The single choice topic

[halo19]

This topic has to do with the recent poor choices for singles on the radio. If you could change the single choices of an album, what would those singles be?

I think I want to start with Radiohead. "Go To Sleep" would not give the band new fans, becuase it's a self-throwback and not that radio friendly, which makes it amazing to be as big as it was. That's where things go wrong IMO. Instead, here's what I'd suggest, starting from the second single:

2nd - "2 + 2 = 5"
3rd - "Where I End And You Begin"

Also, if there was anything else, I guess "Myxamotosis" would be a good one.

[crash46]

Yeah, I haven't heard their album yet, but "Go To Sleep" was a terrible choice.

As much as I loved all the Strokes singles up to this point, I'll just go ahead and say that "12:51" flat out sucks. It salvages a C because the instrumentals are very nice. Now I know it's "cool" to make songs that sound like they weren't computer produced, but they went way overboard here. How could you make a song where all the lyrics aren't even audible! Am I missing something here? Is there a joke that I'm not picking up? It just seems like a horrible idea to me. This was one of the most anticipated singles of the last 2 years, and they probably won't even hit the top 20 with this one, and it's no surprise.

[Edf85]

TLC - 3D
1. Girl Talk
2. Damaged
3. So So Dumb
3. Turntable/Dirty Dirty double single

TLC - FanMail
1. No Scrubs
2. Unpretty
3. If They Knew
4. I Miss You So Much
5. Shout (Latin Remix) >:(

Mariah Carey - Charmbracelet
1. Through The Rain
2. Irresistible (No Rap)
3. Bringin' On The Heartbreak
4. The One (So So Def Remix)

Mariah Carey - Rainbow
1. Heartbreaker
2. Thank God I Found You
3. X-Girlfriend
4. Can't Take That Away

Left Eye - Supernova
1. Hot!
2. Friends
3. Left Pimpin'
4. Untouchable (f/ 2Pac)

[Deleted]

ugh... I always wanted to do this but held back cuz I knew I'd have to contribute a really long post.

Aaliyah/ Aaliyah
1. We Need A Resolution
2. Rock The Boat
3. More Than A Woman
4. Loose Rap
5. I Care 4 U

I might have even added "Never No More" as the 6th single. Since she's not alive anymore, it wouldn't have hurt to drag it out. "Loose Rap" was robbed. That song was a hit waiting to happen.

Amerie/ All I Have
1. Why Don't We Fall In Love
2. Talkin' To Me
3. Float
4. Nothing Like Loving You
5. Show Me

I don't know what Columbia was on when they decided to only release two singles. These five songs were very good urban tracks.

Ashanti/ Chapter II
1. Rock Wit U (Awww Baby)
2. Rain On Me
3. Breakup 2 Makeup
4. Feels So Good
5. Sweet Baby

The first single was a great summer jam. The second single has that Mary J. Blige vibe that's gaining her a lot more respect. "Breakup 2 Makeup" should be released to slow it down. Ashanti has yet to release a real slow love song. "Feels So Good" is in that "Rain On Me" category. If the formula works, why not take advantage of it. "Sweet Baby" would be a great song for the summer of 2004. It's a lot like "Rock Wit U".

Erykah Badu/ Worldwide Underground
1. Danger
2. Back In The Day (Puff)
3. The Grind

As much as I dislike "Danger," I think it was a good comeback single. "Back In The Day" is good for being more of a classic Erykah sound. It's a great soulful midtempo. Finally, "The Grind" is probably the only other song I could see being released. It has a radio friendly R&B/hip-hop sound.

Beyonce/ Dangerously In Love
1. Crazy In Love
2. Speechless
3. Baby Boy
4. The Closer I Get To You

Four singles may seem like a lot since she's releasing a new album soon, but I'd ship different singles to different formats. "Crazy In Love" was the obviously lead-off, for urban and pop. "Speechless" is a guaranteed #1 Urban AC smash and should've been sent to Urban AC at the same time. For the second Urban and Pop single, "Baby Boy" is another obvious one. At that time, "The Closer I Get To You" would be sent to Urban AC, though possibly awhile after "Baby Boy" is shipped out, because "Speechless" would be having the typical long Urban AC run.

Mary J. Blige/ No More Drama
1. Family Affair
2. No More Drama
3. Rainy Dayz
4. He Think I Don't Know
5. Never Been

Only God knows why there weren't more than three singles off of this album. The first three are okay. I don't have a problem with them, but when the HQ2 remix of "He Think I Don't Know" was released to the clubs, there was no reason why it couldn't be sent to Urban. I'm sure it would have been a big Urban AC hit. In the fall, "Never Been" was included on the "Brown Sugar" soundtrack as well as the "Dance For Me" remix album. That would have been a great release to take advantage of.

Mary J. Blige/ Love & Life
1. Not Today
2. Ooh!
3. Feel Like Makin' Love

I'm not sure that this should really go beyond three releases. "Not Today" should have been the first single. I have no clue why they chose that jarring mess "Love @ 1st Sight". Even Mary wasn't a big fan of that one. "Not Today" could have been the Dre song to lead off the album, like "Family Affair" lead off "No More Drama". "Ooh!" is good for that classic, soulful, upbeat Mary jam that needs to be released. Finally, "Feel Like Makin' Love" could close the album. Mary hasn't had a slow jam in awhile.

Mariah Carey/ Butterfly
1. Honey
2. My All
3. The Roof
4. Whenever You Call
5. Breakdown

So all five of these songs were released in one form, but three of them did not receive proper releases. I'd start it off with "Honey". It's a typical first single from Mariah. No use in messing with the formula. "Butterfly" was a horrible choice for the follow-up and the big ballad from the album. Not that it's a bad song but I really don't think it's that great for radio. "My All" would have kept up the momentum after "Honey". "The Roof" would have been a good hip-hop track to follow-up a ballad. Mariah then could have gone for her signature pop ballad with "Whenever You Call". Dance remixes could have been shipped out. She then should have closed the album with "Breakdown".

Mariah Carey/ Rainbow
1. Heartbreaker
2. Thank God I Found You
3. How Much

"Heartbreaker" is typical Mariah lead-off fluff. "Thank God I Found You" is a radio friendly ballad. Now what I have no clue why Columbia chose to do was their release of the double single, "Can't Take That Away" and "Crybaby," two of the least radio friendly songs on the album. In the spring of 2000, people were awaiting new Usher material. "How Much" was a great R&B song featuring him and was very radio friendly. She most likely would have still flopped because Columbia was not willing to promote a third single no matter what it was, but it had a much better chance. Considering this is some of Mariah's worst material, I would have stopped there.

Mariah Carey/ Glitter
1. If We
2. Lead The Way

This is the album that killed Mariah's career. She had a string of horrible single choices. First, she should have released "If We". She would've beat Jennifer Lopez to the punch with the Murder Inc. collaboration. She's not heavily featured on the track and she could have stressed the fact that it's a soundtrack had that one been released. The follow-up should have been "Lead The Way". It's a signature, powerful power ballad from Mariah, produced by Walter Afannasieff. No doubt this would have been a Top 10 AC hit. After that she should have stopped as far as radio releases went. This is a soundtrack after all. However, a release of "Last Night A DJ Saved My Life" remixes to the clubs wouldn't have hurt. There was a medley club mix of "Last Night A DJ Saved My Life" and "Don't Stop" that was brilliant.

Mariah Carey/ Glitter
1. Through The Rain
2. Lullaby
3. Bringin' On The Heartbreak

"Charmbracelet" is not a radio friendly album. "Through The Rain" is a good lead-off because it was an inspirational ballad, something people had been hoping for. So, it flopped. I think it was good for her image. "Lullaby" would have been the good hip-hop single for the album. It's midtempo, heavy bass… something people wouldn't really expect from her. Best of all, there's no rapper! "Bringin' On The Heartbreak" was a good, strictly pop ballad to close the album.

---------------------------

Before I go further down my CD list, I'm going to stop.

[Devil Marlena Nylund]

Chantal Kreviazuk - What If It All Means Something

In This Life
Waiting
Time
What If It All Means Something

'In This Life' was a decent leadoff single. It got her where it should have so I wouldn't have changed that. 'Waiting' would have easily picked off where 'In This Life' left her and kept her climbing, in airplay and in sales. 'Time' is a good single release and I see that now but if they had waiting for it as the third single, it would have coincided with the soundtrack in both Canada and the US. 'What If It All Means Something' is a good finale.

Martina Sorbara - The Cure For Bad Deeds
Bonnie & Clyde II
Claudia
Once I Was Mighty

The first mistake made by Nettwerk was never releasing another single/video. Martina wouldn't have been a radio artist but videos for 'Claudia' and 'Once I Was Mighty' could have made her as big as Sarah Slean, and 'Claudia' could have been her 'Sweet Ones'.

Alanis Morissette - Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie
Thank U
Joining You
So Pure
Front Row

Their mistake was not releasing 'Joining You'.

[Chromeozone]

Mandy Moore - Mandy Moore
01 In My Pocket
02 Yo-Yo
03 Cry
04 One Sided Love

Michelle Branch - The Spirit Room
01 Everywhere
02 All You Wanted
03 Here With Me
04 Goodbye To You
05 I'd Rather Be In Love/Drop in the Ocean (to clubs)

Michelle Branch - Hotel Paper
01 Are You Happy Now
02 Find Your Way Back
03 One of These Days
04 Empty Handed
05 Breathe

Hilary Duff - Metamorphosis
01 So Yesterday
02 Party Up
03 Anywhere but Here
04 Metamorphosis

Jewel - 0304
01 Intuition
02 U & Me = Love
03 Run 2 U
04 Stand
05 America OR Yes U Can

Sugababes - Angels With Dirty Faces
01 Freak Like Me
02 Stronger
03 Virgin Sexy
04 More Than a Million Miles
05 Round Round/Angels With Dirty Faces (Double A-side)

Nelly Furtado - Whoa Nelly
01 Turn Off the Light
02 I'm Like a Bird
03 Baby Girl
04 ...On the Radio (Remember the Days)
05 Legend

Mandy Moore - So Real
01 So Real
02 Walk Me Home
03 Candy
04 Let Me Be the One

[JJ]

One of the best albums from 2001 had the worst singles I've ever seen:

Jewel - This Way

Ok, Standing Still was a nice come back. But if it were me, I'd go for Jesus Loves You as 1st single. It would definitly grab some attention just because of the title and I think it's pretty catchy. I know it wouldn't probably do much on pop, but it would be more like a comeback song. Then she would release Standing Still right after JLY peaked, and really push for it, even more than Jesus Loves You. The 3rd single would be Do You Want To Play? which would be a big Hot Ac hit and to end the album, release Serve The Ego, since its remixes were so succesful.

[HER MINAJesty]

Rebirth, I agree, "Not Today" should have been the 1st single off Love & Life, but it isn't too late to still release it.

Im just curious why you didn't say Not Today should be the 3rd single, after Ooh!, and then still keep that ballad as the 4th single to close out the album.

Is it because she only released 3 singles off the last album, causing you to think she will probably do the same with this one?

If Im not mistaken, with her last album, she released No More Drama right after Fam. Affair, and then she didn't do anything until like February, which is when Rainy Dayz dropped. Didn't they do that to coincide with the re-release of the album?

I think the original album did not have Ja Rule on Rainy Dayz, or maybe it didn't even have that track at all, not sure.

Mary and Eve always seem to do collaborations, so I dont know why one of them hasnt been released yet. "Not Today" really should be released, that song is so hot.

[Chickenshit]

Alanis Morissette:

Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie:
1. Uninvited (She should have never given this song for a soundtrack. It should have been the first single, completely different to anything on JLP)

2. Thank U

3. Joining You

4. So Pure

5. Unsent/UR/That I Would Be Good (Depends on the performance of So Pure)

Under Rug Swept

1. Hands Clean

2. Narcissus Remix (Change the horrific chorus and you have an excellent song)

3. Precious Illusions (Re-recorded with Glenn Ballard )

4. Bent 4 U

[Deleted]

Virgoluvsmusic said:

Rebirth, I agree, "Not Today" should have been the 1st single off Love & Life, but it isn't too late to still release it.

Im just curious why you didn't say Not Today should be the 3rd single, after Ooh!, and then still keep that ballad as the 4th single to close out the album.

Is it because she only released 3 singles off the last album, causing you to think she will probably do the same with this one?

If Im not mistaken, with her last album, she released No More Drama right after Fam. Affair, and then she didn't do anything until like February, which is when Rainy Dayz dropped. Didn't they do that to coincide with the re-release of the album?

I think the original album did not have Ja Rule on Rainy Dayz, or maybe it didn't even have that track at all, not sure.

Mary and Eve always seem to do collaborations, so I dont know why one of them hasnt been released yet. "Not Today" really should be released, that song is so hot.

I'm not sure what you mean by the first part of this, but basically I think "Love @ 1st Sight" should not have been a single period. "Not Today" is the third single from the album.

[Gorminako]

Tori Amos should never have released "Taxi Ride" as a followup to "A Sorta Fairytale". It's one of the weakest songs on the album. "Strange" is a good release, but by now people aren't paying attention. I think "Scarlet's Walk" with its haunting opening hook that would attract lots of listeners, and "Pancake" should have been released in-between. Then maybe there would have remained enough interest to release a fifth or 6th single, like "Another Girl's Paradise" or "Virginia".

I've been thinking of the order of release of Blue songs, should they ever be introduced to America. First would be "All Rise", with its infectious opening hook. It immediately captures your attention, and the whole song lifts you up. "Fly By" is similarly enjoyable, and would be a good followup. Then "One Love", "Bounce", time for a ballad "Long Time", then "Flexin'", "Back Some Day", "Supersexual", "Privacy", another ballad "Girl I'll Never Understand", "Riders", "Invitation", "Right Here Waiting", and "Love RIP". Heck, they could go on and on. Most of their songs are definite hit single material in the absence of the anti-boy band bias Americans tend to have, which may eventually disappear when people get tired of the same old rap and junk rock dominating the airwaves, and start missing and craving the melodic and rhythmic pop and soul we used to hear, and Blue exemplifies.

I'm hoping Justin Timberlake will release "Nothin' Else and at least one of the following: "Take a Ride", "Take It from Here". "What You Got" has hit potential, too.

Vivian Green's strongest song on her CD is "Music", and I don't understand why she hasn't released that yet.

I hope 3 Doors Down releases "The Road I'm On" to pop, and "Changes" would be a good 4th single.

Rock seems much more adept at finding and releasing the best songs of an album than are the other genres.

Alanis Morissette's "Joining You" should definitely have been released in the US. It's one of her best songs ever, and was huge in Canada.

TLC should have kept with "Hands Up", instead of giving it up and releasing "Damaged" prematurely. Both songs would have been much bigger had they waited on "Damaged" until "Hands Up" had peaked.

I was always disappointed of the choices of the single releases of my favorite bands, the Moody Blues and Alan Parsons Project. Gary Puckett & the Union Gap, the Stylistics and Commodores could have had more hits and become even bigger than they were, with wiser releases, imo.

6 outstanding songs from Icehouse's Measure for Measure should have been released and properly promoted. And Live's Throwing Copper should have released "Pillar of Davidson" and perhaps TBD (or whatever letter combination it was) to continue their impressive string of hits they had at their peak following "Lightning Crashes"