For a long time I was under the false assumption that in order to be "a hit" a song had to be "good". That is not necessarily true.

Besides the subjectivity of what is "good" or not, there is the fact that if the powers that be (record companies/radio stations/corporations/etc.) want a song to be a "hit" then it usually is. Look at the charts-those songs aren't all on there because people love them. I bet people's actual taste has little to do with what is on the charts.

Most of you guys probably know thi salready.

Anyways, I have read that the lack of a catchy melody and the old school feel of "Musicology" will cause it not to be a hit. However, I have heard songs that are a lot worse hit the Top 40.

"Musicology" will be a hit if the "right" people have their money involved.

To some extent, any old shit will sell if promoted in the right way.

But I genuinely feel that Musicology will provide a nice alternative to what's in the charts at the moment. And if it's going to be promoted to the masses, then who knows? It may just work.

If we take a look back at the 80s. How often were Prince's singles tuned in to the sound of the day? Hardly ever!

When Kiss was released, there was nothing else like it in the charts, likewise When Doves Cry, Sign O The Times and Alphabet St. In a way, it was only when he started trying to sound like everybody else (see his 90s output) that the singles stopped doing the business.

Maybe this return to minimalist, not-what-everybody-else-is-doing-right-now, type song will work.

Certainly the groove to the song is catchy and definitely reminiscent of the Prince of yore and may just provide a decent alternative on the dance floor. And if the Scissor Sisters can create a hit out of a 70's sounding retro song that sounds like the Bee Gees singing Karaoke to a Pink Floyd song (I stole that quote from somewhere), then what's to say that Musicology couldn't work?

I certainly hope it does.

I can guarantee you that Musicology will never be a hit. It's not the kind of music that the masses are into. If the rest of the album sounds like this, it'll just pass without recognition, just like most of his late 90's albums.

EvilWhiteMale said:

you know, though...you NEVER know

who'd have predicted 2 years ago that Norah Jones would've become the insanely successful top 40 smash that she is?

Based on my 1 listen (or so) to this one track, it'd surprise me if it was a huge smash, but sranger things have happened...

endorphin74 said:

I'll stick by my prediction. If the rest of the album sounds like this, it will do poorly.

It's definitely not a bad song.

The problem is though, and I have to keep saying this, it doesn't seem like it has a catchy chorus.

That's vital for a song to be a top 40 today.

Madonna had a lot of video play for her last big song "American Life" . . . the song, in my opinion, was HORRIBLE. It even had a RAP!!! That made me cringe every time I heard it . . . which was often, because it got a lot of radio play too.

Anyway, the Prince song is much better, and if Prince plays nice this time around, it'll get played. I know that here, in Detroit, we have a few dance/black stations that will play it.

It'll be a hit. Probably not a #1 but definitely a top 40. Maybe even top 20. And with all the good press from the Grammy's, not to mention the huge numbers that watched, and all the public appearances he's making, AND getting inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame AND the world tour, he'd probably have to molest a boy to derail this Positivity train.

As long as this single and album is not backed by a major rec company it will never be a hit.

Haystack said:

Cloudbuster said:

Heh heh, I love that song.

EvilWhiteMale said:

Yeah, that's my immediate feeling about the song too

I have taken down all of the names of the doubters and naysaters. When Prince has a hit, I will come back to collect. Pimp slaps for all of you when tihs happens.

NPGLOVER said:

And when it doesn't happen, do we pimp slap you?

EvilWhiteMale said:

LMAO! Exactly!! I wanna be first or second in line, too!!

NPGLOVER said:

It almost sounds like are religously worshipping Prince thus throwing all objectivity out the window..

Se7en said:

"American Life" receiced barely any radio airplay here in Detriot and radio has been very friendly to her here over the years. Even her dance remix of "Don't Cry For Me..." got a ton or radioplay. I think the WB did not support this AL the album as radioplay goes and that is the keey. It has nothing to do with whether a song is any good (for example, Lil' John, et al.). It has to do with a record company pushing it. If there is enough coke in the CD case, then the DJ will play it!