Stevie Versus GaGa - Not necessarily a bad thing
 

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 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."

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.

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.

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.

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 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?

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...

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.

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!

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.

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!?"

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.