In light of the Sony hack, here is a vintage Sony Music blind:
After the huge success of his debut solo album, this artist told Sony that he wanted to release his next album as a double CD. They told him no, double albums don't work, and he was under contract. The artist got upset; after all, he had just made Sony an insane amount of money. On one phone call to the artist's manager, a Sony executive stated "Tell that jumped up little f****t to do what he is told." Unbeknownst to the Sony executive, the phone call was recorded by the artist's manager. When the manager played the call back for the artist, the artist went off big time. That is what caused the rift between the artist and Sony, and why the artist wanted to get off the label. For his debut album, the artist let Sony mould his look 100% because Sony promised him that if he had success, they would give him more creative freedom on future albums. He also wanted to come out, which Sony shut down because his fan base was largely comprised of young girls. To add insult to injury, another band released a double CD for Universal Music Group around the same time that the artist's double CD was denied; that band's double CD was a huge success. At that point, the relationship between the artist and Sony was beyond repair, and Sony finally released him from his contract. There is a lot of symbolism about the rift in one of the artist's music videos for his second album.
Artist:
Album:
Other Band:
Double CD:
Music Video:
George Michael. Song: 'Freedom.'
ReplyDeleteYep! All the pieces:
DeleteArtist: George Michael
Album: Listen Without Prejudice Vol 1 (1990)
Other Band: GNR
Double CD: Use Your Illusion Vols 1&2 (1991)
Music Video: Freedom
that's it!!!
DeleteThe Smashing Pumpkins as the band with succesful double album
ReplyDeletemy immediate thought was RICKY MARTIN
ReplyDeleteRichard Marx
ReplyDeleteMy first thought was Pharrell.
ReplyDeletePrince? The "symbolism" reference to his name for a while?
ReplyDeleteAh, you beat me to it!
DeletePrince.
ReplyDeleteGeorge michael
ReplyDeleteHere's an article about George Michael vs. Sony.
ReplyDeleteI also immediately thought George Michael and Freedom.
ReplyDeleteI had such a crush on him back in the day...
I think Prince's issue was with Warner Brothers not Sony and he's not gay. I think this is George Michael. So who came out with a double album in 1990?
ReplyDeleteIt is George Michael (who was signed to Epic Records--owned by Sony) who got out of his contract to get with Dreamworks Records and release the album Older. The other band is Smashing Pumpkins.
ReplyDeleteGuns and Roses had double album too
Deletenice one Derek : )
DeleteNice Derek, good call.
DeleteOMG. I almost typed "what is f****t?" because I truly thought it was fuck__ something and couldn't figure out what ended in T.
ReplyDeleteI like @Nutty_Flavor's guess - George Michael. Except it wasn't a solo act, it was Wham!, so is this item about a solo act?
But Careless Whisper was a solo track on a Wham! album. Careless Whisper was frickin HUGE in 1983. I was in the US for part of the year and then moved to southern Italy. I couldn't go ten minutes without hearing it. Of course, I guess it depends on how far back each individual's throw goes. Mine goes far. =\
DeleteI dislike how words that are not swear words are treated like swear words. If someone calls someone a faggot or a nigger, they need to own those words. Put them in quotes so you know that the person who uttered them is a tool who would stoop to racism and/or homophobia.
DeleteThat said...
Should've known better than to treat a friend/wasted chance that I've been given/so I'm never gonna dance again/ the way I danced with yoooooouuuu! :b There's a Muzak version of that song that plays at a local business and I'll take the stairs rather than hear it for 275,000th time.
@Seven - sometimes if you don't treat it as a swear word, the internet will will bleep it for you. Or just refuse to let you post. Or the ever lovable "This comment is awaiting moderation".....
DeleteCareless Whisper was released as a Wham song only in the US, Canada and Japan. Everywhere else it was a solo George Michael song.
DeleteI think the Double Album is Rolling Stones "EXILE ON MAIN ST."
ReplyDeleteok with George Michael
Exile came out in 1972 on Atlantic Records
DeleteIt's gotta be George Michael.
ReplyDeleteRobin Thicke
ReplyDeleteyep I am on board with GNR and George Michael
ReplyDeleteGeorge Michael got into lawsuits twice, once with Wham! and then with Sony as a solo artist. The guy is gutsy that's for sure.
ReplyDeleteHe won first first lawsuit in that Wham! got out of their contract with their manager I think and clearly that did not impact George's ability to sign with Sony. He rolled the dice with Sony and lost. The problem with these long term contracts is precisely the fact that the record company can sit on albums if they don't want to release them or ignore the artist. As a singer songwriter George Michael made more than just the upfront money on that contract he also gets royalties and songwriting royalties is where the money is in record sales.
DeleteWe diehard fans are still waiting for George to release Listen Without Prejudice Part 2! Speaking of George, no one has really seen him in over a year. A lot of fans are pretty worried about him.
ReplyDeletei'm kind of loving the sony hack
ReplyDeleteBut wasn't GM's debut solo album "Faith" and not Listen Without Prejudice?That would make this BI about someone else but not sure....
ReplyDeleteFaith was his debut solo album, which was HUGE. This blind refers to the second album which the song Freedom is from
DeleteI'm loving the Sony hack too.
ReplyDeleteI'm not. One of my friends works for Sony, and his personal information was leaked, including social security number, home address, passwords, etc. Sony has offered their employees counseling, which is interesting.
DeleteI'm usually way 2 late but, I got this one. Prince. Remember the symbol he went by due to record contact issues. Everything fits
ReplyDeleteWarner bros is the company. He wrote slave on his cheek.
ReplyDeletehttp://m.nydailynews.com/entertainment/music-arts/prince-settles-18-year-dispute-record-company-article-1.1762106
The whole story is there in the lyrics to Freedom 90. A "love" song to his record company
ReplyDeleteAlso a message to his rabid female fans:
DeleteI think there's something you should know.
I think it's time I stopped the show.
There's something deep inside of me.
There's someone I forgot to be.
Take back your picture in a frame.
Don't think that I'll be back again.
I just hope you understand .
Sometimes the clothes do not make the man.
"All we have to see, is I don't belong to you and you don't belong to me."
DeleteI absolutely agree with you @astrogirl! I had heard it was an FU to his company, and you are right about the lyrics. But I do love that song, and the video. They never get old for me.
I love it too. After all the hunk in the fireplace is my friend Peter
ReplyDeleteI'm glad I'm not the only one who had no idea what "f" word was meant in the blind.
ReplyDeleteAstrogirl, I went to you tube to watch the extended video because I hadn't seen it in a while. Your fireplace friend is sooo hot (pun not really intended). I wish I had more friends that looked like him!
ReplyDeleteAnd the video really is full of blatant symbolism re: George's rift with his record company. In particular, the burning of the leather jacket and guitar like the ones in the "Faith" video come to mind. Very obvious!