Tabloid Junkie
August 15th, 2004, 01:23 AM
How Can You Label an Album That Flops?
Well, Michael Jackson has been in the business for well over 40 years now. He is use to knowing
if an album is successful and how to make better albums for the future. His career presented him
with surprises and events that he expected. He is as a matter of fact, a very great business man, and
knows how to deal with the music industry.
He never expected his second solo album "Thriller" to be the biggest selling album in history. It sold
over 60 million copies worldwide. Before that, he sold 21 million copies with his debut
"Off The Wall". Off The Wall was labeled a huge, very huge success. It became one of the most successful
debut albums in history as well.
After Thriller, Michael Jackson had to try to meet new standards, living up to Thriller.
Well in sales terms, he didn't. That was when the media and music critics started saying their
favorite word, "flop". Well, lets get this straight. In 1987, Michael releases the highly anticipated
"Bad". It becomes the only album in history to spawn 5 number one hits. It sells over 30 million copies,
and makes the biggest grossing tour in history. That wasn't enough? This was the peak of his fame to many.
It was labeled a flop! What? It sells over 10 million more copies than Off The Wall, the album
that was considered a great success. How? They couldn't explain!
So fast forward to 1991, when he releases "Dangerous". This was a very highly anticipated album.
It released 3 number one hits on the pop and r&b charts. It sells more than "Bad"! It sells 31 million.
This is where the critics were harsh:
"This is a flop...he will never match the success of Thriller". What? It starts off another
extremely successful tour and produces groundbreaking videos as well as the the highest watched
video in history.
Years later, he released the double cd set History Past PResent and Future Book 1. It produces 2 number one hits
and sells over 20 million copies.....nearly as much as his debut album, and its a flop? What?
1997, he releases the biggest selling remix album in history "Blood On The Dancefloor". Remix albums
historically never sell as much as new material, but this album sold over 8 million copies. A flop? According to some critics.
2001 is when they were so harsh, that anyone could hate critics. Invincible was released, and produces a number one hit, is triple platinum,
12 million world wide, and doesn't receive one piece of promotion from Sony!? Wow! Its a flop?
2003, he releases Number Ones and it sells 6 million copies and receives no promotion! Its a flop?
So what can we consider a flop? His sister releases a new album in 2004, "Damita Jo". It sells 2 million worldwide,
not even platinum, but is considered a success? It sells 3 times less than Number Ones, and Damita Jo is new material!
A flop is when an album flops. When it doesn't sell! 10, 20, 30 million copies sold is not a flop! Critics need to get this!
A flop is something is Cyndi Laupers "At Last". Heard of it? Didn't think so. Garth Brooks "Chris Gaines" album? Heard of it?
Probably because you know it barely sold.
Michael Jackson is the biggest selling artist in history! He doesn't flop. No matter how bad people want him to, he won't!
Just Think About It.
Well, Michael Jackson has been in the business for well over 40 years now. He is use to knowing
if an album is successful and how to make better albums for the future. His career presented him
with surprises and events that he expected. He is as a matter of fact, a very great business man, and
knows how to deal with the music industry.
He never expected his second solo album "Thriller" to be the biggest selling album in history. It sold
over 60 million copies worldwide. Before that, he sold 21 million copies with his debut
"Off The Wall". Off The Wall was labeled a huge, very huge success. It became one of the most successful
debut albums in history as well.
After Thriller, Michael Jackson had to try to meet new standards, living up to Thriller.
Well in sales terms, he didn't. That was when the media and music critics started saying their
favorite word, "flop". Well, lets get this straight. In 1987, Michael releases the highly anticipated
"Bad". It becomes the only album in history to spawn 5 number one hits. It sells over 30 million copies,
and makes the biggest grossing tour in history. That wasn't enough? This was the peak of his fame to many.
It was labeled a flop! What? It sells over 10 million more copies than Off The Wall, the album
that was considered a great success. How? They couldn't explain!
So fast forward to 1991, when he releases "Dangerous". This was a very highly anticipated album.
It released 3 number one hits on the pop and r&b charts. It sells more than "Bad"! It sells 31 million.
This is where the critics were harsh:
"This is a flop...he will never match the success of Thriller". What? It starts off another
extremely successful tour and produces groundbreaking videos as well as the the highest watched
video in history.
Years later, he released the double cd set History Past PResent and Future Book 1. It produces 2 number one hits
and sells over 20 million copies.....nearly as much as his debut album, and its a flop? What?
1997, he releases the biggest selling remix album in history "Blood On The Dancefloor". Remix albums
historically never sell as much as new material, but this album sold over 8 million copies. A flop? According to some critics.
2001 is when they were so harsh, that anyone could hate critics. Invincible was released, and produces a number one hit, is triple platinum,
12 million world wide, and doesn't receive one piece of promotion from Sony!? Wow! Its a flop?
2003, he releases Number Ones and it sells 6 million copies and receives no promotion! Its a flop?
So what can we consider a flop? His sister releases a new album in 2004, "Damita Jo". It sells 2 million worldwide,
not even platinum, but is considered a success? It sells 3 times less than Number Ones, and Damita Jo is new material!
A flop is when an album flops. When it doesn't sell! 10, 20, 30 million copies sold is not a flop! Critics need to get this!
A flop is something is Cyndi Laupers "At Last". Heard of it? Didn't think so. Garth Brooks "Chris Gaines" album? Heard of it?
Probably because you know it barely sold.
Michael Jackson is the biggest selling artist in history! He doesn't flop. No matter how bad people want him to, he won't!
Just Think About It.