Queen: How They Never Gave Up After Freddie Mercury's Failing Health and Death

Queen frontman Freddie Mercury became HIV positive in Easter 1987.

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Good Songs from Albums That Alienated Fans

Some albums are usually criticised, yet some critics praise songs as highlights from the album. So here my twelve examples of 30 good songs from albums that alienated fans.

1. "Bad Girl" and "Rain" by Madonna from Erotica (1992)

Despite the album's bad publicity, the third and fifth singles from the Queen of Pop's 1992 album, "Bad Girl" and "Rain" were pop ballads and critically praised. However those two songs did not become Top 10 hit in Madonna's homeland America, with the former barely became a Top 40 hit and the latter became a Top 20 hit. 

Had Erotica's lead single been "Deeper and Deeper", then "Bad Girl" would have been a number-one hit, plus "Erotica" would never been a single at all, a theory started by some fans. The music video for "Bad Girl" also starred Christopher Walken as an angel, a role that he would later play in the 1995 supernatural horror The Prophecy and the "Rain" music video had a cameo role by Koichi Sakamoto from the Japanese synthpop trio Yellow Magic Orchestra as the director.

Here's a video for "Bad Girl":

Here's a video for "Rain":

2. "Enter Sandman", "The Unforgiven", "Nothing Else Matters" and "Sad but True" by Metallica from Metallica (1991)

Though it has been considered as one of the heavy metal band's greatest works, it alienated longtime fans when it was released in 1991. The best-selling black album had good hits such as "Enter Sandman", "The Unforgiven", "Nothing Else Matters" and "Sad but True". "Enter Sandman" has remained one of the most-played songs by the band since its 1991 live debut.

"The Unforgiven" and "Nothing Else Matters" are heavy rock ballads, with the former being a reverse of their previous ballads (melodic verse with a heavier chorus) and the latter being a usual rock ballad. The first three singles were US Top 40 hits, while the last was a Top 100 hit.

Though I'm not a fan of heavy metal music, these songs are truly hard rock classics.

Here's a video for "Enter Sandman":

Here's a video for "The Unforgiven":


Here's a video for "Nothing Else Matters":


Here's a video for "Sad but True":

3. "Warped", "My Friends" and "Aeroplane" by Red Hot Chili Peppers from One Hot Minute (1995)

Who could remember Dave Navarro from Jane's Addiction replaced John Frusciante as the guitarist of alt-rock legends Red Hot Chili Peppers. Well, One Hot Minute received backlash from fans and most songs from the albums are no longer played by the band.

However, "Warped" is an alt-metal meets Queen, with "My Friends" being a continuation of "Under the Bridge" and "Aeroplane" is a feelgood funk rock song.

Here's a video for "Warped":


Here's a video for "My Friends":
 

Here's a video for "Aeroplane":

4. "Ava Adore" and "Perfect" by The Smashing Pumpkins from Adore (1998)

The Smashing Pumpkins' fourth album Adore alienated several fans as they went through a new phase, switching from hipster alt-rock to more darkish gothic rock. Not only that, it became the only album by the band as a trio due to the firing of drummer Jimmy Chamberlain. 

However, the two singles from the album, "Ava Adore" and "Perfect" became Top 40 hits in the UK and you gotta love the one-shot music video for "Ava Adore" followed by the sequel to "1979", "Perfect".

Here's a video for "Ava Adore":

Here's a video for "Perfect":

5. "Androgyny", "Cherry Lips" and "Shut Your Mouth" by Garbage from Beautiful Garbage (2001)

Remember when Garbage lead singer Shirley Manson cropped her mid-length red hair and later dyed it platinum blonde? The alternative rock band's third album Beautiful Garbage alienated fans with their new pop-influenced sound, so much that several songs from the album is no longer played by the band.

Still, the highlights are "Androgyny" (Blondie-meets-Eurythmics), "Cherry Lips" (as if Madonna wrote that song) and "Shut Your Mouth" (proto-Bleed Like Me era). All were UK Top 40 hits.

Here's a video for "Androgyny":

Here's a video for "Cherry Lips":


Here's a video for "Shut Your Mouth":

6. "New", "Ex-Girlfriend" and "Simple Kind of Life" by No Doubt from Return of Saturn (2000)

Remember when No Doubt lead singer Gwen Stefani dyed her platinum blonde (ironically, she is a natural brunette) pink sometime in 1999? The result was the band's fourth album Return of Saturn, which like Beautiful Garbage, was a fan-alienating album. 

"New" was the taster for the album and also promoted the 1999 film Go, "Ex-Girlfriend" and "Simple Kind of Life" were moderately successful. The first two were UK Top 40 hits, while the latter was the album's only US Top 40 hit.

Here's a video for "New":

Here's a video for "Ex-Girlfriend":

Here's a video for "Simple Kind of Life":

7. "Daysleeper" by R.E.M. from Up (1998)

Several fans of alt-rock pioneers R.E.M. were angered with the band's new electronic sound after the departure of drummer Peter Buck in 1997. The band's first album as a trio, Up met with unfavourable response. However, "Daysleeper" was a Top 40 hit in the UK.

Here's a video for "Daysleeper":

8. "You Rock My World" and "Cry" by Michael Jackson from Invincible (2001)

The King of Pop's highly-anticipated Invincible album was released in October 2001, however its hopes of success was cut short due to 9/11. Because of this, Jackson did not tour at all except doing a concert celebrating his 30 years as a performer and blamed his record company Sony on the album's failure to become a bigger hit. 

Still, "You Rock My World" and "Cry" had moderate success and became one of his last hits in his lifetime, also if he was still alive then he would've performed those songs for his This Is It concert series. The former is last to feature the singer.

Here's a video for "You Rock My World":


Here's the video for "Cry":

9. "Feel Good Time" and "Trouble" by Pink from Try This (2003)

Remember when Pink went more punkish with Try This? Well say no more. American pop rocker Pink (real name Alecia Moore) released "Feel Good Time" as a collaboration with producer William Orbit, which was included in Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle soundtrack and the lead international single for her 2003 album.

The next single "Trouble" was also a hit, however like "Feel Good Time", it was a moderate hit in the Billboard Hot 100. Because of this, it resulted with Try This becoming a commercial failure. However, during from this album to end of the Funhouse era, Pink would sport a nose ring.

Here's the video for "Feel Good Time":



Here's the video for "Trouble":

10. "Russian Roulette", "Rude Boy", "Rockstar 101" and "Te Amo" by Rihanna from Rated R (2009)

Not completely alienated fans, but it wasn't successful as her 2007 million-seller Good Girl Gone Bad. "Russian Roulette" and "Rude Boy" were big hits in the UK and the US, while "Rockstar 101" never charted in the UK and "Te Amo" never charted in the US at all. 

Still some longtime fans like the rockier image of the Barbadian singer.

Here's a video for "Russian Roulette":



Here's a video for "Rude Boy":


Here's a video for "Rockstar 101":


Here's a video for "Te Amo":

11. "The Dope Show" by Marilyn Manson from Mechanical Animals (1998)

You know when industrial shock rocker Marilyn Manson briefly changed his gothic industrial look to more Bowie-esque look in 1998? Say no more, as fans were very alienated with the glam rock-inspired album Mechanical Animals, which became his eponymous band's most successful album, with over 15 million copies sold worldwide. 

There's two songs that is considered to be the highlights of the album and they are "The Dope Show" and "Coma White".

Here's a video for "The Dope Show":

Here's a video for "Coma White":

12. "Did It Again" and "Breathe" by Kylie Minogue from Impossible Princess (1997)

The Aussie Queen of Pop tried to go less pop with the trip hop-influenced Impossible Princess album (though in the UK, it was the third self-titled album by her due renaming it after the death of Princess Diana of Wales), which actually predated Madonna's 1998 trip hop-influenced album Ray of Light (which came out on March 1998) by four months. 

Though it was a critical and commercial success in her native Australia, the critical and commercial reception of the album in Britain when it came out on May 1998 was negative, with popular magazines Q and NME gave it two-star rating and a four out of ten rating, respectively.

However, Q has since praised the album in 2003, when it was called a "hidden gem" and considered it as a lost pop masterpiece. Despite this, Minogue went disco with the 2000 comeback Light Years after departing from Deconstruction Records. Two songs that can be considered one of the highlights are the singles "Did It Again" and "Breathe".

Here's the video for "Did It Again":

Here's the video for "Breathe":

Beyonce Releases New Album Earlier Than Expected

You know about the highly anticipated fifth album by Beyonce Knowles that was going to come out in 2014, well you're a little early as the R&B singer made a surprise release of the new album with no announcement or promotion yesterday on the iTunes.

The new album, which is self-titled, consists of 14 tracks and 17 music videos with three from songs that did not make on the album. One notable track that did not make it, but the video did was "Grown Woman", which appeared in a Pepsi advert earlier this year.

The new album is out now and the CD release comes out on Friday 20th December, courtesy of Columbia Records.

Almost 13 Years of How ITV Introduced Music Reality TV

Gosh, not only Britain's third television network ITV had a bunch of talent shows airing which were not like any other shows airing nowadays.

Since 2001, ITV has had "music reality" shows in chronological order: Popstars (2001-2002), Pop Idol (2001-2003), The X Factor (2004-present), Soapstar Superstar (2006-2007), Britain's Got Talent (2007-present) and Popstar to Operastar (2010-2011)

Popstars (2001-2002)

The British version of the Popstars franchise was launched on 13 January 2001, which proved to be a big hit for ITV. The series was won by pop group Hear'Say, which featured then-unknown Myleene Klass, Kym Marsh and Susanne Shaw. The runner-up group Liberty (later Liberty X) proved to be a bigger success as they would have Top 20 hits. The show decided to change the image after the chart rivalry between Hear'Say and Liberty X in 2001 and you guessed it. 

Liberty X won the rivalry and Kym Marsh left Hear'Say sometime in 2002 and the new line-up of the 2001 winner proved to be unfavourable by the public, resulting in their split in mid 2002. Liberty X continued success until their 2007 breakup. They finally reunited in 2012 for ITV2's The Big Reunion, which also reunited pop groups Atomic Kitten, 911, Five, B*Witched, Honeyz and Blue.

The second series Popstars: The Rivals, became more of a serious talent show than a Making the Band-esque show. The show decided to do a battle of the sexes theme, by having a boyband and a girl group competing against each other for the Christmas number-one spot.

One True Voice became the winning boyband, while Girls Aloud became the winning girl group. Girls Aloud became the true winner of the rivals as they became more successful than Liberty X. One True Voice released one more single before breaking up in August 2003.

Girls Aloud would outlive Liberty X by lasting for ten years, despite a 2009-2012 hiatus. The band broke up in spring 2013.

Despite the success, a third Popstars series never materialised as elements of it was added to what would later become The X Factor.

However the Popstars franchise has continued, with the German version becoming the most successful.

Winners: Hear'Say (2001), Girls Aloud (2002)

Runner-ups: Liberty X (2001), One True Voice (2002)

Judges: Nigel Lythgoe (2001, also known as "Nasty Nigel", now a judge on So You Think You Can Dance), Nicki Chapman (2001, later became a judge in Pop Idol), Paul Adam (2001), Pete Waterman (2002, veteran music legend known for introducing Kylie Minogue, Jason Donovan, Rick Astley and Sonia to the charts, then Pop Idol judge), Louis Walsh (2002, known for managing Westlife, future X Factor judge) and Geri Halliwell (2002, formerly known as Ginger Spice)

Presenters: Davina McCall (2001-2002)

Pop Idol (2001-2003)

This show was created by ex-Spice Girls manager Simon Fuller and introduced Simon Cowell (who was already known for managing Robson and Jerome and Sinitta) to the television audience, plus it featured former Popstars judge Nicki Chapman, music producer Pete Waterman and Capital FM radio presenter (I don't use the term "radio DJ") Neil Fox, also known as "Foxy" and "Dr. Fox", now on Magic 105.4.

The first series was won by Will Young, beating Gareth Gates to triumphant victory. Darius Campbell finished third. All three finalists became successful in the UK charts. The second series, which was aired in 2003, was won by Michelle MacManus, beating Mark Rhodes. Sam Nixon finished third. All three had moderate success, with the latter two becoming well-known presenters on CBBC.

The third series failed to materialise due to the development of The X Factor. There has some attempts to revive it, but failed to happen.

The X Factor (2004-present)

Soapstar Superstar (2006-2007)

Britain's Got Talent (2007-present)

Popstar to Operastar (2010-2011)

UNDER CONSTRUCTION

New Sound Albums

You know when singers and bands usually get bored with their usual sound and that they would like to alter their sound on their album. The result is... a new sound album.

Here's my examples of artists with a new sound album:

The Beatles (main canon and in chronological order only, excludes American-only releases and Magical Mystery Tour)

• Please Please Me (1963) - Rock and roll (proto-rock)
• With the Beatles (1963) - Pop rock
• A Hard Day's Night (1964) - Pop
• Beatles for Sale (1964) - Folk rock
• Help! (1965) - Pop rock
• Rubber Soul (1965) - Folk rock
• Revolver (1966) - Psychedelic rock
• Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967) - Baroque pop
• The Beatles (1968) - Hard rock
• Yellow Submarine (1969) - Psychedelic rock
• Let It Be (recorded 1969, released 1970) - Rock
• Abbey Road (1969) - Blues rock

Madonna (excludes Who's That Girl despite being credited, she only sings in four of nine songs in the soundtrack)

• Madonna (1983) - Dance-pop
• Like a Virgin (1984) - New wave
• True Blue (1986) - Dance rock
• Like a Prayer (1989) - Pop rock
• I'm Breathless (1990) - Swing
• Erotica (1992) - New jack swing
• Bedtime Story (1994) - R&B
• Evita (1996) - Pop ballad
• Ray of Light (1998) - Electronic
• Music (2000) - Dance-pop
• American Life (2003) - Folk pop
• Confessions on a Dance Floor (2005) - Disco house
• Hard Candy (2008) - Dance
• MDNA (2012) - EDM

Albums releasing in December 2013

Release date	Artist	Album	Genre	Label	Ref.
December 3	Boston	Life, Love & Hope	Hard rock	Frontiers	[641]
December 6	Childish Gambino	Because the Internet	Hip hop	Glassnote, Island	[642]
December 9	Exo	Miracles in December	Christmas, R&B, ballad	SM	[643]
	Ithilien	From Ashes to the Frozen Land		Mighty Music	[644]
December 10	E-40	The Block Brochure: Welcome to the Soil 4	Hip hop		[645]
	E-40	The Block Brochure: Welcome to the Soil 5	Hip hop		[645]
	E-40	The Block Brochure: Welcome to the Soil 6	Hip hop		[645]
	Evergreen Terrace	Dead Horses	Metalcore, melodic hardcore	Rise	[646]
	Girls' Generation	Love & Peace	Electropop, dance-pop	Nayutawave, Universal	[647]
	R. Kelly	Black Panties	R&B, hip hop	RCA	[648]
	Shila Amzah	Shila Amzah	Pop	Shila Amzah Entertainment	[649]
December 13	Beyoncé	Beyoncé	Electro, R&B	Columbia, Parkwood	[650]
December 17	B.o.B.	Underground Luxury	Hip hop		[651]
December 18	Skálmöld and the Iceland Symphony Orchestra	Skálmöld & Sinfóníuhljómsveit Íslands	Heavy metal	Sena	[652]
December 23	Justin Bieber	Journals	Pop, R&B	Island, RBMG, Schoolboy

25 Bands and Singers That Would've Done Terrific Performances on The X Factor

There's a lot of well-known singers and bands that have never performed on The X Factor. Some were close such as according to reports in March 2009 that Michael Jackson was going to perform on the show and would mentor the finalists, after the announcement that he would be doing a finale concert series called This Is It, which sadly cancelled after his death in June of the same year. Some wouldn't do it, such as Sting, Elton John, Steve Brookstein, Beady Eye, Moby, La Roux and V.V. Brown. since they criticise the show. Obviously, Prince wouldn't do it, cause he's Prince.

There are some that finally made such as Whitney Houston, No Doubt, Black Eyed Peas, Bon Jovi, Duran Duran, Celine Dion, Beyonce, Britney Spears, Mariah Carey, Rihanna, Jessie J and many more.

25. Garbage

Reason: It would be great if the band had performed "Tell Me Where It Hurts" in 2007 for the fourth series, which would actually help the single become a Top 40 hit.

Why it never happened: The band was busy demoing new tracks for their fifth album before going on hiatus again in 2008.

24. Red Hot Chili Peppers

Reason: The band would be cool if they performed "Brendan's Death Song" in 2012 and that would be a chart comeback.

Why it never happened: The band was too busy to perform in the show, as usual they have very lengthy one-to-two-year tour to promote their albums. 

23. Selena Gomez

Reason: She has

22. Paramore

21. Evanescence

20. Eminem

19. Justin Timberlake

18. Ariana Grande

Reason: You probably know her as the redheaded Cat Valentine in Victorious, but she is the first successful Nickelodeon alumni to have a US Top 40 hit.

Why it never happened: Her singles have not charted in the UK Top 40, but have been moderately successful.

17. McFly

Reason: They're still active and their new single "Love Is On the Radio" is available now.

Why it never happened:

16. Psy

15. Sade

14. 

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