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Just to kill time...some ideas?
12 replies
PerFanatic said on February 20, 2002 08:52:
Roxette not successful? Hmmm... that would really only apply to North America, don’t you think? And doing a duet with A-ha or Annie Lenox wouldn’t exactly work here as they are currently less known than even Roxette here. At this point in time, I don’t think there’s anything that would bring Roxette back to their early 90’s status in the US. This is mainly because the “taste” over here right now is geared too much toward hip-hop, rap & teeny-pop. The only way I see a Roxette single “making” it over here is if they come up with a HUGE hit in Europe/Latin America. WICF & TCOTH were indeed very successful, but I’m talking about a “song of the year” type of hit... like “Can’t get you out of my head”, etc. Barring that minor miracle, I think the US is pretty much a lost cause (bands like Rox, AoB, E-type, etc are much too good for the American airwaves right now).
So, all you North Americans out there better start saving your pennies for a trip to Europe, cause that’s likely the only way you’ll see a Rox concert.
StillFar said on February 20, 2002 09:37:
Roxette not successful? Hmmm... that would really only apply to North America, don’t you think?
-No, don’t think so. Success isn’t to be under the top 30 of some radio stations in Europe (at least when it comes to Roxette)
And doing a duet with A-ha or Annie Lenox wouldn’t exactly work here as they are currently less known than even Roxette here.
-that’s what I just said. An artist or a band that isn’t successful anymore - an 80’s reunion.
Barring that minor miracle, I think the US is pretty much a lost cause (bands like Rox, AoB, E-type, etc are much too good for the American airwaves right now).
-it wasn’t just about the US!
animalkingdom said on February 20, 2002 09:54:
Hey, are you talking about E-Type as quality music...? :(
Sascha said on February 20, 2002 10:07:
Let’s define what makes Roxette’s sound what it is!
1. Per’s catchy songs
2. Marie’s extraordinary voice (yes, sometimes Per’s too)
3. Clarence’s clever production and arrangements
Now there are 2 (3) possibilities:
1. They start off with a new sound. Marie and Per are solid of course. But they could skip poor Clarence for a trendy production by someone with fresh input.
Result: Possibly exploding sales again. They would redefine themselves like for example Madonna does with every new album. On the other hand they are proud to have the main crew since the beginning ’86. They would loose their identity a bit.
2. They keep their very own sound which they are famous for and accept lower sales. Millions of people still like Roxette’s music but don’t always buy the records. No big surprises. Some feel to have heard it before and get bored. But Per and Marie are really happy the way it is.
3. A mix between both possiblities. They stay with Clarence but also experiment with other producers (did it before with Look Sharp!).
Please vote: 1. / 2. / 3. What’s your choice?
PerFanatic said on February 20, 2002 12:33:
WOW! Sorry peeps… didn’t mean to come off as offensive with my last post but I do feel animate that the only way Rox will make a comeback in N. America is to produce a MEGA hit everywhere else in the world. Now to address some of my critics…
@Stillfar – Success in the music industry is certainly a subjective thing. From my point of view, charting in the top 20 on well over 100 radio stations throughout (mostly) Europe & Latin America should be classified as successful. Granted, this has only been the case for the last 2 albums and I don’t have comparable historical data from the 1988 – 1997 to compare it to… but… compared to basically no airplay in N. America, it seems pretty good to me.
@Stillfar – So let me get this straight… you think that the combination of 2 basically forgotten bands will result in a great hit in North America? Sorry, I just don’t see the logic there. Now, if Rox were really desperate to get back on top in N. America (something which is obviously not a priority for them), they’d do a duet with Britney Spears or the like. How’s that for a scary thought?
@Stillfar – sorry, I just got tired of typing NORTH AMERICA so I used US instead. Yes, I do know that Canada & Mexico are part of North America… just got lazy…
@Animalkingdom – Yeah, I think E-type kicks ass. Now, if you’re not into dance music then fine… I understand you may not like his style. One thing’s for sure though… in his genre he is definitely the King of Sweden (and also doing well in the rest of Scandinavia). Per is still the best overall, thoughJ
@Sascha – Here’s what they need to do… Come out with another great album (like all the others) but be sure to include a few danceable tracks (like Stars, etc). Then, line up some great dance remixers like E-Type, Richi M, Paul Van Dyk, etc. to make these songs a huge hit on the dance floor. Let’s face it, the dance craze is alive and well. The extra sales spawned from the dance crowd should be enough to push these songs to “Mega-hit” status and then, they might even make it to the US. OK, maybe that’s pushing it just a bit but I can dream, can’t I?
Markuz said on February 20, 2002 16:27:
Or 4: stop doing that pop-shit, quit the synths and go back to the C!B!B! style cos THAT’s REAL music.
Majdy said on February 20, 2002 16:49:
well, just want to let everyone know that Roxette’s first single always hit the #1 spot here in Indonesia and the album always goes well too. They always got Platinum and Gold. But I wonder why that seemed Roxette are not really “care” about us.... all the fans here are dying to see them live here again
*oops sorry for my poor english*
roxchurch said on February 21, 2002 08:15:
Maybe try(3) and if that doesn’t work then (1)
about (2)– maybe Per is happy with it but when we talk with Marie on 2.11.2001 after concert in Viena,she (when understand that we from Bulgaria) ask us something like( i didn’t heard well)–What can help us to sell more records in your country?...!!!
so maybe Perfanatic is right-” The only way I see a Roxette single “making” it over here is if they come up with a HUGE hit in Europe/Latin America.—Come out with another great album (like all the others) but be sure to include a few danceable tracks (like Stars, etc)”
I don’t thik that Roxette will lost their very own sound –look what Madona did....
But the situation in my country is the same as North America(NA)- the worst kind of hip-hop, rap & teeny-pop are on top advance by insolence TV and radio stations...
Vixzter said on February 21, 2002 21:15:
Stillfar - the not successful bit would also apply to the UK. ;)
sportsfan said on February 21, 2002 22:28:
well, changing the producer is not all that bad an idea, I think. Obviously, Roxette’s success in the early and mid 90s is also largely due to Clarence production, but I think to bring some new ideas into Roxette’s music isn’t a bad concept. When I suggested Martin Gore and Lenny Kravitz as producers a couple of weeks ago, I was obviously joking if only because Kravitz and Gore are just too expensive for Roxette records and it’s doubtful whether they accepted an invitation to produce Rox stuff at all (Lenny would, though, I take it). (It would be great to have them as Rox producers, mind you...) But why not choosing someone who is inspired by this kind of “fresher”/more alternative (?)/updated stuff? E.g. I really like the production of “real sugar” by Shooting Star; I think it’s far better than the original, more interesting, not so smooth and predictable. Why not choosing him and giving him a chance to give Rox’ music new directions. I don’t want to listen to basically the same stuff over and over again. Rox needs challange. :) (CBB IS a great record but it’s such a classic that copying it wouldn’t be a good idea, I think).
@roxchurch: Are you serious? I mean, that would be quite a thing, being asked by Marie what to do in order to sell more records? Seems like they’re under increasing pressure by EMI (understandably maybe, from EMI’s point of view: Roxette was a hugely successful band, but also was and IS a hugley expensive act when it comes to recording sessions, video-production, promotion &c.)
Cheers, folks.
StillFar said on February 20, 2002 08:20:
Since there is not much to talk about lately and we’re all bored, why don’t we collect ideas which direction Roxette should go in the future. Somehow, even if some of you won’t agree, we all want Roxette as successful as in 91-92 (so we could all see their shows in our own country). To reach that, Roxette has to bring out something big. So here we go, what do you think (besides changing record label) would bring Roxette back to the top?
After listing to ‘See me’ for the first time, I just wished to have an entire Roxette album similar to that style, people don’t recognize Roxette in it…which is - in case of Roxette - a good thing.
Then, I always wondered why they’re not working together with other artists. Artists who haven’t been that successful lately…A-Ha for example, would love to hear Marie sing with Morten. Or even better, with Annie Lennox. Roxette and Eurythmics have been compared for so many years, both of them suffer from a lack of success. Why not writing a song that combines two styles, two great voices and two strong female characters? The song should be fast, a fight between Annie and Marie, with a duel of voices at the end...just a thought!
What’s your idea?