dbhmr
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Post by dbhmr on Jul 9, 2015 2:08:02 GMT -5
Haven't posted in a while (new job + life + this thread was becoming insufferable), but the problem with the era begins and ends with radio's apathy. Her promo level, the single choices, the album itself, the critical response, the music videos...none of this would have been out of line or derailed a Stronger-esque (adjusted for ever-declining sales) sales pattern. That radio at large didn't give a shit about two songs that fit well in today's pop music landscape from an established-if-past-her-prime artist sunk the project. The album is killer, the promotion was sufficient, but how this album was going to be released was set in stone ages ago, and Camp Kelly (label included) wasn't shifting on that. Certainly explains the aggressive tour venues. Her career isn't her priority, but that shouldn't have mattered. Had radio played the songs, the album would be relevant, we'd be hearing her on the radio, the promo pieces would have been met with more attention, etc. Maybe "Take You High" would have been attention-grabbing enough to shake pop radio out of whatever hesitation they have with Kelly now, but that's about it. If this album leaked three months in advance, and the singles put to a vote, I'm sure the majority of us would have gone with the label's choices. Radio just didn't bite, and there's no back-up plan to save an artist like Kelly when that happens at this stage in her career, without tremendous assistance from another outside source (e.g., crazy-good critical acclaim, a viral video, etc).
Still positively loving the album, still not entirely assured by the state of her voice. Saw her in SF the other weekend and it was the weakest I've heard her in person, even if she still nailed MI and Invincible. Good by her standard, great by most standards, but I just have higher standards after the past few years.
Ta at for now...
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popbox
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Post by popbox on Jul 9, 2015 4:09:17 GMT -5
HBS sounds like a forced EDM-lite version of a song that was a hit over a decade ago. That pretty much says it all for how "relevant" it is on today's CHR scene. Take out Kelly's vocals elevating it slightly and it would sound like something that you only hear on Radio Disney. Invincible is a song with zero appeal to the young demo, aka CHR's bread and butter. It is 100% Adult Contemporary. Honestly guys, stop pretending these two songs would have ever stood a chance in hell with any artist releasing them. They aren't big hits. It really is as simple as that.
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Anticonformity
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Post by Anticonformity on Jul 9, 2015 4:17:54 GMT -5
HBS sounds like a forced EDM-lite version of a song that was a hit over a decade ago. *insert Jimmy Eat World song*
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 9, 2015 5:32:34 GMT -5
Honestly guys, stop pretending these two songs would have ever stood a chance in hell with any artist releasing them. Although I will admit that if it were left up to me, HBS and Invincible probably never would have been singles over other songs, I'm going to disagree with this particular statement if only on the principle that I have seen too many mediocre (or just outright garbage) songs find their way to the top 10 or higher - songs worse than HBS and Invincible - typically on the strength of the singer's current status at radio and/or the amount of promotion the singer and label put behind it. I'd name examples but I'm sure no one is here for me shading Katy Perry for the umpteenth time or throwing Fight Song under the bus, so I will just say that I think I would disagree with Danny somewhat regarding the promotion. It wasn't completely lacking, but I wasn't happy with it. As some others have pointed out, everything she did was spread out, a show here and an appearance there but no big blitz to make one big splash. I'd have to double check to make sure I'm correct on this, but I think few, if any, of the radio interviews she has done this era have been with pop stations. It's like she hasn't even bothered trying to encourage CHR to play her, so why would CHR show her any love if she shows none to them? I still can't get over her doing a CC deal with HAC (where she probably would have gone top 10 without it it) and then giving CHR the cold shoulder. She also did a lot of print interviews and there was that quick dustup with the brickfaced British lady that no one even remembers now, but I think all of that was geared more toward selling Kelly's image as a new mom than it was to selling her music, if that makes any sense. That's kind of the weird thing for me right now - I actually feel like Kelly's image is in a pretty good, stable place, even if this particular era is not performing in accordance to that. So on one hand I'm really disappointed in the era's floppiness, but on the other hand I don't think it really indicates anything about the potential performance for future albums, unless we think this lackluster approach to promotion (combined with making music that is perfectly good pop music but unlikely to earn her any critical acclaim points) is the new norm for her. @misha and ificanthaveyou half joked about it, but I actually told someone a while ago that I think River majorly threw this era off. Kelly was in the middle of working on the album - maybe picked most or all of the songs, even? - when she got pregnant. We now have an album that was molded by a not-pregnant and probably still career-focused Kelly, but finally given to us one and a half to two years later by a post-baby, family-oriented Kelly. It's the only thing that fully explains the disconnect between how made for radio this album is versus how ambivalent Kelly and RCA have been to working it at radio.
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corpus
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Post by corpus on Jul 9, 2015 10:42:26 GMT -5
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 9, 2015 11:12:51 GMT -5
Lucky you! I'm a bit jealous right now lol :'(
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Jack
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Post by Jack on Jul 9, 2015 12:52:32 GMT -5
I echo much of what Danny has said.
I too have not been posting because there's been an element permeating around this thread the last six months which has encouraged and resulted in inane discussion, reputation of posts, and just nothing worth in engaging in.
But echoing further what he (and cynthiarising) have said, I disagree with much of what has been said about this particular topic at hand. Any one who suggests Taylor Swift couldn't have taken Heartbeat Song straight to number one, is mad. It's not such an inaccessible non-hit of a song, that with a well thought out campaign from a same tier artist with focus and ambition couldn't have made it into a (bigger) hit.
The album era has felt strange. It's an album created over a long period of time where Kelly's personal life changed dramatically. It's the last one on her contract, and in many ways feels like the sort of low key little investment, monetarily or artistically, throw out to fulfill an obligation record that we sometimes see in the industry. If Kelly had finished her obligations to RCA after Wrapped In Red I don't think Piece By Piece would exist (on RCA or on any other label). Much as I love it, it does seem like a record sourced together from a bunch of very efficient songwriters, with a very efficient vocalist, and came out better than anybody expected. The timing of it, the context, the material, her appearance, her contract, her personal life...it's such a hotch potch, mis-match of circumstances that I'm not surprised it has done poorly. This poorly is a surprise and a concern (I thought she'd at least scan 500k). There is no two ways about it, the numbers are dismal.
I do have to roll my eyes at Pulse's favorite game "This should have been the single" again. I think most of you should feel relieved that the songs you wanted to be, weren't singles. If they were, they likely would have underperformed just like singles one and two have, and you would no longer be able to pretend that they would have been bigger than I Got A Feeling. That's the beauty of our imaginations, we can convince ourselves that our choices would have yielded spectacular results, and the very nature of them not happening in reality means nobody can prove you wrong.
I think the label did the best they could given the circumstances. I think Heartbeat Song and Invincible were the best choices for singles one and two. "How can you say that given what happened?!" i'm sure people will cry...I can say that because given the songs we got from the project, and the circumstances surrounding it, I think anything else would have resulted a similar or worse outcomes. And that's the shame here really. I don't really think Kelly currently has the focus or ambition to make a project like this one a success, which is fine. I imagine the impetus for the Piece By Piece project was to fulfill her contract, keep her name out there, maybe make her a bit of pocket money and allow her to go out on tour. I just don't understand why the whole thing couldn't have waited six months.
What do I think will happen next? This has been her first true 'flop' era, but it wasn't so catastrophic that it will derail her contract negotiations, nor leave her in trouble for whatever she does from now. One of the benefits of being as uncontroversial as Kelly is that unless it flops with a big crash or a thud, people largely ignore or forget about it. Which leaves her with the 'comeback' momentum for the people that know, and the 'she's been gone a while' for the people who don't. If she was going to have a flop, now is pretty much the right time for her to have done so. She's had a successful single in some markets, and is going on a big Summer tour. That's probably the take away from this last six months. I think they will release Piece By Piece as the third and final single (we could say but what about the award shows and John Legend potential...but let's face it, Kelly is going to be long pregnant and sat at home by the time the new year and that season rolls around) with a live/behind the scenes video which features lots of cute footage of her and River...it won't do very well largely, but might do nicely in Europe around the time her tour rolls there. If indeed she goes very far afield.
I will look back on this album as an extra little bonus. I hope she rests up, enjoys her family, and comes back when she's ready, with her new professional freedom ready to continue on the next chapter of her musical journey.
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Envoirment
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Post by Envoirment on Jul 9, 2015 13:27:09 GMT -5
Piece By Piece
9-15-25-31-38-43-59-66-83 (9 weeks)
Sold: 35k+
Heartbeat song
7-10-13-16-18-23-25-30-33-35-40-46-61-68-73-83-88-99 (18 weeks)
Sold: 300,000+ (Silver certification)
#33 on UK airplay chart still and #181/#406 on UK iTunes. Think it could go gold (400k+) by the end of the year/early next year.
Kelly's got strong radio support from the UK and currently she's the 10th most played artist here at the moment. "Invincible" is getting support from BBC Radio 1 and #131 on UK iTunes, but no other big stations are supporting it so it's sadly going to miss the top 100. The album has done decently off the back of "Heartbeat Song" and I hope they release a 3rd single and promote it in the UK to help push the album sales to get a silver certification (60k+).
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Envoirment
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Post by Envoirment on Jul 9, 2015 17:21:38 GMT -5
Also great news!!!! "Invincible" was played on an ITV advert and is now up to #80 & #571 on UK iTunes and still climbing (second version wasn't top 1500 earlier when I checked). Given today's the first day it's been aired, it should climb a lot more if the advert goes into regular rotation!!!
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Unhinged
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Post by Unhinged on Jul 9, 2015 19:15:14 GMT -5
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BDGeek
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Post by BDGeek on Jul 9, 2015 22:50:44 GMT -5
this thread was becoming insufferable there's been an element permeating around this thread the last six months which has encouraged and resulted in inane discussion, reputation of posts, and just nothing worth in engaging in. PREACH.
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getonthebus
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Post by getonthebus on Jul 10, 2015 16:14:45 GMT -5
FYI Meet & Greet entry form (for July dates only) is on Kellebrities.
Sis better tweet Fan Request instructions tonight or early tomorrow.
Plus, a promo video featuring smash hit Dance With Me, available at all retailers and on all streaming platforms.
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Focus
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"peace out my babies" ~ Kelly Hoodson tm yoKC ~ "hackers..You've been CLARKSONED"!
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Post by Focus on Jul 10, 2015 17:33:24 GMT -5
Jason Halbert tweeted a few times about fan requests.
Don't forget to tweet #concertcity as well.
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MiniMusic
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Post by MiniMusic on Jul 10, 2015 19:54:44 GMT -5
YAAAAAS just got tickets for the radio city music hall show next Thursday!!!!! Nosebleed section but it was only 25 bucks so! I had to do it.
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Peterawr
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Post by Peterawr on Jul 10, 2015 20:06:35 GMT -5
I'm so excited to see the setlist now. I wasn't sure what to expect. I hope she pulls people on stage to dance during "Dance With Me" because I"m front row in Denver!
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Focus
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Post by Focus on Jul 10, 2015 20:29:20 GMT -5
Rosie Zhang @krz1498 10m10 minutes ago
I CAN HEAR KELLY CLARKSON REHEARSING IM SO EXCITED FOR TOMORROW #PxPtour
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MiniMusic
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Post by MiniMusic on Jul 10, 2015 21:57:36 GMT -5
Do we know how many PBP songs she's going to perform??
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bitchplease
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Post by bitchplease on Jul 10, 2015 22:08:38 GMT -5
Do we know how many PBP songs she's going to perform?? not sure yet, but im guessing at least HBS, Invincible, Dance w me, Piece by piece.
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BDGeek
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Post by BDGeek on Jul 10, 2015 22:09:20 GMT -5
Do we know how many PBP songs she's going to perform?? I believe she said at least six. But that was like three months ago, so it could've easily changed.
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MiniMusic
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Post by MiniMusic on Jul 10, 2015 22:14:40 GMT -5
Six would be nice- but 8-9 would be awesome!! I want the singles + Piece by Piece, Dance With Me, Someone, Take You High, Bad Reputation, Good Goes the Bye and In the Blue if I had a 9 song selection tbh.
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xline06
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Post by xline06 on Jul 10, 2015 22:42:50 GMT -5
Six would be nice- but 8-9 would be awesome!! I want the singles + Piece by Piece, Dance With Me, Someone, Take You High, Bad Reputation, Good Goes the Bye and In the Blue if I had a 9 song selection tbh. Predictable : - Heartbeat Song - Invincible - Nostalgic - Someone - Piece By Piece - Take You High - Dance With Me Hopeful : - Heartbeat Song - Invincible - Nostalgic - Good Goes The Bye - Let Your Tears Fall - Piece By Piece - In The Blue
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MiniMusic
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Post by MiniMusic on Jul 10, 2015 22:58:15 GMT -5
Six would be nice- but 8-9 would be awesome!! I want the singles + Piece by Piece, Dance With Me, Someone, Take You High, Bad Reputation, Good Goes the Bye and In the Blue if I had a 9 song selection tbh. Predictable : - Heartbeat Song - Invincible - Nostalgic - Someone - Piece By Piece - Take You High - Dance With Me Hopeful : - Heartbeat Song - Invincible - Nostalgic - Good Goes The Bye - Let Your Tears Fall - Piece By Piece - In The Blue Yeah you are so right and OMG Let Your Tears FAll YAAAS that's what I need performed!!
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bigb0882
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Post by bigb0882 on Jul 11, 2015 0:02:19 GMT -5
I love the people not predicting she will sing Nostalgic when someone tweeted they heard it in soundcheck. That would be a safe bet. HBS, Invincible, Nostalgic for sure. The others I would guess: PBP, Dance With Me (opener, maybe?) and TYH. Maybe she can squeeze Someone and Tight Rope in there with a mashup of a few of her ballads. I know its not a huge fan favorite but it would be cool for her to start the encore singing a few lines of Second Wind. Have the stage black and then Kelly and the band kick in with "Any second I'm gonna catch my second wind....." and she can go into whatever songs she has planned. Only a line or two but it would be neat.
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Focus
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"peace out my babies" ~ Kelly Hoodson tm yoKC ~ "hackers..You've been CLARKSONED"!
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Post by Focus on Jul 11, 2015 0:16:56 GMT -5
courtesy bixblitz at the KCE... kelly🌷💞_clarkson now Bang Bang???? You're killing me! I cant wait for tomorrow night!!!!! — Jesse Kalin (@jessekalin) July 11, 2015 @kcfan247 a bunch from PxP invincible, heartbeat, nostalgic, war paint — Jesse Kalin (@jessekalin) July 11, 2015
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 11, 2015 5:22:13 GMT -5
Nostalgic is a pleasant surprise! She hasn't really talked that song up as much as she has some others...I know some people thought it was more of the same from her but I love it.
Uptown Funk...well that's one way to make us forgive her for finding yet another way to not let WA die lololol
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MiniMusic
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Post by MiniMusic on Jul 11, 2015 8:49:27 GMT -5
Nostalgic and War Paint are two of my least favorites... She's playing me for a fool!!!!
I also remember in an interview she said TYH is "going to be fun to do live," so I'm gonna keep the faith!
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bigb0882
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Post by bigb0882 on Jul 11, 2015 11:39:00 GMT -5
I tweeted her a long time ago and asked her to do Uptown Funk! Can I take credit?
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getonthebus
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Post by getonthebus on Jul 11, 2015 12:06:53 GMT -5
Oh god this tour is going to slay and I'm not prepared for it.
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Focus
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"peace out my babies" ~ Kelly Hoodson tm yoKC ~ "hackers..You've been CLARKSONED"!
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Post by Focus on Jul 11, 2015 12:40:23 GMT -5
Kelly Clarkson kelly🌷💞_clarkson 19m19 minutes ago First day of tour! So ready :)
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MiniMusic
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Post by MiniMusic on Jul 11, 2015 12:49:23 GMT -5
At Radio City Music Hall, does she not bring her tour stage?
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