Music as we all know is a very interesting profession. A profession that has the potency of uniting different races together. Countless recording artistes had blessed us with some evergreen songs that resounds in our minds and it is so evident when we hum and sing these songs while doing our daily chores or activities. We also prove our undying love for the artistes that churn out these great songs by looking up the song’s lyrics on the internet, doing karaoke and cover of the songs, attend every live performance of these artistes, hang their posters in their bedrooms and so on.
What in the world is a hit song? The way Wikipedia puts it is quite comprehensive and standard.
"A hit song or hit record usually refers to a single that has appeared in an official music chart through repeated radio airplay or significant commercial sales."
Taking a look at Michael Jackson’s huge success during his lifetime, we understood that musically he was a great hit maker with so many hits to his name.
With hits such as Billie jean, beat it, thriller, speechless, bad, heal the world, they don’t care about us, black or white etc., His place in world music is ascertained. His songs are laced with rich lyrical content, refreshing melody and a sonorous voice to consummate these pieces together.
The gospel truth is these artistes are prominent because of one simple fact and that is; they release hits back to back.
Have you ever Imagine what Michael Jackson’s life would’ve been like if he hadn’t released those hit songs? Yeah, his professional music career would’ve sunk into oblivion.
What then can we say about artistes that are not so popular? Well, there are various reasons to this, it could be that the said artiste might have found new passions and put his/her music career on hiatus or it could be tht they’ve been releasing songs that never see the light of day.
The latter is usually the case and so one can confidently say that hit songs is one of the major determinants on an artistes continued success.
It’s just like running out of goods in your warehouse.
To keep your business running and to satisfy the demands from your customers, you have to make provisions for more goods. Same thing goes for singers. The fans are constantly demanding for more hit songs and so in order to stay relevant, the artistes perform accordingly.
This also puts to rest the question on why artistes either breach their recording contract or leave their recording labels as soon as their recording deal elapses. This action perhaps is due to the fact that the record label usually puts pressure on the artistes to release hit tracks so as to satisfy teeming fans and also enable them (the record label owners/executives) to smile to the bank on the regular.
Its every singers dream to see their songs top various music charts, it is an indication that either their songwriting efforts is paying off or that they made a wise decision in their choice of songwriter(s). If you are a singer and find it hard to create a chart-topping song, don’t beat yourself to it. All you have to do is find a talented songwriter to work with. Don’t be like other selfish artistes that wants all the 100% revenues from royalties and so don’t employ the services of songwriters, producers, beat makers etc.
If you also look at the careers of the boy band backstreet boys, you would note that their hit songs are written by gifted songwriters most notably max martin, who co-wrote songs like shape of my heart, I want it that way, show me the meaning of being lonely amongst others. Thus this enabled the continuation of the career of the boy band during the late 90’s and the early periods of the new millennium.
What you need to understand from this is that the backstreet boys understood that they are not gifted in dishing out chart-topping songs and so they employ the services of renowned songwriters - which in most case is being orchestrated by the record label they were signed unto at that time.
Another part of me, tabloid junkie, come together, leave me alone are some songs by Michael Jackson that didn’t do well on the charts and so were known by only a selected few of his fans. What this literally means is that he will not gain much recognition through those songs.
Hit song is important in a singer’s life as regards getting music awards, staying relevant and winning the heart of his fans times over. If you want to be remembered when you are alive or you’ve gone to the great beyond, do something that is worthy of remembrance or that people will remember you by – writing/singing great evergreen songs is part of it.
When you hear heal the world, you’ll instantly remember Michael Jackson, when you hear greatest love of all, you will instantly remember Whitney Houston, when you hear purple rain, you’ll instantly remember prince, when you hear coat of many colors, you’ll instantly remember Dolly Parton and it goes on like that.
I wish you all a great songwriting/singing experience out there.
Thanks for reading… see you on the next one.