Stevie Versus GaGa - Not necessarily a bad thing

[astro-addy]

So last night I posted Stevies leaked track on another, non-stevie related forum, to try and get some buzz going. It got a fair few hits, but today any sort of fanfair for Stevie was swallowed up by the leaking of Lady Gaga’s new album track. I got kinda worried, then realised that this could all end up being a rather good thing.

Take Florence and the Machine (I think American Ledgies may have to google her) they had been knocking about for about a year but didn’t hit it real big until Lady Gaga went stellar. The media kind of clung to Florence as the antithesis of everything Gaga was, after all, Gaga had just sold enough albums and reached a large enough audience to stop her from ever being “cool” again, so there was a bit of a vaccum to be filled.

Now Stevie is never going to sell as many albums as Gaga, she had her time as the first lady of pop music and she left her distinctive mark on music, but she still wants to do well and reach a larger audience. And the more Lady Gaga sells, the less the media are going to like her, if Stevie continues to shadow Gaga as she seems to be doing, she could manage to slip into articles, reviews and features on Gaga.

Stevie would be Gaga’s foil, this innocent little catalogue artist trying hard to compete against the massive multi million dollar hype machine of Lady Gaga. It would definitely help her shift a few units.

[ShangriLaTroubl]

I don't think Lady GaGa will have any effect on Stevie's sales. Let's remember that Stevie will be 63 years old in May. The majority of people who buy Lady GaGa's music will not be buying any album by a "veteran" artist. Stevie's sales will be pretty much determined by how many boomers her record label reaches and convinces to spend $15 and not illegally download it instead. Not by how many 15 year olds buy it. When I was listening to the single I couldn't help but think that most teenagers or even young adults who heard this for the first time would kind of consider it to be "country." I know that sounds odd, considering Dave Stewart produced it and Stevie is a "rock star," but it's more the way she's singing is similar to the "new country."

[Jondalar]

So last night I posted Stevies leaked track on another, non-stevie related forum, to try and get some buzz going. It got a fair few hits, but today any sort of fanfair for Stevie was swallowed up by the leaking of Lady Gaga’s new album track. I got kinda worried, then realised that this could all end up being a rather good thing.

Take Florence and the Machine (I think American Ledgies may have to google her) they had been knocking about for about a year but didn’t hit it real big until Lady Gaga went stellar. The media kind of clung to Florence as the antithesis of everything Gaga was, after all, Gaga had just sold enough albums and reached a large enough audience to stop her from ever being “cool” again, so there was a bit of a vaccum to be filled.

Now Stevie is never going to sell as many albums as Gaga, she had her time as the first lady of pop music and she left her distinctive mark on music, but she still wants to do well and reach a larger audience. And the more Lady Gaga sells, the less the media are going to like her, if Stevie continues to shadow Gaga as she seems to be doing, she could manage to slip into articles, reviews and features on Gaga.

Stevie would be Gaga’s foil, this innocent little catalogue artist trying hard to compete against the massive multi million dollar hype machine of Lady Gaga. It would definitely help her shift a few units.

I don't understand the Gaga thing. Her songs are good, but not that special. I really think this generation is just starving for something. The Gaga thing was done years ago. She's not new. She just kisses the gay communities asss and aligns herself with designers. I like her, but she is way overhyped for what she has produced. She is no Stevie Nicks or even, Madonna. God, I feel sorry for this generation.

[astro-addy]

Perhaps I didn’t articulate my point well enough, I’m not saying Gagas fans will go out any buy Stevies album. I’m saying that Gaga’s album is a mass media event, it will get coverage from all ends, both alternative and mainstream and if Stevie is present while Lady Gaga is dominating, she could get picked up by the media as an alternative and any form of coverage will help album sales with casual buyers.

[Artemis]

I can see the media commenting on it by comparing the ridiculous hype surrounding GaGa (and I say this as a GaGa fan) to the elegance and dignity of Stevie Nicks; how GaGa could have a lot to learn from Stevie in career longevity. Or something similar.

[TheWILDheart]

I think the major problem is the lack of publicity. I remember when TISL came out - in the UK, nobody knew it was happening. My Dad is a huge Fleetwood Mac fan and new nothing about it, until I told him. She needs to do more press - radio and magazine interviews, and embrace the almighty internet and realise what a great publicity tool it is.

[Aussie W/Heart]

I definitely agree even going back to the 80's here in Australia, i was a big fan of Rumours, I never heard any publicity regarding their up coming Tusk Tour, Sara was mainly played on the radio a lot at the time. Ive told this true story before on here, when i met F/M on a bus when i asked Stevie what are you all doing here on the Gold Coast Derrrrrrr!!!! I had no idea they were in the middle of their tour then.. Actually i can say promotion wise anything to do with Stevie or F/Mac is very under par here in Aust as well..

[Jondalar]

I definitely agree even going back to the 80's here in Australia, i was a big fan of Rumours, I never heard any publicity regarding their up coming Tusk Tour, Sara was mainly played on the radio a lot at the time. Ive told this true story before on here, when i met F/M on a bus when i asked Stevie what are you all doing here on the Gold Coast Derrrrrrr!!!! I had no idea they were in the middle of their tour then.. Actually i can say promotion wise anything to do with Stevie or F/Mac is very under par here in Aust as well..

Question: Crystal Visions is still doing well in Australia. Infact, I know it will go platinum there. Will the new song and album get much attention there?

[sorcerer999]

So last

Take Florence and the Machine (I think American Ledgies may have to google her)

No. Florence and The Machine hit their stride in the states a year ago. She gets a lot of radio play over here!

Florence & The Machine's "Lungs" and Band Of Horses "Infinite Arms" were the only two albums I really got into last year...but I'm getting off topic now...

[baboles]

I think the major problem is the lack of publicity. I remember when TISL came out - in the UK, nobody knew it was happening. My Dad is a huge Fleetwood Mac fan and new nothing about it, until I told him. She needs to do more press - radio and magazine interviews, and embrace the almighty internet and realise what a great publicity tool it is.

I think Stevie needs to appear on The Today Show. I feel that an older audience watches that program and it would at least make them aware.

[APerfectLie]

Stevie needs to also hit The Joy Behar Show, Entertainment Tonight, Oprah, and The View. As much as I hate the show, she also needs to show up on American Idol perhaps as a guest judge. Just saying...

[Jondalar]

Stevie needs to also hit The Joy Behar Show, Entertainment Tonight, Oprah, and The View. As much as I hate the show, she also needs to show up on American Idol perhaps as a guest judge. Just saying...

Joy Behar has always said positive things about Stevie. She likes her alot!

[mylittledemon]

So last night I posted Stevies leaked track on another, non-stevie related forum, to try and get some buzz going. It got a fair few hits, but today any sort of fanfair for Stevie was swallowed up by the leaking of Lady Gaga’s new album track. I got kinda worried, then realised that this could all end up being a rather good thing.

Take Florence and the Machine (I think American Ledgies may have to google her) they had been knocking about for about a year but didn’t hit it real big until Lady Gaga went stellar. The media kind of clung to Florence as the antithesis of everything Gaga was, after all, Gaga had just sold enough albums and reached a large enough audience to stop her from ever being “cool” again, so there was a bit of a vaccum to be filled.

Now Stevie is never going to sell as many albums as Gaga, she had her time as the first lady of pop music and she left her distinctive mark on music, but she still wants to do well and reach a larger audience. And the more Lady Gaga sells, the less the media are going to like her, if Stevie continues to shadow Gaga as she seems to be doing, she could manage to slip into articles, reviews and features on Gaga.

Stevie would be Gaga’s foil, this innocent little catalogue artist trying hard to compete against the massive multi million dollar hype machine of Lady Gaga. It would definitely help her shift a few units.

There's no point in comparing them, whatsoever. I firmly believe that Gaga will not have the legacy that Stevie has, regardless of who sells more records.

[APerfectLie]

Joy Behar has always said positive things about Stevie. She likes her alot!

I think she does! And I would LOOOVVVEEE for Stevie to be on her show. Her show is much more laid back than most and Joy can get kinda feisty and ask some off the wall questions. I think it'd definitely make for a much better Stevie interview than the usual, "So how was it like being in a band with your ex!?"

[louielouie2000]

There's no point in comparing them, whatsoever. I firmly believe that Gaga will not have the legacy that Stevie has, regardless of who sells more records.

Gaga seems to be this generation's Madonna. We'll see if Gaga has the longevity of Madonna, though. Personally, Gaga does nothing for me... she's simply a fame whore. Any merit she might have is wholly engulfed by her tabloid thirst.

Regarding juxtaposing Stevie against Gaga, at first I thought it was stupid, too. There's no question Gaga will outsell Stevie 300 to 1. But maybe Astro-Daddy is on to something deeper. So many people are sick of Gaga. Perhaps there will be a industry/critical backlash against her. Perhaps that will equal underdog/veteran artists like Stevie getting some Grammy nods, and critical recognition. Stevie's long been a joke to music critics... but that seems to be slowly changing.

[SortaSavageLike]

Two words: Meat Shawl.

[elle]

Gaga seems to be this generation's Madonna. We'll see if Gaga has the longevity of Madonna, though. Personally, Gaga does nothing for me... she's simply a fame whore. Any merit she might have is wholly engulfed by her tabloid thirst.
yes, comparison of gaga and madonna seems to be often mentioned... personally, i think madonna is a great businesswoman, who knew how to admirably build herself up on not that much to start with (not a great voice or singing ability). and gaga defintely learned from her in building up the carrier on scandalous looks/statements/vidoes etc.

but, did you ever listen to gaga? that performance on grammys with elton john, for example? she actually has talent, and a great voice! and she's def not classically pretty. look at spears vs aguilera also - aguilera actually has a voice and can really sing (did you hear her at that rolling stones concert with jagger? they were great! compare that to fergie with jagger performance, for example), but spears is more succesful and i don't think you can say that was b/c of the song quality;). so while i understand annoyance with gaga's over-exposure and i'm not a fan, i think she/interscope actually have a great foundation to build on with gaga, unlike many other over-exposed super-successful pop singers of today.

[Meowi]

I used to think that Lady Gaga was horrible, but after listening to the Fame Monster, that sure changed my mind. Although I don't like The Fame, I think that the Fame Monster is a great album.

[astro-addy]

Regarding juxtaposing Stevie against Gaga, at first I thought it was stupid, too. There's no question Gaga will outsell Stevie 300 to 1. But maybe Astro-Daddy is on to something deeper. So many people are sick of Gaga. Perhaps there will be a industry/critical backlash against her. Perhaps that will equal underdog/veteran artists like Stevie getting some Grammy nods, and critical recognition. Stevie's long been a joke to music critics... but that seems to be slowly changing.

Hahaha, its not Daddy, its addy, altho if i were an old bear with a penchant for space travel, that would be a good name!

I think the two artists are releasing so closely it'll be hard for stevie not to pick up on some publicity, especially if there is Gaga backlash.

Also, i think that if Stevie did a duet with Florence (who i dislike) that could get her a lot of recognition, and recognition with an audience that would actually buy the cd... I mean Florence dresses like Stevie and is clearly a mac fan judging by the chain cover.

[louielouie2000]

but, did you ever listen to gaga? that performance on grammys with elton john, for example? she actually has talent, and a great voice! and she's def not classically pretty. look at spears vs aguilera also - aguilera actually has a voice and can really sing (did you hear her at that rolling stones concert with jagger? they were great! compare that to fergie with jagger performance, for example), but spears is more succesful and i don't think you can say that was b/c of the song quality;). so while i understand annoyance with gaga's over-exposure and i'm not a fan, i think she/interscope actually have a great foundation to build on with gaga, unlike many other over-exposed super-successful pop singers of today.

This is not an attack on you personally, but I'm SO FREAKING SICK of Gaga-philes trying to convince me of her talent. I don't care if she's the most original thing since sliced bread... I can't stand the way she conducts herself. Anyone who screams for attention that loudly will never get respect from me. Yes, I realized she's a trained musician, yes, I realize she writes her own material, yes, I realize she's a trained singer... I know all of that. I also know I disdain her public persona... and that's all that really matters to me. She's no better to me than a lame, mind numbing reality TV show because of her maddening media shenanigans :wavey:.

I hear so many people try to convince me she's a huge champion for all these notable causes too, such as gay rights. I would take her seriously and respect her passion for her causes if they were genuine, and she herself took them seriously. Her dress-up stunt speech against Don't Ask, Don't Tell is a shining example. Had she simply shown up in regular attire and spoken plainly and from the heart, people would have taken note and serious national discussion might have ensued. Instead, she simply elicited more eye rolls... and probably further fanned the flames of gay rights foes in the process. Hell, that media stunt p!ssed me off, and I am a gay rights advocate. Gaga is just a lowly media whore... who cares if she's got any talent or something to say? :sorry:

[elle]

louie - no problem, it's an open discussion! i can understand your points. (and i really don't care one way or the other whether you like gaga or not;)). we are just talking about two different things - i am talking about musical talent, you are talking about the annoyance with the public persona created to sell that musical talent.

my point is - if we look at who else sells as much music nowadays as gaga - beiber, perry, swift, etc, and compare talent and musical ability - what/who do we think is better for the music today, if you strip all the other layers off?

so nothing you said negates or confirms anything i've said and the other way around.:wavey:

[SuperFleetwood]

im 16, and i would buy the album!

I don't think Lady GaGa will have any effect on Stevie's sales. Let's remember that Stevie will be 63 years old in May. The majority of people who buy Lady GaGa's music will not be buying any album by a "veteran" artist. Stevie's sales will be pretty much determined by how many boomers her record label reaches and convinces to spend $15 and not illegally download it instead. Not by how many 15 year olds buy it. When I was listening to the single I couldn't help but think that most teenagers or even young adults who heard this for the first time would kind of consider it to be "country." I know that sounds odd, considering Dave Stewart produced it and Stevie is a "rock star," but it's more the way she's singing is similar to the "new country."

[PenguinHead]

Gaga seems to be this generation's Madonna. We'll see if Gaga has the longevity of Madonna, though. Personally, Gaga does nothing for me... she's simply a fame whore. Any merit she might have is wholly engulfed by her tabloid thirst.

Regarding juxtaposing Stevie against Gaga, at first I thought it was stupid, too. There's no question Gaga will outsell Stevie 300 to 1. But maybe Astro-Daddy is on to something deeper. So many people are sick of Gaga. Perhaps there will be a industry/critical backlash against her. Perhaps that will equal underdog/veteran artists like Stevie getting some Grammy nods, and critical recognition. Stevie's long been a joke to music critics... but that seems to be slowly changing.

I had the same initial reaction as you, but what you say has changed my perspective.
I don't get Gaga either. But the media has latched on to her, not so much for her music but for the spectical of her odd and provoking character. Stevie, though she has cultivated a distinct, unwavering image, is more serious about the substance of her music. They are completely different artists. I think Stevie, who has been earning greater respect in the industry, will be taken more seriously by the media. Gaga is the flavor of the moment, so she's going get much more attention and sell more records.

[Jondalar]

I had the same initial reaction as you, but what you say changed my perspective.
I don't get Gaga either. But the media has latched on to her, not so much for her music but for the spectical of her character. Stevie, though she has cultivated a distinct, unwavering image, is more about the substance of her music. They are completely different artists. I think Stevie, who has been earning greater respect in the industry, will be taken more seriously by the media.

Gaga was a media star before she released anything. Way overhyped. And I think people are getting sick of her. Even Ozzy Ozborne said he is getting sick her—everytime he sees her, she's got a new thing on her head.

Some of Gaga's song are good. But they haven't made the impact of Like a Virgin.

[GoldDustOrphan]

Gaga actually did the entire walk during the last March on Washington, and she was wearing normal attire. She had performed the night prior at the HRC Dinner, dressed in very simple attire. She played piano and sang one song, "Imagine."

Is she an attention whore? That's debatable. She could be, or not. Like so many others in the business, she fought to get noticed when record labels only wanted to sign her as a songwriter, pretty much telling her she wasn't pretty enough to be a solo act. Jimmy Iovine believed in her talent and signed her to Interscope. About 30 years ago, he believed in another woman but her name escapes me....

A lot of the hostility directed at this talented woman appears to be of the "why can't she just tone it down or why does she have to be so outrageous" sort. It sounds very similar to the same hostility directed at GLBT people - "God, if they just toned it down people would accept them. They're always shoving it down our throats. etc."

Like most icons, some will hate her and some will love her. Except Katy Perry. Everyone should hate Katy Perry.

[PenguinHead]

[QUOTE
Like most icons, some will hate her and some will love her. Except Katy Perry. Everyone should hate Katy Perry.[/QUOTE]

lol...I don't hate Katy Perry. I'm just amazed and perlexed as to why she has a successful career, and the media that courts her. Another example of style over substance and talent.

[OooMissionary]

The fact that Katy Perry and Kesha are successful is proof that the major labels are fading quick... I mean, really? They make Madonna & Lady Gaga both seem like some of the greatest poets of our time! So, with everything else that is out there music wise, I get the Lady Gaga fascination... Although I will be a champion for Stevie and other real talent for years to come...