Pop Underperformers (Modest Hits, But Not Flops)

[Battle601]

I thought this would be an interesting thread worth adding to the forum, supplementing successful pop crossovers and unexpected pop flops to provide some sort of middle ground for songs that deserved to perform a lot better.

An example of an underperformer:
- A song that was expected to reach Top 10 but fell short

- A follow-up single that one thought would perform better or just as equal to the previous one, given the level of expectations going into its release.

- Other similar criteria

My picks:
The Pussycat Dolls - I Hate This Part
The Veronicas - Untouched
Kelly Clarkson - I Do Not Hook Up (While it did reach Top 10, I consider it an underperformer from "My Life Would Suck Without You")
Coldplay - Viva La Vida (Probably the only single from the album that was pop-friendly, should have at least reached Top 10)
Flo Rida f/Wynter - Sugar (By no means a flop, but given the success of "Right Round", this fell short considerably)
Nickelback - If Today Was Your Last Day (It has reached Top 15 but so far, has fallen short of reaching the same peak as Gotta Be Somebody)

[gin]

:lockie:

jk

[Rurry]

I don't think any of these underperformed (except for Sugar), especially Untouched and Viva la Vida. Considering The Veronicas had never had a hit on CHR before, a #12 peak isn't "underperforming", it's quite good IMO. And IDNHU and Right Now (Na Na Na) were top 10 hits, on pop radio I can't say they underperformed (IDNHU definitely underperformed in other departments though).

Underperforming to me is a song like Katy's Thinking of You, Pink's Stupid Girls or Britney's Gimme More. They made the top 20, but based on mostly hype and had fast falls down the chart.

[Battle601]

Out of curiosity, where did "Stupid Girls" and "Gimme More" both peak?

Alright, I guess I could cut some slack for "Untouched", but I still insist "I Hate This Part" should have gone top 10.

I would have to agree with "Thinking Of You" and I would probably throw "Goodbye" and "Love Sex Magic" in there as well.

[Rurry]

They peaked at #17.

I do agree about Goodbye and Love, Sex & Magic. They both looked like they were going to be locks for the top 10, and then they just suddenly crashed - and not only did they fall, they both plummeted.

Also going to add Daughtry's What About Now.

[NorthernDownpour]

Paramore 'That's What You Get'
Boys Like Girls 'Thunder'

[Au$tin]

I don't think "Untouched" underperformed at all. I think it did really well considering the fact it was released almost a full year before it hit the top 50, and The Veronicas weren't very well known in the US beforehand. (And they still aren't now, but better than they were. )

I'd have to say...
Katy Perry "Thinking of You"
It followed "I Kissed a Girl," which peaked at number two, and "Hot N Cold," which peaked at number one. This peaked at number 18. I thought after that, Katy wouldn't have another big hit until the second album, but thankfully I was wrong with that.

Nickelback "Gotta Be Somebody"
After following five single that all went top ten, this should've been destined top five, easily, especially since it was a "comeback" single. It was close, but missed the top ten when it peaked at number 13.

Natasha Bedingfield "Single"
Come on! Anything following the massive hit that was "Unwritten" should've easily gone top ten, but for some reason, radio wasn't feeling "Single," and it peaked at number 25. :(

Natasha Bedingfield "Angel"
This had all the makings for a huge hit, especially following two top ten singles! However, sadly, it only peaked at number 24.

Miley Cyrus "7 Things"
Seriously, following the breakout smash hit, "See You Again," this should've gone top ten! Instead, it stalled at number 20 and quickly crashed, leading "Fly on the Wall" to flop hard.

[Rurry]

Rihanna - Rehab

Rihanna was on a roll and coming off of two huge #1 hits and several other top 10s/top 5s, so I expected this to at least crack the top 15 if not the top 10...but it stalled and fell short at #17, even with Justin's name on it. I guess radio was just over the Good Girl Gone Bad era by that point.

[Flashing Lights]

Daughtry - No Surprise

I know it's still climbing, but didn't everyone expect this to be in the top ten by now?

[Choco]

^I think rehab wasn't an underperformer, nobody expected radio to embrace it so much since Disturbia & Live Your Life were still high. Also we had way too much Rihanna at the time, and Justin wasn't exactly a big part of it, as he only wrote the song and gave backing vocals. It wasn't a featuring like Love Sex Magic or 4 Minutes. I think it did better than expected.

[Rurry]

Most people here predicted Rehab to go top 10 if I recall correctly (or at least make it to the #11-13 range) so I'd say it didn't meet most people's expecations.

And unless No Surprise suddenly explodes, I think we could safely add that to the list as well.

[Battle601]

I was thinking the same thing with "Rehab" and "Angel".

"Keeps Gettin' Better" - I don't believe this song reached Top 10. Although it did manage to spend quite a while on the chart, it fell one week short of going recurrent.

[Rurry]

Yeah, I thought Keeps Gettin Better would do a little better then it did, although it did wind up being a hit for her.

[Battle601]

"Mad" - Ne-Yo seemed to be on a roll with his singles from "Year of the Gentleman" as both "Closer" and "Miss Independent" became Top 10 hits.

[Choco]

Yeah, Mad lost it's bullet with less than 200 spins or something like far from the top 10, it was sad. #11 peaks are so frustrating (same with IHTP (both Hot 100 & Pop), KGB, Crush and Better In Time (Hot 100)).
It's Over wasn't a flop but after so many weeks at #1 with Leavin', it only got to like #23 or something. The same for Leona's I Will Be, after 2 consecutive top 3, she missed top 20.

[Baby In a New Dress]

^ I'm actually surprised the song did as well as it did. It's such an awful song, and doesn't evem really feature her voice. I loved her VMA thing, but it was totally "Keeps Getting Worse."

And Angel, Right Here, and It's Over are good examples. I loved those songs, and they should've done better. But radio was too busy overplaying shit songs like "Whatever You Live."

[Rurry]

Ohhh yeah, Right Here (Departed) was an awesome song that should've been a top 10 for sure.

[WotUNeed]

Two that come to mind:

Maroon 5's "Won't Go Home Without You." It was following up two top ten hits and it had a very radio-friendly sound, in my opinion, but it peaked in the twenties.

Donna Lewis's "Without Love." It's not quite as radio-friendly as "I Love You Always Forever," but it's not exactly out there, and it followed up one of the biggest CHR hits ever. It started climbing okay, cracked the top twenty, climbed to its peak of 17 where it lingered three weeks... and then it had a very quick fall and only spent a total of 12 weeks on.

[Battle601]

Shows how much I know. "Viva La Vida" doesn't even come close to an underperformer. It's very well their best song on Pop Radio overall. Sure, it fell short of the Top 10 (#11) but it outpeaked all the other singles they've released in the format.

[Choco]

omg this one:

Stronger - Britney Spears.
That one had #1 written all over it, and it only peaked at #14 >:(

[Love Plastic Love]

I am surprised STronger didn't do better. It was definitely one of my favorites from that album and sounded so radio friendly,.

[Music Fan]

I agree with Viva La Vida. I don't know much about their previous songs, but I guess that's their best one, but I expected it to do EXCELLENT, and it did GREAT. I think it had potential to make it Top 5, but it fell short of Top 10.

Also one that underperformed was Fergie's Finally, I didn't think that song was going to be Top 10, and Top 20 seemed doubtful, but I was sure that coming from 5 huge hits on POP like BGDC, Glamorous, etc, Finally would make it Top 30 at least or even 25. I think it peaked at like #33-34.

[Rurry]

Oh yeah, Stronger deserved to be a SMASH. It was the strongest single from that era. I think it might do better if it was released now actually.

[Taste It On My Tongue]

I said "Hurt" and "Goodbye" in the other thread but i guess they belong here.

[Az Paynter]

Sara Bareilles - Bottle It Up

I think this is somewhere inbetween pop flop and pop underperformer; after 'Love Song' blasted its way to the #1 position (which it held for two weeks) this really should have gone higher. It was so close to hitting top 30 and then it just fizzled.

[Pikachu.]

Jul 11, 2009 0:00:22 GMT -5 Rurry said:

Oh yeah, Stronger deserved to be a SMASH. It was the strongest single from that era. I think it might do better if it was released now actually.

I totally agree 200%.

[Kishi KCM]

I also co-sign about Britney's "Stronger". But I disagree with Rihanna's "Rehab". No matter what you guys say, that was her EIGHTH single from an album. To go top 20 is amazing, especially since there was Rihanna overload.

[LoveKiller]

i think when i grow up actually really underperformed, especially for being a highly anticipated and extremely radio friendly first single, especially for summer. i thought is should've AT LEAST made top 5. right here (departed) also should have made top 10.

i also think there should be a thread about songs that have OVERPERFORMED because i can think of a lot just off the top of my head haha.