The release of "Human" was surprisingly quiet: a minimum of promo and mentions in the media. And in vain - the album deserves the attention of pop music connoisseurs.
Long-awaited "Human" Album Release
OneRepublic's fifth album "Human" has been long awaited - the band hasn't released a record since 2016. However, the musicians seem to have done everything not to notice it and hardly promoted it. And in vain: "Human" is good in its simple pop album for those who do not like surprises but love pleasant melodies and quality arrangements.
OneRepublic's History and Previous Hits
OneRepublic is an internationally renowned band with almost 20 years of history, they were formed in 2002. Their hits "Apologize" and "Counting Stars" have been heard by everyone who is even slightly interested in music. It's been almost five years since OneRepublic's previous album, "Oh My My." "Human" has been rescheduled many times - it was originally supposed to be released back in the spring of 2020. However, the long-awaited release of "Human" was surprisingly quiet - the news was more about frontman Ryan Tedder's interview over a couple of phrases about Adele than the actual new OneRepublic album.
Criticism and Comparison to Maroon 5
In 2021, every release that is at least moderately popular is covered in different publications - at least the core ones, and sometimes the ones that are far from music. But "Human" seems not to have been noticed at all, neither in the news nor in the articles. Whereas, for example, reviews of the new Chvrches album "Screen Violence" appeared even before its release. It was as if OneRepublic consciously wanted the album not to attract attention. But no one canceled the reviews of ordinary listeners. The users of the Album Of The Year portal were especially cruel: one called "Human" the "end of OneRepublic" and another one drew parallels with "Jordi" by Maroon 5, which didn't seem to please anybody - even the gentlest of reviews criticized it.
Ryan Tedder's Songwriting Reputation
Still, comparing "Human" to "Jordi" is a stretch. While there are some similarities between OneRepublic and Maroon 5, Ryan Tedder is a far more important figure in pop music than Adam Levine of Maroon 5. Back in 2014, Billboard magazine called Tedder "the secret pop king." Here are just some of the hits he has written: Beyoncé's "Halo," Leona Lewis' "Bleeding Love," Adele's "Rumour Has It," Jonas Brothers' "Sucker" and, suddenly, Maroon 5's "Love Somebody. He has worked with many other stars, from Paul McCartney (Fuh You from the album Egypt Station) to Dima Bilan (Amnesia from Believe). On "Jordi" Adam Levine invited a huge number of guests, from Stevie Nicks of Fleetwood Mac to Megan Thee Stallion, and Tedder did his own thing on "Human". Although he did release alternative versions of the songs with other artists.
The Challenge of Standing Out in Today's Music Industry
Interesting fact: If you type Ryan Tedder's name into Google in English, one of the first results offered is "songwriting class", that is, a songwriting course. Although "Human" is not OneRepublic's best album, the band's talent, experience and professionalism haven't gone anywhere. There are a lot of good songs with great melodies, and "Run" and "Someday" could have been hit. But the competition is now stronger than ever, because of streaming and the pandemic, which forced artists to create new music. Without a powerful promotional campaign, many good songs risk going unnoticed in today's highly competitive music industry. One way to stand out is by using royalty free hiphop beats#onerepublic #pop to add a unique flavor to your music. While OneRepublic's "Human" album may not have received the attention it deserved, there is potential for its songs to be covered or remixed by other artists. The album showcases the band's talent, experience, and professionalism, and while Ryan Tedder may be more focused on writing for other artists, OneRepublic's fans can still look forward to their upcoming concerts.
Ryan Tedder's Focus on Writing for Other Artists
Today's listener is also becoming more and more spoiled and spoiled. OneRepublic began its career in the 2000s when the music world was ruled by radio and television, and the Internet was just beginning its onslaught. Now, to promote a song, the artists release several music videos, make remixes and focus on TikTok, which has turned into the main modern hit factory. And the genre was different - "Human" can't be called old-fashioned, but in the 2000s it would have been received much more warmly than now. Although, on the other hand, the 2000s are back in fashion now - in the same TikTok teenagers eagerly dance to the hits of 15 years ago, and Olivia Rodrigo is inspired by Paramore's hit "Misery Business" from 2007.
But maybe it's simpler than that. There's a feeling that right now Ryan Tedder is more interested in writing for other artists than in his project. Many OneRepublic fans feel the same way - which is why in 2019 the musician even had to publicly state in an interview with Forbes that he's not going anywhere. Not going anywhere: in 2022 we are waiting for the band with concerts in Russia - hopefully, there will be no more postponements.
Potential for "Human" Songs as Covers or Remixes
When you listen to "Human" you also begin to wonder: what if that song had been sung by another artist? For example, "Somebody To Love" (no, not a cover of Jefferson Airplane and not a cover of Queen) is a gorgeous ballad that would sound great performed by the same Adele. If The Weeknd had sung "Take Care Of You," it would be tearing up the charts by now. What if "Take It Out Of Me" had been remixed by some trendy DJ? What if "Ships + Tides" was given to a promising young artist and added to the soundtrack of a popular movie?