A few weeks ago a version of her latest single "Bad Romance" leaked all over the internet. Immediately she became embarrassed about it and was tweeting all over the place about how she didn't want the leaked version to serve as a representation of her artistic style. Well, I understand where she is coming from but I don't at all think that there was any reason to be embarrassed. Here is why...
The way that the internet works these days, especially in regards to pop music and the world's biggest stars, is that shit leaks. It is going to happen whether you like it or not. Some stupid intern or dumb client is going to do it, always. There is such a market for it - everyone is so hungry to hear new and "exciting" material from their favorite artists. People are in fact so hungry for new material that they will take anything that they can get and deem it a masterpiece (I am referring to Britney Spears fans who love demos that in reality make her voice sound like poo poo). Typically, the ones downloading the leaked versions of tracks are the die hard fans, the ones that will stand by an artist even if they put out sucky material. If someone doesn't like Lady GaGa, for example, he or she is not going to bother wasting time trying to download a rough track. And those are the people artists should be weary about.
The point I am trying to make is LET THE LEAKED TRACKS LIVE. The people who listen to them are only doing so in order to stay sane in the absence of new material. Most of these fans are also aware that the version that leaked is probably not the version the artist wants people to hear - thus they take it with a grain of salt. Furthermore, demos provide insight into the general direction an artist is taking. Demos are by no means legendary - they serve as a foreshadow of what is to come. No one judges the quality of an artist based on a rough version of a track, but people do definitely judge its creativity. (But... does GaGa need to worry about speculation she isn't creative? Probably not. She's nuttier than a pile of squirrel turds.)
I kind of hate Lady Gaga and I somehow missed this whole thing, but I agree that leaked music can actually be used as a tool. It's publicity! Only people who really care will go after it and it will only excite people about the record release. Embarrassed artists and irate managers are just ridiculous. Leaking music should be used as a tool--I have been saying this for years and I still think it's true.
ReplyDeleteI have always been a fan of streaming/free music so I am all for leaked demos and agree with you that at this point in our digital continuum, it is inevitible that it will happen now and continue to happen. *may i add that I used to think Lady Gaga was mediocre and gimicky (which I guess she still is gimicky) however, has anyone seen her most recent performance on SNL? She's super talented vocally and on the piano which I was unaware so, kudos Gaga for actually being talented!
ReplyDeleteI don't really have an opinion on Lady Gaga even though I thought the squirrel thing was funny. I do like the point you made about leaked music. I wonder when artists will start using this new acceptance of musical imperfection in an age of HD and autotune to their advantage?
ReplyDeleteIn another class I'm taking we were discussing how in today's age of technology, art, and in this case, pop music, is being technically perfected with a computer program so that every note is on pitch, no one is out of sync, etc. The problem with this is that we're losing the sense of human-ness behind the art. Our teacher summarized in an interesting way that "the beauty is in the details" and by details she was specifically referring to flaws or mistakes. I love demos because you're really hearing an artist, for all they're worth. I want to hear humans, not machines.
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