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Post by Deleted on Dec 10, 2015 19:03:09 GMT -5
Regardless of the monstrous success she's had with her 2 most recent albums, you just can't put her in those Mariah/Whitney/Michael/Madonna kind of categories yet. Adele's highs may end up being higher than some of theirs, but they all had multi-decade careers filled with dozens of hits and massive albums. Adele doesn't have that longevity component yet; it doesn't mean she won't get there-- just that she hasn't yet. I think this is another case of people trying really hard to put Adele (or whoever) in a box that someone else has already been in; as if, because she ended up not being an Alanis, she's home free and is going to end up in the Mariah box or the Michael box. It's entirely possible she could have these two massive albums and ten years from now, people view her as a Celine type, who was this massive singer from the 2010s who sang these mass appeal shlocky ballads and people are embarrassed to admit they like.
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Post by Devil Marlena Nylund on Dec 10, 2015 19:55:00 GMT -5
The one thing Adele doesn't have that would be needed is time. Time is probably the single-most important indicator of an artist making it to legendary status, and of course, sustained success. But sustained success is something that comes over time, but sustained success doesn't necessarily mean consistent chart action and other qualifiers Pulse is obsessed with. Remember, most of what the Beatles achieved together with making music and releasing hit albums happened in less than a decade. By the time Britney Spears, for example, released Circus, she had outlasted the duration of the Beatles' as a band.
My initial thoughts are that legends like MJ and the Beatles aren't made anymore. The musical climate and landscape isn't there for it. The closest we have is with artists like Beyonce, who I think can make it to Whitney status of legend, whatever that might happen to be.
But then there's the question, if Adele's success were to end right here at this moment. Have her achievements already been enough that, in 10-20 years, it be reasonable to call her a legend? After all, I'm sure there are some people who might call Carole King a legend, and I'd say Adele's achievements up to this point have at least matched those of Carole's, if not surpassed - all except the aspect of time. Carole has remained a success because her songs have remained staples in pop music for decades in the way of covers and live performances, something Adele's songs are likely to do as well.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 11, 2015 2:16:17 GMT -5
I agree with Jazzy to be a legend you need to be able to change with the times and this fickle industry Adele could be out of style by album #4 and not be able to adapt. To be a legend you need to earn it. Mariah sold gazillions of records and had a #1 every single year of the 90's and when she was knocked out, laughed at, tossed aside. Grabbed her good heals made the biggest comeback in music history 2 decades into her career and earned her place. Takes more than 2 monotonous albums honey!
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spooky21
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Post by spooky21 on Dec 11, 2015 8:11:07 GMT -5
At this stage, absolutely not, not even quantitatively. Even with two massive albums, she's still about a third of the lowest selling legend which would arguably be Whitney. All the big legends (MJ, Madonna, Whitney, Mariah, Beatles, etc) have all had 2+ massive albums era with significant records of their own. Massive records broken? Not even close. Take a look at Madonna, Whitney or Mariah's resume. Adele 3 major records of note (first & second week sales, digital single sales) feels big but most of those artists had multiple record breaking events that were even bigger (Whitney's Debut era & the Bodyguard, Mariah Music Box & Daydream eras with singles/album sales, Beatles & the 60s).
Impressive as 25's bow may be, her total number of sales and chart feats still pale in comparison to all of those artists individual career hauls.
Add on top that most of those artists crossed over into pop culture in a way that Adele hasn't yet, it would be a bit silly to even be considering her for a seat at the table.
She is definitely on a trajectory and time will likely bode well for her but let's not kid ourselves. We are comparing her to superstars who each have 25+ years of ridiculously significant career accomplishments to their names.
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YourFaveIsAFlop
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Post by YourFaveIsAFlop on Dec 11, 2015 8:28:29 GMT -5
Also let's not forget that this whole thread almost didn't even happen. She was ready to leave the music industry altogether after 21. Would we be debating if she would be considered a music legend along the lines of the Beatles or Madonna if she was the Norah Jones of 2010?
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magik
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Post by magik on Dec 11, 2015 9:04:42 GMT -5
How hasn't Adele crossed over into pop culture yet? Her music is everywhere - TV shows, movies, parodies. Shoot, "Hello" is like the most parodied video of the year, along with "Hotline Bling." She's a reality talent show staple. She's a recognizable entity, way more so than Norah Jones ever was.
I really don't get this idea that Mariah Carey or Celine Dion was any more a pop culture fascination in their heyday. I would argue that Adele's record-breaking/setting moments are more impressive than some of the legends, especially given the time when album sales are a non-factor and streaming is the new thing, something Adele has also proven to conquer with "Hello."
Not sure if she's going to be a legend. That would be something she has to prove with time, and even if she continues to be successful, we don't know if she will be considered more than just a hugely successful artist. However, that's not what I got from the OP. It asks is her success comparable to legends, and the answer is obviously yes. Otherwise, she wouldn't be breaking records so effortlessly left and right.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 11, 2015 11:34:08 GMT -5
Also let's not forget that this whole thread almost didn't even happen. She was ready to leave the music industry altogether after 21. Would we be debating if she would be considered a music legend along the lines of the Beatles or Madonna if she was the Norah Jones of 2010? If she had left altogether she'd be more akin to Lauryn Hill**, not Norah Jones (who has continued to make music well after her moment passed.) Just echoing some other comments in condensed form: no, she's not a legend yet (not nearly enough time) but she shows all potential of being one. It's a bit hyperbolic to definitively hand down a yes or no without that qualifier. It's not like we're looking at a finished product to judge; she's still very much in motion. It took Mariah 15 years and a falloff/comeback before people would even mutter the word 'icon' in her direction, another five or six before media was cool with putting her name in the same sentence as the word legend. Same with Whitney - even though she didn't have to struggle for respect as much as Mariah I am pretty sure it took 15 or more years before we were willingly calling her legend instead of just diva. So 10 years from now maybe we can ask this question of Adele. But at the same time, let's not try to downplay it like Hello isn't a moment; it was an instant phenomenon. Maybe a better question would be "Is Adele's Hello song/video comparable to Michael Jackson's moonwalk at the Motown 25 special/Madonna's Like a Virgin at the VMAs?' or something like that. (For that matter, would Hotline Bling compare?) That to me is a question that recognizes how influential memes are in today's pop culture, without relying on supposed legend status to answer it. [**sidebar: Lauryn only had that one album and yet her almost virtual absence from music ever since has made her an icon of another sort...certainly not the kind of iconic or legendary we are debating here, but worth pointing out - there is something to be said for "going out while you're on top."]
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Caviar
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Post by Caviar on Dec 11, 2015 13:29:54 GMT -5
Too much emphasis on sales as a determining factor for legendary status and NOT influence. You don't need to sell millions of albums to become a legend but you DO need to influence music buyers and the industry as a whole. As mentioned above Lauryn Hill arguably is one of the most influential rappers AND singers of all time and that's just off ONE album (three if you include her work w/ the Fugees). Only time will tell.
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Me. I Am l!nk!nfan815...
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Post by Me. I Am l!nk!nfan815... on Dec 11, 2015 15:01:38 GMT -5
How hasn't Adele crossed over into pop culture yet? Her music is everywhere - TV shows, movies, parodies. Shoot, "Hello" is like the most parodied video of the year, along with "Hotline Bling." She's a reality talent show staple. She's a recognizable entity, way more so than Norah Jones ever was. I really don't get this idea that Mariah Carey or Celine Dion was any more a pop culture fascination in their heyday. I would argue that Adele's record-breaking/setting moments are more impressive than some of the legends, especially given the time when album sales are a non-factor and streaming is the new thing, something Adele has also proven to conquer with "Hello."Not sure if she's going to be a legend. That would be something she has to prove with time, and even if she continues to be successful, we don't know if she will be considered more than just a hugely successful artist. However, that's not what I got from the OP. It asks is her success comparable to legends, and the answer is obviously yes. Otherwise, she wouldn't be breaking records so effortlessly left and right. That's the thing though, in their hey day...as it was happening, it might've not seen as impactful. But now, as time has done its job the impact can be seen and heard clearly. Mariah has sold millions of albums, one of the top selling artists(male or female) in the industry. The most #1's for a solo artists, a #1 on each year of a whole decade(think about that for a second), all her #1 singles have a cumulative 79 weeks at the summit(the most ever). To this day, she has the song with the most weeks at #1. Was given 'Song of the Decade' twice, in a row. That's just a few accomplishments among so many more, including worldwide. She has influenced about every single female artist you hear today (look up the countless videos of artists talking about Mariah and her singing). Writes and produces her own music, and has created timeless songs in the process. Her impact is being felt today, when you hear newcomers talk about her influenced on them, or when they try to cover her songs(which has being hailed as impossible due to her range, dynamic singing style and technique), when you hear All I Want For Christmas Is You on the radio every single year, breaking records and being named the last Xmas standard to be part of the holiday canon, its popularity each year is legendary in and of itself. If you don't think those moments are impressive you're lying to yourself. Adele is on her way to legendary status for sure, but she's not one right now. Like most said, it is time that will be determining that. So far, her and her team are getting it right.
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Post by when the pawn... on Dec 11, 2015 15:02:37 GMT -5
Of course she hasn't been around that long yet but the thread asks if her success matches these 'legends', and I assume we're talking about at their respective peaks. If it's Michael Jackson, The Beatles, Elvis Presley and Madonna, my answer is no. If it's Mariah Carey, Celine Dion and even Whitney Houston, my answer is a resounding yes. And of course the answer would be different if 25 didn't pan out this way...not sure why that is relevant. She has 2 incredible eras (plus 19 - it sold 2.7+ million copies and won 2 Grammys).
Also, someone mentioned the fact that performances are what make a legend and Adele doesn't have those. Please re-visit "Chasing Pavements" from SNL, "Someone Like You" from The Brits and "Rolling in the Deep" from The Grammys. The standing O on the last one just kept going - it was some legend shit.
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magik
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Post by magik on Dec 11, 2015 15:18:58 GMT -5
How hasn't Adele crossed over into pop culture yet? Her music is everywhere - TV shows, movies, parodies. Shoot, "Hello" is like the most parodied video of the year, along with "Hotline Bling." She's a reality talent show staple. She's a recognizable entity, way more so than Norah Jones ever was. I really don't get this idea that Mariah Carey or Celine Dion was any more a pop culture fascination in their heyday. I would argue that Adele's record-breaking/setting moments are more impressive than some of the legends, especially given the time when album sales are a non-factor and streaming is the new thing, something Adele has also proven to conquer with "Hello."Not sure if she's going to be a legend. That would be something she has to prove with time, and even if she continues to be successful, we don't know if she will be considered more than just a hugely successful artist. However, that's not what I got from the OP. It asks is her success comparable to legends, and the answer is obviously yes. Otherwise, she wouldn't be breaking records so effortlessly left and right. That's the thing though, in their hey day...as it was happening, it might've not seen as impactful. But now, as time has done its job the impact can be seen and heard clearly. Mariah has sold millions of albums, one of the top selling artists(male or female) in the industry. The most #1's for a solo artists, a #1 on each year of a whole decade(think about that for a second), all her #1 singles have a cumulative 79 weeks at the summit(the most ever). To this day, she has the song with the most weeks at #1. Was given 'Song of the Decade' twice, in a row. That's just a few accomplishments among so many more, including worldwide. She has influenced about every single female artist you hear today (look up the countless videos of artists talking about Mariah and her singing). Writes and produces her own music, and has created timeless songs in the process. Her impact is being felt today, when you hear newcomers talk about her influenced on them, or when they try to cover her songs(which has being hailed as impossible due to her range, dynamic singing style and technique), when you hear All I Want For Christmas Is You on the radio every single year, breaking records and being named the last Xmas standard to be part of the holiday canon, its popularity each year is legendary in and of itself. If you don't think those moments are impressive you're lying to yourself. Adele is on her way to legendary status for sure, but she's not one right now. Like most said, it is time that will be determining that. So far, her and her team are getting it right. Right, but I don't think that's what most people here mean when they say "pop culture". Adele is selling records, getting #1 hits, and basically having similar stats to those artists and her music is reaching multiple demographics in a way that NONE of her peers are doing right now, but that's not "cultural impact." I guess when people say that, they mean Britney shaving her head, Madonna and "Like a Prayer," Michael doing the moonwalk, etc. Mariah and Celine never had that type of impact, but anyone would be dumb to say that they didn't reach people in other ways, through their music and voices. That's basically what Adele is achieving now. Now, whether or not Adele's impact today will live on, that has yet to be seen. But if anyone thinks her music and success won't be a significant part of the future, then I will like for those folks to name 10 artists of TODAY who will do it? It's nonsensical to talk about the future anyway. Is Adele a legend yet? No. Is her success comparable to music legends'? Um, yes. There's no other answer.
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moore746
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Post by moore746 on Dec 11, 2015 15:55:17 GMT -5
What makes Adele legendary to me, which I think is truly unique to her and only her, is that she is selling records at a level on par with Mariah, Celine, Whitney, Madonna, Britney etc. etc. at their peaks, but in an environment where no other album goes diamond. In that way, her appeal is truly unprecedented.
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SPRΞΞ
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Post by SPRΞΞ on Dec 11, 2015 20:32:17 GMT -5
Janis Joplin has two #1 albums, one #1 song, no other Top 10's, and yet she is considered in the Top 50 greatest artists of all time. So sales mean nothing. Impact and influence do.
Sales don't equate legendary status. That would mean Candle in the Wind is the most legendary song ever. Clearly it's not even close.
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YourFaveIsAFlop
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Post by YourFaveIsAFlop on Dec 12, 2015 23:40:56 GMT -5
Enya has sold about 30 million albums in the US alone. Sales obviously aren't influence or we'd be hearing a hell of a lot more Celtic new age on top 40.
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alestevens
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Post by alestevens on Dec 28, 2015 1:40:16 GMT -5
At this stage, absolutely not, not even quantitatively. Even with two massive albums, she's still about a third of the lowest selling legend which would arguably be Whitney. All the big legends (MJ, Madonna, Whitney, Mariah, Beatles, etc) have all had 2+ massive albums era with significant records of their own. Massive records broken? Not even close. Take a look at Madonna, Whitney or Mariah's resume. Adele 3 major records of note (first & second week sales, digital single sales) feels big but most of those artists had multiple record breaking events that were even bigger (Whitney's Debut era & the Bodyguard, Mariah Music Box & Daydream eras with singles/album sales, Beatles & the 60s). Impressive as 25's bow may be, her total number of sales and chart feats still pale in comparison to all of those artists individual career hauls. Add on top that most of those artists crossed over into pop culture in a way that Adele hasn't yet, it would be a bit silly to even be considering her for a seat at the table. She is definitely on a trajectory and time will likely bode well for her but let's not kid ourselves. We are comparing her to superstars who each have 25+ years of ridiculously significant career accomplishments to their names. Adele has already outsold Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga and basically every other artist that debuted this side of the 2000s already. '25' broke most imaginable music records too. She is clearly comparable to the legends in their heyday. Obviously she can't compare to their overall stats as she only released 3 albums, but in their heyday they were like Adele is today. I mean, she sold out a tour of over 100 dates in what, 5 hours after they went on sale? LMAO. She's huge, a really big phenomenon. What she's doing in the 2010s is basically unheard of at any point in history. She's a pop culture stapple, everyone knows what an Adele is and her hits are classics already!
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Post by Fat Ass Kelly Price on Dec 28, 2015 2:17:43 GMT -5
Stats are just one element.
People aren't enthralled with her as a person. People don't care about her personal life. Anyone and anything can be a huge meme these days. Does "Friday"''s impact mean Rebecca Black is at MJ tier? It has to be more. Either that or a huge pop culture moment. Sure, her songs have been huge, but they don't have the same connected PPP culture impact as MHWGO or IWALY or AIWFCIY. Skyfall couldve been that, but it kinda floundered in that sense. She needs to have that career defining song or moment that people will be revisitng for decades.
While I think she's on a clear path, there are a few more hurdles in her way that she needs to overcome before she's heir ascendant.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 28, 2015 10:06:14 GMT -5
Rolling In The Deep and Hello didn't have an impact on pop culture. Are we for real right now??
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alestevens
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Post by alestevens on Dec 28, 2015 16:26:55 GMT -5
Stats are just one element. People aren't enthralled with her as a person. People don't care about her personal life. Anyone and anything can be a huge meme these days. Does "Friday"''s impact mean Rebecca Black is at MJ tier? It has to be more. Either that or a huge pop culture moment. Sure, her songs have been huge, but they don't have the same connected PPP culture impact as MHWGO or IWALY or AIWFCIY. Skyfall couldve been that, but it kinda floundered in that sense. She needs to have that career defining song or moment that people will be revisitng for decades. While I think she's on a clear path, there are a few more hurdles in her way that she needs to overcome before she's heir ascendant. Now are we really putting Rebecca Black in the same tier as Adele? And Rolling In The Deep, Someone Like You and Set Fire To The Rain are still referenced to this day, on top of being some of the greatest catalog sellers of the decade just like 21 continues to be. Adele has live performances with well over 100 Million views, and recently she did somewhat of a sketch where she dressed as an imitator of herself that got a lot of views too. Her TV special got a lot of ratings. People are here for Adele, for her music and whatever she does. She's a legit star, let's not!
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Post by Deleted on Dec 28, 2015 17:00:21 GMT -5
Stats are just one element. People aren't enthralled with her as a person. People don't care about her personal life. Anyone and anything can be a huge meme these days. Does "Friday"''s impact mean Rebecca Black is at MJ tier? 10 million people in the USA alone tried to buy her tickets the second they went on sale. You're seriously trying to argue that people aren't passionate about her and that her success is comparable to Rebecca Black?
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Music Fan
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Post by Music Fan on Dec 28, 2015 17:10:07 GMT -5
I think in addition to all that's been mentioned, Adele's music isn't necessarily the type of music that would succeed on radio with any other artist. Every once in a while we may have a soul/ballad song that makes it big on radio, but that artist cannot repeat it with another similar styled song. Adele has proven to be the exception even in a time where dance heavy music is what is prominent. I think that in itself is a defining statute for "legendary" status. Though, I do agree that legend status is something that is earned throughout many, many, many years. Adele is well on her way to becoming a legend, and she doesn't need to even continue millions upon millions of album sales with coming efforts. All she needs is to stay relevant (more than Alanis, for example) and she'll be considered a legend thanks to what she has already accomplished.
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Post by Fat Ass Kelly Price on Dec 28, 2015 18:37:51 GMT -5
I never argued that those songs didn't have pop culture impact. I argued that they didn't have a certain type of pop culture impact that is kind of everlasting. Sure, they had impact as they were reigning, but where is it afterwards? We can't assess "Hello" since it's still reigning, but I'm finding it hard to see the argument for RITD's impact and pop culture relevance in basically 2016. snarks, re-read the post, because you've failed to properly comprehend it. alestevens you should probably do so as well. :)
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Post by Deleted on Dec 28, 2015 19:32:23 GMT -5
This is a loaded question, especially considering how fickle the industry is, and how one artist can be massive one minute and all but forgotten the next.
I'd say as of now, no, Adele hasn't reached legendary status, but she appears to be on her way. That could still change down the road, but with two absolutely massive back-to-back albums in a climate where almost no one (sans Taylor), can sell albums, I'd say she's one of about three artists who are transcending the music scene this decade.
Legendary status, though, is earned with time, and Adele hasn't put in enough miles to earn such a label yet.
I haven't bought "25" (nor do I plan to), but I find it almost laughable that anyone would say Adele hasn't had her *moment* to transcend Pop culture yet. She's literally everywhere. She's selling albums at a breakneck speed that no one has been able to match since the 90's. She's in a league of her own in a world full of faux Youtube, Instagram and Vine "stars" that are a blip on the radar for 30 seconds and get their 15 minutes via Twitter and social media. The industry isn't creating stars who turn into megastars anymore, but Adele is one of them.
It's possible to argue album sales/singles don't make an artist, but when an album is this massive, the success of the singles is just icing on the cake. Even if Adele never has a hit again, the incredible success of her albums will still have a place in this decade.
Artists can have one or two huge eras and become legendary (look at the countless examples in classic Rock), but it could go either way for her right now. She has impact, but not enough time has passed to consider her legendary.
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alestevens
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Post by alestevens on Dec 28, 2015 20:45:13 GMT -5
I never argued that those songs didn't have pop culture impact. I argued that they didn't have a certain type of pop culture impact that is kind of everlasting. Sure, they had impact as they were reigning, but where is it afterwards? We can't assess "Hello" since it's still reigning, but I'm finding it hard to see the argument for RITD's impact and pop culture relevance in basically 2016. snarks , re-read the post, because you've failed to properly comprehend it. alestevens you should probably do so as well. :) And what would your argument about them 'not having a certain type of pop culture impact' be about? Her songs are always covered, are huge radio recurrents, sales recurrents, streaming recurrents. And her albums are top recurrents too, meaning that people still care about her 4 year old+ material! :)
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Post by Deleted on Dec 28, 2015 21:04:17 GMT -5
snarks, re-read the post, because you've failed to properly comprehend it. I think I comprehended it properly, I just disagree. You said people weren't enthralled with her as a person, and compared her to the success of memes that anybody could have experienced. I think given the fact that such a huge amount of people were ready to spend money on her and fight for tickets the second they came out, show that people clearly are interested in more than just some of her songs. The records that Adele is breaking are comparable to the records these legends have set, not pointless social media/internet records, and I found the comparison bizarre.
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Post by Fat Ass Kelly Price on Dec 28, 2015 22:05:10 GMT -5
snarks, re-read the post, because you've failed to properly comprehend it. I think I comprehended it properly, I just disagree. You said people weren't enthralled with her as a person, and compared her to the success of memes that anybody could have experienced. I think given the fact that such a huge amount of people were ready to spend money on her and fight for tickets the second they came out, show that people clearly are interested in more than just some of her songs. The records that Adele is breaking are comparable to the records these legends have set, not pointless social media/internet records, and I found the comparison bizarre. As I stated before, you failed to comprehend my point properly. The statement in bold only reaffirms that for me. I have no problem with someone disagreeing with the point I was making, however you're addressing a misinterpretation of my point. Just thought I'd let you know. :) People were attributing memes and parodies generated by RITD and "Hello" as proof of Adele's pop culture impact in comparison to moments such as MJ's historic moonwalk or Madonna's Like A Virgin performance. I was pointing out that Adele's notable pop culture moments are not comparable to MJ/Madonna's, especially since nobodies like Rebecca Black have achieved similar levels of pop culture ubiquity in terms of memes and parodies. That was the point. I was not comparing her success as a musician to memes. I was examining her impactful pop culture moments put forth by her fans. I was pointing out the absurdity in the assertions that "Hello" memes and parodies are equivalent to those MJ/Madonna moments. Nothing in my comment indicated that I believed that "the records that Adele is breaking are comparable to ... pointless social media/internet records". You're making an argument about apples and oranges that I never raised. I'm sitting here with a bowl full of oranges ok. No one is denying her chart success, but it takes more than that for her to become a music legend (imo).
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Post by Fat Ass Kelly Price on Dec 29, 2015 1:32:10 GMT -5
If she does become a legend, I'm curious to see how it manifests itself in copycats. It's pretty easy to look at current singers and see the influence of Beatles, MJ, Mariah, Whitney, Madonna, etc. But in the case of Adele, is there something that's unique enough about her or her music that will have the same thing? Genuine question. She doesn't have a 'new' approach to song structure, songwriting, or delivery. What separate her from any other AC artist is her vocal tone. But that's not something necessarily replicable. I'd be interested to see.
The Beatles have their songwriting. MJ has his dance and vocal inflections. Mariah has her melisma and whistles. Madonna has her image. Whitney has her earth shattering belting. The imitation of these things are clear. What is it for Adele? Is it to come? I'm guessing it's her soulful tone. That's just a characteristic that so hard to sit down and say "This is obviously Adele's influénce."
Now I'm just rambling.
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Post by die Lotterie on Dec 29, 2015 2:00:21 GMT -5
The thread title questions if Adele's success is comparable to that of music legends. I say yes. She's fortunate to have had two massive eras on par with most of the legends in terms of chart performance.
If we're turning this into a discussion regarding Adele's journey to music legend status, one may want to ask themselves a few of questions. 1. What is she bringing to the table that's new, or hasn't been seen before? 2. Has she had any type of real impact on music (I remember everyone claiming her massive success at radio with balladry was going to be ushering in an era emphasizing down-tempo hits and distancing us from the electronic heavy radio trends that still persist to this day,)? 3. Has she really done anything legendary besides sell a s**t ton of singles and records (Because by those standards we could be discussing Katy Perry...)? Her songwriting isn't particularly unique, her productions are mostly trite, and she hasn't evolved a whole lot from her debut. The same case could have been made for the legends at this point in their careers as well, and TALENT always wins, something Adele is significantly full of. I'm rooting for her as she's full of potential, and still has time on her side, but as of now she doesn't hold a candle and hasn't done anything legendary yet.
Two massive eras do not always correlate into musical genre influences, fashion trends, music video trends, iconic tours, timeless classics, POP CULTURE MOMENTS, etc.
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Post by when the pawn... on Dec 31, 2015 15:09:50 GMT -5
But I think they have. GRANTED, we're still in the middle of it but her success hasn't JUST been sales - there has been tremendous impact. Ballads DID get a lift on CHR following Adele - Rihanna ("Stay" is one of her only Grammy-nominated lead singles - that and "Umbrella," no?), Lady Gaga ("You And I" may not be as traditional a ballad as SLY but she went there after 9 consecutive dance songs), Justin Timberlake (did he have any previous solo success with ballads before "Mirrors"?) and Katy Perry ("Wide Awake" was a huge hit and her last attempt at a hit ballad was not) released ballads and had great success, not to mention continued success from Bruno Mars, Pink. And not only ballads, but we saw Foster the People, Gotye, fun. and more see success outside of the pop-dance regime that was ruling radio at the time. I think RITD & SLY broke the ground for a lot of that to happen. The music on her 3 albums certainly isn't original but it has been a breath of a fresh air on the radio and in pop culture. I love Gaga so don't misunderstand me but consider Adele the Nirvana to Lady Gaga's hair rock.
The 21 tour was famously derailed but the 25 tour is set to be amazing, having already done mega-blockbuster numbers. And she is a proven live singer so I don't expect much disappointment.
She isn't a visual artist at all but the "Hello" video is a wild hit and a legitimate pop culture moment. And speaking of "MOMENTS" the aforementioned "Rolling in the Deep" Grammy Performance, "Someone Like You" at The Brits and the huge breakout of "Chasing Pavements" on SNL on the Sarah Palin episode. "Someone Like You" had the accompanying SNL skit about everyone crying to her music and "Hello" had the digital short about bringing a fighting family together at Thanksgiving. Talking about Adele as someone who triggers tears and as someone who is as universal as they come has become cliche. She has a THING. To act like RITD, SLY and "Hello" (and probably SFTTR, WYWY, "Chasing Pavements") won't stand up against time doesn't make sense. If those songs aren't timeless, I don't know what pop songs in the last 5 years have been.
It can be weird to view some of these things as bonafide moments and legacy-making songs/performances/etc. because we are still in the middle of that but otherwise, I can't really understand the contrary argument.
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Linnethia Monique
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Post by Linnethia Monique on Dec 31, 2015 15:18:15 GMT -5
Adele herself is a pop culture moment in the history books.
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magik
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Post by magik on Dec 31, 2015 19:23:23 GMT -5
If she does become a legend, I'm curious to see how it manifests itself in copycats. It's pretty easy to look at current singers and see the influence of Beatles, MJ, Mariah, Whitney, Madonna, etc. But in the case of Adele, is there something that's unique enough about her or her music that will have the same thing? Genuine question. She doesn't have a 'new' approach to song structure, songwriting, or delivery. What separate her from any other AC artist is her vocal tone. But that's not something necessarily replicable. I'd be interested to see. The Beatles have their songwriting. MJ has his dance and vocal inflections. Mariah has her melisma and whistles. Madonna has her image. Whitney has her earth shattering belting. The imitation of these things are clear. What is it for Adele? Is it to come? I'm guessing it's her soulful tone. That's just a characteristic that so hard to sit down and say "This is obviously Adele's influénce." Now I'm just rambling. Adele has copycats NOW... exhibit A - Sam Smith.
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