Adam (UTR)
3x Platinum Member
#1 on Adam's Top 40: "Break My Heart" by Dua Lipa
Joined: August 2008
Posts: 3,675
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Post by Adam (UTR) on Jul 20, 2009 10:29:07 GMT -5
First single from his forthcoming album, Slice, which is to be released in October. This is going for Hot AC adds on August 17, and apparently, it's gonna be on iTunes tomorrow.
I'm so excited for this - I loved Two Lights. I'm hoping this can be another top-10 Hot AC hit for him.
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Post by singingsparrow on Jul 20, 2009 13:39:56 GMT -5
John Ondrasik has a clear track record in writing excellent singles (though he also has the dubious tendency to write awful album tracks like "Policeman's X-Mas Party" and "Michael Jordan") so, given the quality of his singles release history, I'm excited about this.
"Two Lights" (besides "Policeman's X-Mas Party") was an excellent album from beginning to end. Tracks like "California Justice" and "Johnny America" can sound a little silly, but they carry through convincingly to me, while others like the title track, "Freedom Never Cries" and "Road To Heaven" really touch your heart.
Sincerely,
Noah Eaton
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No Brake$
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Joined: March 2004
Posts: 4,430
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Post by No Brake$ on Jul 21, 2009 11:52:02 GMT -5
Just caught the end of it, it sounds pretty good, this guy is always up for a decent hit in the Fall. I completely forgot about "Easy Tonight", that song cooked.
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Post by The Party Captain on Jul 21, 2009 14:45:26 GMT -5
Hot AC is this man's house. He is always up for a hit every 2-3 years, it seems.
I'm really excited about this, as his singles have always grown on me over time. The Riddle was probably one of the most introspective songs to hit in radio in 5-10 years.
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Post by singingsparrow on Jul 21, 2009 17:27:58 GMT -5
Just caught the end of it, it sounds pretty good, this guy is always up for a decent hit in the Fall. I completely forgot about "Easy Tonight", that song cooked. "Easy Tonight" deserved to be a hit, but I suppose the grim theme of the song (it's about suicide) made it sound too heavy for radio. Sincerely, Noah Eaton |
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Post by singingsparrow on Jul 29, 2009 1:59:45 GMT -5
I just heard "Chances" for the first time, and Ondrasik has done it again: delivering a solid lead single with much greater lyrical depth than most of his fellow contemporaries.
"Chances" has notably more swagger than his previous three lead singles musically. I felt his first two lead singles ("Superman (It's Not Easy)", "100 Years") primarily succeeded because of how well it hits home to the heart of the listener to the point of hemorrhaging emotionally, and beginning with "The Riddle", while surely accomplishing just the same lyrically, was notably more hook-driven than its predecessors.
"Chances" raises the ante yet again, with the best examples being the increased use of drums/percussion to drive the verses and the song's bridge, where Ondrasik sings like he's trying to puncture a hole through the clouds, semi-wailing couplets, and is easily his catchiest lead single to date, while soaring, contemplative and piano-driven all the same.
Sincerely,
Noah Eaton
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analog
Bubbling Under
Joined: August 2009
Posts: 8 
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Post by analog on Aug 3, 2009 1:06:36 GMT -5
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erzo01
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Post by erzo01 on Aug 3, 2009 21:27:35 GMT -5
Top 50 in Triple A!
106 50 FIVE FOR FIGHTING Chances 62 22 40 0.218
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rfucom
Diamond Member
Beerbongs fanatic
Joined: December 2008
Posts: 10,118
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Post by rfucom on Aug 3, 2009 23:57:02 GMT -5
this is better than easy tonight. i like this.
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erzo01
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Post by erzo01 on Aug 5, 2009 7:33:27 GMT -5
Top 50 in Hot AC!
109 49 FIVE FOR FIGHTING Chances 129 23 106 0.617
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erzo01
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Post by erzo01 on Aug 7, 2009 10:15:22 GMT -5
Top 40 in Triple A!
64 40 FIVE FOR FIGHTING Chances 81 45 36 0.246
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erzo01
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Post by erzo01 on Aug 12, 2009 9:49:46 GMT -5
Top 40 in Hot AC!
49 39 FIVE FOR FIGHTING Chances 246 129 117 1.064
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erzo01
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Joined: June 2008
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Post by erzo01 on Aug 18, 2009 10:24:46 GMT -5
Top 30 in Hot AC!
42 30 FIVE FOR FIGHTING Chances 412 230 182 1.380
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Felicia
9x Platinum Member
will you love me, even with my dark side?
Joined: March 2006
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Post by Felicia on Aug 22, 2009 4:31:03 GMT -5
This is absolutely fantastic. Could be his best single yet.
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erzo01
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Post by erzo01 on Aug 22, 2009 10:50:11 GMT -5
Top 30 in Triple A!
36 29 FIVE FOR FIGHTING Chances 111 94 17 0.322
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Post by singingsparrow on Aug 22, 2009 23:34:12 GMT -5
This is absolutely fantastic. Could be his best single yet. I believe every lead single he has released has been excellent, and every single except for "If God Made You" has been excellent too, for that matter. Sincerely, Noah Eaton |
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Post by singingsparrow on Nov 22, 2009 2:36:50 GMT -5
It appears it may be the end of the line for this single (at Hot AC, anyway, it may climb higher at AC)
That's a shame. I think this is one of the best singles released to the format this year, but nonetheless is his weakest-performing lead single to date and, really, is on par with how second singles from his previous albums fared (ranging from #15 for "World" to #23 for "The Devil In The Wishing Well")
*
Perhaps now we should talk about second single bets.
I believe the title track ("Slice"), "Story Of Your Life" and "Above The Timberline" are the standouts as second single candidates. The former is alright, but I think there's too much sameness in its sound to really do anything.
In contrast, "Story Of Your Life" sounds more upbeat than almost anything John Ondrasik has recorded before, while "Above The Timberline" has a strong, melodic hook that doesn't get drowned out by lyrics, which are more straight-forward compared to much of his catalog, talking specifically about getting out into the fresh air to clear ones head.
If I had a choice, I'd pick "Above The Timberline" as the second single. Many of Ondrasik's singles, while excellent, are nonetheless much on the sentimental side, and "Above The Timberline" would make a more loose, fun change of pace as far as singles are concerned.
Sincerely,
Lisping Hibiscus
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Adam (UTR)
3x Platinum Member
#1 on Adam's Top 40: "Break My Heart" by Dua Lipa
Joined: August 2008
Posts: 3,675
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Post by Adam (UTR) on Nov 22, 2009 13:41:19 GMT -5
I believe the title track was the one listed on the sticker on the album, so I wouldn't be surprised if that is Single #2.
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Post by The Party Captain on Nov 22, 2009 16:28:48 GMT -5
I would say his lead singles have slowly had less and less success is because he hasn't changed his falsetto+piano style whatsoever.
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Post by singingsparrow on Nov 23, 2009 1:09:52 GMT -5
I would say his lead singles have slowly had less and less success is because he hasn't changed his falsetto+piano style whatsoever. Even while I have immensely enjoyed all of his lead singles because of their strong songwriting quality, I nonetheless agree Ondrasik has been compulsively safe musically-speaking, and that is ultimately a liability for almost all artists. What I find interesting is how Ondrasik used to have more electric guitar-driven offerings, but has since veered from that completely. I happened to enjoy that balance on "Americatown" in particular, even though his latter albums have been more consistent in terms of song quality. Sincerely, Lisping Hibiscus |
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Post by singingsparrow on Nov 23, 2009 1:10:17 GMT -5
I believe the title track was the one listed on the sticker on the album, so I wouldn't be surprised if that is Single #2. No surprise there. Sincerely, Lisping Hibiscus |
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Post by singingsparrow on Dec 4, 2009 18:07:44 GMT -5
Has anyone else just noticed that "The Battle For Everything" just received a Platinum certification?
That was quite a surprise to me. I never remembered the record selling well throughout its chart run, as it seemed single sales for "100 Years" dwarfed the album's momentum. And yet, five years since its release, it has pulled off this achievement.
I'm surprised more than anything that "The Battle For Everything" got a Platinum certification before "Two Lights" received a Gold certification.
Sincerely,
Lisping Hibiscus
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Post by The Party Captain on Dec 10, 2009 19:56:32 GMT -5
I dunno. The Riddle didn't have much longevity as 100 Years. I have yet to hear The Riddle anywhere as a recurrent.
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Post by singingsparrow on Dec 12, 2009 20:01:33 GMT -5
I dunno. The Riddle didn't have much longevity as 100 Years. I have yet to hear The Riddle anywhere as a recurrent. "The Riddle" was still a respectable hit for Ondrasik, regardless. It was on the Billboard Hot 100 for eighteen weeks, went Top Ten at Hot AC and Top Five at AC. The same can't be said, though, for "Chances". At least it charted the Billboard Hot 100. Sincerely, Lisping Hibiscus |
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erzo01
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Post by erzo01 on Jan 11, 2010 11:05:25 GMT -5
Top 20 in Triple A!
23 20 FIVE FOR FIGHTING Chances 179 157 22 0.562
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Post by singingsparrow on Jan 11, 2010 15:12:03 GMT -5
Top 20 in Triple A! 23 20 FIVE FOR FIGHTING Chances 179 157 22 0.562 "Chances" actually already reached the Top 20 two months ago, I believe. Given Ondrasik is a singles artist that has never sold many records, I think the single mostly underperformed when considering his previous lead single history, but it still made an impression. It is great it at least managed to chart the Billboard Hot 100, even if entirely off single sales the week of the album's release (then again, the latest U2 singles charted pretty much entirely off single sales hyped from release too). Sincerely, Lisping Hibiscus |
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Post by The Party Captain on Jan 11, 2010 19:11:29 GMT -5
Most singles are doing that nowadays. Have we had a song debut at #1 yet?
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Post by singingsparrow on Jan 11, 2010 23:56:51 GMT -5
Most singles are doing that nowadays. Have we had a song debut at #1 yet? But there's also plenty of artists with larger fanbases that have failed to chart the Billboard Hot 100 lately off a lead single. Third Eye Blind, Collective Soul, Better Than Ezra and Dido, for instance. Sincerely, Lisping Hibiscus |
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Post by The Party Captain on Jan 12, 2010 11:45:42 GMT -5
I would say their fan bases aren't big enough if the singles don't chart the Hot 100.
Fans of bands with cult followings are typically just going to wait to buy the album.
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