base talk What career risks took years to pay off?

[Tropez]

Something that didn’t make sense at the time, but over time started to make sense. 
 

Like for instance Beyoncé between 2011-2013. She released 4, which at the time contained no dance pop songs which was the dominant genre at the time. Beyoncé who before was a consistent hit maker, and radio staple years prior. The album had no top 10 hits despite the constant promo. She then went on to release an album by surprise. Something never done before. 
 

Both albums eventually became a pivotal moment in her career. Containing some of her most well known songs. Both albums ended up being bigger than a lot of albums that were trendy during that era. At that time it didn’t make sense. Beyoncé would be dragged on Atrl and Stan Twitter for being a flop or having no hits. Yet 10 years later these songs are classics. 

[GraceRandolph]

Gaga pivoted to focus on acting after 2014 and stopped chasing hits, and it paid off with ASIB which also garnered huge hits. 

[Devin]

- Beyoncé suprise album drop. 

- Frank Ocean coming out before channel ORANGE. 

- Nicki doing pop-rap in her early days.

- P!nk transition from R&B to Pop/Rock.

[State of Grace.]

I think Lana drifting away from the "BTD sound" in 2014 and choosing to follow her own path paid off in the long run. Many people moved on and thought she'd be left there, but she actually ended up building a huge fanbase, having a very solid and acclaimed discography that contains many popular songs without even chasing that sound, and selling out shows in minutes over a decade after her debut. 2023 was arguably her peak year, its kinda crazy.

[She-Rah]

Beyoncé with 4

 

i remember people dragging her for not doing dance music like all the girls at the time but it paid off. 4 is timeless and really set her apart from all the other basic girls ruling the top 100. She became more respected by critics and released the 1-2-3 punch (Self titled, lemonade & René) which solidified her legend status. 

[Relampago.]

Anti era starting with FFS

[MatiRod]

Beyonce eschewing synth-based dance-pop during the 4 and BEYONCE eras was super smart but at the time yeah a lot of online pop stans were scratching their heads and wondering "where are the dance bops??" (as if "Countdown" alone wasn't one of the biggest bops of that time).

[TaylorFantasy]

Releasing ME! as the lead single off Lover to make way for Cruel Summer's smashery in 2023/ 2024 

The mind of a mastermind

[Cheers]

She released 4, which at the time contained no dance pop songs which was the dominant genre at the time.

 

 

[shakeyourbombom]

Christina Aguilera for not releasing music in years and changing to different genres every era

 

Her fans are almost gone and now she sold 4000 units for her album

[Iaintsorry]

Xtina releasing Dirrty. Despite it flopping in the US at the time, it’s now made a ton of cultural impact and makes its rounds every Halloween as a popular costume. 
 

Gaga doing Jazz right after ArtPop. I remember fans were confused and upset with this venture, but it lead to acclaim, industry respect and an on going and lucrative residency show.

[Iaintsorry]

2 minutes ago, shakeyourbombom said:

Christina Aguilera for not releasing music in years and changing to different genres every era

 

Her fans are almost gone and now she sold 4000 units for her album

lol this thread is about risks that eventually paid off. Not risks that lead to a decline

[UseYourIllusion2002]

Cheek to Cheek and Joanne. They set her up perfectly for A Star Is Born.

[Bubble Tea]

I think definitely Lana staying so consistent with her sound and artistic vision. Many people (including me!) have been proven wrong by her. For years I thought "oh this again, yawn" and kinda tuned out but it's really worked out in her favour and truly underlined what a credible, visionary artist she is. An auteur really. She won.

[Mocha]

nelly completely changing her sound from whoa! and folklore to Loose

[poki]

Madonna's Erotica. 30 years later the album is a centerpiece in Celebration Tour and is considered in her top 3, if not her all-time best album. 

[ugo]

Taylor being overexposed during 1989 and getting hate only to make her magnum opus:Reputation 

 

Taylor flopping with Lover only to succeed with Folklore and write “I come back stronger than a 90s trend”

 

Taylor not negotiating the ownership of her masters as a teen only so she could re record all her albums and reach the biggest peak for a popstar. 

 

 

[Raptus]

Normani not releasing an album. She will be the most rested  senior citizen in 2050.

 

Edited December 18, 2023 by Raptus

[superben]

4 having no hits was not risk-taking  The era just failed to produce hits.

 

The surprise release was a smart business move, though  

[LatinFreak]

Shakira firing Freddy DeMann and producing the Fixations her way. 

[Scandalous]

Kylie’s Impossible Princess, a flop at the time but now regarded as a creative staple in her discography and paved the way for her to have her biggest eras to follow up

 

Britney’s Blackout also seemed risky at the time, not only bc of her personal life but it was much more experimental than the straight up pop we were used to from her. again it underperformed at the time but led up to a huge comeback with Circus, and now that album is arguably her best and the one she had the most personal input in

[AvadaKedavra]

Singers like Gaga and Taylor connecting with ther fanbases early in a deeper way-creatin a parasocial relationship.
Both secured a loyal fanbase and are still very successful 

opposite to:
 

 

Edited December 18, 2023 by AvadaKedavra

[TiaTamera]

Starships wee meant to flyyyy