Entertainment For Lively Minds
She's Big Over There
Posted by Simon Ford on 15 January 2009 - 7:50pm.
I was amazed when I heard on Sound Opinions that the biggest selling artist in the US last year was Taylor Swift, shifting 4m units. Who is she? I gather she is a teenage country-ish singer, but has anybody ever made it so big in the States without creating barely a ripple over here?
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Her album
has been top of the eMusic charts for pretty much 2008. This should explain everything.
I'll leave you to make up your own mind.
It's very exciting when she is replaced at the top
But she always gets back up there!
I've never even been tempted to listen to the 30 second clips and now I'm glad I didn't. You can tell it all from the album cover.
Not bad, but not for me.
There is so much great music coming out of America, but it seems they have the same situation as we do here, where the best stuff generally isn't among the big sellers.
I think
it's probably one of those Nashville albums whose list of credits goes: hair stylist, make-up, clothes stylist, producer.
She does
write or at least co-write all her own songs.
Not my thing but at least she's no pop puppet.
Great minds..........
That was a coincidence - are we related?
Not quite
She has released two albums, both big hits.
What is interesting is that whilst she is clearly well produced and marketed she does write or cowrite all of her material.
The UK has never really got country, to the average UK music fan country is one of Johnny Cash, Emmylou or the Burritos. The real big sellers, both in terms of albums and concerts are largely unknown as this thread reveals.
Garth Brooks?
Okay, he created more than a ripple here, but his UK sales were (I'm guessing, admittedly) a tiny fraction of those in the States.
And how about Bush (grungey Brits)?
Hootie and the Blowfish
anyone?
Yes
This way please.
They created more than a ripple here.
They certainly played sizeable venues - Wembley Arena etc.
Yep
Have first couple of albums.
As a recent migrant to the US
...I'd estimate that I've heard of about 50% of the typical artists stocked in yer average record shop. Country rules the racks over here, though my lack of knowledge about hip hop and rap might be skewing the numbers a bit.
Turn on the radio, though and it's either religion or 1975 again, viz "Let's have another one from the Blue Oyster Cult!"
Dave Matthews Band
Massive in the USA.
not here
I remember a quote from Journey...
...in (I think) a Pete frame Rock Family Tree, where they said they never came to the UK as they "can't even cover their toilet paper costs" when playing here.
The US is easily big enough to sustain a career without *needing* to go overseas, especially if it means having to break the market again, with all the attendant cost & ego issues.
Just look at the Country chart (or even the Billboard Hot 100 for that matter) and see how many of the acts mean nothing over here.
Funnily enough
I first heard her several years ago on a sampler that was sent to me because a friend was on it, with one of the songs that later became a hit... sounded very different to how it does now.
I think Dave Matthews Band are the classic example of a band who did big things over there and nothing over here - didn't Q have him busk in London or something just to prove the point?
How About...
Phish?
But we return the favour, don't we?
Foghat, Bush to name but 2 fab british bands.
Savoy Brown...
...meant bugger-all over here, huge in the US (not as huge as Foghat or Bush, granted)
Ironically
Savoy Brown begat Foghat. One of the many incarnations of Savoy Brown split, leaving main man Kim Simmonds to carry on the SB brand while the rest formed a new act called Foghat.
Which also goes to show that the least inspiring name doesn't stabd in the way of success.
Jimmy Buffett
Still MASSIVE in the US, especially the sunbelt states. Been around for years, owns two 'Jimmy Buffett-themed' restaurant chains; sells out arena tours in minutes.
Over here? Zilch. Never even seen a record of his in a shop or an article in the press.