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Post by thebraff (Braffy) on May 21, 2012 0:52:40 GMT 10
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Post by dmac on May 21, 2012 1:03:34 GMT 10
Great to see Now & Then up there at No 14 (and No 2 on the Oz Chart) CONGRATULATIONS D
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Brian
Lead Vocalist
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Post by Brian on May 21, 2012 10:38:56 GMT 10
Terrific performance  This should be highlighted for what it is with no appearance on shows like DWTS/AGT and the upcoming X Factor where some others will be appearing on at least one and one artist on all three three with air play and still there it is No 2 on the Australian ARIA charts and No 14 on the overall ARIA chart. It is clear the public love Damien you just have to look as to how his shows are selling to see that--- So radio stations --OPEN EYES AND SEE |
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Post by Glawz on May 21, 2012 20:33:28 GMT 10
You are so right Brian and Nicki. CONGRATULATIONS ON A GREAT RESULT DAMIEN  |
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Post by Trilly on May 21, 2012 22:32:54 GMT 10
Very pleased it's held it's spot this week! WTG, DAMIEN!  Well said, Brian.  |
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Post by Smiley on May 22, 2012 9:26:13 GMT 10
Great news!
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Post by Spud on May 28, 2012 11:10:14 GMT 10
What happened?? :-\ Now & Then fell from #14 to #85 this week.   It's #19 in the Australian chart. |
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Post by Trilly on May 28, 2012 15:14:39 GMT 10
Spud, I think the reasons why "Now and Then" has fallen so rapidly are complicated, to do with the music industry currently and also to do with this album. The music industry is in a transitional phase, where the business model based on sales of recorded music primarily as CDs is being superseded. Downloads are the current main means of distribution, whether "legal" or not, and they are the real indicator of popularity and demand. The charts are nowhere near as important as they used to be in that regard. That said, I think it's also clear that this album is meant to be a quick follow-up to the success of "Roy", aimed at the nostalgia-CD-buying crowd. As such, it's main focus was always going to be Mother's Day and that has been and gone. It may pick up again when Damien tours in September,(Father's Day?) but I doubt it will ever sell anywhere as well as "Roy" for several reasons. Firstly, it is not being promoted with the same vigour, nor has it received radio play. "Roy" sold well without radio, but herein lies the difference. It showcased Damien's two main selling points - his incredible pipes and, to a degree, his emotionality. This album does not, I think, and is the reason why it has failed as yet to capture the public's imagination. How could ANYTHING do that after Orbison?  Well, as a dedicated and loving fan,  (you know thst D, right?)  here's how, IMO : Been saying it for years- Damien needs to emphatically redefine himself as " that lovely guy with the awesome voice who sings those incredibly emotional songs". An artist like Buble is phenomenally successful because he knows what works for him and sticks to it. Damien's main attractions again, are his sensational voice and his emotionality. Combine the two and he's utterly, compellingly irresistible to a broad audience. Remove an element and it won't work as well. This album is not particularly emotional ( except for his wonderful "Beautiful" ) and does not utilize his voice to it's best advantage, except for one or two "big moments", IMO. It's pretty simple really. "Roy" worked spectacularly because it did both. Damien needs time to work on an album which has these two elements at it's heart, whether self-penned, co-written for his voice or covers. (I'd prefer mainly originals because they're HIS melodies and/or stories.) As an admirer of Damien's abilities, I don't think this album has done him justice, (thanks for rushing it, Sony)  partly hastening it's demise from the charts. No matter it's origins, the next album needs to take Damien out of his comfy, polished- but- bland musical cardigan, like RJ managed to do. Easy listening is not enough. An album not aimed at a sales demographic but aimed at really showcasing Damien's assets,( if he has the will and desire,) will go gang-busters like Roy, I think, "legally" or not!  In the meantime, Damien has his live tour/s and the other writing, performing strings to his multi-talented bow to help to keep him occupied and an income stream flowing. I'm prepared to wait for the ULTIMATE Damien Leith album (even if it's recorded, sold and distributed by a coalition of online musos after the music corporations go belly-up. By that time too even the * cougholdfartscough* will have ditched CDs for downloads). Hell, what's another six years or so?   |
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Brian
Lead Vocalist
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Post by Brian on May 28, 2012 16:10:52 GMT 10
Trilly
Well said.
He has the pipes he has the emotion he has everything to WOW us all and what I think Trilly is saying in short is that after ROY he had to maintain that standard both emotionally and vocally and the answer is it was not there.
The thing I am sure of is that he is capable of singing anything but it must have that OMG factor that was in the ROY album I believe.
After all he is the best singer there is ---anywhere
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Post by 12ktina on May 28, 2012 19:43:28 GMT 10
I haven't been on here for ages, so I was surprised to read this post by Trilly..... but I think you have captured what I have been thinking a while now - the times when Damien has truly soared is when his songs come directly from the heart, so I have to agree with you Trilly, perhaps there is some emotion missing from these songs. While each song is enjoyable in itself, perhaps they are not really memorable?? I would love to see Damien put his guitar down in some of his TV performances and focus on delivering from the soul! That said, I thought his performance on DWTS last night was joyful and I really enjoyed it!!  |
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Post by Glawz on May 30, 2012 7:53:32 GMT 10
I know what you're getting at Trilly, and compliment you on your excellent expression and truthfulness.
To me, the album lacks Damien. The covers, apart from Leah and Can't get it out of my head, are prettty "Blah". Foot tapping and catchy they may be but I think Trilly has hit it on the head, no emotion, possibly because it was a rushed album to gain MD sales, and partly because Damien's heart wasn't in it (or at least that's the impression I have).
I really love all the new originals and can't fault them, only to say that I think one of the other reasons the album hasn't sold, is that unless you have bought it, you have not heard these great songs. Country flavour or not, they are still great tunes and I think very commercial. Without air play or promotion (even by Damien on his live appearances) how can they expect to be accepted. D must start pushing himself and his own music, his record company certainly don't bloody care. Can't understand it really... if you have a good product (Damien) it makes business sense to advertise and promote it so that it sells.
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Post by Trilly on May 30, 2012 14:20:50 GMT 10
Whether it's a thumping rock song, a tender love ballad or a sexy pop song, when Damien sings from his soul that's when we all still fall at his feet.  Agreed that original songs not heard are pretty hard to sell. Sounds depressingly familiar, doesn't it? sigh. |
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Post by nixter on May 30, 2012 15:58:18 GMT 10
To sell originals you have to perform them at every opportunity.
Look what happened with Beautiful when people heard it on the EsteeLauder add.
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Post by Glawz on May 30, 2012 18:40:26 GMT 10
To sell originals you have to perform them at every opportunity. Look what happened with Beautiful when people heard it on the EsteeLauder add. Hear, hear Nicki!! |
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Post by hyperrune on Jun 1, 2012 2:57:19 GMT 10
Hmmm. I've been avoiding commenting on the issue since I know next to nothing about the music industry. I'm the kind of person who follows musicians who have a few hits, lose general interest from their fans after a few albums, and fade into obscurity. Hope I haven't jinxed Damien by liking him! (all my fav tv shows usually get cancelled too ) The only thing I can say is that nothing is wrong with the album itself. In fact, it's now my favourite of all Damien's albums. The instrumentation and arrangements are great; the songwriting is great; the vocals are great, of course; and I love the overall vibe of the album. I'm selfish; I love the album, so I don't care all too much about critics or charts. Of course I want the album to do well and receive all the acclaim I think it deserves; but I'm not all that surprised if it doesn't. Like I said, I don't understand the music industry at all. I doubt even the people in it fully know what's going on these days. I see the same thing happening in publishing. The same way the paperback is claimed to be dying before the rise of the ebook, CD's are said to be dying with the dominance of itunes, while talent seems to be dying everywhere. Formats are changing, consumer needs and audience expectations are changing; half the time they ignore what is best, in favour of what they are told is popular, or what they feel is most accessible. Formulae for success that worked years ago aren't guaranteed any more; nor is being good a guarantee. There are some exceptions - look at Adele - but in general, the industry is irrational and unfair. It's nothing new; most entertainment businesses have been like this for decades. What I am proud of is that Damien has kept at it. That he sticks to his principles and makes music he is happy with, rather than just doing what is in trend or is more likely to play on the radio. I respect that, because I would likely do the same; and do so, in my own field. I could go into commercial design and earn a crust, but I scrape away at illustration because my heart is in it. Of course I want Damien to earn money; of course he has to support his family. But he doesn't do what he does just for the money. He does it for the art. The art is its own reward. If you sacrifice your own artistic principles but still don't make any money, you have nothing. I respect him for having the integrity to stick with what he believes in, doing it his way, having his own voice. Recently one of my other Idols, author Neil Gaiman, said this in his keynote speech to Philadelphia U: "The one thing that you have that nobody else has is you: your voice, your mind, your story, your vision. So write and draw and dance and play as only you can. Leave the world more interesting for your being here." That's what Damien is doing. He puts lyrical, beautiful, transcendal, personal music out into the world, and makes it a better place - for me, and for people who understand and appreciate what he does like I do. I respect any artist for doing that, whether I like what they do or not (yes, that even applies to Bob Dylan, much as I despise him and only grudgingly admit it). The fact that I absolutely adore Damien's music - and Now & Then in particular - only increases my adulation. I suppose what I'm trying to say is: DON'T BE DISCOURAGED, DAMIEN! I LOVE WHAT YOU DO & I'LL ALWAYS BELIEVE IN YOU! I haven't counted out Now & Then yet. Its fortunes could still turn around. And if not, I still love love LOVE it; and that's enough for me. Incidentally, I saw a vid on The Voice website where Seal was talking about Kiss From a Rose. It originally entered the chart at #60, then dropped out the next week. It only garnered success and won Grammys because it featured in the Batman Forever movie (co-starring Mrs Keith Urban, funnily enough) and audiences heard it last thing as they left the theatres. That's not to say that it succeeded on hype alone; Seal said he always knew that the song was good, people just needed to hear it. Perhaps if we ask Christopher Nolan if he wants to include one of Damien's songs in The Dark Knight Rises - perhaps 'Let Me Be Your Rescue would be appropriate?  So. Um. Sorry for the big long rant  |
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aka @just_Leithal on Twitter 
It's #19 in the Australian chart.
partly hastening it's demise from the charts.
