There was a time, after "albums" became a thing in the '60s (as opposed to just collections of singles) that an artist would release their best track of the collection as a single and an album would drop soon thereafter with most of the following tracks being as good or of lesser quality works as the fans bought the full-length release. Somewhat due to the ease of releasing things quickly and easily digitally, and due to the high cost of marketing what could be a flop, many artists and record companies plead innocence and frustration as "leaks" hit the market to gauge the temperature of an artist's new direction. Many are teaser singles like Lady Gaga's "Scheise" and Beyonce's "Standing on the Sun," and they never translate to real singles but they get fans worked up (or, in Bey's case, not). She even released a second teaser single, "Grown Woman" (coincidentally the name of a 2010 Kelly Rowland single), and neither took off. In fact, rumor has it via Major Lazar, Ne Yo, and Diplo, that over 50 songs were scrapped and her CD will now be ready in 2014. Though, take that with a grain of salt since all three of them reached their relevance expiration date in 2011.
A few other high-profile leaks and singles are teasing huge new diva CDs coming (hopefully) this fall. Here's my first impressions.
Cher/Woman's World — The gays seem to be in full musical erection over this one, but to me it's insanely forgettable and more of the same as what she's been dishing out since "Believe" hit #1. A quick preview of the new CD though reveals that despite the predictable few autotune nightmares, the CD is as good as her last CD, Living Proof.
Prediction: Promising.
Katy Perry/Roar — As said in past columns, I'd had hoped to like her for a change, but Roar is a snore if you're over college age and long for more. You can tell Sister Christian went for the tween jugular here with every strong lady cliché she could find to hit that little-girl sweet spot. Can't fault her, it outsold Gaga's single 5 to 1.
Prediction: Holding out hope, but not holding breath.
Lady Gaga/Applause — There was a time when she could do no wrong. All of the second disc of Fame Monster was amazing, and everything but "You and I" and the title track were stunning on Born This Way. So she's left the bar for her first single pretty high and missed it like a drunken pole vaulter with Applause. Produced like nobody's business, but sounds like it was written by a drunk drag queen, Applause takes multiple listens to even register with the pop section of your noggin. Just not catchy, but better than Roar.
Prediction: Nervous. I worry that she's out of artistic steam here.
Celine Dion/Loved Me Back To Life — On first listen, I wasn't getting it. This mid-tempo love fest seemed like a Soundcloud remix of a Celine outtake, but once I realized it was written with Sia (Titanium, Diamonds, and other metals) it really made sense. Sia writes for real singers and gave Celine some edge with power on this new turn. Celine apparently is going for a more raw production and less fuss (anti-David Foster) on this new November release, and if it's as good as her last full-length, her career "will go on".
Prediction: Titanic + Titanium = Unsinkable.
