Why Don't People Want Usher To Grow Up??

[Miltown Marauder]

Listen, for this generation, Usher has made Forever music but yes he's not Marvin or Michael. And Yes, I would put Maxwell over him musically. But that doesn't mean Usher isn't the shit cause he is. He's the type of RnB artist that has the potenial to be with the greats. I do think he needs to stop with the generic/formula type of RnB. He needs to dig deep like he did on "Confessions" and pour more soul into his art. Yes "Here I Stand" had elements of that maturity but the songs weren't strong enough. He better get his act together though or his catalog will suffer for it. Like I said, I wouldn't say Justin stole his thunder but "Future Sex" >>> The last 2 Usher albums easily, musically, everything.

Is this joke? DEEP? CONFESSIONS?? That was one of the most poppiest albums he ever created...well I haven't heard the new one, but there's not a deep song on that whole album.

 

[blackrain]

It is about sales. But maybe i am naive but I think if your formula is making quality music you will no doubt have longevity . Your sales may not go diamond , but you will still have such a strong following you will be able to sell out shows for the rest of your life because your fans have such a deep connection with your music .

It used to be like that, that's why so many older artists can continue to tour off songs they made 2-3 decades ago...but most artists today won't have that longevity...look at an artist like The Dream, he's popular now but I can't honestly see somebody 20 years from now saying "You remember that song Shawty Is a 10, that was a classic back in the day" lol

 

[Punisher__]

It used to be like that, that's why so many older artists can continue to tour off songs they made 2-3 decades ago...but most artists today won't have that longevity...look at an artist like The Dream, he's popular now but I can't honestly see somebody 20 years from now saying "You remember that song Shawty Is a 10, that was a classic back in the day" lol

Most artists today won't have that longevity because they're not making timeless music. The Dream doesn't make timeless music; he makes music for the charts.

Usher is better than what he's putting out...but, like The Dream, he's choosing to release material that's congruent with the Billboard charts. And that's going to hurt him, in the grand scheme of things.

At this point in his career, Usher really shouldn't be concerned about record sales...because he's already proven to a big seller. His primary concern now should be releasing classics...not pop fluff.

When does it stop being about record sales?

 

[blackrain]

Most artists today won't have that longevity because they're not making timeless music. The Dream doesn't make timeless music; he makes music for the charts.

Usher is better than what he's putting out...but, like The Dream, he's choosing to release material that's congruent with the Billboard charts. And that's going to hurt him, in the grand scheme of things.

At this point in his career, Usher really shouldn't be concerned about record sales...because he's already proven to a big seller. His primary concern now should be releasing classics...not pop fluff.

When does it stop being about record sales?

When labels stop needing money to produce albums...it's always been about record sales...if Usher or insert artist here doesn't sell albums then he doesn't get to make any music...

 

[Punisher__]

When labels stop needing money to produce albums...it's always been about record sales...if Usher or insert artist here doesn't sell albums then he doesn't get to make any music...

Once you reach a certain level of success, it has to stop being about sales.

For a new artist, I'd understand...because you're still trying to get label support, and the more label support you have, the greater chances you'll have to be able to take artistic risks.

But someone like Usher, who has been in the game for over a decade, has too much clout within the industry already to be a puppet to his label.

This is my problem with Mariah Carey. She's been in the industry for 20 years, sold records, and topped every chart imaginable. But she's still trying to be that blockbuster seller...and her material has suffered because of it.

You're either going to sell records or make classics. The latter is how artists build their legacy.

 

[blackrain]

Once you reach a certain level of success, it has to stop being about sales.

For a new artist, I'd understand...because you're still trying to get label support, and the more label support you have, the greater chances you'll have to be able to take artistic risks.

But someone like Usher, who has been in the game for over a decade, has too much clout within the industry already to be a puppet to his label.

This is my problem with Mariah Carey. She's been in the industry for 20 years, sold records, and topped every chart imaginable. But she's still trying to be that blockbuster seller...and her material has suffered because of it.

You're either going to sell records or make classics. The latter is how artists build their legacy.

In theory you're right and I agree with you, it SHOULD be that way...but since producing, promoting, and recording records takes alot of money, sales will always be at the forefront of an artists goals...plus given the fact that fans seem to get even more fickle as times goes on and doesn't like to see artists change or grow, it's only gonna increase...the age group Usher and Mariah Carey could be appealing to don't buy records, so they appeal to those who do and that's teenagers...the reason an artist like Toni Braxton sold 10 million albums in the 90's is because older people brought her albums...older people aren't buying albums so they aren't being catered to by musicians or record labels

 

[Miltown Marauder]

I think Usher's fanbase longevity plan to latch on the teen demographic continuously, girl 1 at 16 loves usher,ect. as girl 1 gets older and probably out grows Usher, he still has her little sister to become a fan, and the cycle continues and continues. It's no doubt that he's had crazy longevity, but at being 30+ you can't spin and breakdance all of that foolishness like you were in your teens-20's.

 

[boat1580]

well usher isn't the only over 30 making pop music as stated earlier (fyi, he's 32 this year). mariah carey, jennifer lopez, and the list goes on.

but the whole point is that his music sucks now, his whole sound has changed completely. omg is not usher, it just isn't.i remember when i first heard that song i was a little surprised,just another case of another artist trying to stay relevant by jumping on the pop bandwagon. i'm sure usher himself is aware of this. to me ever since he broke up with chili his music hasn't been the same

 

[quietaskept]

well usher isn't the only over 30 making pop music as stated earlier (fyi, he's 32 this year). mariah carey, jennifer lopez, and the list goes on.

but the whole point is that his music sucks now, his whole sound has changed completely. omg is not usher, it just isn't.i remember when i first heard that song i was a little surprised,just another case of another artist trying to stay relevant by jumping on the pop bandwagon. i'm sure usher himself is aware of this. to me ever since he broke up with chili his music hasn't been the same

OMG is a cool song, but I won't listen to it because like you said its not Usher. Has anyone heard the entire album? What do you think?

 

[mrjun18]

the real question is why won't usher grow up?

 

[haute]

the real question is why won't usher grow up?

^^^^^^

exactly

usher really hasn't evovled all that much since confessions, and yes 'here I stand' was more adult, but it was a shitty album

no one cares how grown you are if the music is shit

I don't think his decline has to do with him being 'grown', but moreso because he keep trying to recreate the success of confessions, you can't recreate a classic.

 

[Miltown Marauder]

^^^^^^

exactly

usher really hasn't evovled all that much since confessions, and yes 'here I stand' was more adult, but it was a shitty album

no one cares how grown you are if the music is shit

I don't think his decline has to do with him being 'grown', but moreso because he keep trying to recreate the success of confessions, you can't recreate a classic.

for the last time... IT'S NOT A CLASSIC!! DAMN!....lol

 

[haute]

for the last time... IT'S NOT A CLASSIC!! DAMN!....lol

To you!!!

People are allowed a difference in opinion DAMN!!!!

Get over yourself

 

[buttuh_b]

I don't get where yall coming from with "Here I Stand" is a shitty album. IDK maybe its just my ears. Let me give Raymond v. Raymond a couple more thorough listens.

 

[boat1580]

OMG is a cool song, but I won't listen to it because like you said its not Usher. Has anyone heard the entire album? What do you think?

exactly, the song itself is fine. just really doesn't match him. i haven't heard his album yet. as soon as i heard "little freak" that song with nicki minaj i just knew i wouldn't like the album.

 

[rapmastermind]

Co-signs, I understand why "Here I Stand" barely went Platinum. There were some weak songs on there, Usher was clearly not in his zone on that record:

Raymond Vs Raymond > Here I Stand

And that's not saying much. Usher's last two have been pretty forgettable sadly and I love Usher but he needs to step it up. "Raymond Vs Raymond" was a step in the right direction but he's not quite there yet. I love "OMG" though, I think that's going to be a #1 single cause it's tearing the clubs up, it's the perfect club record. Will I am killed that beat.

LOL, i called it, "OMG" became Usher 9th #1 single and hit #1 in 8 countries. I felt it, that song had hit all over it. LOL @ everyone sleeping on it and now it's an intertnational smash. Yes it's not Usher style but it worked for him. Also I'm not a fan of autotune but once again for the club it works perfectly. Props usher, he's now had a #1 song on every ablum but his Puffy produced debut, LOL.

 

[Miltown Marauder]

I think it's the content that I like about Here I Stand. Like I said before, it's only so much repetitiveness you can take from him. I felt, even though it's not as strong of an album like 8701, he moved on into something different, better imo. It's getting to the point where you just don't take him serious anymore.