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Just one note on Elton John's Cold Heart: its reappearance on the chart was due to a remix that featured the (very current) Dua Lipa [1]. I liken this kind of
by jmyeet 2y ago
Just one note on Elton John's Cold Heart: its reappearance on the chart was due to a remix that featured the (very current) Dua Lipa [1].
I liken this kind of prolonged success as similary to winning the lottery twice. It happens. But it's a lot more common to only win once.
With music you never really know what's going to resonate with audience. It can be a complete accident. It could be a song being featured in a movie or TV show that completely blows up. It could be used in a Tiktok that goes viral.
There are many enduring artists from the 1960s through 1980s. I'm talking the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Elvis Presley, Michael Jackson, Queen, Elton John, Billy Joel, Fleetwood Mac, Prince and so on. In their times they dominated the airwaves in a way that doesn't really exist anymore.
It's a bit like how TV used to be a shared cultural experience because it was broadcast at the same time before streaming. Non 21st century TV show has hit (or will probably ever hit) the kind of numbers you saw from Seinfeld, MASH, Cheers and the like..
Taylor Swift is obviously massive. But she's the outlier among outliers, almost the exception that proves the rule. And even though Taylor Swift has incredibly popular music, she doesn't produce enduring "hits" in the way the aforementioned artists did. Will current music have the same cultural power in 50 years that Bohemian Rhapsody or Billie Jean?
My thesis is that we don't have the same shared cultural experiences anymore because of the Internet and I suspect this will make the likely duration of a music artist even shorter.
[1]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qod03PVTLqk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qod03PVTLqk
- ghaff 2y ago>It's a bit like how TV used to be a shared cultural experience because it was broadcast at the same time before streaming. Non 21st century TV show has hit (or will probably ever hit) the kind of numbers you saw from Seinfeld, MASH, Cheers and the like.. I couldn't even name current scripted network/basic cable shows unless it's something that has been around forever and I assume is still on.
- dredmorbius 2y agoI can't name the networks any more.
- ghaff 2y agoI know the major networks--and a number of the basic cable channels--but I couldn't tell you the network news anchors or Sunday morning talk show hosts any longer which I'd probably have considered something of a cultural failing at one point.
- chrisco255 2y agoIt's a good theory, but I dunno, I think these things are mostly decided by the younger generation. I don't know if Tyler the Creator, Post Malone, or Dua Lipa or whoever will still be relevant in 50 years. Queen and MJ obviously some of the most talented music artists of all time so quite tough to say who in this decade or whatever will live up to that kind of high reputation. One thing that's worth noting is we don't really have any new genres to master. It's usually the best songs and artists of a newer genre or subgenre that we elevate to all time greats.
- whatevertrevor 2y agoI agree. I've not heard many Taylor Swift songs but hearing about "Eras" is almost inescapable.
- nprateem 2y agoElton John is well known for doing duets and networking with upcoming stars. It's one way he stays relevant, and he said in an interview it's a way for him to give back. He often showcases new stars when he's on tour.
- wiredfool 2y agoI think Queen had pretty much faded by the 80’s, there were a couple of songs that you’d hear (we will rock you), but they weren’t high profile at all compared to others you’d hear on a classic rock station. Until Wayne’s World. That catapulted them back into a new generation outside of just a couple of songs. Then they got another kick with Adam Lambert, and they’ve been higher profile since. (Though personally, I think Night at the Hip Hopera probably did something for them too)