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Thread started 01/15/22 4:51am

MotownSubdivis
ion

Artists who peaked with their debuts

Who are the artists that reached their commercial (and often, critical) zenith with their first album?

SOLO albums only.

Some that come to mind are Cyndi Lauper and Terence Trent D'Arby.
[Edited 1/15/22 13:02pm]
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Reply #1 posted 01/15/22 9:45am

alphastreet

Mya
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Reply #2 posted 01/15/22 10:38am

SoulAlive

Cyndi Lauper
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Reply #3 posted 01/15/22 10:52am

alphastreet

I would argue lady Gaga too, cause she didn’t sell more than fame monster afterwards
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Reply #4 posted 01/15/22 11:04am

nayroo2002

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Vanilla Ice

"Whatever skin we're in
we all need 2 b friends"
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Reply #5 posted 01/15/22 11:06am

nayroo2002

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nayroo2002 said:

Vanilla Ice

AAAAAND

Milli Vanilli

"Whatever skin we're in
we all need 2 b friends"
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Reply #6 posted 01/15/22 12:20pm

DotsofU

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Alanis Morissette

Boy did she leave people scratching their heads with Supposed Former.........

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Reply #7 posted 01/15/22 12:21pm

nayroo2002

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Fiona Apple, too.

"Whatever skin we're in
we all need 2 b friends"
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Reply #8 posted 01/15/22 12:23pm

TrivialPursuit

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SoulAlive said:

Cyndi Lauper


That's not true. She was arguably more popular with her subsequent releases, especially with songs like "True Colors," which trumped even an anthem like "Time After Time." Even Celine Dion covered one of her later songs, "I Drove All Night" (from Lauper's third album). Plus the hysteria of the right around "She-Bop" gave Lauper more than enough popularity post-She's So Unusual.

"eye don’t really care so much what people say about me because it is a reflection of who they r."
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Reply #9 posted 01/15/22 12:31pm

TrivialPursuit

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alphastreet said:

I would argue lady Gaga too, cause she didn’t sell more than fame monster afterwards


She's horrible. Lotta hype in the beginning. I never saw the appeal of "Poker Face." I'm like "Yes, please poke her face because she's annoying to look at."

It was always about her clothes, not her music. And when she did finally try to strip down and do music, it's still horrible. And I don't wanna hear about how Joanne was her best, or whatever. Artpop was hideous in every aspect. "Born This Way" was a blatant rip off of "Express Yourself," and the whole aesthetic around that time was lame. Everyone looked like egg yolks (yes i know, birth and rebirth blah blah), and a cash grab at the LGBTQ community. The choreography was even terrible for the video.

It's all her "career" has ever been - pandering to us gays. And frankly, I'm a little disappointed that so many of my people buy into it.

She's just so fucking affected. It's phony, self-indulgent, and frankly a little irresponsible.

The whole "oh, this is about fame. It's just so much." I'm thinking, "Bitch, you just got here."

And God, don't say anything about Lady Caca, because her little monsters are just that - monsters. They are just as fragile as the Bey-hive. Clutching the pearls and shit. lol

"eye don’t really care so much what people say about me because it is a reflection of who they r."
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Reply #10 posted 01/15/22 12:36pm

TrivialPursuit

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Miley Cyrus.

I knew about Bangerz, and never dug any song on it. I had zero idea she's released three albums since then until I referenced her discography. And that was her biggest album (post-Hannah Montana).

And frankly, the only reason Bangerz was anything was because of her tongue-wagging with Robin Thicke or otherwise, trying to virtually kill off Hannah Montana. (Which is what she told her godmother Dolly Parton when she asked Cyrus why she was doing what she did.)

I literally never hear about her music. But if he's smoking pot, or going on a diet, or anything else - that's the news around her.

"eye don’t really care so much what people say about me because it is a reflection of who they r."
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Reply #11 posted 01/15/22 12:58pm

Hamad

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Lauryn Hill.
Every saint has a past, and every sinner has a future...

Twitter: https://twitter.com/QLH82
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Reply #12 posted 01/15/22 1:09pm

LILpoundCAKE

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macy gray.


but damn was her debut a good album though. I still listen to it quite often.

nothing she did after came even close. weird.

caught her live about 10 years ago and she did put on a very nice show.




May U Live 2 See The Release of Parade SDE
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Reply #13 posted 01/15/22 1:31pm

automatic

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Paula Abdul
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Reply #14 posted 01/15/22 2:27pm

purplethunder3
121

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razz lol

"Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything." --Plato

https://youtu.be/CVwv9LZMah0
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Reply #15 posted 01/15/22 2:42pm

PJMcGee

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TrivialPursuit said:



alphastreet said:


I would argue lady Gaga too, cause she didn’t sell more than fame monster afterwards


She's horrible. Lotta hype in the beginning. I never saw the appeal of "Poker Face." I'm like "Yes, please poke her face because she's annoying to look at."

It was always about her clothes, not her music. And when she did finally try to strip down and do music, it's still horrible. And I don't wanna hear about how Joanne was her best, or whatever. Artpop was hideous in every aspect. "Born This Way" was a blatant rip off of "Express Yourself," and the whole aesthetic around that time was lame. Everyone looked like egg yolks (yes i know, birth and rebirth blah blah), and a cash grab at the LGBTQ community. The choreography was even terrible for the video.

It's all her "career" has ever been - pandering to us gays. And frankly, I'm a little disappointed that so many of my people buy into it.

She's just so fucking affected. It's phony, self-indulgent, and frankly a little irresponsible.

The whole "oh, this is about fame. It's just so much." I'm thinking, "Bitch, you just got here."

And God, don't say anything about Lady Caca, because her little monsters are just that - monsters. They are just as fragile as the Bey-hive. Clutching the pearls and shit. lol



Even though she's a better actor than Madonna (something I hate to admit), when she's singing, she never sounds real. She's more convincing playing a part than being herself.

But you're wrong about Cyndi. She's So Unusual was her Thriller, and nothing's gonna beat that, not even a gay anthem and a Tony-winning musical. (And fuck Celine Dion. If she covers your song, that just means soccer moms will think you're cool.)
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Reply #16 posted 01/15/22 3:11pm

alphastreet

TrivialPursuit said:



alphastreet said:


I would argue lady Gaga too, cause she didn’t sell more than fame monster afterwards


She's horrible. Lotta hype in the beginning. I never saw the appeal of "Poker Face." I'm like "Yes, please poke her face because she's annoying to look at."

It was always about her clothes, not her music. And when she did finally try to strip down and do music, it's still horrible. And I don't wanna hear about how Joanne was her best, or whatever. Artpop was hideous in every aspect. "Born This Way" was a blatant rip off of "Express Yourself," and the whole aesthetic around that time was lame. Everyone looked like egg yolks (yes i know, birth and rebirth blah blah), and a cash grab at the LGBTQ community. The choreography was even terrible for the video.

It's all her "career" has ever been - pandering to us gays. And frankly, I'm a little disappointed that so many of my people buy into it.

She's just so fucking affected. It's phony, self-indulgent, and frankly a little irresponsible.

The whole "oh, this is about fame. It's just so much." I'm thinking, "Bitch, you just got here."

And God, don't say anything about Lady Caca, because her little monsters are just that - monsters. They are just as fragile as the Bey-hive. Clutching the pearls and shit. lol



Didn’t know her fans were that way, but I did like her and went to her concert, but I fell asleep during it lol I mostly went cause my friend was going and asked me to join
[Edited 1/15/22 15:12pm]
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Reply #17 posted 01/15/22 4:11pm

TrivialPursuit

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PJMcGee said:

TrivialPursuit said:


She's just so fucking affected. It's phony, self-indulgent, and frankly a little irresponsible.

Even though she's a better actor than Madonna (something I hate to admit), when she's singing, she never sounds real. She's more convincing playing a part than being herself. But you're wrong about Cyndi. She's So Unusual was her Thriller, and nothing's gonna beat that, not even a gay anthem and a Tony-winning musical. (And fuck Celine Dion. If she covers your song, that just means soccer moms will think you're cool.)


I love M, and will forever stan for her. But the truth is the truth: Madonna is not a great actress. She once said she didn't think she was a bad actress, she just got bad scripts. So - it was someone else's fault. I mean, how bad of a judge of a script or story is she that she's constantly - per her rules - picking bad scripts? Doesn't make sense.

I'm not sure how I feel about She's So Unusual is her Thriller. Maybe. If we're going by sales.


"eye don’t really care so much what people say about me because it is a reflection of who they r."
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Reply #18 posted 01/15/22 5:11pm

purplethunder3
121

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TrivialPursuit said:

PJMcGee said:

TrivialPursuit said: Even though she's a better actor than Madonna (something I hate to admit), when she's singing, she never sounds real. She's more convincing playing a part than being herself. But you're wrong about Cyndi. She's So Unusual was her Thriller, and nothing's gonna beat that, not even a gay anthem and a Tony-winning musical. (And fuck Celine Dion. If she covers your song, that just means soccer moms will think you're cool.)


I love M, and will forever stan for her. But the truth is the truth: Madonna is not a great actress. She once said she didn't think she was a bad actress, she just got bad scripts. So - it was someone else's fault. I mean, how bad of a judge of a script or story is she that she's constantly - per her rules - picking bad scripts? Doesn't make sense.

I'm not sure how I feel about She's So Unusual is her Thriller. Maybe. If we're going by sales.


Madonna's best acting job IMO was in "Desparately Seeking Susan," in which she pretty much played a character that was not too far away from herself at the time... BTW still love that movie.

"Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything." --Plato

https://youtu.be/CVwv9LZMah0
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Reply #19 posted 01/15/22 5:33pm

alphastreet

Not a fan of Madonna’s acting either though I liked her in desperately seeking Susan and found her very charming. Musically, she’s one of the best though
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Reply #20 posted 01/15/22 5:38pm

purplethunder3
121

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alphastreet said:

Not a fan of Madonna’s acting either though I liked her in desperately seeking Susan and found her very charming. Musically, she’s one of the best though

Agreed. Loved her music since the early 80s up until Confessions on the Dance Floor and then hit or miss after that. Madame X was a good recent album.

"Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything." --Plato

https://youtu.be/CVwv9LZMah0
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Reply #21 posted 01/15/22 5:48pm

MotownSubdivis
ion

TrivialPursuit said:



PJMcGee said:


TrivialPursuit said:



She's just so fucking affected. It's phony, self-indulgent, and frankly a little irresponsible.



Even though she's a better actor than Madonna (something I hate to admit), when she's singing, she never sounds real. She's more convincing playing a part than being herself. But you're wrong about Cyndi. She's So Unusual was her Thriller, and nothing's gonna beat that, not even a gay anthem and a Tony-winning musical. (And fuck Celine Dion. If she covers your song, that just means soccer moms will think you're cool.)


I love M, and will forever stan for her. But the truth is the truth: Madonna is not a great actress. She once said she didn't think she was a bad actress, she just got bad scripts. So - it was someone else's fault. I mean, how bad of a judge of a script or story is she that she's constantly - per her rules - picking bad scripts? Doesn't make sense.

I'm not sure how I feel about She's So Unusual is her Thriller. Maybe. If we're going by sales.


You are the first person I've seen say that True Colors was bigger than She's So Unusual.

The latter album had four Top 5 singles (the first by a woman to ever do that), one of which was a #1 hit that would go on to be something of a standard, another song which is considered a feminist anthem and a vast improvement/definitive version of the song that it "covers" (many people don't even know it's a cover) and another which sparked enough controversy to be put on the Filthy 15 list.

It's worth noting that in a year as jam-packed with starpower and as competitive as 1984, there were a handful of albums that year which hit their peak twice or more. She's So Unusual is not one of them but it peaked at #4 and after a while, fell out of the Top 20 only to return to the Top 10 months later. If you're not convinced that the album was her Thriller then look no further than that factoid. Also, at the time, Cyndi was viewed as becoming the star that Madonna would eventually become herself; that was due in part to her superior singing ability and charisma but also due to the record-setting success of her debut. That theory would be proven wrong by the time of True Colors, which...

...in comparison, only had two Top 5 hits, the obvious one being the title track which is the only other song outside of Cyndi's debut's singles to still be a pop culture staple. Her third album only yielded one Top 10 single (her last one to date). Céline Dion's cover doesn't elevate the song's stature and it's not even Cyndi's first song to be covered. Miles Davis covered "Time After Time" on his 1985 album; not earth-shattering but much more remarkable than a Céline Dion cover (no disrespect to her).

In saying all that, Cyndi still had plenty of success post-SSU. She was far, far, far from being a one-hit wonder but the biggest impact she made in the world of music, the time she shone brightest was with that album, easily.
[Edited 1/16/22 0:18am]
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Reply #22 posted 01/15/22 5:50pm

alphastreet

purplethunder3121 said:



alphastreet said:


Not a fan of Madonna’s acting either though I liked her in desperately seeking Susan and found her very charming. Musically, she’s one of the best though

Agreed. Loved her music since the early 80s up until Confessions on the Dance Floor and then hit or miss after that. Madame X was a good recent album.



Yes I also really enjoyed madame x
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Reply #23 posted 01/15/22 6:53pm

SoulAlive

MotownSubdivision said:

TrivialPursuit said:


I'm not sure how I feel about She's So Unusual is her Thriller. Maybe. If we're going by sales.

You are the first person I've seen say that True Colors was bigger than She's So Unusual. The latter album had four Top 5 singles (the first by a woman to ever do that), one of which was a #1 hit that would go on to be something of a standard, another song which is considered a feminist anthem and a vast improvement/definitive version of the song that it "covers" (many people don't even know it's a cover) and another which sparked enough controversy to be put on the Filthy 15 list. It's worth noting that in a year as jam-packed with starpower and as competitive as 1984, there were a handful of albums that year which hit their peak twice or more. She's So Unusual is not one of them but it peaked at #4 and after a while, fell out of the Top 20 only to return to the Top 10 months later. If you're not convinced that the album wasn't her Thriller then look no further than that factoid. Also, at the time, Cyndi was viewed as becoming the star that Madonna would eventually become herself; that was due in part to her superior singing ability and charisma but also due to the record-setting success of her debut. That theory would be proven wrong by the time of True Colors, which... ...in comparison, only had two Top 5 hits, the obvious one being the title track which is the only other song outside of Cyndi's debut's singles to still be a pop culture staple. Her third album only yielded one Top 10 single (her last one to date). Céline Dion's cover doesn't elevate the song's stature and it's not even Cyndi's first song to be covered. Miles Davis covered "Time After Time" on his 1985 album; not earth-shattering but much more remarkable than a Céline Dion cover (no disrespect to her). In saying all that, Cyndi still had plenty of success post-SSU. She was far, far, far from being a one-hit wonder but the biggest impact she made in the world of music, the time she shone brightest was with that album, easily.

yeah,Cyndi Lauper was HUGE in 1984/85 because of her She's So Unusual album,but she never reached those same heights again.Sure,she had a few more hits but her debut album was massively successful...her own 'Thriller',like another poster said.

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Reply #24 posted 01/15/22 6:53pm

TD3

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Christopher Cross 1999

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Reply #25 posted 01/15/22 6:57pm

SoulAlive

LILpoundCAKE said:

macy gray.


but damn was her debut a good album though. I still listen to it quite often.

nothing she did after came even close. weird.

caught her live about 10 years ago and she did put on a very nice show.


yeah,her debut album was a nice surprise.So different from what most other female artists were doing at the time.She was like a breath of fresh air.

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Reply #26 posted 01/15/22 8:58pm

bobgeorge77

Noarah Jones! Loved the album and she got a lot of Grammies.
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Reply #27 posted 01/16/22 2:39am

ForbiddenFruit

Edit:

[Edited 1/16/22 9:15am]

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Reply #28 posted 01/16/22 6:48am

SantanaMaitrey
a

Kate Bush surely does not count. The Kick Inside (1978) was a hit, but her biggest album was Hounds of Love from 1985.
If you take any of this seriously, you're a bigger fool than I am.
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Reply #29 posted 01/16/22 6:51am

SantanaMaitrey
a

Relish by Joan Osborne. We all remember One of Us, don't we? Never heard much from her since.
If you take any of this seriously, you're a bigger fool than I am.
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