like this is something fresh when so many other songs are ignored. It's only because it's JT that it's doing well. sigh
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If you read the quotes they say songs like this havent been played on pop radio, that he may start a trend of bringing more R&B songs to the mainstream and that its nice for him to take risks. I didn't read anywhere where they claimed it was a new sound.
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Member Since: 2/6/2010
Posts: 27,892
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Wow, I didn't know that SO many people were hating on this song here!
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Member Since: 3/25/2012
Posts: 10,673
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Quote:
Originally posted by DimmiFenty
Ha! Knew it!! Beyonce is next! Then Rihanna has Pour It Up coming. Urban music is back on Pop radio get over it!
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I really don't understand why everyone wants JT to fail so badly. Y'all are doing way too much seriously. But if he had released a pop club song ATRL would praise it as the second coming. I honestly don't understand the seething AT ALL.
And don't forget that everybody HATED Sexyback when it came out. The GP was NOT here for it at all, but look how things ended up.
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Member Since: 11/10/2011
Posts: 14,820
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They're right. It does sound completely different to what's on pop radio atm for sure. It's very risky, but I hope it pays off.
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Member Since: 8/14/2010
Posts: 2,558
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Quote:
Originally posted by cloudinthesky
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I really don't understand why everyone wants JT to fail so badly. Y'all are doing way too much seriously. But if he had released a pop club song ATRL would praise it as the second coming. I honestly don't understand the seething AT ALL.
And don't forget that everybody HATED Sexyback when it came out. The GP was NOT here for it at all, but look how things ended up.
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ATRL is just not here for the guys, especially in the urban market. Almost every urban male music thread flops. It's ok though im enjoying seeing everyone who said it wouldnt sell over 200k, pop radio wont play it be proven wrong.
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