What Does it Take to Make It ... Then and Now
Published March 26, 2008
Even now, as a middle-aged celebrity well past her hitmaking prime, she’s running her career outside the record company box. Whether or not one is a fan of Madonna’s music (and you can put me in the non-fan category), she’s perhaps the classic example of “making it” in the music industry in the late-20th century and that example is one to build on within the new realities of music’s new frontier.
Speaking of the new realities, Sony/ATV, which controls usage rights to most of The Beatles’ song catalog, is reported to be having discussions with Activision about the possibility of a Beatles version of the wildly popular “Guitar Hero” video game. This news comes a week after the long-expected Beatles nights on American Idol finally happened, though without the rumored celebrity “advisors”.
Now, I will plead total ignorance regarding “Guitar Hero”. I don’t do video games so I’ll completely reserve judgment. I don’t do reality shows, either, and “American Idol” is at the top of the list of shows I don’t do but, thanks to YouTube, it is possible to sample the show without having one’s brain eaten away by “Idol” cooties. Indeed, that’s probably the way to watch Ido” because having to wade through endless commercial breaks, needless up-close-and-personal profiles of the contestants, the slick hype of the dreaded Ryan Seacrest, and the by-now totally-stylized comments from the three judges would be just too much to sit through.
With all that, the contestants get about a minute and a half to do a song so they race though it as if they’re double-parked outside. And, of course, the musical barriers put up by the Idol producers ensures that all the contestants fit into the homogenized musical and performing “Idol” stereotypes (the Mariah Carey vocal clone, the Michael Bolton clone, the “rock chick” who really isn’t one, the Carrie Underwood-esque Nashville pop-country passes). Of the clips I saw from the first "Beatle Night", not one was up to the originality or creativity of the performances in the recent “Across The Universe” film, let alone the huge volume of Beatles covers that are currently clogging up my iPod. No appreciable harm was done to any of the songs but there was nothing very interesting, either. And, oh yes, Billboard gushed over the fact that the second hour of the show rated a Nielsen estimate of 31 million viewers. On February 9, 1964, in a country that at the time had about 190 million people, 73 million people tuned in to see The Beatles’ live American debut on The Ed Sullivan Show. Now, THAT’S “making it”!
![Across The Universe [Deluxe Edition]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/515rKA7hYWL._SY90_.jpg "Across The Universe [Deluxe Edition]")
- What Does it Take to Make It ... Then and Now
- Published: March 26, 2008
- Type: Opinion
- Section: Music
- Filed Under: Culture: Media, Music: History and Appreciation, Music: Rock
- Writer: Al Sussman
- Al Sussman's BC Writer page
- Al Sussman's personal site
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On February 9, 1964, in a country that at the time had about 190 million people, 73 million people tuned in to see The Beatles' live American debut on The Ed Sullivan Show. Now, THAT'S "making it"!
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That's when there were only 2 channels to choose from.
You are surprisingly out of the loop when it comes to today's music industry and particularly ill informed about the past American Idols and their careers. Of course its just your opinion but what ever happened to fact checking?
Ruben is NOT doing a 'Broadway tour'. Ruben and Frenchie are in a 'touring' cast of Ain't Misbehavin' (that is if they can sell tickets. Ruben and Robin Givens were to be in a 'gospel' play/musical last year and preshow ticket sales were so poor the show was cancelled before it even began). Clay has been 'hounded' by several Broadway producers for 'a few years'. He just wasn't ready to 'do' Broadway. With touring twice a year; recording successful albums, numerous tv spots; traveling for UNICEF as an Ambassador and also a Celebrity spokesperson for Toys For Tots (best year ever in its history was the year Clay was the spokesperson!!!); fundraising for his own very successful charity (Bubel/Aiken Foundation), etc. , etc.; Clay just had to 'find' the time and the right vehicle to do a Broadway run. And what a run!! OMG-he is incredible-acting, dancing, comedic timing and of course, his singing!!! Go catch him in Spamalot by May 4th!!
AMEN! You are right on! The first honest article I have read about Clay Aiken. He is an artist in every word. Thank you.
It is an honor to be cast on Broadway with some of the most talented, hardworking singers and actors out there. Fantasia and Clay both did a phenomonal job in their roles. I'm sure Ruben will do well in the touring production of Ain't Misbehavin. All of these three are working on new albums and continuing along with their recording careers in addition to the theater. More power to them! They are all so talented.
I have no idea what ever happened to Taylor. I will give you that one.
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Author knows nothing about what he speaks. First of all, Clay Aiken has been touring constantly for 5 years. Successfully touring, and only took the role on Broadway for something to do while recording his next album. Maybe Fantasia took the role for that reason, I don't know but she missed more performances than was in. Not a ggod move. Ruben is doing a Broadway tour soon and Taylor Hicks is doing what he wanted to do when he signed up for Idol: performing. What other facts are wrong here?