"The Next Big Things" that weren't

[MTCicero]

@GargoyleWB

@MTCicero

Cyril Connolly?

No, semi-carnally!

Oh!

[gaffa]

@multimediac17

A notorious recent case among industry types is the British pop singer Little Boots, who was hyped as a more credible, more “indie” version of Kylie Minogue. The buzz surrounding her was absolutely ridiculous in 2008, and then she topped the BBC Sound Of 2009, where they try and pick who will be the most successful new artist of the following year.

They waited way too long after that to release her first proper single, ‘New In Town’, which peaked at #13, respectable but below expectations. Her album was widely considered an easy number one but instead debuted at number five, and sank to number forty the next week.

She did end up getting a top ten hit with the single ‘Remedy’, peaking at number six, but the next single ‘Earthquake’ was a complete flop, going in at #84.

It might seem like she did pretty well - two top twenty singles and a top ten album - but the expectations around her were much bigger than that. The whole thing led to a lot of pointing fingers among fans and bloggers, and now her status with her record company is uncertain and a good artist might go to waste due to hype backlash and material that didn’t end up being as great as everyone thought it would be.

Hey, I saw her in concert and she put on a great show!

[Rrose_Selavy]

@NDP

Also, if a publication like NME proclaims dozens of fledgling bands as the “next big thing,” the law of averages dictates that eventually they’ll get at least one right.

It’s a scattergun approach not just about trying to get credit for talent early on, but I think it also about them being worried about something making it big out of the blue , and they were seen not to have spotted them at all.

Then there were orchestrated post pistols hypes that most of the the buying public saw coming and avoided.

Sigue Sigue Sputnik , anyone?

[elmwood]

• Linux on the desktop. The Slashdot crowd have been proclaiming that Linux will become a mainstream OS “any day now” for a decade.

• Push technology was proclaimed as the next big thing throughout the late 1990s.

• Nastassja Kinski. Another “she’s big in Europe, and she’s going to be big in America!” celebrity.

[minlokwat]

@Markxxx

Pretty much any artist that wins Best Newcomer Grammy.

That would be Arrested Development for the win.

Grammy’s in 1993 for Best New Artist and Best Rap Performance. Also Rolling Stone’s Band of the Year.

Now they’re a spot on VH1’s “What the hell happened to them?"

[Rrose_Selavy]

Pia Zadora

she came to national attention in 1981 when, following her starring role in the critically mauled[1] Butterfly, she won a Golden Globe Award as New Star of the Year.[2]

Pia Zadora

[ginman999]

Gabo, Gabo, Gabo

[Promethea]

@Rrose_Selavy

Then there were orchestrated post pistols hypes that most of the the buying public saw coming and avoided.

Sigue Sigue Sputnik , anyone?

That is a perfect example! Out of curiosity, many years ago, I picked up their flopped second album for about 20p at a jumble sale. When I heard it, I realised I’d paid way over the odds - it was insanely dreadful.

[Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker]

Juice Newton?

[StusBlues]

@digs

Ok, we’re all having a good chuckle at the expense of those short-sighted critics who thought [insert not-yet-worthy band/actress name] was going to be the next [insert worthy band/actress name].

But what about you? No, not you the actor, not your little garage/basement/covers band

No, the music/person/invention you thought was “The Next Big Thing”.

Bonus points if you trumpeted this to your friends…

I could mention mine, but… maybe later. It’s embarrassing…

Madeline Peyroux.

[Rrose_Selavy]

I must admit I was initially impressed with the single “Grace Kelly” by Mika, who was hyped up to his neck a couple years back - as channeling Freddy Mercury among others , the follow up album had a few catchy but rather cliched tunes but nothing since delivered in the huge way anticipated.

Interesting to see the BBC "Sound of " polls over the last few years.

Sound of… is an annual poll of music critics and industry figures to find the most promising new music talent. It was first conducted by the BBC News website in 2003. The site publishes a top 10 list each January.

Sound of... - Wikipedia…_(BBC_poll)

[Dewey_Finn]

Your URL is broken. This is what you meant, I think. BTW, looking at the first four years, it’s not totally off. Now I don’t follow recent music much, but I recognize 50 Cent, Corinne Bailey Rae, Franz Ferdinand, The Scissors Sisters and maybe a few others.

[Guinastasia]

@Dewey_Finn

@It_s_Not_Rocket_Surgery

My question is, in other fields what people were expected to be the next great “can’t-miss” star, that missed? I’m looking for actors, musicians, authors, politicians - whatever. Anyone but athletes.

OK, you said anyone but athletes, but do you remember the pre-launch hype over the Segway scooter? Someone wrote a book about its development called “Reinventing the Wheel”, Steve Jobs said that it was “as big a deal as the PC” and “maybe bigger than the Internet” per John Doerr. The inventor Dean Kamen suggested that cities would be redesigned around it.

The rent-a-cops over at one of the local malls use them. They all look like idiots.

[kaylasdad99]

Not an entertainment act, but I have a strategy. Back in 1973, people who didnt want to wait eleven years for Halley’s comet to return were promised a spectacular show with Comet Kohoutek’ That one never quite got off the ground (so to speak).

And now, the strategic tie-in. I remember watching the news the day the announcement was made of the discovery of the comet. And I remember being really embarrassed for Burl Ives, sitting on his folk-singer’s stool, strumming his guitar, and softly crooning, “Kohoutek . . . Kohoutek.”

[Chicagojeff]

@minlokwat

@Markxxx

Pretty much any artist that wins Best Newcomer Grammy.

That would be Arrested Development for the win.

Grammy’s in 1993 for Best New Artist and Best Rap Performance. Also Rolling Stone’s Band of the Year.

Now they’re a spot on VH1’s “What the hell happened to them?"

Ironically enough they’re opening for Tears for Fears here in the ATL on the 26th of the month… So I’ll be yelling… TENNESSEE !!! TENNESSEE!!

Charlie Sexton… went to see him… he was 17 played the hell out of the guitar and coulda been a Kenny Wayne Shepherd. Stevie Ray Vaugn but allowed the record company to package him like some teen idol…

Later on he played in Dylan’s band…

Feargal Sharkey had two huge hits in England… and was suppose to break big… well… I bet most of you couldn’t hum “You little Thief” if I offered you two bucks…

Matt Salinger… JD’s son… was suppose to be a big time actor… well aside from Revenge of the Nerds never heard from him again…

[Chicagojeff]

@Promethea

@Rrose_Selavy

Then there were orchestrated post pistols hypes that most of the the buying public saw coming and avoided.

Sigue Sigue Sputnik , anyone?

That is a perfect example! Out of curiosity, many years ago, I picked up their flopped second album for about 20p at a jumble sale. When I heard it, I realised I’d paid way over the odds - it was insanely dreadful.

AHHHH Gene Loves Jezebel… they just sucked… even though we loved everything from England back then… they came to the Metro in Chicago… and were awful…

[Cunctator]

@kaylasdad99

Back in 1973, people who didnt want to wait eleven years for Halley’s comet to return were promised a spectacular show with Comet Kohoutek’ That one never quite got off the ground (so to speak).

I remember that, and yes, it was a dud. As was Halley’s comet in 1986.

[Askance]

Google Wave, apparently.

[salinqmind]

I have a vague idea Matthew McConaughey was supposed to be a major force in the world of acting. Today he’s noted for his awesome midsection and a string of romantic comedies. (but I think he just wants to collect an easy paycheck to enjoy his laid-back lifestyle).

[Acantha]

@Askance

Google Wave, apparently.

Betamax. :smack: