JCHCriticism and Commercial Success: I Want To Be Popular
November 9th 2008 01:35
It’s an age old reality that song choice can be the defining factor between a successful artist and one that exists in commercial anonymity.
I'm watching the new Jimmy Wayne video ("I Will") as I type this. There's something about this song that completely misses the mark with me. It might be the fact that it sounds like a Backstreet Boys cut circa 1999, but that’s just me. Wayne (like Emerson Drive's Brad Mates) has a technically sound and remarkable vocal...however, it lacks distinction.
When sub-par material is delivered to an artist that doesn’t have the most distinguishing voice then there is every chance that they will fall into the void of obscurity. My review of Emerson Drive’s “Belongs To You” was a little vicious, but the reality is, I’m a fan of the band. Countrified actually stands as one of my favorite Canadian country records of the past two years (behind Doc Walker and The Wilkinsons). However, the track falls incredibly short of what the band should and could be producing…and that is a shame.
The flip side to this rule of course is the fact that an artist of band could be producing amazing music, but commercial radio, television and audiences won’t respond. This of course sadly makes up the majority of great music. But that is a tragic lament for another day.
I'm watching the new Jimmy Wayne video ("I Will") as I type this. There's something about this song that completely misses the mark with me. It might be the fact that it sounds like a Backstreet Boys cut circa 1999, but that’s just me. Wayne (like Emerson Drive's Brad Mates) has a technically sound and remarkable vocal...however, it lacks distinction.
When sub-par material is delivered to an artist that doesn’t have the most distinguishing voice then there is every chance that they will fall into the void of obscurity. My review of Emerson Drive’s “Belongs To You” was a little vicious, but the reality is, I’m a fan of the band. Countrified actually stands as one of my favorite Canadian country records of the past two years (behind Doc Walker and The Wilkinsons). However, the track falls incredibly short of what the band should and could be producing…and that is a shame.
The flip side to this rule of course is the fact that an artist of band could be producing amazing music, but commercial radio, television and audiences won’t respond. This of course sadly makes up the majority of great music. But that is a tragic lament for another day.
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