Today on the iostudio blog, I discuss the marketing prowess of Lady Gaga and the three top tactics she has perfected. (Click the link, then come back here. We’ll wait.)
I am completely fascinated by her. At such a young age, she forced herself into the public consciousness by having good-to-great music and an unforgettable image. She mastered the art of self-promotion.
(One day, I’ll open a Self Promotion Hall of Fame with Gaga joining Dennis Rodman as the first inductees.)
Previously, I’ve discussed why Lady Gaga is “PR Crazy” (but in a good way) and announced that I want my daughter to consider her a role model.
According to us (by way of Wikipedia), a meme is a unit of social information.
To me, there is nothing more social – thus – meme-y, than music.
And in the global age, where media gets passed in real-time, music memes are more meme-y than ever.
This list features five “Meme Songs,” pieces of music that have transcended themselves to become so much more. It’s not a list of “viral videos” (barf) but rather a countdown of songs that have stuck within pop culture.
The source: me. It’s my list. Feel free to make your own list in the comments section.
5) Susan Boyle – I Dreamed a Dream: This performance on “Britain’s Got Talent” touched the world. A middle-aged “never been kissed” woman from the British countryside delivered a stunning rendition, bringing tears to countless people. Music is about emotions, and Boyle combined almost all of them into just a few minutes. This is the ultimate “you won’t believe this” song clip:
(No good versions of the video are embeddable, but click here to watch it)
4) Neil Diamond – Sweet Caroline: Can we just go ahead and call this the theme song for good times? From sporting events to bar mitzvahs, this song, written about Caroline Kennedy, is synonymous with fun!
3) John Lennon – Imagine: The former Beatles star wrote and recorded several songs about a better, more peaceful world. But nothing, nothing, nothing compares to how “Imagine” has become a global anthem of hope. It’s more than a song…it’s a way of life.
2) Journey – Don’t Stop Believin’: Journey was one of the biggest bands in the world in their heyday in the late 1970s and into the mid 1980s. Their music lives on, but their song, “Don’t Stop Believin’” has crossed to another generation. From being the song that ended “The Sopranos” to being the song that helped launch “Glee,” it’s truly resonated for decades.
1) Rick Astley – Never Gonna Give You Up: The biggest online meme of all time is “Rick Rolling,” telling someone you are sending them a video of ANYTHING, but when they open the file, it’s Rick Astley’s hit song. No clue where it started, but, man, it’s still funny! It works because it’s a true guilty pleasure. Everyone loves the song (secretly), including me.
One of the most popular bands on the planet in the 1970s and early 1980s was Journey.
They had hit after hit after hit. And the songs ranged from soft ballads like “Open Arms” and “Faithfully” and to rock anthems like “Don’t Stop Believin‘” (the top-selling catalog track on iTunes…ever!) and “Separate Ways (Worlds Apart).”
Without a doubt, the most identifiable part of their sound was the one-of-a-kind voice of lead singer Steve Perry.
The band took a hiatus in 1984 and the most famous lineup didn’t get back together until 1995, releasing a well-received, but not THAT well-received album.
A hip injury derailed a tour in the mid-90s, and he split with the band for good.
Journey continued to tour and record, churning through lead singers for the next decade. Nobody filled Steve Perry’s void.
And it all changed when founding member and lead guitarist Neal Schon was surfing YouTube one day in 2007.
He saw clips of veteran Filipino rocker Arnel Pineda covering Journey songs…and hired him to be the new lead singer!
Pineda went from being a relatively well-known singer in an Asian band “The Zoo,” best known for their cover songs, to being the face of one of the biggest bands in the world…all because of YouTube.
The success was instant, as Journey’s next album was a major hit and their 2008 tour brought in over $35 million.
Journey, to borrow from their lyrics, rolled the dice just one more time on a lead singer discovered via social media, and it paid off BIG time by revitalizing their career. Arnel Pineda truly took a Social Media Journey all the way to the top.
And Pineda is GOOD. Take a listen to him performing “Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)” and “Don’t Stop Believin.’”
Just a few quick thoughts on Wednesday’s American Idol season 10 premiere!
- Nice video package at the start distinctly NOT mentioning Simon Cowell’s name. (Or should we call him “He Who Shall Not Be Named?”
- Sometimes, it’s REALLY hard to tell Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler apart when they are sitting next to each other.
- Man, I would feel bad for Randy Jackson…but he’s making some serious coin for this gig. I mean, people CRIED because they were in the presence of J-Lo!
- I do like that the focus was on GOOD Idol auditions, not bad ones. It was a funny running joke for the first several seasons, but definitely wore out it’s welcome.
- I seriously miss He Who Shall Not Be Named. His lack of presence was felt.
- If this season becomes the lovey-dovey season without a voice of tough-love reason, I may have to stop watching Idol.
- Wait – was that a Constantine Maroulis sighting at the beginning? No chyron, either? Yeesh…only one of the most popular contestants of all time and a Broadway star…
- Does anyone TRULY care about the music director? Sorry, but I just don’t.
- Here is my favorite audition/story of the episode:
His music has brought smiles and laughs, both legitimate and ironic, to people worldwide. Whether you truly appreciate his artistry or get a nostalgic chuckle when you get “Rick Rolled,” he is a major part of pop culture.
As such, I am declaring Monday, November 15, 2010 as #RickAstleyDay!
To celebrate, please use the Twitter hashtag and share your favorite Rick Astley moments! Have fun!
And to get everything started, here is my favorite song from his latest album. I present to you, “Lights Out!”
perfected. (Click the link, then come back here. We’ll wait.)
