Saturday, March 29, 2014

Taylor Swift Vs Adele Adkins : Who will have a bigger first week sale?

All of us are well aware of Taylor Swift's release patterns. Second week of August, release of lead single and third week of October release of the album. Perhaps this is something that she never shocks us with. Adele Adkins, who arose like a hurricane in the dusk of 2010, has done nothing, but surprise us over and over again. As all of us might be aware of by now (if you are not, then what have you been doing?) Adele is looking for an end of the year 2014 release of her third studio album, which may, tentatively, be around the release of Taylor Swift fifth studio album. So who do you think will make the album of the year in terms of sales this time? Who will have bigger hit singles? Most importantly, who will have the bigger first week sales?



Lets talk a walk down the sales history.In the April of 2006, a curly haired country girl rose in the name of music with her HIT debut single Tim McGraw. The girl has never looked back since. Yes, it is Taylor Swift we begin with. Her eponymous debut album became one of the 12 longest running albums on Billboard Top 200 chart as of 2013 by registering 274 weeks. She has had three consequent No 1 peaking albums and they are albums that stayed on No. 1 for 11, 6 and 7 weeks fr second, third and fourth albums respectively. Her third and fourth albums have opened to over a million copy sales, fourth one being the biggest opener since 2002.

Adele on the other hand had a rather smaller opening with her first album peaking at No. 4 and selling a total of 7 Million copies till date. However the juggernaut of her second album, which is touted to be the best creation of the century has every one gaping at. Having spent 23 WEEKS atop Billboard Top 200, it has sold 26 million copies worldwide.

 Adele's second album began with a sale of 350,000 but then her stardom had not taken the height that it does today. Clearly, this makes the prediction of first week sales difficult. As of being the album of the year in terms of sales depends completely on the word of mouth, which could not be decided, as of now.



We can definitely say it for sure than Taylor's lead single will open big, perhaps surpass the highest record of her We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together of 623,000. Adele may come under similar account. But the bigger game is of album, as album is an expensive game and not many will buy both if they come around the same time. Both are definitely going to eat into each other's sales without any doubt. But, as far as my opinion and understanding of trade stands, I think Taylor Swift might take an edge ahead in the first week sales of the album. Reason? Taylor has maintained a faithful country base, and when I say faithful, I mean it. Country listeners love buying the albums, unlike the rest genre lovers who simply download it. Secondly, as she is certainly launching one of her Max Martin and Johan Shellback collaborations on her fifth album, as a promotional single, then ensuring more outflow of numbers, which a classic song album of Adele might not, after all, secure. Taylor knows how to advertise and where to advertise. Her techniques, talent and relatable music will ensure another one-million-sale-in-one-week-album, which Adele might miss by a few hundred thousands. What do you think? Let me know by commenting below.

Thursday, January 30, 2014

The Internet Bullying on Taylor Swift

On the night of January 26th, 2014, just after 60 seconds of the opening of the 56th Annual Grammy Awards, there was a slim, tall white girl awkwardly dancing to a Beyonce and Jay Z song and suddenly people stopped noticing or talking about the efficient belly-booty dancing of Beyonce and started talking about the awkwardly dancing girl - Taylor Swift.



It was, to my shock, the first time, perhaps, Taylor Swift visited Grammy Awards and returned with no Gold Gramophone in her hand, since 2010. Despite that, the news about Grammys were full of Taylor Swift. Her awkward dancing, her white skin, her tall physique, her head-banging, her shocked face and everything else imaginable.



Taylor Swift is that one 'rare' singer in the present time, who gives real live performances, writes her own songs, composes her own music, talks nicely to everyone, is approved of by parents, and seen as a perfect role model for girls. Yet, why all the hatred?

I was floating through the internet and some fish told me it is because of jealousy, or rather the"unattainable perfection" (Lorde?). Well, I don't write to intimate my readers about the reason of the hatred. You may go around reading articles to find that out yourself. I rather write to weigh the amount of truth in "everybody hates Taylor Swift".

No one can deny that if you type Taylor Swift, you get millions of hate comments and hate pictures, I won't waste e-space by reminding you about that. But if there is really so much hatred, how has Taylor Swift managed to reach from Earth Core to the top of Mt. Everest? Selling more than a million copies, a feat not achieved even by the surprise album of Beyonce, not for just one but two consecutive albums in a time of high piracy like today was achieved by Taylor Swift! She has sold more than 28 million copies of her albums worldwide, which is more than any singer since the dawn of 21st Century. The lead single of Red, We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together, sold 623,000 copies in the opening week. Despite not being a 'single-oriented' artist she has had 75 million digital singles download worldwide. She has 54 million facebook likers (and counting) and 39 million twitter followers (and counting). She has already defeated the big name of Madonna in terms of Hot 40 singles She has never, in her life, played to a non-sold out show. The whole data on internet would be filled if I continue to count her achievements. And these achievements couldn't come without a strong and large fan following.

So why then do we see more number of hate comments than like comments. I think the only reason for it could be that the Swifties are like their idol - sweet, devoted and careless about the haters.



Say a word against, perhaps, a One Direction band mate and you would have enough hate comments to ache you for life. Same would be the case for most of the other teen-pop sensations. Yet they only rule the youtube. Their sales are trivial and short-lived. This week on Billboard, Red album spends its 66th week in Billboard 200 and that too at a high rank of 36! Something you might expect only from Adele or Bruno Mars.

So, I think it would be a very good choice to consider the nature of fan-following, before jumping to ad hoc conclusions of the whole world being a hater of Taylor Swift. She is no doubt, an incredible songwriter and music composer. An expert guitarist and pianist. A fast-improving vocalist and on top of everything a normal human being who is not surrounded by herself being a "superstar". That is the real secret to her success. To those who think she is still more of momentary in comparison to legends like the Beatles, Madonna, Michael Jackson, and others, we still have to wait! But then again, isn't Love Story a go to song every year on Valentine's Day?

Tuesday, August 27, 2013

I WILL LOVE YOU




“I will love you.”
Long gone are the nights
When I used to get this reply from you
Constant interrogation of rights
Why can’t we be together and yet true?

“I Will Love You”
You gave this bare reply
Is all I deserve a not-so-clear boo?
After all these nights of bitter cry
That I did for you.

“I Will Love You”
That other guy you date
Sorry I came between you two
He’s a drug addict, yet great!
Still I am a true lover too.

“I Will Love You”
I ask you, why don’t you say
A straight and clear no, please do
I want to move on and sway
But you keep me hanging with ado.

“I Will Love You”
Yes maybe you will
But you will have lost the boy, who grew
To love, to make your dreams fulfill
And make you life partner too!

Stop It!
I don’t want to hear that anymore.
I’m changing my password
Wouldn’t call you and bore
And save my two-and-a-half hours, you heard?
Thank you!





© 2013 Shivam Murar



courtesy song: Taylor Swift

One of my poems. Feedbacks please :)

Monday, August 26, 2013

Venting Out!

A warm hello to my greatest readers.I'm glad to see how the number of readers is doubling everyday! You beautiful readers are what make my day. Feeling elated at seeing the overview graph of my blog! ^_^

Another great news! Taylor Swift won the Best Female Video award for her blockbuster video "I Knew You Were Trouble" in the MTV VMAs 2013. Wasn't able to watch it, but I've recorded the telecast. Will see tonight. :)

As for the headline, well, forgive me, my readers, but I won't able to run your humour or intellect hormones today, for, despite the fore mentioned elation-inducers, the flame of angst in me is still not out! 

A complete daft 'friend' of mine considers that studying is of completely no use and so are our parents! A minor need not take any permission from their guardian before going out of town. He may go relish the whole day, with his parents believing that he is out for "Group Studying" at his friends. The person believes, studying is the greatest sin one could commit in their lifetime and the teachers are ones who have no ambition in their lives, people who are a piece of waste on Earth! The plastic couldn't realize that he wouldn't be speaking all this if some not-so-ambitious teacher hadn't taught him how to speak! The bigger problem is that this hypocrite is so confident of his spoiled ways being right, that he couldn't even feel bad about them (rather he thinks he is doing some great contribution to the society)

Science, according to him, is the worst discipline, without realizing that he wouldn't be riding the scooty and neither would he be holding the mobiles and tabs (which he so vainly holds), had the science not progressed.

He thinks all well-mannered altruists are frauds, for he himself is too much of a loath to imbibe, in himself. some discipline.

The hollow elastic postulates the life to be a station to enjoy.

"Enjoy while we can."

Great thinkers have said so and that for people who are completely indulged in work and do not take out any personal time for entertainment. While hypocrites, like this person, have, of course, been taking out wrong meanings of every statement made.

The worst of all, he tries to impose his hollow and dim thinking on others. This whole post is a pity on such untrustworthy low life who exist to have pride on themselves.

"Being spoiled is hazardous to the society but spoiling others is a crime so heinous that no religion, no constitution could define a punishment equivalent of it."

courtesy: smalbanynewyork.wordpress..com

Sunday, August 25, 2013

When Will We Meet Again

OK! Now this is a little emotional! A confidant of mine, who has been my friend only for a few months yet is the closest in terms of emotional mapping, sharing of stories and diffusing out sadness, someone who has been there for me and has fought for me, someone who was there to listen to my stories, my dark and deadly past, with utmost patience, not minding that it doesn't matter to them as to what had happened to me, is leaving! Now that sounds messed up! The person is under extreme conditions of death threat and will have to go to a safer place, far away, out of contact with anyone!

Why is it that the criminals enjoy and sufferers are the ones to face terrible fate? 

"Death is momentary, but life is the terrible journey which challenges our tread."

 It is here where my last post becomes contradictory! Journey is more painful than the destination! And that is solely because of the unjust nature of the society.

It feels anxiously exhilarating to think of something like that happening to someone who is a very close friend of mine, but destiny is what destiny does. We can't change it. So I thought I would write a complete post dedicated to our pure and divine friendship.

It was the end of January when I met them, the person who shared my likelihood of favourite singer as Taylor Swift. Ever since then the bond of friendship strengthened more and more. We confided, in each other, our secrets and then uncovered the dish of stale past which we both acknowledged and appreciated each other for having survived them. 

Definitely, like an ideal friendship, we had dry spells of no talk and volcanic spells of fights but our bond of friendship never seemed to uncoil. The person is now leaving, due to the harsh circumstances. I hope they remember me, as I would, and I wish them best of luck for the life! 


Wish them the same, my dear readers! :)


courtesy sharepicshub.blogspot.com

Friday, August 23, 2013

Bought the chartbuster - The Cuckoo Calling!

Me holding 'The Cuckoo Calling'

Having a new thing in hand is always exciting! Specially when you have waited for it, long enough! It is truly said,

"The journey is more exciting than the destination."

I have visited the quotation once again! As this chartbuster novel, written by J.K. Rowling (my favourite author and a writing role model), comes into my hand, I couldn't stop myself from sharing my peak end of excitement with you all!

Although the novel has been critically acclaimed (unlike her last collection of vulgarity with a mix of little drama), it remains to be seen as to how much I like the novel! I hope I enjoy it more than I have enjoyed waiting for it!

Have you (my sweetest readers!) read it yet? If yes, find the comment section of some good use!

So I am off to read the novel then. Would type in the review after completing it! :)

See you again, soon!