Highs

 

The download rules; the slowed down chart is great. This is basically a repeat of what I've been saying in the midweek thread, but it seems to be a lot more difficult for any old track to make number 1 nowadays, there have been few one week wonders, and those that have made it tend to be genuinely massively popular tracks which stick around for a while. Whilst some are complaining, I actually like seeing some of those massively long chart runs, you can see a song's going to be a classic when it spends a whole year on the chart. The likes of Chasing Cars and Rehab won't be forgotten for a long time as opposed to the majority of top 10 singles from the past few years.

People say that makes it too slow and boring, but I disagree. It allows for a lot more oddities, and bizarre chart runs; "In The Air Tonight "becoming one of the year's long-runners for example. totally agree

 

Nelly Furtado's "Say It Right" doing so well on downloads only, and restoring my faith in her after the dire Promiscuous.

 

The R'n'B singers beginning to stretch out; the Freemasons remixes have done wonders for Beyonce. Also Rihanna surprising everyone and showing she's not just another generic R'n'B warbler. I hated her when she started out; "Pon De Replay", "We Ride", "If It's Lovin That You Want"...DIRE. But to my complete surprise, she's probably been the most consistently good singles artist this year. "Shut Up And Drive" is a FABULOUS pop song. Even "I Hate That I Love You" is listenable, even though R'n'B ballads generally tend to be plodding and dull.

 

Surprise comebacks; who'd have thought Robyn of all people would have a No1? And a truly excellent one at that, easily the best #1 of the year.

 

The X-Factor guys finally realising they need to put EFFORT into their artists; it's been nice to see they allowed Leona to spend some time making an album tailored to her voice, rather than just rushing out ballad cover after ballad cover. Yes indeed, and hasn't she done well from it?

 

Artists being proved WRONG in their assumptions that they could record any old tosh and sell on their name alone (Joss Stone, Maroon 5, Natasha Bedingfield, James Blunt, Kaiser Chiefs, Kelly Clarkson, Jennifer Lopez). I'd even add KT Tunstall to that list, I liked her first album, but Hold On sounded like a B-side from 2005. Love Hold On :wub:

 

Arcade Fire being appreciated by the mainstream and grabbing a #2 album.

 

 

Lows

 

Andrea Corr completely bombing. It's a genuinely good album, the only problem was she released it a few years too late.

 

The Spice Girls comeback. We KNOW they're capable of MUCH better than Headlines. In the 90s it wouldn't even have been an album track. An opportunity wasted. Wonder which one of Simon Fullers' employees chooses the singles?

 

Boyzone looking at Take That and just coincidentally deciding they want to reform aswell. They're just NOT needed. Ithink they are. Another boost to the British Music Industry

 

Cascada's success. There's been some great dance this year; Groove Armada's "Song 4 Mutya" deserved to be #1 forever, and the Freemasons have had a fantastic year (it's nice to see an Alanis track in the top 10 after so long, even if it's not her singing). Yet the mindless public went out in droves to buy the repetitive DRIVEL spouted by that pouting blonde girl instead. AWFUL.

 

Kelly Rowland; Like This was a good track, but has she even bothered releasing a second single yet? Why not?

 

The continual over-exposure of Doherty and Winehouse. Yes Winehouse has talent, but she's hardly making the most of it is she? And Doherty's always been an over-rated waste of space. So WHY are they still being lauded as God and Goddess of music?

 

Sugababes destroying record of excellent single releases by contributing to the DIABOLICAL Walk This Way cover. Charity is NO excuse.

 

Kylie NOT getting the automatic #1 single and album that a lot of people seemed to think she had a God-given right to. A lot of people obviously disagreed with the comeback single.

 

The dance music industry STILL relying on scantily-clad tarts to promote their tracks. Here's an idea...why don't you try selling your music on it's QUALITY?

 

The UK public still buying anything if it sells well in America, especially the urban stuff. I don't know anyone who liked "Beautiful Girls" but it still made #1. How was this allowed to happen? Because we are not keen in promoting our own.

 

Brilliant post. Hope you don't mind me adding my thoughts to some of yours?

 

Think it has been a difficult year for the music Industry (and lots of non music related retailers in general) so the highs have been that we still have the likes of HMV on the High Street selling music.

 

The low has been that Gareth Gates choosing 'Changes' as his comeback single, from an album of far better choices.

 

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The low has been that Gareth Gates choosing 'Changes' as his comeback single, from an album of far better choices.

 

I sort of agree with your post Dindy. Although I loved `Changes' personally and I strongly believe if it had been released by anyone of those artists whose face fits, it would have been a hit. Gareth still has a long way to go to overturn the perceptions people had of him 4 years ago. He'll succeed though in time, I'm sure.

 

The low points for me were the Kanye West, Sean Kingston, 50 Cent and all the other monotonous songs of the same ilk we've had to endure.

Edited December 8, 200717 yr by val4jadan

[/b]

Hope you don't mind me adding my thoughts to some of yours?

 

Think it has been a difficult year for the music Industry (and lots of non music related retailers in general) so the highs have been that we still have the likes of HMV on the High Street selling music.

 

The low has been that Gareth Gates choosing 'Changes' as his comeback single, from an album of far better choices.

 

Not at all. Your reply actually reminded me aswell I'd put Kylie not getting #1 as a low, I actually should have put that as a high. :blush:

 

Gates didn't do himself a lot of favours with Changes. He needed a fresh sound to re-ignite public interest, Changes just wasn't going to do that.

I agree kind of that it's nice to see physical formats still sticking around despite the competition from downloads, although not so much HMV. Purely from a buyer's point of view, HMV's prices are sometimes over-the-top, and I'm confused as to how they've survived where chains like Fopp have shut down. It comes to something when you get better deals on CDs from Tescos than you do an actual music store.

Shoat, with regards to Kelly Rowland, her album bombed in at #37 here so they decided on a re-release. But the label and managment clashed and they changed their mind about a thousand times, so through no fault of Kelly's own, nothing has happened yet. :( In January she's releasing Work, though, which is looking set to be a hit on radio, as well as re-releasing Ms Kelly the following month.

HIGHS:-

 

Reverend and the Makers doing brilliantly with their debut single

Fall Out Boy holding up really well with their new album

Biffy Clyro finally getting some of their deserved recognition

Avril's new album selling poorly (hasn't even been certified platinum yet, and I said it would so badly when the midweeks came out and she was at #1)

Kaiser Chiefs reaching #1 in albums and singles

Powderfinger getting the fastest selling album in Australia

Feeder's singles album re-entering the charts on fathers day, proving to critics that the band are not for kids

 

LOWS:-

 

Leona Lewis for all obvious reasons

Avril's comeback

Editors new album strugging to sell despite single releases in support of it, even after an excellent start

The poor overall performance of the Kaisers album, and slipping single sales

New chart rules

Edited December 10, 200717 yr by Marcus

High Points: Discovering buzzjack :yahoo:

October- December

January- March

Timbaland having more and more success throughout the year.

Good overall sales for top 20 singles, although the top 5 are kindof low its fairly tight.

Nice and slow chart

Lowest selling Number 1 single not going under 20k (lowest 23k)

 

Low Points- Summer seemed to have really dull music.

Indie music getting cloned 1000 times.

Follow ups to big successful singles flopping

Getting sick of songs by the time they are released

Lots of flopping women :lol: , unfortunately and they didn't deserve to

 

 

 

Gates didn't do himself a lot of favours with Changes. He needed a fresh sound to re-ignite public interest, Changes just wasn't going to do that.

 

Whilst I thought he didn't make the right decision, perhaps after all the slack he has had aimed at him, he felt that 'Changes' were due and whatever the outcome, he is now in control of the music he wants to release?

 

Purely from a buyer's point of view, HMV's prices are sometimes over-the-top, and I'm confused as to how they've survived where chains like Fopp have shut down. It comes to something when you get better deals on CDs from Tescos than you do an actual music store.

 

And try asking for a back catalogue of an artist from Tesco?? (They should stick to selling bread)

 

High Point - the Return of SOPHIE ELLIS BEXTOR - New album is amazing (got to no7 in chart) and SPICE GIRLS!!!!!!!!

 

Low Point - Umbrella was OVERPLAYED so much it annoyed me

Amy Winehouse acting stupid lol

Edited December 9, 200717 yr by designer_label

HIGHS: Everything Leona i said she'd be big from the 1st audition and people looked at me as to say yeah right, but whos looking best now! Britneys comback album despite the personal life the new album is HOT! Loving Robin thickes music too!

 

LOWS: Spice girls, amy winehouse being a junkie and druggie and wasting that talent

 

 

2008 Future Stars to look out for the British Alicia Keys : Katy shotter!

High Point -

Girls Aloud with the brilliant Call The Shots and a brilliant 4th album.

Britney Returning with her best album yet.

Rihanna Umbrella amazing song.

 

Low Points -

Leona (Do i have to say anythings else)

 

Highs - Amy Winehouse (for showcasing a very rare feat of the UK surrendering to a very unique talent), Fedde Le Grand battering the charts with cutting edge tunage and Robyn gatecrashing the top spot.

 

Lows - I could be here all effing day, but a very popular choice is Cascada. Anyone with an I-Q of more than 6 should really know better. All these identikit indie bands that seem to be mimicking each other (and, effortlessly, top radio 1's playlist and get endorsed by clueless types like Edith Bowman and Ferne Cotton). And Avril Lavigne, for existing.

Edited December 9, 200717 yr by ScottyEm

Lows:

Mika being number 1

c**p sales of The High Road (WAS NOT NEEDED)

Too Little Too Late charting at 4 (sorry but wtf?!)

Anything not getting a video

Potential Break Up song charting so low

Kelly Clarkson having one of the best albums and yet flop so hard :(

Lollipop getting stuck in my head :angry:

 

Highs:

The High Road going platinum :o

Leona doing freaking well with the whole Spirit project so far

Ella Ella eh eh... nuf said.

Highs

 

Spice Girls Reforming and touring AND me getting tickets :D.

Timberlands Great Stuff this year.

Rhianna having HUGE success with he new album.

Girls Alouds 4th studio album.

Shayne Wards New Singles. Breathless (love It)

 

Lows

Leona Lewis New Stuff

Spice Girls Not Getting To Number 1 With Their Greatest Hits

Spice Girls Not Getting Top 10 With Headlines (Friendship never ends)

Emma Buntons All I Need To Know Charting sooo badly.

Westlife coming back witht he same old cr*p.

Highs:

The Spice Girl reunion tour selling out so quickly

Sugababes being one of the highest climbers in the chart thanks to downloads with "About You Now"

Timbaland's genius throughout the year with Nelly F, Justin, Madonna and himself

Big Girls Don't Cry getting a high place in the charts

 

Lows:

Rihanna keeping english talent of the top spot (Kate Nash)

Gwen's singles flopping incredibly

Headlines not even reaching top 10 8 Spices Girls greatest hits not very good

Mutya's solo carrer

WESTLIFE (KILL THEM)

There's quite a few to pick from for both sides, it's been a pretty neutral year.