Hagarthy

Just listened to I Got You. Nice track. Didn't slay me as much, but on account of production, not structure or anything like that. It could just be my ears atm, so don't take my comments to heart. That said, wouldn't a Sister Act type of video really help it...break the internet. I hope they go that route if they decide to make it a single and even acknowledge the Sister Act inspiration. I think it would really help push to a young demographic. Thoughts?

Thanks for the link. Gave it a listen, and I'm afraid I have a slight reservation. Not knocking it down, I think its a great track, and maybe it's just me being used to a fixed format for pop songs or nitpicking. It feel's underwritten to me to the point the chorus comes off a little bit as a gimmick. The versus strike me as needing a bit more padding rather than the embellishments preceding the chorus. Just my opinion. I wonder if they planned to give it a rap verse...especially before the last chorus. For the video, I see Leona performing on a cliff, all white, all alone, lots of sweeping helicopter shots.

I'll just interpret your post as a point of concern rather blanket notice, because I've had the same worry. My fear is actually that the actors who tried to impede her effort have found accomplices this side of the pond. I really hope I'm wrong, it would reprehensible for anyone Leona has worked with in the past - and parted from - to try and use their influence to block her progress. I know she has worked with a few HUMONGOUS egos in the past, but I'd really hate to think they were in any way trying to stand in her way. And, moving on: I believe in I AM. I believe it's the kind of music that sells in today's current lyric/melody conscious marketplace. I believe THUNDER has been a perfect lead for it, and I wait like everyone else to see how soon it's added to Top 40. This has been a stickler for most fans, but maybe there is the way Top 40 works that Def Jam is looking to capitalize on. I just noticed Nick Jonas 'Levels' was added three days ago and is already getting over 200 spins/a day. I imagine if there is some payola in place that guarantees 250+ spins, then a week before and two weeks after album release would be perfect for Thunder? That, complemented with TV promo. Or am I wrong. I really hope this is strategy. I'm not to eager to see a second single decided to soon. I Got You will need a precedent to guarantee airplay however good is sounds; ALS has the risk of being more niche that assumed; Ladders may have the same problem as I Got You; and POWER sounds too brilliant to be dropped without major planning. I may be the only one on this, but after Thunder peaks in the US (late October, I imagine), I would like them to get back to FUMF - maybe a remix with say, Iggy Azalea. Send it straight to Top 40. Release new video (we'll just a re-edit of the original to feature the guest rapper). Just my 2 cents.

Wow, is it actually playing on Vh1? Anyone know the number of spins.

To success!! :cheer:

This is just in response to the "Leona Brand Critque' above. My question is, if Adele and Ed Sheeran were able to take off on the basis of their music alone, why can't we accept that Leona can't apply the same strategy re: I AM. What will lashing out at Simon on national tv/print help with? You know, there's always another side of the story. I'm sure 'the mistake's' she references in her songs are things she may have inadvertently done to compromise her success in previous eras. She is doing fine. Her Thunder performance on Kelly and Michael has been my best so far. Don't like the acoustic dos, tbh. Guitars just don't capture the sentiment of the song in my opinion. My worry with Leona, though, as that she may be to cavalier about success...like it doesn't really matter...like a part of her is too doubtful of her prospects. I hope this isn't the case. I hope she wakes up daily believing millions of album sales for I AM or her singles...WITHOUT ANY RESERVATION AT ALL. Otherwise we are just wasting our time with overeager support of the kind of success we envision for her isn't really a desired REALITY. I think she has her moments of doubt: if someone asks you when your song/album comes out...simply saying September doesn't cut it. There's is something wrong with that, be it behind the scenes second-guessing by her label or 'shyness.' The release so far may be ok. I haven't looked at enough examples from the past to see how things work in US. If it had all been in my hands, I would have overlapped a lot of promo, including targeting Top 40 and HAC. As things are not in my control, I simply hold out on the hope for success. Hopefully it is in alignment with Leona's wishes.

LOL. I'm listening to Another Love Song on a loop now despite so-so love on first listen. So confused now about its hit potential. I can see it as a really huge global dance single, but again, I'm skeptical of the instrumental. It's the piano part between 0.45 and .59 that kinda 'dates' it for me. I wonder how that part would sound if they arpegiatted the chords and used a different instruments; or simply smoothened them (legato) with a softer instrument?

Hi again, everyone. Great development with the video release. Hopeful for a lot of pick up by blogs and other media sites. It hasn't improved my interest in the song as much as I anticipated, but I think it suffices. It definitely brings out the artiste vibe rife throughout I AM. Leona is at its forefront in a very striking distinguishing way. I hope new and returning listeners will really warm to it. As for Another Love Song, nice song but very album track for me. I'm not to keen on it as a single - the instrumentals, especially as the chorus kicks in, gives it a very retro vibe. Also, Leona's voice seems to drown in the background, so I can only see it working as an album track. Here's to hoping Thunder gets loads of Top 40 pick up this week and starts to rise on itunes. I really think at this point that FUMF would be the perfect follow up single to Thunder in US. I really still believe in its hit potential, even with a revised video as much as I think the original is perfect. Sometime around late Sept. or Oct. they may be set to drop single no. 2. Keen on FUMF and I AM.

Yeah, it's way too early to panic. As long as HAC radio play remains steady and she is picked up by Top 40, she should be good. I was just doing a quick check on things: Rolling in the Deep took three months to top the HAC charts. Leona's at 48 now, and I really hope the climb could be much faster. Really positive about upcoming TV performances. I hope Def Jam can book her James Corden, SNL, Ellen and others. She could also mix up performances. I think, for example, I Got You could work on Ellen; SNL may need something lyrical/stripped back, and Thunder could work well on other shows. Just my 2 cents.

Thanks for the post Envoirment. That video just shoots up my confidence about everything. I said before that Thunder had such emotional resonance - I think this is it's connecting point with listeners. Really optimistic about things now.

Oh, wow. The Thunder performance on Live with K & M was FANTASTIC! Just had to log in after a small hiatus. Don't know what to make of the promo so far. Impact doesn't seem as strong. I just want to ask: does visiting a radio station guarantee some play listing? Also, isn't audience size and hours of play even far more important than just basic play listing? I'm just asking to get an idea of what to expect from the radio tour. Here's how I would mix things up moving ahead. And I'm not saying this because I think things are going awry. I know US is it's own beast, but that there are also out of the box ways of speeding things up. 1) Dig up a bonus track - a really solid uptempo. Then...promo it on itunes, facebook and spotify, and a few blogs...(bonus track from upcoming album) 2) Release the THUNDER video with some VEVO promotion. WIth the pre-awareness generated with step 1, the video could likely have more impact than an open release. After this, it will be time to move on to more TV promo. Seriously, they have to do the best to have Leona interviewed rather than just perform. I know 'Live' doesn't typically do this, but I do hope for future TV appearances, including the stack during album release week, she will do more than just perform.

Thank you Soe for reposting my comment on DS. I can't seem to be able to open an account there, and I'm fine with that. It does get occasionally dramatic. LOL. I also wanted to add that: to preempt people characterizing the songs on the album as repetitive, she should emphasize that it's her first THEMATIC album. Maybe say how she wanted to move away from randomly putting together the best demos she received or her personal songs to a collection with a really unified theme. Maybe if there are classical albums in the same vein she could name drop so 'dem haters' have no more room to detract her. I'm going to try my hardest to make this my last 'worried' post. I AM just gives me too many good vibes. It MUST go well for it.

My thoughts moving ahead. I don't have an account on Digital Spy, so anyone who wants to post my thoughts there is free to do so. I really like Thunder as a next single choice. Her vocals sound powerful in the way that usually distinguishes Leona in the marketplace, and it seems to have great emotional resonance. However, I think she and her team need to change the way they discuss the album or songs' inspiration. The transcripts read a bit bitter in some interviews, something that may not go down well with people who find it unjustified. Her narrative during promo has to be more about her and the place she found herself rather than what was done to her. I think it just comes off better when she emphasizes things such as her Syco grew so big and she got lost in the mix, rather than not having control over things. I'd run with things that almost assign blame to her. They are more relatable and likely to fly better with the public. Statements such as, "I got to comfortable; It took me long to realize the changing dynamic at the company, and how to adjust. More I...I...and less...them, them, them. At the end of the day, the experience gave her her most fulfilled work yet, there's no reason to have regrets. I just hope we hear more of how it was a blessing in disguise; I wasn't reaching into myself enough, etc. It just keeps the vibes positive, which is what I want of this campaign.

Thunder should be a brilliant single. I get how it makes for an instant emotional connection. Great great single choice moving ahead...in the US, finally!

OK. The 'email' seems to have been written by a fan. The detail just gives him/her away. I wish people could just be a little more patient. It doesn't matter whether there is a deliberate effort to block Leona from UK Radio, doing that worldwide impossible. Let's wait and see how the song fares in America. This to me is its final 'bad' week. Patience. please.

These articles are such put downs (just saw one in the Guardian). Makes me believe that someone was just waiting to publish them, all claws out. Just wish they could get things started in the US - big performances and radio play. Haters will go dead silent.

Nice post, Envoirment. Glad you have fun. It's hard to make out the brilliance of the songs, but it appears they both went well with the crowd. ALS seems to have very stand out instrumentals, but as my earphones are broken, I couldn't catch the melody. Essence of Me gave me a very nice 4th single vibe, say for Nov-December. It's very sultry RnB that could fly very well with the Rihanna/Beyonce (Umbrella/Halo) crowd. I really see that kind of populist potential for it, with younger 14-30 females being its key demo. Lovely track. I really like the bridge. As for FUMF, that was a great lead single choice and the definite album sell. It has the kind of AC vibe that really sucks in the album-buying market. Looking forward to that big memorable performance that could go viral.

Prepare for a rise, people....a rise.....A RISE TO THE TOOOOOOOOOOOOOP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I HAVE SEEN IT! IT IS HAPPENING! How do you guys feel about something like this for a live performance (say for a live tv performance): Something really churchy, with a choir doing the opening acapella and background vocals/humming...clapping all the way through. Then a few dancers are sprayed in front of them while Leona works the stage left, right and center. I'm thinking of something that could viral. IT IS HAPPENING!!!!!!!!

OK, got some new readings :) OK. Major exciting news coming up and another mini-exciting one. I'm getting a date of July 7. The major news has to do with the US market. Not so sure about the other one, but it reads like a daytime show interview promo. Will tell you more as they come. Also, I have another not so cool readings. Please join me in simply saying "Get out of the way, YOU!" to clear out of the picture. Happy times :) Get out of the way, YOU!

Hi again everyone, Glad to see the chart position. Not optimum but nothing to complain about as well. I check this forum and digital spy and well and have noted one very prominent thing - there seems to be an overzealous obsession with chart position, one that derails conversation on what else FUMF has in line for its promotion or its general hit potential. Sure, some songs debut at top ranking and continue to hold that position for a while. Others start there and fall off quickly. Others rise to that point slowly. If there's one takeaway Island can get from FUMF, I think, is that its got hit potential. No need to waste time on people who will not entertain it (the UK Radio that MAY have snubbed), best to get on with promo in their control and which could prove just as effective (I'm talking VEVO, Itunes, and blog banners, and of course, handing things over to the US). I was just looking at the chart history of Rolling in the Deep (In the US, before it went on to become a worldwide hit). Debut in December 2010: No. 68. First time at No.1: March 2011. Why can't we all treat FUMF the same way. I think it has a good three months to prove itself, three months in which it will fully realize its hit potential. I believe. My itunes predictions this week is that its peaks at No.18, then falls off to No.72 next week (unless something happens), and then at that point - no idea what Island has in store, just going by a hunch - it is really going to start to rise. I don't want to get specific, but I'll tell you that these are some of my 'readings' for FUMF/I AM- 3 weeks, 16 weeks. 3, 5, 8 and 13 m. Final 16 m. figure.

They need to move right ahead with the US release. I almost hope, in addition to not wanting to lose all the promo they have lined up next week, that this is primary reason they have brought the release forward. The world, especially the UK, FOLLOW US trends, WITHOUT FAIL. I'd hate them try to continue UK radio with different singles when we don't really know the behind-the-scenes issues, if at all that could be reasons for the snub. This kind of scenario, after TROUBLE, could have been anticipated. Someone said something about UK radio VJs looking down upon singing show talents, unless of course they are from the US or cannot be ignored because of popularity there. So many marketing angles - Billboard declaring it anthemic; Leona issuing a strong rebuttal against a dull personality (nothing wrong with preferring to keep clothes on, etc), FUMF being a dig at Simon (no, it's just an empowerment ballad), ELLEN and plenty of numerous TV shows...interviews and performances...Like, can they unleash that song on the world already :D

A little disappointed, but again, we do not know Island's game plan. I'll stick to what I said a while back: UK promo should have been overlapped with the US one and international. That would have given them just the right ammo against any kind of snubs by local radio. Another question I have to ask, has any label ever tried promoting new music with retail store chains, say pay a certain fee to have them play songs in rotation for a week or two? I wonder how that would work out, especially in conjunction with posters at entrance. Strikes may as a way to get around weird radio embargos (if that has at all happened; we don't really know.) All this said, time to get rolling with the international release. The more time they delay courting UK radio, the longer it is before they are forced to pick it up due to international success. Just my thoughts.

BBC 1 has no right to refuse playlisting Leona and I'll tell you why. It is not privately owned and exists primarily for the promotion of British artistry to its citizens and the world at large. Now, when a British artiste has gone on to represent British talent not just locally but on the global stage - and to great acclaim, it should be automatic that when such an artiste presents new and appropriate work to the public, it is immediately playlisted. It is that simple. You cannot turn away someone who has continued to shine the torch of British music worldwide for years because you don't think they are cool enough, when US performers such as Rihanna or Beyonce get immediate heavy rotation when they release new music (such suckers for anything with a US tag). I really for the life of me do not understand the logic behind that for a PUBLICLY OWNED radio station. If it's VJs and executives think they now OWN the station, then it is time to give them a dose of reality. IMO, where BBC decides to randomly discriminate on British artistes, especially when they stand to benefit from it in a way that would push British music worldwide, then its is not the radio station we ought to be addressing directly but the Culture Secretary herself. I frankly think its abominable. Were any American pop artiste to fart tomorrow, you can sure bet it would get an A playlisting. I'm frankly disgusted if this is true.

I have this feeling she will log 13 weeks on the US Billboard chart once the song takes off. I also have another 3 week vibe and another 16 week vibe I can't correctly determine. Will wait and see if I have a hunch on anything. ;)

Chill out guys. I think Leona and co. have things in control. I said two weeks ago about how wise it may be to overlap UK and International promo, and yes, my idea is rooted on the some of things that have been brought up here - impact dates, standard 6-7 week prelease, playlisting, etc - all which can affect chart performance. As for why specifically, I recommend the spontaneous global release, it is because I feel the UK Radio likes to snub a number of its artists from time to time. Just my opinion, as I haven't studied the UK market very well. What I seemed to note is that they are very very quick to jump to playlisting US artists but will show very weird reluctance in doing the same for local ones - talk about not celebrating your own. TROUBLE from Glassheart is a very prime example of this. Just couldn't get a BBC 1 playlisting to boost it ahead of the release. This is why I don't want her team relying too much on UK performance, or even counting on it the way SyCo used. The US and International market welcome new music from recognized artists without any snobbery and let fans have their fill of it and decided whether or not it is worth airplay. UK Radio, not so much, though sometimes they can all jump behind an artist, the way they did Emeli Sande. Anyway, like I said before, FUMF is a people song, which means so many platforms to ensure its success. I think US will love because it is one of their most popular styles - Motown, and the upbeat uplifting tone should sure rouse the rest of international. I don't see UK Radio holding back at that point, though I get the sense that they will be much more supportive to Leona this time. Just my thoughts, I could be wrong about some things. I noticed the US release date is June 7, same as the UK one. Really good news there. They are really setting themselves up for success. I just wish they would start servicing it to TV stations/channels - music channels worldwide - especially. That tends to be how young people these days discover songs as they are the channels of preference for those demographic. I personally discovered Uptown Funk and Thrift Shop via tv, not long before they became no1 songs. TV, I would say, is bigger than the internet when it comes to discovering good music. I look forward to great success for Leona. I believe she has put the RIGHT WORK in, and nothing can 'keep her down' this era.