Usher has long been heralded as one of music’s most celebrated artists. Ranked as the 2^nd most successful act of the last decade on the Billboard charts, he managed to give R&B music a voice amidst the expanding sea of Hip-Hop and Pop artists who began to dominate radio stations in recent years.

Nonetheless, it seems that the tide of change has finally gotten too powerful for even Usher to resist as he prepares to reinvent his sound with the launch of a new genre he calls “Revolutionary Pop”. This decision has left many of his loyal fans baffled as they wonder if he is truly being innovative or simply joining the Pop music bandwagon in an effort to remain relevant. Usher accomplished record-breaking success with his diamond-certified ‘Confessions’ album in 2004 which sold a colossal 20 million copies worldwide and spawned 4 #1 singles on the Billboard Hot 100. However, as sales throughout the industry continue to tumble, he has been unable to match his previous achievements, at least on the album charts.

Scoring worldwide hits with last year’s ‘OMG (Ft. Will.i.am)’ and ‘DJ Got Us Fallin’ In Love (Ft. Pitbull)’, Usher has gotten a taste of the mainstream success that Pop music has to offer and it seems that he wants more. Indeed, it would be difficult for him to resist the temptation of experimenting further in that genre, especially since none of his recent R&B single managed to crack the top 20 of the Billboard Hot 100.

Now, after chanting “R&B for life” at the 2010 American Music Awards, Usher has seemingly abandoned his roots altogether by preparing to launch “Revolutionary Pop” on his next album. While some argue that he is doing what is necessary to remain commercially viable and that he is expanding his sound like his mentor Michael Jackson did before him, many claim that he is simply following a trend.

Nevertheless, both fans and critics eagerly await the release of Usher’s next album. Yet, many brace themselves for disappointment as the man who was once touted as next in line to replace R. Kelly as R&B’s King begins his transformation into the next Ke$ha.

he must be a largely american phenomenon because after his first album [which i liked]

i've hardly ever heard anything about or from him over here in europe.

IstenSzek said:

he must be a largely american phenomenon because after his first album [which i liked]

i've hardly ever heard anything about or from him over here in europe.

really? i thought that ong single got a lot of radio play in europe especially in the UK

No hate, but what did he inovate?

Follower but I have all his cd's except one

His first four albums were really good.

Usher

My Way

8701

Confessions

Despite Confessions being his most popular album, I think 8701 is his best. Some of the Jam/Lewis and Neptunes tracks on there MJ really should have taken, but Usher did his thing on them.

His last two albums really haven't done anything for me. I'd say he's a follower. He works with lots of hot producers and puts his flavor on the tracks, but I feel like he's just more successful at doing what everyone else is doing: working with producers for hits. Nothing wrong with that, of course, its just not particularly innovative or revolutionary.

IstenSzek said:

he must be a largely american phenomenon because after his first album [which i liked]

i've hardly ever heard anything about or from him over here in europe.

8701 and Confession were HUGE success in the UK and in France and each of his singles always do pretty well in those countries ... he's half innovator half follower, he has a signature sound but he got caught in every trends I can remember

[Edited 1/22/11 2:46am]

at this even being up for discussion. What is the world coming to

I like his music

Way too easy.

Fairly good dancer.

Average singer.

Mediocre material.

Overall - pretty crap.

he was NEVER original though he entertains and has talent

he was a hybrid of mj, bobby brown, stevie wonder IMO and his music sounded exactly like his contemporaries

Harlepolis said:

Way too easy.

he follows innovators....

I do like me some Ursher though!

I say Usher is a Follower to the sound that is going to help him sell albums again. Whatever it takes to lead him away from hip-hop/r&b, I'm all for it as a fan of music.

It seems that dance-pop is a cash cow for r&b artists at the moment.

alphastreet said:

he was NEVER original though he entertains and has talent

he was a hybrid of mj, bobby brown, stevie wonder IMO and his music sounded exactly like his contemporaries

I agree Usher never created anything apart from a few dance moves and maybe the tags "Yeah Man!" ..."Oh..." but that it really.

He's a younger clone of MJ's Style i can't see any Bobby Brown in him ....he's not that raw.....

But until someone else comes along Usher and Ne-Yo are the only real MJ clones out their ...... Usher needs to travel more, get out of the US, move around record all over the world .....then i think he could bring something new ....

I say Usher should record an album in the South of France or Spain ....

Next!

[img:$uid]http://www.thestampmaker.com/stock_rubber_stamp_images/SS13_certified_true_copy.jpg[/img:$uid]

He's a follower most def.

Dreamer2 said:

alphastreet said:

he was NEVER original though he entertains and has talent

he was a hybrid of mj, bobby brown, stevie wonder IMO and his music sounded exactly like his contemporaries

I agree Usher never created anything apart from a few dance moves and maybe the tags "Yeah Man!" ..."Oh..." but that it really.

He's a younger clone of MJ's Style i can't see any Bobby Brown in him ....he's not that raw.....

But until someone else comes along Usher and Ne-Yo are the only real MJ clones out their ...... Usher needs to travel more, get out of the US, move around record all over the world .....then i think he could bring something new ....

I say Usher should record an album in the South of France or Spain ....

he's already euro washed, and should stay the way he is cause it's getting more and more ridiculous

I don't see much bobby in him either, but he claims to have been influenced by him....maybe in terms of movement?

Follower.

RIGHT, so I got a free ticket to see Usher's final O2 show tonight. My friend won some competiton or whatever so who am I to turn it down?

My GOD, it was like imitation after imitation of MJ & Janet... and he even brought out the gun mic to do a bit of 1990s Prince. Not to mention a lot of his current songs sounding like 13 year old dated Ministry of Sound compilation tracks.

It was still quite fun and energetic though, especially when he "randomly" chose an audience member to serenade whilst the show looked like it was being professionally filmed, and up pops Alesha Dixon. As IF he didn't know who she was - hell, she's more famous than he is amongst all generations in the UK.

I didn notice a lot of people with kids leaving just one hour into the show as he didn't even start until 9:30pm. That's not cool, but if it was being filmed I can guess there might have been technical issues before kicking off.

Usher is the first in a long tedious line of dudes wishing they were Michael Jackson. He's probably the most talented of the bunch but that doesn't really mean anything. There's only one MJ. He should just put time into being the best Usher he can be. Then he can inspire Chris Brown to want to be the next Usher in about 5 years!