3.11.12 Adam's plays unreleased album in DC Club

I have finally returned to the 21st century where my internet connection allows me to see the YTs of the new songs. I"ve been down the rabbit hole listening for the last couple of hours. If anyone is interested in my reactions to the songs, I put them in the vocal master class thread.

adamtopia.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=vocal&thread=28&page=36#192742

I missed all of you and all the flailing while i was gone. Soooo good to be back.

OMG, I've been singing "Chokehold" all weekend. It's my favorite. I can't get it out of my head. The song is like butter. It just has to be a single at some point. Pretty please. So smooth, so sexy and seductive. I love that move Adam does in his performance the first time he says, "but a fever, fever grows."

And then every now and again, random lyrics from "Cuckoo" will flit through my mind.

I'm counting on the fact that Adam said the next single would make us "shake our asses," and believing that the choice must be between "Cuckoo" and "Trespassing" (unless it's something we've never heard before), and not the Bruno Mars song (even reworked, I don't think it could make me shake my ass). I would seriously weep if RCA selected the Bruno song.

Before I heard both songs, I kinda thought "Trespassing" might be a better choice symbolically--given its mission statement. It's creative visualization in action. Every time it plays on the radio he'd be singing into existence what he's attempting to manifest with radio acceptance. (I would enjoy the irony of radio playing that song as the next single.) The song seemed the perfect response to the radio barriers Adam's facing, and to the current resistance from Queen fans. And it would help with name recognition of the album title.

Also, musically, it seemed to promise a rock edge (versus the poppier described "Cuckoo") and I thought it might appeal more to "rockers," which might make things easier for Adam leading up to the summer concerts. And there's the Queen tie-in with the bass line, which is a handy talking point leading up to the shows, and might also appeal to Queen fans.

The only problem for me is that while I love the "Trespassing" lyrics--and at some point during the song, I always find myself caught up in the rhythm of the song and enjoying it--at the same time, at some point, I always think the music (in the unplugged performances) sounds kind of hokey, and doesn't sound that "modern." But it's a Pharrell production, so I know that can't be the case with the CD version.

Also, I thought, if "Cuckoo" is so exceptional, as the early reviews seemed to indicate, would "Trespassing" be in any way anticlimactic if it came after "Cuckoo?" I thought, they could get listeners primed with "Trespassing" and then bring the hammer down in August/September with "Cuckoo." On the other hand, Adam needs a sure-fire smash right now, and by all critic accounts it sounds like "Cuckoo" is an undeniable hit.

Once I heard both songs, albeit in bare-bones state, all my back-and-forth considerations flew out the window. I don't know how they could go with a choice other than "Cuckoo"--unless they've made some promises to Pharrell. I really don't know what the holdup or internal debate is, but I guess Adam does feel the need to test both songs out.

Adam has so much fun performing "Cuckoo," he's so connected to it, and there are many opportunities for his vocals to shine. He would knock it out of the park effortlessly every time he sings it--with liberation and joy--which would be the best way to sell himself and the album. I saved this quote from fooffyschmoofer--"Cuckoo is fucking amazing. It's Adam in song-form - funky, fierce and adorkable"--because I so agree! And that's why it seems like the perfect song to represent him leading up to the album launch. I don't understand why they're still futzing around or debating this choice. Just hurry up and pick "Cuckoo" already!

This is all my very biased opinion! And I reserve the right to completely change my mind when I hear the studio version of "Trespassing," LOL.

I'm probably setting myself up for disappointment, but I'm really counting on Adam performing the new single on April 9 at the New Now Next Awards. And if he does, I hope that would mean he'd release the song a week or two before the awards show, so there's time for the viewing audience to have some familiarity with it, which might mean we'd hear the CD version as soon as two weeks from now. (If they're essentially "starting over" in a way with this single in terms of launching the album promo, then this scenario would give the single about a seven-week lead on the CD release if they went with a May 15 date and seems to be in line with RCA's tradition of releasing a lead single six to eight weeks before album drop.)

BTIKM already seems to be a moderate success. Maybe they can continue to push it to HAC radio while they position the new single for CHR (does that ever happen?), since it doesn't sound like either "Trespassing" or "Cuckoo" would be automatically suitable for softer radio. And BTIKM could continue to grow. I think it's a good song, and it's a stealthy song. It can really get under your skin and become addictive, if given the chance. That backbeat is killer, and perfect for interpretive dance, and I think we'll be hearing it on those types of shows. I think there's life still in the song. But I'm also ready to hear something new!

Misha, the 6 week rule would not apply for single #2. He definitely is not starting promo all over again.
MAY 15th??!!!!! PLEASE,NO!!!!
YES to CUCKOO!!!

Thanks for sharing NoAngel.