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Discussion: Are Singles More Important to an Artist's Legacy?
Member Since: 8/19/2013
Posts: 23,375
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Quote:
Originally posted by Melquiades
Yes. Norah Jones sold millions of albums, but no one remembers her because she never had a real hit.
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Child bye
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Member Since: 8/31/2013
Posts: 12,948
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Gagas BR and PF are more remembered than any single of Pink so I dont get the comparision in the OP...
Just to answer, yes the gp only remebers singles not albums. Most might just remember Thriller and some The Beatles album
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Member Since: 8/1/2012
Posts: 11,608
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Quote:
Originally posted by SebaMonster
Yes tbh.
Singles = relevance, legacy
Albums = fan base, power
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I agree with this.
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Member Since: 10/8/2011
Posts: 7,309
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I don't think so , there's nothing like breaking record albums and albums on the all-time lists
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Member Since: 8/19/2013
Posts: 635
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Hell no singles aren't more important than albums and anyone who thinks so is ignorant. An album is the complete body of work, and selling it means that the public takes you seriously as an artist. Singles are commercials for the album. If you sell a bunch of singles, but can't sell albums at a matching rate, then that means that the general public doesn't trust you to be worth their money and does not consider you an artist...but rather a passing fad, who is interchangeable with the others.
Thriller, Come on Over, The Bodyguard, Like a Virgin, Rhythm Nation, Back In Black,The Eminem Show, No Jacket Required, All Eyez On Me, Ready to Die, Appetite for Destruction, In Utero, CrazySexyCool, Born In the USA, Purple Rain, Jagged Little Pill, 21, Let's Talk About Love, Confessions...these are albums that proved that the general public considered the artist worthy enough to buy into them; thus making them iconic.
The **** is a $1.29 single in comparison to that? You crazy?
Bottom line: no artist will ever be iconic if they can't sell a considerable amount of whole albums. Now, of course if you're a fan of an artist who can't sell a lot of albums, you'll try and spout the opposite to make yourself feel better about their incompetence, but you know that it isn't true.
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Member Since: 3/15/2013
Posts: 21,846
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Yes. No one remembers most of the greats (particularly in pop) for their album sales or tours, the singles are what create a legacy and keep it going on, especially with new generations.
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Member Since: 8/1/2012
Posts: 9,673
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Quote:
Originally posted by UnMutedOne
Hell no, singles aren't more important than albums and anyone who thinks so is ignorant. An album is the complete body of work, and selling it means that the public takes you seriously as an artist. Singles are commercials for the album. If you sell a bunch of singles, but can't sell albums at a matching rate, then that means that the general public doesn't trust you to be worth their money and does not consider you an artist...but rather a passing fad, who is interchangeable with the others.
Thriller, Come on Over, The Bodyguard, Like a Virgin, Rhythm Nation, Back In Black,The Eminem Show, No Jacket Required, CrazySexyCool, Born In the USA, Purple Rain, Jagged Little Pill, 21, Let's Talk About Love, Confessions...these are albums that proved that the general public considered the artist worthy enough to buy into them; thus making them iconic.
The **** is a $1.29 single in comparison to that? You crazy?
Bottom line: no artist will ever be iconic if they can't sell a considerable amount of whole albums.
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Nice essay
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Member Since: 8/19/2013
Posts: 635
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Member Since: 10/10/2009
Posts: 10,662
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I've always believed this... mainly because it's the truth, and the obvious one, but still.
Singles are, and always have been everything when it comes to popularity and legacy.
It's the difference between selling one million copies (in the US) like Lana's BTD, or selling less than 1/2 that, but having the smash DIe Young. Everyone knows Kesha while Lana (unfortunately) is still very underground.
That's just the way it is. Singles keep your name in the wind.
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Member Since: 8/9/2012
Posts: 18,572
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Quote:
Originally posted by UnMutedOne
Hell no singles aren't more important than albums and anyone who thinks so is ignorant. An album is the complete body of work, and selling it means that the public takes you seriously as an artist. Singles are commercials for the album. If you sell a bunch of singles, but can't sell albums at a matching rate, then that means that the general public doesn't trust you to be worth their money and does not consider you an artist...but rather a passing fad, who is interchangeable with the others.
Thriller, Come on Over, The Bodyguard, Like a Virgin, Rhythm Nation, Back In Black,The Eminem Show, No Jacket Required, All Eyez On Me, Ready to Die, Appetite for Destruction, In Utero, CrazySexyCool, Born In the USA, Purple Rain, Jagged Little Pill, 21, Let's Talk About Love, Confessions...these are albums that proved that the general public considered the artist worthy enough to buy into them; thus making them iconic.
The **** is a $1.29 single in comparison to that? You crazy?
Bottom line: no artist will ever be iconic if they can't sell a considerable amount of whole albums. Now, of course if you're a fan of an artist who can't sell a lot of albums, you'll try and spout the opposite to make yourself feel better about their incompetence, but you know that it isn't true.
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A lot of those albums are very old. I'm talking about Right Now.
Also singles are no longer just to promote albums, and I'm obviously not saying selling 1 singles is the equivalent to selling 1 album. You are so pressed
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Member Since: 10/8/2011
Posts: 7,309
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I think in the case of singles they have to become classics in music , because otherwise it doesn't work.
I mean I don't see Ke$ha or LMFAO or Pitbull with huge legacies because they have a lot of hits , there has to be singles that actually define moments in music, game changer singles or transending in time singles. its not really about quantity.
I think a combination between Important albums and some classic singles could build strong legacies in pop music.
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Member Since: 5/2/2012
Posts: 15,418
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For someone to build a legacy -- a TRUE legacy -- in mainstream music, it requires a combination of factors. Singles are definitely a good part of the equation as are albums. I wouldn't say they're necessarily more important -- there are artists who've moved massive amounts of singles; Flo Rida, LMFAO, Pitbull, The Black Eyed Peas etc. that I don't think will have any type of legacy as artists. Singles and albums are equally important factors in legacy building, IMO. You can't truly be a real success in mainstream music without one or the other at some point. There are no mainstream legends without any hits and on the flip side, there are none without any hugely successful albums, either.
With the digital age, we're really in uncharted territory right now with how one's legacy is measured, so anything being debated is speculative, anyway. We won't know until 10-15 years down the road how most of these major digital era stars whose album success is tethered to their ability to generate hit after hit will be viewed years after their "it" days on radio have ended.
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Member Since: 7/3/2011
Posts: 10,425
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Quote:
Originally posted by Ri_Ri_Rock
Yes without successful singles you can't sell album.
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Maybe your fave....
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Member Since: 1/1/2013
Posts: 10,073
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Quote:
Originally posted by superben
For pop artists, most definitely.
Like people can name some of Mariah's biggest hits, but not likely her albums.
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Daydream, Butterfly, Music Box, and The Emancipation Of Mimi say hi.
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Member Since: 8/19/2013
Posts: 635
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Quote:
Originally posted by RudeBoyy
A lot of those albums are very old.
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So? And all of them are more iconic than the singles of today that are 6x platinum, but couldn't compel the general public to bother with the parent album.
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I'm talking about Right Now.
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So am I.
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Also singles are no longer just to promote albums
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Yes they are. Like I said, all singles are are commercials to hopefully compel people to buy the album they're cut from.
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and I'm obviously not saying selling 1 singles is the equivalent to selling 1 album. You are so pressed
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And your thread has backfired on you. Selling albums will always be more important than selling singles. It's frankly embarrassing to have a bunch of hits from an album that failed to go double platinum. Just goes to show that people don't take that artist seriously at all, and would buy the song even if it were recorded by someone else.
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Member Since: 8/9/2012
Posts: 18,572
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Quote:
Originally posted by UnMutedOne
So? And all of them are more iconic than the singles of today that are 6x platinum, but couldn't compel the general public to bother with the parent album.
So am I.
Yes they are. Like I said, all singles are are commercials to hopefully compel people to buy the album they're cut from.
And your thread has backfired on you. Selling albums will always be more important than selling singles. It's frankly embarrassing to have a bunch of hits from an album that failed to go double platinum. Just goes to show that people don't take that artist seriously at all, and would buy the song even if it were recorded by someone else.
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You are really chopping up the comment to say something that it does not say. YES I realize albums were MORE IMPORTANT BACK IN THE DAY when all the albums you named were released and I realize ONE SINGLE does not equal ONE ALBUM. And it seems more labels are trying to sell singles (Katy Perry, Lady Gaga) by themselves and NOT just use them to promote albums.
My thread did not backfire on me because, believe it or not, I opened a discussion thread to have a discussion . Your thinly veiled attempts at going at a certain artist are the real embarrassment, it doesn't seem rebellious, bad ass or smart, it's just desperate, try hard and ironic at best. Also, tons of users agreed with me so until you learn to have a discussion without getting this attitude with everyone AS IF you are knowledgeable, please MUTE your account permanently and log off and forget your password.
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Member Since: 8/19/2013
Posts: 14,581
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Quote:
Originally posted by RudeBoyy
You are really chopping up the comment to say something that it does not say. YES I realize albums were MORE IMPORTANT BACK IN THE DAY when all the albums you named were released and I realize ONE SINGLE does not equal ONE ALBUM. And it seems more labels are trying to sell singles (Katy Perry, Lady Gaga) by themselves and NOT just use them to promote albums.
My thread did not backfire on me because, believe it or not, I opened a discussion thread to have a discussion . Your thinly veiled attempts at going at a certain artist are the real embarrassment, it doesn't seem rebellious, bad ass or smart, it's just desperate, try hard and ironic at best. Also, tons of users agreed with me so until you learn to have a discussion without getting this attitude with everyone AS IF you are knowledgeable, please MUTE your account permanently and log off and forget your password.
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And let the church say AMEN!
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Member Since: 4/29/2012
Posts: 29,059
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Expect if you have a 21 or Thriller, your singles will be more remembered in the futur.
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Member Since: 4/9/2012
Posts: 16,749
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I think both are needed to establish a legacy. A song/songs to be remembered by and a landmark album are important. However, I can see things getting more singles-driven since albums aren't as commercially viable as singles are these days.
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Member Since: 4/9/2012
Posts: 16,749
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Quote:
Originally posted by Beyy
Beyoncé impressed the entire world with just being her (singing, dancing, performing), she really created a wall around her that will always protect her for becoming irrelevant. I think that's the most important thing: impressing people with your qualities.
What qualitiy that is, is different for every artist.
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Yeah, for Rihanna those qualities are obviously her singles and her style. For Beyonce, it's her performing skills and her singles. Beyonce is very savvy in that her female empowerment tongue-in-cheek songs/catchphrases tend to make an imprint on pop and urban culture even if the hits are modest (Bootylicious, IW, Single Ladies, Upgrade U, Bug a Boo, Irreplaceable, Freakum Dress, RTW). I think she's sort of exhausted this remedy though and she needs to get out of the girlpower dance jam box she's in IMO.
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