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June 17th, 2010
03:41 PM ET
Rihanna’s next album will ‘Thrill’ youTalk about high standards. For Rihanna’s next album, Def Jam A&R exec Bu Thiam is expecting the Barbadian pop star to pull off a record of legendary proportions. “I’m trying to push her to where every song will be a hit from 1 to 12. I’m talking about NO album fillers,” Thiam said in a blog post on Vibe.com. “Our bar for this album is Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller.’”
Hmm…ok. And how exactly will she pull that off? With help from the likes of Ne-Yo, The Dream, Stargate, Ester Dean, Mel & Mus and Rock City, Thiam said. “It’s already giving me the feel of a timeless album, and right now is her time,” he added. Do you think Rihanna can pull Thiam's dream off?
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fudge off everyone who doesn't like rihanna. why are you looking at this if you don't even like? obvi you care.....so shut the fudge up and go fudge your mom. thanks and bye.
Yeah right. Rihanna is not even close to being as good as MJ. It's not like she isn't talented; she is. It's just that Michael created the greatest R&B album of all time. His distinctive singing style is clear in every song and he didn't hire some guy to write catchy hooks for him like seemingly every modern pop singer. He actually understood music: how to play an instrument, how to write, the difference between a minor chord is compared to a major. The reason why there won't be an album even close to Thriller for quite some time is because the whole record industry has been watered down with mediocrity. MJ never used AutoTune, because he didn't need to. He could sing on pitch. I wish no ill upon Rihanna, in fact, I wish her the best of luck. But she just can't be compared to Michael, nevermind the Soul vocalists of older times (see Aretha Franklin et al)
Oh yeah, another thing I forgot to mention that is very important. From a production stand point, recording artists don't produce albums anymore the way albums were producer in the 80's. Meaning, they typically only used 1 main producer for all of the songs. The artists started with the same producer they ended recording the album with. That just does not exist anymore with major label artists. They get multiple songs thrown at them from everyone, and they pick several different songs from several different songwriters and producers.
The diference with that is that the album has a totally different feel from song to song. Listen to any of the albums from the 80's and before, and you'll notice 1 consistent feel for the entire album. Janet Jackson is a perfect example. Her Rhythm Nation and Control, Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis. That's it.
The comparison is absurd. Michael was and is the Mozart of our times: a child prodigy who was in a category by himself and who grew up to define the music of an entire era. He has no equal. He was a musical-genius-visionary-innovator who did it all. His gifts were limitless.
Rhianna Can't Sing for one thing. I've heard her "sing" live, it's awful. Besides, Lady Gaga already has more hits from an album than anyone I think.
who are you to judge mr rick b? i bet you suck at singing...and life. fudge off. she has more talent than anyone.
Oh come on!!!!! She cant even sing. I think she is living on sympathy.
Everyone says this to get attention. The industry knows the "CD package/album" is dead! You can't make me buy 12-20 tracks anymore, it's impossible. I don't know when they'll give up and just start selling singles only but you can bet it's coming. Rihanna may not want "filler" but that's what she'll get because she's just not that talented. The era that could produce a Thriller is long gone. Even if you get a talented genius like MJ (and I've LOVE to see that!) The market is not such that 50 million folks would run out and purchase his/her packaged music. Too much piracy and too many 99 cent songs available.
the comment is being misunderstood, he did not say it in a way that he is looking to top the numbers but in a way that he means he wants to have the same level of effort and quality music put into the album which thriller had a huge amount of effort and heart put into that is what he is saying. Thriller you could put in ur player and just let it run and not feel the need to skip around thats what he is hoping to accomplish with this rhianna cd. He is not saying he is gonna kill the numbers lets face it rhianna does not come close to the fan base michael had its an impossible reach to say that she could out sell that album but I dont think thats what the comment was trying to say.
I think the masses understand the jist.....either way she doesnt have the talent to make any effect.
Let me also add that the reason for MJJ selling the most albums in history was because of international sales of Htriller, as well as the US. Not just US sales. And people around the world were very interested and hungry in hearing new music from the US decades ago, because the technology wasn't there for them to gain access to it in there country.
That's completely changed now. A person can make their own independent music video on their computer now, and post it on YouTube for anyone to look at. There's no "wow factor" anymore with anyone, because you've seen everything already, everyday, 5 minutes ago. People have extremely short attention spans today.
Did any of you READ the article? He was camparing the timelessness of the album ( meaning collection of songs here) the fact that it will not have all those filler songs that many have commented on.
Personally I don't care for her, but I appauld the effort to make a quality collection of music.
One artist never given credit for her truly exceptional career is Donna Summer- the most #1's in a row ( prior to Thriller) and once a producer was found, On the Radio had 10 – 10 #1 hits on it as it became the biggest selling album of its day.
This is what Rihanna's producers are trying for.
Both MJ and Rihanna are over rated. They both make music for stupid people. 🙂
Hey – at least Mike was normal! She crazy and she be spreadin hiarpes! Hairpees and a bad do means no sales no sales!
Total bs. How can you even begin to compare her to Michael Jackson? All she's accomplished is her proving that she can get punched in the face.
Ain't happenin'. The same chick that added a syllable to the word "Umbrella" (Umm-berrr-ella) and has the auto-tuned "eh-eh-eh" factor as her signature "sound" could not possibly come close to Thriller standards. Perhaps better songwriters would do the trick or perhaps less digital effects and more soul would do the trick... A wise man once said: "Makin' stars out of ordinary people... doesn't make any sense..."
Well, being a music producer and composer myself who grew up having to see Thriller played on Friday Night videos for literarily 100 times on tv, there won't be another Thriller phenomenon. And it's not because of talent, it's because of the public. See the reason Thriller was the best selling album in the world is because of a couple of reasons:
1. MJJ did get some of the best writers, musicians, and producers (QJ) around him to make the album top notch. That's possible currently today, but the difference is that MJJ wasn't afraid to create his own sound. Producers today write and produce what's the most "popular" style rather than be trend setters.
2. This piggybacks off of #1, she would have to do a very unique album that stylistically doesn't sound like the same Usher, NeYo, Justin Timberlake, Aguillera sounding song. It would have to be her own sound and style.
3. Referring to #2, the public nowadays has been conditioned to have low expectations for music and creativity. thus, I don't really know if the public can any longer appreciate originallity compared to decades ago in the music industry. I mean lets be real, when people started callin rappers "singers" and "singing", you kind of threw that standard of performance out the window. And I'm not saying anything bad against hiphop. But rapping is not singing. But this wouldn't even have to be a point I would've had to make when MJJ was alive.
LMAO........riiiiiiiiiiiiiight. Keep on dreaming.
Thriller will beat her new album like Chris Brown.
one thing is for sure, with all of you dissing all of this there will be some interest in the album. but really don't you all think this is just pre hipe to get people doing exactly what all of you are doing. talking about it. that is all it is, hipe
You are absolutely right. Even though he was silly for making the statement, it probably was a strategic move.
Hopefully she won't do a tribute to Chris Brown called 'BEAT IT'.....
I heard Chris Brown already produced one of her HITS.
B**ch please!
Just that statement in itself is an insult. True, Rhinna will sell millions of records, but to even think it will get up to the level of "Thriller" is silly. Someone needs to slap that A&R.
Singed,
Fellow A&R who is not that stupid.
Two words: ha ha
It's certainly possible that an album could have every song be a hit, but it's extremely rare, so I'm not holding my breath.
But don't compare it to Thriller. MJ wrote his own songs. Top that.
Rihanna is a great performer and her album will sell more than Amy Winehouse or Carrie Underwood. But it won't hold a candle to Thriller. Impossible.
She sucks.
Impossible. Period.
I like RiRi, but can't see that happening. Also, not impressed with latest album or her style, seems to distracting and you can't see her talent through all the "stuff". Leave the gimmics along and just sing.
You got it! Rihanna relies on gimmicks although she has a natural good voice. She may as well get Madonna, Amy Winehouse & Brittney Spears to record the album, too! She can't even hold a tune like Sleater-Kinney...
NEVER!!!
Rihanna or Rinosauraus???? Nobody listens to that ghetto fab music. (good try CNN)
Clearly this guy is full of it. He's trying to sell her album as much as he can, so he'll say whatever he thinks will help her get more albums sales.
she'll never get even CLOSE to MJ's mark. no where near half of it! she's not that great of a performer.
Not true, Russ. Not everyone liked Michael, back in the day. And without the genius of Quincey Jones, Thriller would not have come to be. This article is saying with some great writing and great engineering, yes it could pop in many ways. When the stars are aligned anything is possible. Even Michael could never top himself again. Her song, Ovation, from her last disc is a mnor masterpiece.
Paul.... I believe MJ's "INVINCIBLE" album could have spewed more hits than Thriller. But we all know what happened to Michael and sony. they didn't promote the album and michael didn't tour.
no. thriller was always be an inspiration – nothing you can top.
Hardly.
Michael Jackson had worldwide appeal by the time he released Thriller, while most regular people couldn't name one Rihanna song.
But keep hyping her CNN, are you in the music marketing business now?
I dont think CNN is hyping her up or even have anything to do with her.....I think they are just reporting a story.....
IF SHE WAS TALENTED ENOUGH TO MAKE AN ALBUM LIKE " THRILLER " SHE WOULDVE DONE SO ALREADY....bUT SHE COULDNT EVEN COME CLOSE TO MAKING A QUALITY PIECE OF WORK. shes a joke
she has talent but she's no MJ. remember "NY Times" stated long ago, "In the world of pop music, there is Michael Jackson and then everbody else". this still holds true. Michael Jackson holds the bar for so many in the music industry.
Better than Thriller?!? Never, #### No!!
She's no Justin Beiber.
yeah right.
Impossible. The music industry is toast. She does NOT have QUINCY JONES producing the album. Also, MJ had some REAL talent helping out on Thriller: QUINCY JONES, Eddie Van Halen, Paul McCartney, Steve Lukather, Paul Jackson, Dean Parks, Louis Johnson, etc, etc. These aren't your mere 'hip hop producerz'...these are people with music genius in their veins. BIG diff IMO YMMV.
What an imbecile, talk about setting someone up to fail!
She is indeed an untalented hack, but so is almost everyone currently in pop except Madonna and Gwen Stefani.
Hopefully she and her management will read these posts and fire this moron.
I don't know why any artist today even thinks they could surpass a milestone in album sales like Michael Jackson's "Thriller" or The Eagles "Greatest Hits"??? The music industry is selling 50% fewer albums now than they were just 10 years ago!! With all the music paricy today, nobody would ever reach those numbers again. Besides, a huge number of the music acts out there are here and gone so fast because they simply don't have the talent that artists used to have.
I don't like pop music that much unless it's infused into a dance mix, but MJ is a legend. Rihanna is not and never will be. The music industry can no longer produce material of MJ caliber because they don't allow the artist to be artist. All top 40 songs are now manufactured. Bands are dead, and music talent isn't really required. You only need to be "hot" and have a decent voice to put out a top 40 song now, most of which was written by a producer, not an artist.
Yeah right, this prediction is comparable to the one about the Jonas Brothers being the next Beatles!
She looks like a refugee from a cartoon.
The main reason she won't sell as much is because her target audience don't buy many cds! They illegal download them!
If anyone needs a hint why Rihanna will never top MJ watch this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tihJyqMhju0
or search youtube for "rihanna moonwalk"
Also I'm pretty puzzled why Rihanna has had any hits... The songs are good but she's not. Just my opinion.
I hope they picked out her worst for the comparison to Michaels moonwalk because that was just ridiculous. I had heard of her but never her music or at least if I did I wasn't aware of it. That should pretty sum up or put a rest to the question presented here.
Comparing your latest album to "Thriller" is never a good idea. The last person to try that was Heidi Montag, and we all know how that turned out.
No. She isn't original and she doesn't even write songs or produce. She just dances half naked
It's too contrived. I don't think you can plan something like that.
No way can she ever achieve those numbers, she does not have the following that Micheal did/does, plus she is a realitive new comer to the music industry, Micheal was in music all his life. I will be very surprised if she makes the mark, she's popular, but thats really pushing the envelope.
The days are over on selling 50 million records (CD'S). To even compare Rihanna to Michael Jackson is absurd. No one makes money like thay anymore. With The World Wide Web, and alll the piracy and illegal ways of obtaining music, the singer/performer doesn't make the money like Michael Jackson, Madonna and Bruce Springsteen made, back in the eighties.
Garbage. No body could make as many hits as MJ. Anyway, the line I noticed most was they admitted that albums contain FILLER. In other words just garbage tracks, and that only a few are worth owning. The other thing here is that she needs to have 20 washed up rappers to guest star on her tracks? Sorry, if you need all these rent-A-rappers to appear on tracks, then you have no talent. Just riding the coattails of others. Pathetic!!!
The only reason she is even being written about is because of the supposed Chris Brown fiasco, that was a lame story anyways.....Rihanna isn't now and will never be in the category of being called a GREAT SINGER....
I've heard some of Rihanna's songs on the radio. They had a nice beat and simple lyrics. Nothing I will remember in 2 years, not to mention 20+. I can still remember the lyrics from Thriller 20 years later to every song. After 20 year will Rihanna's cd still be in print? I doubt it but Thriller will be. That is what makes a album great. Record sales at first are good but its the staying power of a artist and his albums over the years that make them trully great.
The closets thing that comes close to Thriller is Sargent Pepper.
THis woman is only famous because her ex-boyfriend (another semi-famous person) beat her. Her music is awful let alone the music video I saw where she looked like a combination of Grace Jones and a wannabe Lady Gaga. Should not be mentioned in the same breath as Thriller.
One of Michael Jackson's diamond encrusted gloves is more talented than Rihanna. Besides how can any artist ever top Thriller? It's not gonna happen.
Don't go there.... MJ was timeless. All generations still pump up when one of his songs comes on. Rihanna doesn't have the pipes or the composing skills. She has been a cheap knock of first of Beyonce, then Gaga and now MY? I dont think. Maybe she should carve out her own thing and not imitate someone else.
Are you serious? This is B.S. just an article to hype and provide publicity. I like how he says "with the likes of...." and its no one well known... Micheal Jackson reached that status because of what he brought to music, not because his studio manager said this is what you have to achieve and heres how we are going to write your songs and this is who is going to make your album. Unbelievable. You can't make Micheal Jackson in a lab.
she ain't selling no records to the number of MJ's Thriller and I hope it bombs just for her team speaking such crap. She's already so yesterday. He voice ain't all that. Janet sound better than her and a slew of other who aren't as vocally gifted. She's washed up and better hope that she has an umbrella A A A!
but i look forward to her trying! i think she is amazing!
NO. NEVER. >:U
she already ripped off wanna be startin somthin before mj died!!! please dont stop the music she uses it! love her and think rude boy will be hard for her to top let alone thriller!!!
This woman is so absurdly over rated I can hardly stand her. She sing everything on the radio because she has a huge team of writers, producers, and her founder Jay Z kep throwing hits at her. She does NOT have a great voice. She is not innovative like MJ was. Her scheduled concert in AZ this summer was cancelled and move to a venue 4 times smaller so her tickets did not sell.
"And how exactly will she pull that off? With help from the likes of Ne-Yo, The Dream, Stargate, Ester Dean, Mel & Mus and Rock City, Thiam said."
Ne-Yo (yawn), The Dream (meh), Stargate (movie > artist), Ester Dean (who cares?), Mel & Mus (more like Mel & Snooze), and Rock City (actually legit)? This is the all-star lineup that's a supposed Thriller killer?
Are you serious? I'd eat my words if it came true but are you kidding me? I could understand if the collaborators were all mega pop machines but this line-up is minor league at best.
Rihanna? to the legendary Michael JacksoN?? and THriller? someone must be smoking crack.
Give me a break! I can't even listen to her music it is so bad (but not as bad as Jay-Z). I also don't get why people think Beyonce is that good either (she dances like a spastic robot with that wide eyed blank stare). I can't believe that they would even come close. COME ON PEOPLE – GET REAL !
Anything is possible. Look, if a song like "don't worry, be Happy" can sell millions, and the chinese guy huang becoming as popular as ever since being shwon the door on American Idol, then I am sure that with the right Marketing scheme it can be done. But let's make one thing clear. Michael Jackson had talent. Rihanna has no talent and has Autotune to help her voice and the best Marketing and A&R directors to help her, because she needs all the help to come close to Michael Jackson status.
NO CHANCE ON GODS GREEN EARTH THAT HER ALBUM IS BETTER THAN THRILLER. SORRY RE RE.
I'll wait until Okra Winfrey chimes in as she is an authority on everything under the son. Afterall she touted to us how Obama would be great for the country now didn't she?
LOL Okra. Mike your terrible!
Rihanna needs to stay under her umbrella. Get the "buck" outta here!
NOPE
No, Rihanna cannot beat "Thriller>" But someday maybe Siobhan Magnus will.
Eeeewwwww...
Because the postings are too numerous to read through individually, I'll assume that someone else has already made this point. Nevertheless, here it goes: No. She will not top Thriller. Why? Because in addition to MJ's other-wordly musical and performing talent one must consider the pop-cultural landscape of 1982 – the year Thriller was released. Disco had died, new-wave punk was being ushered in, the record industry was in a slump like they had never seen, there was no one performer/act/etc. drawing people into the record stores (yeah, they really did exist), the U.S. political landscape was at the dawn of Reagonomics-in other words: it was a pop-culture 'perfect storm.'
MJ's goal was to create an album that people of ALL AGES could enjoy and listen to. He had melodies that people from "8 to 80 could hum.' There is a great article in July's Vanity Fair by a journalist who was priviledged to have been on set of the Thriller video and was an eye-witness to the making of a mini-movie that would revolutionize the entire industry. IMHO, the journalist pretty much sums up why RiRi will never achieve this objective: (Paraphrasing journalist) – Thriller was the last time that the entire planet collectively got excited about a pop-culture event. During this time, there was nowhere you could go (around the world) without hearing music from that album.
Unless RiRi wants to do a complete 180 of her image, music, style, etc – I highly doubt that she will ever create a project with a global acceptance of the likes of Thriller.
oh yeah, that would be fantastic!!! Rihanna could be the new Madonna...more than Gaga......she's got the goods.
Thriller didn't have a filler? The Girl is Mine should've been a filler. What a craptastic song. It only took Paul McCartney to make a really bad song even more embarassing and lame.
HaHa! As much as I love Thriller, I have to admit. TGIM is an awful song, never liked it but it featured a Beatle so... of course people are going to lap that up!
Are you serious CNN for even posting that question? I find it amazing that since MJ passed everybody and they momma are doing and saying things they NEVER would've done while MJ walk or should I say moonwalked the Earth. But so be it here's the truth whether anybody likes it or not. Michael Jackson was one of the most talented and gifted human beings ever born. Hands down period. He proved it from age 5 to age 50. He used producers who were actual musicians who could bring HIS visions into reality. Quincy even said that. Micheals music, style, and innovativeness impacted the world culture. That is why his albums sold millions. Not just Thriller. ALL of his albums. And even they could not touch his live performances. Rhianna is a product of Jay-Z and the Def Jam machine. Nothing more. There was never any hype to a Micheal Jackson release. It just hit and blew heads back. You dont have to be to bright to figure out that if you put enough popular folks on one product it will sell a few. But Micheal Jackson did do it by himself and had guest musicians and singers to give THEM a chance to shine. Not vice versa. On top of that most folks ignore the fact that MJ had an entire other career with the Jackson 5 where they sold millions with NOBODY on a track. So please get real. Rhianna would have to bring Michael, James, and Sammy back from the grave to approach Thriller status which by the way had to have its own category created for the number of records it sold (Diamond). Wake up Jay-Z and stop the hype Def Jam. CNN flag on the play.
It would not surprise me at all if this did surpass the Thriller sales. Because the people who are buying her albums have no sense of what quality music is. Rihanna can't sing worth a lick and it's beyond me why anyone would listen to her music. I can't comment on her dancing because I can't tolerate looking at her in videos or at anything that she's performing in. Of couse the Def Jam exec would say this. Just like a lawyer would defend his client even if he knew he or she was guilty! Hopefully, he is not right!
She's not a Great singer compared with Beyonce, Mariah Carey and Christina Aguilera
...or William Hung for that matter
Hmm, interesting... to write an album like Thriller, though, wouldn't you have to be... what's the word... talented?
This is ridiculously not news. She didn't say it, her producer did. What WON'T a producer say to hype an upcoming release? Like somebody else said, anyone with an ear knows she's not a great singer. Anyone WITHOUT one should be able to see that a GREAT doesn't need ten guest artists to make that "perfect album."
Want a laugh?? Come back in a year when the album tanks and re-read this cheap attempt at creating hype about a mediocre auto-tuned "artist"...
MJ must be giggling in his grave!
If Rihanna ever sells more albums than Michael Jackson I think that's the day I stop listening to music.
It would be nice if artists would start to think more about writing from their hearts and minds instead of trying to manufacture "singles" to "push units" for profit.
You have GOT TO BE KIDDING.
Oh hell yes!
The minute someone says "it's the next _____________" or "I'm going to be the next _____________" seals the project or person in failure. If people would learn to be unique instead of trying to capture the past, we might have more decent music to listen to.
I also believe that if we learned to appreciate the past a little more instead of tossing it in the back of the closet like we tend to do, we wouldn't have to here "I'm the next this" or "this is going to be the next that"
She will never beat Michael jackson, she is not a singer, she is just Like Beyonce who can't sing and gets a lo tof attention because of her looks, with her fake hair, neiter can sing or dance enough said.
umm beyonce can sing you haven't heard her have you? even mj thinks so idk wat ur talkin about k and btz lots of people have fake hair kk
Have her do it without pro-tools to help her vocals. her music (as all radio junk) is garbage and i am in full belief that it is creating a more idiotic future.
Nobody will ever surpass the greatest of Thriller.
She can't pull it off. Thats why so many people are filling in and providing their help. she's just a face and a voice. Lots of other talented people doing the work for her.
Where is Chris Brown? we need him to slap her up again for even letting it enter her pea sized brain that she would even come close to MJ!! I think he did knock some sense out of her. Tell her to learn how to spell Michael Jackson and Thriller.
I think more artists should have multiple hits on each album. I don't buy CD's anymore because I know most are filled with songs I don't care about, so please don't try and change the article to make it sound like Rihanna is trying to sell as many albums, because thats not the case. She is trying to have as many hit songs as Thriller.
Three words: OH HELL NO! I personally think she sucks, shes ugly as hell, and has no originality! Michael changed the music industry forever, what can Rihanna do? Notta d**n thing!!!
Someone needs to beat her again
Thriller sucked and so does Rihanna.
I like how they think they can just manufacture a "Thriller". I'll bet a year's wages that at least 3 songs off of this album will feature Autotune tinkering and some other generic element that will automatically date it. If the writing is anywhere near as bad as Umbrella I'm sure we can expect a masterpiece on par with Nickleback.
I was never a Jackson fan, but in one word "No"!
She sounds like an ill goat
I doubt she will every be on the level of Thriller she is not the entertainer that Micheal Jackson was.
Is this article serious?! BWAAHHAA
If Rihanna thinks that she will ever be as big of a star as Michael Jackson, and sell more albums than Thriller then she is clearly off of her rocker! She will NEVER have the super star power that Michael Jackson had, EVER! She can get over those dreams real fast!
You have seriously got to be kidding. Rhianna is just like all the other pop singers out there right now... generic and boring. Michael Jackson changed the music industry forever. They can't even remotely be compared.
She is giftless, talentless doll. Shortly, she sucks....
I just would like to say Kbeysan is a retard. Since when has people like Paul copycat been original? All of his kind copy off of others (you know what I mean) and say it's their music. I wouldn't buy Paul copycat music if he paid me to. Paul who??? Please Michael Jackson didn't need his help. Paul an't sh- without the Beatles.
Two words: HELL NAAAAWWW.
Never listened to any of her music. Or most of Pop hip hop. I would think it was bad even if others thought it was good most likely. I'm more of a rock an roll, bob dylan, beatles, type listener.
I must have been the only person to not buy Thriller. Didn't hear anything from it that I liked!
no, that would put you in the majority of earth's inhabitants since there are 6 billion of us and only 100 million copies sold. smartazz
She must mean she's sampling songs from Thriller...
Doesnt she work behind the counter at McD*****ld's?
I really resent the modern notion that if a song on an album doesn’t become a hit single its nothing more than “filler.” Some of the best recordings ever made were not singles and they were not filler. Singles sell the album and the real gems are supposed to sitting there waiting to be found by the listener. Yet another shortsighted “advancement” of the contemporary recording industry. How long can revenue from ringtones be counted on as a business model?
Rihanna lacks the basic skills pure and simple!
She sucks.
Rihanna is having trouble even selling tickets to her concerts-what makes them think she is going to top Michael Jackson's record sales!? Apparently she isn't even selling more than 30% of tickets and arenas are threatening to move her to a smaller venue so they can get better acts in....
Everyone worldwide knows who Michael Jackson is (you'd literally have to be living in the middle of a jungle secluded from society to not know who he is)... I bet you there are billions of people who have NEVER heard of Rihanna before...
Toto ,Van Halen,Paul Mcartney and MJ ,this album may out sell Rhianna's album this year!!!not taking away from her.she's talented but she's not even in Janet Jackson territory let alone Michael
Exactly!
NOW I KNOW THE WORLD IS AT THE END, WHEN YOU COMPARE RIHANNA TO MJ. SO SAD!
This article cannot be for real because that is not a real question! Michael Jackson is Michael Jackson and there is NO comparison, he was an innovator not just a scripted performer. I mean truly I'm not downing RiRi but I can"t think of anything that she has done that captivated me like the Thriller album and yes I remember parking myself in front of the tv and waiting anxiously for the Thriller video to air. Oh by the way how can they accurately talk about MJ's record sales when his records STILL sell!
I agree with deetruth. Rihanna = somebody that the "industry" decided to make a star.... as with many other... no talent, her vocals are annoying and irritating to the ear, and she cannot even dance..... BOO !!!
I'm not sure if Rhianna can beat Thriller, but we know Chris can beat Rhianna
shell517nj, you've misspoken. You meant to say first there was Elvis, then there's everyone else.
Dont mind dat guy, he is just trying 2 call attention 2 d album.Marketing strategic.How many people listen 2 Rihanna music.Old,young etc listen 2 MJ.
Is this article for real?! Rhianna has the talent of a small rat! She can't sing. In fact, she is down right annoying! The end of story!
MJ also did not invent the "moonwalk." The French mime Marcel Marceau did it years before him....goggle him on You Tube....
MJ got the moonwalk from Jeffrey Daniel who was a member of the group Shalamar in the early 80s he and his popping and locking crew first performed the "backslide" as MJ would learn in on Soultrain. I'm sure Marcel was doing something similar and I'm positive these early hip hop dancers had no clue who he was. MJ became drawn to Mr. Marceau later as he became more of a global figure but the moonwalk was NOT Mr. Marceau's "invention"
Let's see if she can pull it off without having to be nasty.
Musical talent doesn't even play into the equation anymore. Have to hire songwritters, music writters, make up, wardrobe, etc. Riana just has to show up and sing for a bit. At least she doesn't have an adams apple like lady gaga.
Is this a joke? I thought April Fools had already passed. She's had what 2 or 3 decent songs? And they are comparing her upcoming album to one of the greatest albums of all time... lol what a joke..
Ha ha ha ha ha! Please!
Not a fan have not heard one song of hers that I like. Bigger than Thriller? NEVER GONNA HAPPEN!
The Umbrella song is the worst song i have ever heard and when she sings live it is a total disaster.
I have no idea how she made it this far...UGH!
http://vigilantcitizen.com/?p=175 <-– Proof of rihanna's illuminati and devil worship connections.
I doubt it very much. She is not as passionate or as innovative, she just does something she likes and makes a living, not to say she isn't into her work, but Michael's work was his life. These are also different times so that the public would know that her album would be like this off the back... not try to push it to a cetain goal. Maybe Lady Gaga, whom praises what she does on a daily bais whenever she has an outlet, but still for that bar, doubful. Rihanna is not that great either way.
Pa-Leazzzzeee. You've got to be kidding?!?
This article is slightly ridiculous. To even think that you could compare the two. No one will ever have the impact on music like Michael did. I love Rihanna but she is not the same ultra star like he was. in the world of music and in the world of fans he cant be matched.
It's possible, of course, but highly doubted.
MJ didn't do it all alone!!!!!! He had Quincy Jones who has worked with everyone from Sinatra to Count Basie. Stop trying to rewrite history!!!
Calm down, every one has A producer. I think the point was that MJ did not need 15 like so many artists do today. He also had ONE vocal duet w/McCartney and ONE guest instrumentalist EVH. That's not alone but by today's standards it's pretty close. And... why mention Count Basie? Did he appear on Thriller via osmosis? lol!
Who wrote this trash ? Better than MJ?
Do not waste our time publishing stupid articles on the web !
Kill yourself if you think you are a jurnalist or writer. Stooge is more like it.....
Hell to the nawh! Enough said!
Heres the deal. Let me say this to any singer/performer. If you can fill ONE stadium here in the US or any other country once I will say you are on track to becoming the king. Most artist cant sell out a 20k arena let alone stadiums! and Michael did it all over the world. WORLD!! There will be no other King of Pop, Kanya incuded. So do I think Rihana can beat thriller. Never ever ever.
What's the new album going to be called? "I'm So Stupid That I Went Back To My Boyfriend After He Beat The S**t Out Of Me"???
One word NOT!!!!! With lyrics like umbrella or should I say no lyrics. She cannot sing, dance or write anything of substance. She is not in MJ's league. Persolally I am surprised she got as far s she did with minimal talent. I guess it's who you know not what you know. Sorry .
she's ok, but beyonce or even c. aguilera top her vocal talents. No one compares to MJ, yet. He was an all-in-one. No auto-tune.
A no talent record company cash machine. That's all it is.
HAHA,...thats funny! I didn't realize Bu Thiam was a comedian too. He should try out for Americas Best Comic. Rihanna is a total waste of space. If she is so musically talented,...why does she need all these other kats to help her out. She should write and perform this next album on her own,...then we'll see if she has musical talent. Is Def Jam still around??
Wishful thinking. It will be ruined by too much "rap" music – as a matter of fact – the new tunes on the Thriller 25th Anniversary re-release ruined it because of the newly recorded versions which incorporated "rap". I myself prefer the old school rap like all the early Sugarhill Records releases (fun and infectious), not all the thug, drug and violent rap that's ruined the music industry for the last 10 years. Thriller had one rap – and it was the effective and hysterically scary Vincent Price that pulled it off. Thriller was released at the right time, especially with the birth of MTV – and the musical genius of Michael Jackson and Quincy Jones. Also – with today's leaking of music and massive sharing of mp3 and other format files it will be impossible to ever reach those lofty sales heights again.
ROFL...yeah right. She's terrible, and don't insult Michael Jackson's work by comparing this pathetic singer to him.
Wow, a Rihanna album to rival the success of MJ's "Thriller" ? Um, ooookay. Rihanna's a major talent in her own right, but not of that caliber. Ambitious undertaking by her team, but sorry, nothing will ever – EVER – come close to what Michael and Quincy have done with "Thriller" and how its iconic success revolutionized the pop music industry.
MJ did it ALONE.
Need I say more.
well for her to even do that they will have to "write" songs with more than 2 different sentences in them....
Rihanna's a joke. She's a pretty face who's there to sell mediocre songs written by the same people who write 90% of the BS you hear on the radio. She always sings in the same keys and has the same melodies. Michael Jackson was an amazing musician, singer, songwriter, and performer. You can NOT compare these two artists unless you simply want to compare dollar amounts without taking inflation into account.
Talk is cheap...the proof is in the pudding. Rhianna has to have talent first.
Perhaps she should set her goals on surpassing, oh I don't know, may be Foxy Brown, Trina, or somebody like that...
That's complete foolish talk. Her voice is alright – although pretty mechanical and passionless. But she'll load the album up with fifty no-name "producers" that come up with crappy hip-hop songs, gratuitous samples, and empty lyrics. "Thriller" was produced by Qunicy Jones, Paul McCartney appeared on "The Girl is Mine", and Steve Lukather/Eddie Van Halen appeared on "Beat It". She can't corral that kind of talent in today's music. Like other said before, Michael came up with most of the arrangements. Rihanna doesn't have that kind of talent on her best day. She'll rip off another 80's melody, have Jay-Z rap some tired rhymes over it, and then add in some needless vibrato. Yep...Michael's legacy is in jeopardy for sure!
This woman could not find a book in a public Library!!!
Creativity, where? Lets see her choreograph her dance moves and dancers, write her lyrics, and have over five decades of sustainability first before we mention the King of Pop (Michael Jackson).
Until then let her enjoy the extended 15 minutes of fame and move on to performing at the casinos with the rest of the so called "wannabees".
You have got to be kidding me. This shows you exactly what has happened to the industry. Garbage "artist" garbage "music" (and I use that term very loosely for Rihaha). The only way she should be able to sell even a million records/cd's or whatever you want to call them, is if she buys them herself!
What are you talking about kbeysan? are you feeling ok?
yes Paul was good but HELLO??? where have u been all these years. Michael bought the cataloge because paul let him.
there is Michael Jackson in this industry and then there are the others. Michael is uncomparable. Although Rianna is good, she will never beat thriller, Michael couldnt even beat his own Thriller.
McCartney did not "let" MJ purchase the Beatles catalog. MJ was a parasite living off of the Fabs songs and now he's dead....alot of good all of those royalties are doing him now, huh???
boocat, Paul's networth was FAR GREATER than MJ's in 1985! MJ outbid him because Paul did not WANT to pay that much for songs he wrote. It was a moral decision for Paul and a business decision for MJ. Nothing parasitic about that little booboo.
ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!!!!!!!!?????? SHE WILL NOT EVEN COME CLOSE TO MJ. I UNDERSTAND WHEN YOU WANT TO SET A GOAL BUT LETS BE REALISTIC HERE, NO ONE WILL EVER COME CLOSE TO MJ'S THRILLER. THE ONLY ARTIST CAPABLE RIGHT THAT SEEMS TO BE HAVING HIT AFTER HIT IS LADY GAGA AND NOW EVERYONE IS TRYING TO BE LIKE HER. SORRY RHIANNA BUT I LOVE SOME OF YOUR MUSIC BUT YOUR NEXT ALBUM WILL BE JUST JUST LIKE YOUR OTHER ONES.....A FEW GOOD SONGS BUT THAT IS IT. OH AND STICK TO BEING YOU.....DONT GO AND TRY TO COPY LADY GAGA OR TRY TO PUT HER IDEAS OR FASHIONS WITH YOUR MUSIC.....BE YOU, THATS WHAT MADE YOU A FAVORITE ARTIST......DONT TRY TO MIMIC SOMEONE ELSE!!!!!!!
Thanks, Jamma Jamma, well said.
A prerequisite to having hit SONGS is the ability to SING, which is clearly missing with this young lady. I realize that this generation's music requires little to no talent in order to gain popularity, but even in this generation of mindless lyrics and voiceless vocals she could not reach those heights.
OMFG...Rihanna is a dumb friggin twit and I've purposely tossed out all of my umbrella...ella...ellas. She has the lyrical mastery of a turd
Lovely, Lovely, Lovely and can someone do something about her come-over?
I know that hair wont grow any longer than what it is but they make weaves now, and she could opt for braids or extensions.
She did play with a little boy and he beat the crap out of her.
To be as big as Thriller would take star power that I seriously don't think Rhianna has....nice daydream though for any celebrity...but Thriller was not "planned" by Studio Executives....it was a sensation and a pop-culture event that can not be readily planned. You can plan the next Thriller like you can plan that everyone will become estatic about candy canes in 2012. Such a taste is something you simply can't foresee. Rhianna doesn't draw me to her. I look at her and there is zero interest to hear her music or listen to her squeal-n-screech under the guise of "diva"....Michael Jackson & Thriller was a different story all together in presentation and execution of ability....and with the rest of the help from the Industry. But had the Industry put all it's chips on Huey Lewis that year....would we still all be seeking "new drugs" or would we be moonwalking, regardless of what the man in the suit told us?
Hell to the NO she can't beat "Thriller" she can't even beat "Chris Brown"
At least she doesn't play with little boys like Mike did.
It's funny to hear anyone try to compare to Michael Jackson. There are a few really talented artists today like Carrie Underwood, Christina Aguilera and Jill Scott but most of it is pure garbage. No meaningful lyrics, originality or actual vocal skill. Too much emphasis on looks. Whatever happened to the days when a little blind kid could take the stage with a harmonica and blow your doors off. Now it's all rap and ound effects. Someone mentioned "autotuning", don't even get me started on that nonsense.
Michael and Rihanna have a lot in common actually.... they were both beaten by men in their lives.
Please don't talk that way about rocks, they're smart and sensitive.
Rihanna will never make an album comparable to Thriller because first and foremost that girl CAN'T SING !
No, it's not. it won't.
I guess she is just going to have one song on her album.
No way.....I wouldn't even consider her release now a legitimate single. Rude Boy with vulgar lyrics and annoying vocals would never even be considered a single by people like MJ or radio 20 years ago. Todays crap music only needs a beat and a hook and it can be a single. There are great musicians out there but are far less likely to ever hear them over the hip-hop that has taken over pop radio.
is it April 1st ? Very funny article. She is dumb like a box of rocks
Bu Thiam better stop smoking that wacky weed, this girl will never come close to anything remotely considered to be timeless, epic or anything but mediocre. Don't even try to compare to you know who, I will not even mention his name in this context.
Is this news? Who cares.
Never ever. That is ludicrous.
Three reasons why Rihanna will not surpass Thriller:
1) Rihanna doesn't have Billie Jean
2) Rihanna doesn't have the Thriller dance
3) Rihanna isn't an international phenomenon like Michael Jackson
I grew up in the 80s.. I remember the whole "Thriller" hoopla and Michael was about as popular as the Bible. Michael Jackson defined MTV, originality, eccentricity, magic, and making some of the best pop music and videos ever. "Thriller" is a masterpiece, not to mention MJ wrote alot of it himself. For this record executive to say Rihanna's album may outsell Thriller is an insult; NO WAY!!! Rihanna doesn't deserve this feat, nor is she that talented. If anyone comes close to outselling MJ, it will be Lady Gaga. I do not like alot of music today; I miss the 80s. But I do think Lady Gaga is very talented and writes alot of her material and Ilike her 80s vibe. Michael Jackson was truly one of a kind and we will never see an artist like him again.
Lady Who?
Umbrella and please dont stop the music are still her only monster hits . Putting her name with MJ's is an insult.
LOL!!!!! Thats the best laugh I've had since we lost the gulf.
I don't like pop music but I always seem to be able to pick out her voice when
i hear it. Not saying that's good or bad.
Maybe in another life but not this one she will never top MJ.
gossipgalnow.blogspot.com
Yeah Baby! LOL
Love her. Hate her haircut. LOL
dream on!! there'll never be another thriller, plus rihanna doesn't even have a fraction of Mike's fan base, lawd what's wrong with these people setting this poor child up?
I think it's impossible to top Michael Jackson, but I like Rihanna and appreciate her talent. She's doing her own thing.
There is nothing wrong with setting lofty goals but in this era of the music industry a 1-12 album of good songs is the unicorn, and if someone is to pull it off I'd think they'd have to be one of the supreme talents in the music industry. Not that I have any real problem with her music. I have liked a couple of her songs (Disturbia and another that escapes me) but she is a product of the times where marketing appeal overrides actual vocal ability. Rhianna just isn't one of those people. She isn't even on Beyonce's level let alone MJ. Best of luck to her though. If she can pull it off I won't have anything but congrats for her.
The reason why the album won't be better Thriller is because music sux now. Its all about "image" and no one has any real talent for song writing. Any idiot with Logic or any other music program can string together beats. Write a real melody, write a real chord progression. This is dumbed down music for the masses. Music pirating didn't hurt the industry as much as American idol and the industry's desire to just push unimaginative crap instead of a quality product. Non-singing divas, weak copy cat rappers with no substance and Justin Beiber! Pathetic!
The only thing she has is looks. She will NEVER be able to accomplish what Michael did. She better keep dreaming. Music will never be the same as it was years ago.
HELL NO!!! Michael Jackson is in his own category. No one in this industry was able to top him. It would be so difficult for producers, songwrites, and artist to top the Thriller album. I appreciate his high expectations, but if Rihanna had problems with this current album, and she seems to not have that worldwide sell out stadiums type appeal. I don't even think Beyonce can top Michael Jackson, so what makes Rihanna able to top Michael Jackson? Think about it.
1. rhianna can"t even write her own songs, she needs the help of all these other not so talented artists.
2. in my mind michael jackson was not a musican. he was a song writer/singer. paul mccartney is a musician and a songwriter. we need more people like him.
3. good thing we have bands like radiohead/peal jam/phish and even john mayer around to keep real music alive. at least with these artists there is the possibility that a "timeless" album can be produced.
Rihanna stinks as a singer. All her songs sound the same, no voice variation, nothing. She'll need a freaking 0.000001% chance miracle to pull that off.
Not a chance-I agree that Rihanna can't dance and she does not have a good vocal range. She is basically a black Britney Spears-nothing unique about her. With the internet and all of the downloading, there is NO way she will outsell MJ-no artist ever will. BTW, Rihanna's song "Rude Boy" is the most annoying on the radio right now-can't stand it!
This is just stupid, she is popular but has never or ever will be that popular. She will bring out a decent selling record for this time in music history but another "Thriller" will never happen again. Rihanna will be forgotten completely within 5 years, I may be wrong but i doubt it.
If she is talented, I'd say she is a model that holds a mic up to her mouth and lipsyncs. I've never heard about her writing skills as a musician or anything. What's the deal with those goofy haircuts?
Rhianna is no Michael Jackson.....not even close. Her voice is borderline annoying and she does not appeal to multiple generations like Michael did – Thiam is setting himself up for disappointment with those expectations.
Sorry Rihanna – you got no game
First, an album of hits does not make a good album. Case in point: Thriller. It's an album of great songs, but not a great album. The sign of a great album is when you start it and don't want to turn it off; once you start you feel like you have to get to the end. Starting in the middle is not an option. It's not simply a compilation of great songs; this is why greatest hits albums do not make great albums (if you bother to listen closely enough).
Second, Rhianna can barely sing. I'm surprised she's gotten this far.
Third, are we saying that Rhianna, in the past, has deliberately put "filler" songs on her previous albums? Shouldn't we hate her for this? A real artist strives to make every song on album great and necessary, but not necessarily a "hit."
And are your points OBjective or SUBjective? Arrogant much?
Theres nude pictures of Rhianna on the web already, why do I need to buy her albums anymore.
Wow...... that Def Jam exec is just as delusional as the idiots who buy Rihanna's "music" (in all its computer-enhanced, digitally-altered glory).
There is REAL music still left in this world..... Michael Jackson was a part of it, Rihanna is not.
The only way she could even come close to an album that sells as many copies is with Chris Brown running around holding a gun to everyone's head to buy the album.
We wont even acknowledge any chance of her actually matching the quallity of MJ's Thriller. She's an image star, not a highly talented artist like MJ. Peoples issues with MJ's personal life asside, there will never be another artist like him.
Rihanna the girl from Barbados, just shut up and drive you have a long way to go, in next lifetime to be compared to the legendary MJ is still a NO! NO! Not now or never under these umbrella that we are leaving under, the sky is blue babe wake up these is planet earth, try pluto.
Oh brother. Rihanna will never surpass Michael Jackson...he is the greatest entertainer that ever lived. R is a flash in the pan..it is sad thye use MJs name b/c it's now the anniversary of his death and they are capitalizing on the publicity
Never happen in a million years, THRILLER is timeless and will never be dethroned as the top selling album of all time.
She will sell half as many albums as her first CD, like every other artist. Well, unless she gets Susan Boyle or Antonella Barba to do a duet...
You're all wrong. Thriller and Rihanna BOTH suck.
Michael Jackson and Thriller are GONE... it is over and he is DEAD! NO ONE ELSE WILL EVER be able to break that record! Certainly not a MINOR Talent like Rihanna. All that "glitters" and looks good is NOT gold!
I will never say never but I highly doubt it. Michael is the king. To top thriller will take an enourmous amount of writing, talent, recording, mastering, marketing/publicity and album sales. If I had to assemble the team, it would be Neyo (of course), Quincy Jones, Baby Face, Dr. Dre, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, Swizz Beats, Timbaland, Dallas Austin, Teddy Riley and Missy. Then she would have to do a few duets with Neyo, Mary J Blige, Celine Dion, Drake, Taylor Swift and Lady G.
Michael Jackson's got more talent in his dead pinky than Rihanna's got in her whole live body. No one will EVER top Thriller!!!
Rihanna is a singer? I thought she was a boxer. Thriller? That's like saying Kate Gosselin will one day be in the Bolshoi Ballet.
It may very well be Thiller look at the similarities here Joe Jackson beat Michael and Chris Brown beat her. So all she needs is Quincy Jones and she might be right.
Its really surprising to see such negative comments made by so many people, are you really that angry of a person?
Yes, the question is ridiculous but so is the negative comments coming from a lot of people here....
Why don't all the negatives take a step back and ask yourselves why you're so angry?
It's just a question and there's no need to down another Artist to make you look better or even know what you're talking about.-Peace
Yes, because with tracks like 'Rude Boy' obviously showing off her range and her talent for choosing lyrics I expect her to draw people from all genres like Prince and Michael. :rollseyes: I hate pop music but the only thing close to having showmanship and talent to draw in fans of all genres is Lady Gaga (say what you will about her).
she just so happened to make it because music has changed it s how u look more importantly than if u can sing. She started of good and then became this totally different person. She really can't sing and she can't dance but for people who like her ur just riding along the band wagon she would never touch Michaels numbers ever, please she would never touch Beyonce' number, no matter who writes for her.
Am I the only one that thinks the only thing worse than this article is Rihanna's mono-tone, computer altered singing? Give me a break, she's only popular because she's a tart.
wonder if any of these "inciteful" commenters understand the concept of "hype". apparently not. there will never be another MJ, just like Kobe will never be Michael or Magic. He's KOBE. She's RIHANNA. Bu is responsible for Def Jam record sales, hype is what marketing is all about. That and a token and you can ride the NYC subway all day.
Rihanna who?
No recording artist will ever achieve Michael Jackson numbers, despite a huge increase in population. The Internet insures that.
Absolutely.
Na!
She's not even going to outsell her OWN last album...she SUCKS. The only reaon anyone even clicked this link was because "Thriller" was mentioned.
HA HA HA HA
HAHAHHAHA
AHHH HA HA
NICE TRY HIRING A BIG TALKING PUBLICIST. YOU CAN'T FOOL US. YOU GET BY ON YOUR IMAGE WHICH TO ME SMELLS LIKE A LOSER. SORRY BUT MOST PEOPLE DON'T EVEN KNOW WHO THE HECK YOU ARE. THRILLER? YOU MUST BE SMOKING CRACK GIRL. I'LL BE SURPRISED IF YOUR SONGS LAST MORE THAN A COUPLE WEEKS IN THE TOP. I'M SURE ALL THE TEENY BOPPIN' KIDS WILL LOVE IT. WHO CARES- THE REST OF US WHO HAVE A TASTE IN MUSIC WILL LAUGH.
R&B today is a joke... where's the talent? WHERE IS IT?? all i see are cash cows..
People from Barbados are Basian not Barbadian who edits this crap???????????
I will not buy the album now because of this ridiculous comparison!
She makes me want to punch her in the face
LOL!!!! Is that you Chris?
Remember there is Michael Jackson and then everybody else. In saying that, people don't discredit Rihanna just to make your point. she is talented and I'm sure her album will do well.
No way!
She's a manufactured pop diva, and nothing more. The greatest R&B singer alive today is the young and incomparable Shemekia Copeland. However, she may never become a huge star, because the general public prefers skinny, pseudo R&B singers instead of the real thing.
NOTHING WILL TOP THE GLORY DAYS OF THE LATE 70'S AND EARLY 80'S FUNK/DISCO POP SOUNDS - WHICH THRILLER WAS BASED ON. GREAT BEATS AND GREAT LYRICS. THOSE DAYS ARE GONE. RAP AND HIP HOP HAS RUINED GOOD DANCE MUSIC. THE YOUNG AND THE OLD SEEM MESMERIZED BY RAP AND HIP HOP. WHY IT'S STILL AROUND IS A MYSTERY - IT MUST JUST BE THE FALL OF SOCIETY, I GUESS. RIHANNA IS SOMETHING THAT WAS CREATED. SHE IS NOT TALENTED. SHE'S THIN AND CAN MEMORIZE DANCE NUMBERS AND SHE CAN MOVE. THAT'S ALL IT TAKES NOWADAYS, OR SHALL I SAY, FOR THE LAST 20 YEARS OR SO. THE BEST DANCE MUSIC CAME OUT OF THAT GREAT DECADE CALLED "THE '70'S." YOU REAL SINGERS AND GROUPS THAT KNEW HOW TO PLAY REAL INSTRUMENTS, LIKE CHAKA KHAN, KOOL AND THE GANG, THE BROTHER'S JOHNSON, ETC., ETC., . . . . . .
THERE'S NOTHING MORE FOR ME TO SAY EXCEPT THAT I HOPE THAT THE "GOOD STUFF" COMES BACK ONE DAY BEFORE I LEAVE THIS EARTH. IF RIHANNA IS THE BEST WE CAN GET FROM THIS POINT ON, WE ARE IN TROUBLE!!
DISCO AL
There is NOT a chance in hell that Rihanna or any other artist will EVER pull off what Michael Jackson did with Thriller. MJ was and always will be the King of Pop, just like Elvis will always be the King of Rock and Roll. Rihanna is a talented young artist (I am just being kind) but she will never be even close to the talent that MJ was. On a separate note, can anyone believe that he will be gone one year next Friday, June 25th? What a horrific loss for the entire world.
How dare they compare MJ to this chick! MAJOR slap in the face! She can't even sing for heaven sake! Are u kiddin me?
Publicity stunt. Rihanna is one step above Ciara.
If that's going to happen it will be also thanks to all the promotion we are making....right now! FOR FREE! they are pretty smart, aren't they?...
Everyone should just go to youtube and watch a Rhianna video, any one. Then go watch the thriller video again. It had been awhile since I had heard a Michael song, and never heard a full Rhianna song. It sure proves its own point. Michael was just over the top. There is no way she will ever compare, and wow Michael can dance. Rhianna can shake her ass..... And not even pronounce words....
I'm 24 and MJ in the 90s was oblivious to me at the time. However, I bought all the music as a teenager and I still can't believe how good his music sounds. It's out of date, but frankly it's much better in terms of originality. His Vocals are truly something. As for Rihanna, she is good by today's standard, but her music has to many vocal enhancements and silly one or two word lyrics. "hey hey" over and over again gets kinda of old. That type of lyric writing will not stand the test of time. Plus MJ childhood years in the music industry and his interaction with so many influential people speak for themsellves. Just wikipedia him and you can read what I mean. I'm not bashing Rihanna, but there is really no comparison. I would say Madonna and MJ pretty much have more originality then any artist today. Alica Keys is climbing up there. Lady Gaga is definitely becoming her own and I can bet she could make an album that can compete. But it hard to say.
Um...you have to be a "Michael Jackson" to do an album as good as Thriller. Give me a frickin' break people. W/out auto tune this chick would sound like one of the "real housewives". She sucks. Other than showing her girly parts to the world and walking around in stupid looking clothes and hair, she gots nuttin. Does anybody recognize talent anymore or have any for that matter?
Rihanna will not top Thriller, Like a Virgin, Eagles greatest Hits or Whitney's Bodyguard. I don't dislike her but no one in her army of producers comes close to Quincy Jones.
She is a talentless fattass who has no chance whatsoever od creating anything even close to thriller.
What is this man drinking or smoking. There simply isn't even a comparison. How can you compare someone on Michael Jackon's level to Rihanna? You got it... You CAN'T. Only the legendary can possibly topple the legendary. Comparing Michael Jackson to Prince, Whitney Houston (before the crack), Mariah Kari, Janet Jackson, and what the hell, even "can't sing to save her life" Britney Spears would have made a more convencing argument. Put her in the league where she might fit in. In other words, discuss whether she can top Beyonce, Kati Perry, Ciara, e.t.c. This is so funny 🙂 LMAO!! LOL!!!!
Good luck, sister!
Good for her for setting a lofty goal for herself (or, I guess, good for her producer?). That is admirable! However, the only person around right now that might even have a small shot at this would probably be Lady Gaga; at least she is also a songwriter and a very talented musician/vocalist.
Again, CNN, this is NEWS?! Looks like a pure PR plant to me – now maybe they'll sell a few more records to people who want to prove to themselves this record isn't as good as Thriller...to which I say, Duh! Nice shilling, as usual, CNN. (I have no problem with a producer setting a high bar, but is that really newsworthy?! How many independent record producers say the exact same thing, but you don't cover them...and BTW, MY next album is also going to be better and bigger than Thriller, so plese contact me for an interview.)
Not going to happen.
Look, I'll just say it, because it's what's on everyone's mind: Michael Jackson appealed to everyone. White, black, Latino, Asian... It didn't matter with Michael Jackson's music. His music had the feel of Motown. It was R&B and soul, with a dash of straight rock music. It was disco and dance, with a heavy pop influence. It was easily accessible because– let's face it– Michael Jackson wasn't aiming for the *just* an urban audience, and probably couldn't have done so if he tried. In short, Michael Jackson's music, while definitely Motown music, was not specifically "black music" and it wasn't specifically aimed at a young crowd. He teamed with Paul McCartney and Quincy Jones, and if that doesn't say "mass appeal", nothing does.
Rihanna? Her audience is young and urban (or at least trying to be). Nobody over 30 cares about her, and few white people over 30 have ever even heard of her, or know her music. She uses hip-hop standards that are *very* specifically aimed at the young urban crowd. She's teaming with a bunch of hip-hop acts that aren't even recognized by people who don't listen to hip-hop or modern R&B. There's nobody on there of Quincy Jones' caliber, and there's nobody on there with the broad age/race appeal of Paul McCartney. It's just another hip hop jam project where they cram as many people onto the album ("featuring..."). There's no broad appeal here. Her music is pop music, but it's not the kind of pop music that you'll be hearing in office buildings or elevators or non-urban nightclubs.
What it comes down to is that her music is widely perceived as "black music" and "music for the young crowd". She's not going to get anywhere near Michael Jackson's sales numbers because her music is simply not as inclusive or far-reaching. Michael Jackson was black, but made music that wasn't specifically targeted at one group. Rihanna's music, since day one, has been aimed at one audience, has used slang and language that appeals to that audience, and has used musical styles that appeal only to that audience. Good voice or no, she's not writing her own music, she's not performing ANY of the instruments, she's not collaborating with legitimate musical legends (no, Ne-Yo is not a legend; most white people think a "ne-yo" is a new toy kind of like a yo-yo).
She's a singer. She's at the mercy of her musicians, her producer, and her collaborators, and NONE of them have talent or broad appeal to equal Michael Jackson, Quincy Jones, Eddie Van Halen (guitar on Beat It), or Paul McCartney.
She may make the best-selling hip-hop/soul/R&B album. That's possible. I just can't see middle-class white people in their late 20s or older picking this up, though. Not when she uses lyrics like,
Struggle and pain wha she fell all da while
And she want a good man to give her da style
Wild child, so she dere pon me file
It's a long time now me wha plow de sile
(NOTE: This is from a lyrics site. Not my interpretation. This is the apparently what's in the actual liner notes.)
She doesn't have mass-appeal. She has a specific audience, and she doesn't make much of an effort to include middle America in her music, lyrics, or style. She's got a great voice, and she's simply gorgeous, but she is in no way, shape, or form anything like Michael Jackson, and the likelihood of her duplicating Thriller's success is pretty low. She's got to meet older white people in the middle if she wants that kind of audience.
THAT was Michael Jackson's genius. His music transcended race; Rihanna's music embraces it.
I couldn't hae said it better RA. You pretty much said it all.
tl:dr.
Just kidding. Well said on all counts, though I would argue that you give Rihanna too much credit for her talents. Her voice isn't "great" so much as it's "unique" (which many people find "annoying"), and that's all you need to make a buck these days. The little faux-R&B box in which she makes her music doesn't exclude her from making a truly great album, though; her musical chops (or lack thereof) take care of that.
This is a joke question – right?
Rianna is nowhere near Michael Jackson's league.
What silly hype.
wait. when did rihanna start being called riri?
WHATEVER!!! Michael had taste!!! She just show her body off and uses her talent to help degrade women!! What a joke of a quesiton!!!
Bu Thiam has been smokin that Senegalese crack
In this day of packaging there are very few real wonders out there...Michael Jackson was an Alien, a Divine Manifestation of music and dance and timing...There will never be anything like him.
Yes....Yes
Well said!
There is no way Rianna can match the success of Thriller. Michael Jackson for all his faults was extremely talented. Rianna has a nasally voice which is only okay with heavy electronic sounds in the background.
She's missing something that MJ has and she is missing well two things RANGE and Vocals she is okay if she stays right where she is.
Most ridiculous thing I have read all week. She would have to learn how to sing first. Everybody I know loved Michael Jackson's music. The majority of the people I know don't even take her seriously as an artist. Why? Because she can't sing!! I have heard her sing live and it songs like a goat being dragged by it's hind legs over hot coals. She is a "celebrity" because of her image not her talent. She's cute and she has catchy songs that don't mean anything. The teenagers in the world coulnd't purchase enough cds to make this album's sales exceed Thriller, let alone meet it. Let's also remember that piracy was not such a huge issue back then. People dowload her music for FREE and that's gonna cut the sales from the start.
Who is Rihanna?
is it april fools day? this is story is soooooo funny, are you talking about the chick with the the really bad hair and bad voice and something about an umbrella, she got more than her 15 minutes because she got slapped around,
Just remember Rhianna is so hard...... and that is the problem. Michael Jackson broke through barriers, got people to listen to him that wouldn't listen to that type of music normally. Rhianna is just another ghetto singer in a sea of them.....
what a joke . no talent . i'll bet she does not get more than 1 song in the top 20 for POP music. this is the problem with many new artist. they have very little talent , its all fluff and look. when i'm playing music to listen to, i really dont care about what you look like.
What an inane article. Either the author is a fool who doesn't recognize the difference between Michael's incredible musical talent versus Rihanna just being a high-end marketing exercise. Or the author is being paid by RIhanna's marketing people to write this article because it will generate headlines and help sell the album. Rihanna isn't even in the same universe of music as Michael Jackson. Rihanna can barely sing in tune. She doesn't write any of her own music. The abosolute only thing she has going for her is she looks hot. Please get real folks and try not to use Rihanna's name in the same sentence as Michael Jackson.
NO WAY ON EARTH SHE BEATS OUT MIKE AND THRILLER, IMPOSSIBLE
Why is this headline news?
She's a great artist, but we shall see I guess can't judge if I haven't heard it yet right? Also for those are saying she can't sing, um please Lady Gaga and Kesha can't sing *yuck*. She's a great singer!
No argument here. Lady Gaga and Kesha CAN'T sing, and neither can Rihanna.
Rihanna is just a part of what is wrong with the music industry. Music executives are more focused on image and entertaining than producing good music. When making ‘Thriller’, MJ and Quincy Jones (the other half of the equation most people forget about– he and MJ made three great albums together) wanted to make a record where each song had single potential. Nowadays, it is about getting a couple of good singles and the rest of the album is crap – the album will sell because of the name recognition and fan base.
The closest performer to Michael has always been Prince and no one can compare to him either.
I actually think Prince is better simply because he is the whole package composing, writing, playing, performing. He pretty sticks to guitar and piano but he plays, or used to, more than that. Michael was probably a better performer but not by much. Thriller was a once ever album argueably the best ever made and while I don't have a crystal ball I think it's most likely never to happen again. And from what I saw viewing the link to the moonwalk comparison (Rhianna/Michael) someone posted here she has as much chance of equalling as I have of walking on the moon. No wait, my chances of walking on the moon are a little better.
What a stupid comment Guess Who.
This article is ridiculous. I hate pop music and I still enjoy Michael Jackson. Rihanna is crap. To even put her in the same sentence as the king is near blasphemy.
Not possible, very laughable though.
Wait. She's releasing another album? Isn't she going to learn how to sing, perform live and sell out a concert tour first?
Gosh, anything is better than thriller even if it doesn' sell as many ...
Nope.
Are you kidding me? I cant even believe that Rhianna is being compared to MJ's Thriller. She is not that talented.
IT will never ever happen,or mabey the fix is in.
What's with all these rap and r&b artists needing a dozen extra vocalists on their albums? Just shows their insecurities when it comes to their musical talent. And that is why there will never be another "Thriller" MJ had Quincy Jones and Paul McCartney, Rhianna needs Ne-Yo, The Dream, Stargate, Ester Dean, Mel & Mus and Rock City . . not to mention how many producers and oh ya Auto-tune . . .
Micael was a brilliant, creative talent. Singers shouldn't be compared (especially based on the number of albums they sell). Everybody is unique. To me, personally, Michael stands alone as the greatest, I loved his music and I loved him as a person as well. Thanks
What a jerk? Comparing other albums to MJs Thriller? He will arise from the dead If hears about this rumour.
Rhianna's a good performer, but if someone were to create an album that could be half as what MJ Thriller was, I think the only artist today that could pull it off would be Beyonce. B puts out at least 3 # 1 hits per album.
I hardly think this will happen. Rihanna is a star, especially in Europe, but come one Thriller? I love Rihanna and everyone deserves to have a dream. I think her producer is dreaming too high! But hey, if its done ill eat my shorts!
DOUBT IT!! She has turned into just another black female singer who when she started was EXCELLANT..now she comes off as a "ho"..scuse the grammer..but she has turned her image into just that..
Good singer, YES, great singer-NO..and image is not everything..though her change into just another tarshy black female singer is disgusting!
I would like to say AMEN...in agreement with everyone whose opinion is that Rhinna does not have a hope in hockey sticks to match MICHAEL. She is kindergarden...he is/was a MASTER MUSICIAN.!!!!!
Absolutely NOT!
She's cute & edgy in a bubblegum sort of way but she's couldnt even shine Michael's shoes so to even put her name and his name in the same sentence is an insult to him and his work. She could total her all of her album sales for her entire career and she wouldnt surpass what he sold just with Thriller. Rhianna is more interesting in paparazzi photos.
We all understand that Thriller is the bar in the music industry,just like Jordan is the bar in basketball. However, neither MJ came into the game (music or bball) seeking out to be the bar. They lived, loved & breathed their craft. They were in love with music/basketball and were able to acheive unacheiveable success. Jackson didnt come into music saying I'm going to be the biggest star on the planet and have the best selling record of all time. Jordan didnt come into the game saying I'm going to be the greatest player that ever lived, make impossible shots, win 6 championships and go on to have a shoe brand that is still the most widely selling & popular even after I retire. But he did.
Def Jam this is an insult. Nice try at a new gimic Def Jam...but NO!
One day, Michael will be topped but it won't be by Rihanna. She can't sing that good and all of her vocals are overcorrected with AutoTune. To even think she can make the next "Thriller" is a slap in the face to those who make real music.
HELL NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Nobody can beat Michael! And screw Rihanna for the demise of Chris Brown's career.
Comparable to Thriller? Not even remotely possible. That said, it's nice to see someone try to make a complete album instead of a couple singles and a ton of fluff, for that I commend them and hope the end result is something enjoyable from Track 1 to Track 12+.
Another Illuminati puppet that sold her soul. Maybe there will be more "classics" like Rockstar 101 where she crawls around in wearing a crown of thorns? If it wasn't so blasphemous it'd be laughable because it's pretty much devoid of talent.
NEVER!!! She will never even come close to having album to outsell Thriller. That statement made by him was just dumb!!!
Oh gosh, that will be incredible. The biggest album since one that I can't name a single song from? I just can't wait.
Are you just kidding or did you just crawl from under a rock? I hope its the former.
I am a rather big RiRi fan; however, Thriller has sold over 100 million copies which took 25 years to accomplish. Rhianna is 21 years old, maybe by the time she is 46 years old all of her CD's combined will have sold 30 Million. BUT, she is awsome in her own right!!!
She's not even big enough now how can she expect, or dream or to think she could even surpass MJ. For Rihanna to even compare herself to MJ or to the album sales MJ has achieved is an insult to his memory.. get a grip Rihanna.
Anyone whose goal is to beat "Thriller" is failing before the album even comes out. Music and art cannot be forced it has to be authentic for people to be inspired by it. I am sure she will have a few singles on there that people will listen to for a year and then forget. There can only be 1 Thriller
The only way to pull off an album even CLOSE to the success of Michael Jackson's Thriller is to have as much talent. Love Rihanna, but come on. Lets be realistic. She can't sing or dance. She's really just the face of songs, not the voice. Nor does she have the writing merit. Her publicity should be accredited to AMAZING PR, her amazing looks (her stylist), songwriters that know how to write a song that'll stick in your head (that doesn't mean the lyrics mean anything), and her celebrity in general. This article is...not even ambitious but just stupid and insulting to Michael.
absolutely...NOT!!
amazing what an ass whuppin from a boyfriend can do for album sales...
PFFFFTTTT!
She can't even make a CD on par with Justin Beiber.
Her out of tune singing and the fact that she doesn't write her own tunes like MJ did makes this hilarious.
Umm....one problem....SHE CAN'T SING!!! Her voice is like nails on a chalkboard. That dude is crazy to think she could EVER accomplish what MJ did.
Rihanna looks like a man. She can't sing. She can't dance. Her voice is annoying..
What does that tell you?
No frickin way will she pull off numbers like thriller. If i hear her one song ever again on the radio, i might kill myself. How many times can you hear that crap? She is only good when singing with someone else. This album is going to suck! stop promoting the hype.
the key to your statement would be in the 3rd paragraph. WITH THE LIKES OF. no matter what you think of MJ he did thriller by himself, (ok, you can count EVH on beat it) but by himself not with the likes of.
You have got to be kidding me...............legends like Elvis and Michael come once every blue moon........there is no way on earth she can be compared to Michael............THE KING OF POP!!!
Ever remember someone named Terance Trent Darby? No? Point made!
No one can ever hope to surpass Michael's work – from his performing, his work ethic, his dedication, his rare voice of nearly limitless beauty and range, nor his albums: NOT JUST THRILLER!
These new "artists" and "producers" are one-trick ponies who get their 15 mins of fame and gets brushed aside with the next act just as fast.
I doubt we'll even remember her 5-10 years later.
Michael Jackson has a music career of 40+ years, and fans older than he was when he began @ 10yrs. He still gets the most fans, sales, and highest quality treatment today and we STILL haven't heard all of his songs yet, nor seen all his ideas!!!
MICHAEL RULES THE INDUSTRY EVERY TIME. SORRY. =P
(Am I the only one who feels like CNN and its viewers know NOTHING about MJ's past or years after/before "Thriller"? Go do some research people. Sheesh.)
totally agree with you !!!
what a joke, I am so totally with you. Are they kidding? She will never touch "Up Against the Wall". Please, their comparison is insulting.
I was a Michael Jackson fan as a kid, grew up with "Thriller", but haven't listened to Michael Jackson since. He naturally crossed over many different music genres, and I loved him growing up. I've heard a couple Rihanna songs and will be completely embarrassed for the music industry if she finds a way to eclipse "Thriller". She's a flash in the pan. Talented, but created by marketers and pushed to idol status by her record company. The only story here is a record label and promoter with delusions of grandeur. Music is too fragmented, with too many options these days for another "Thriller" repeat. It's arrogance to even suggest such a concept.
How can you come pare it to Legendary King of Pop. He was origibnal, worte his own music, had a talent thatjust couldnot be surpassed.
By collaborating with 100 different artist it doesnt make Rihanna comparable to Michael. Its a slap on King and his Music. Thriller no doubrt is an all time hit. Even after 30 years it is the best!!!
I saw a video of one of the songs. She's rolling around on the floor wearing nothing but chains. She can't sing and she is over produced. Going higher than Thriller is down right funny.
Dream on, Rihanna. You'll never come close to MJ.
What a joke! MJ didn't need an auto tuner to make songs, or sing bubble gum, kindergarten lyric songs! "Get it up, take it!" Stupid songs!
Of course not, the modern music industry model makes that kind of success absolutely impossible. But it's good to have lofty goals & dreams. Really, if she has 2 or 3 top-ten hits the album will be hailed as a success.
Is this a joke? I can find people with more talent than Rihana within a thirty mile radius of my house and I live in a small town.
I was not a Michael fan, but I respect his music. Rihanna, sorry, she will be forgotten easily enough. She lacks any REAL talent. Michael had it. Rihanna's is produced in a studio.
Does anyone else find it distasteful that they are TRYING to write something that would top Thriller? Let me explain: when MJ released Thriller it was the culmination of his hard work, the quality of the songs as well as the perfect sync for where music was going. While in a different pay grade and genre, Nirvana did the same thing with Never Mind. Making the "perfect" album means cutting something so wild and new and yet in perfect step that it simply cannot be planned. It has to be new and fresh. You can't plan that. No one really saw Thriller coming. Reading the list of "co-workers" that she has brought on board here, I can only think I have heard this album before.
Obviously she can't be compared to Michael ... so few artists reach that stratosphere, but I'm sure he would approve of her ambitions. If one doesn't strive to be the best what's the point of playing the game?
Rihanna is great but not "Michael Jackson" great. Maybe one day someone
will match or surpass Michael Jackson's talent, but not in my life time.
Ha I dont think she has made enough impact on music! This article is insulting and just typical of a headline to help boost sales!!!! If her music is truely great it will speak for itself. You dont need advertiseing to achieve that. AND I AGREE WITH DREEAMER UP TOP!!!!
The highlight of her carreer is having Chris Brown (rightly) beat the shiit out of her. She's going to have to screw alot of peopel to get some decent songs. BTW Thriller is THE most OVERRATED album in music. It didn't sell for crap for like 20 years till he died. Historically it represents the complete selling out of a corporate music star. Its the blueprint for being a sellout. Consequently 95% black musicians are sellouts, especially hip hop r&B and rap. Whoring your way onto the charts is a time honored tradition for most women in that genre. Way to be an example for the young girls.
you should check your facts. thriller was the biggest selling album and CD from the day it was released. as for being over-rated, that would be your take on it. all those people must have bought it for a reason. i never saw the point of nirvana's nevermind, but i can't deny it's impact on music, hell, on the world. you must be 16. live a little before you open your mouth.
@ emil: "BTW Thriller is THE most OVERRATED album in music. It didn't sell for crap for like 20 years till he died."
I'm sorry, but WHAT?? Do you even know anything about "Thriller"? It was released in 1982, and became the best selling album EVER within a year. I happened to be a kid when "Thriller" was released, and absolutely everyone seemed to have a copy of it. It was HUGE back in the 80s. Were you around back then? I suspect not. To say that it "didn't sell for crap" until after MJ died is just foolish. Please know what you are talking about before you disparage the legacy of MJ.
emil,
You must be insane to say Thriller sold because of Michael’s death. Just a few facts from Wikipedia:
• Thriller was released on December 1, 1982, and sold one million copies worldwide per week at its peak.
• The album won a record-breaking eight Grammy Awards at the 1984 Grammys including Album of the Year
• That same year, Jackson won eight American Music Awards, the Special Award of Merit and three MTV Video Music Awards.
• Thriller was recognized as the world's best-selling album on February 7, 1984, when it was inducted into the Guinness Book of World Records.
• It is one of only three albums to remain in the top ten of the Billboard 200 for a full year, and spent 37 weeks at number one out of the 80 consecutive weeks it was in the top ten.
• The album was also the first of three to have seven Billboard Hot 100 top ten singles, and was the only album to be the best-seller of two years (1983–1984) in the US
• Thriller ranked number 20 on Rolling Stone magazine's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time list in 2003.
And you say it just became a great album. Need I say more! I agree with jocko's ghost. Research and live a little before you open your mouth.
95% of black musicians are sellouts? ok and who are they selling out to? Everyone has sold out stop trying to bring race into these matters you talk about whoring, yeah because you truly believe half those country and rock stars & whatever other genre came into stardom the right way? Their is no right way its a BUSINESS take your racial remarks somewhere else.
Emil, I couldn't agree with you more. Rhinna maybe able to put on an outfit and prance around. She is very attractive...but gimme a break already...she's got absolutely NO talent....NONE! ZIP!! ZILCH!!! ZED!
HELLZ TO THE NOOOOOOOOOO she can't pull this off
MJ was epic. This is the most ridiculous comparison ever.
He cannot be matched.
HAHAHAHAHA! no effin way! thiam, don't know what you've been smokin' but i'd like to have some. her monotone vocals and lack of dancing will not compete. probably means OVER PRODUCED SOUND!! hahahahahahahahahahaha......
He's simply doing his job by saying that. I'm quite sure he doesn't seriously think this album will be another "Thriller". It's like when a defense attorney says "don't rush to judgment" or "my client is innocent" - you just expect them to say it.
Rhianna is a FRAUD. How can her album top Thriller? She isn't involved in any of the artistry.......not even the styling. She can't really sing. Everything is so hyped up about her. I bet you if you ask her to take the lead, she wouldn't know what to do. Oh and have you seen her try to do the moonwalk?? not pretty!!!
NO WAY Rihanna, of all people, will come close to Michael Jackson's Thriller album. NEVER gonna happen! Who even came up this story? Her publisist?
Oh please! As is you all as well as every other outlet has giving this non talented girl enough exposure now you go and put out there that of all the talent out there her CD maybe be close to Thriller it shouldn't' t even be in the same league.
Thanks for the Friday morning laugh!
Ha Ha Sam!!!!! LMAO I agree. Thanks for the Friday funnies CNN 🙂
What an offensive article, sheesh! No way EVER will she reach Michael Jackson's status in music
what a joke to even suggest Rihanna is better than MJ. What a way to marginalize your blog.
hahahahahah good point
It's funny how people say she can't sing but yet I ask, "who is buying the albums?" she's not popular on her own, only the consumer can say yay or nay or can we. The machine (radio and music companies) all want money so they push there fav artist through buy backing them up with heavy marketing. In turn we think the artist is so wonderful when in reality we are being fed the music constantly. I'm sorry, I'm old school..no machine can make me like anything. Either it's authentic original good from the heart music or it's not. Things are way too commercialized for me. This album will be success not b/c its from the soul but b/c its driven by the machine.
I think they feel sorry for her that is why they are buying her records.
what talent does she exactly have? she has a marketable image...thats all. Pop acts nowadays kill me....they're like the coca cola sticker on the bottle...they're a face of the product...but the actual product are the writers who write her songs, the producers who make them, and the engineers who mix them.
If Mr. Thiam wants to impress us, why doesnt he get her to go in the studio and write all her own music.
"Pop acts nowadays kill me....they're like the coca cola sticker on the bottle...they're a face of the product...but the actual product are the writers who write her songs, the producers who make them, and the engineers who mix them."
That quote is worth a million dollars! I couldn't have said it better!!!
I am in Rihanna's corner on this one. She is a great talent and while MJ (my favorite artiste of all time) was truly amazing, there is nothing to say that Rihanna cannot put out an album that would top thriller or even come close. Rihanna go for it girl! I will be first in line.
Uh, there will be a line?
There will only be a line of two, you and her publicist.
History is what says that she can't top Thriller or even come close. Nobody else has. Thriller album is that good. People have tried to top it for almost 30 years. With today's state of pop music and hip-hop fusions, it can't be done.
Never Never Never!!! she is in wonderland and her name is Alice. If this child thinks she can ever get remotely close to Thriller she is sadly mistaken. I grew up on The Jackson 5 Janet Jackson Michael Jackson and all the Jacksons, there is no one person in the universe to compare to either of those artists, but they can keep trying to. Keep on wishing!!!!
Can't sing. Can't dance. Can't write/compose her own material. Can't play instruments. Can't do anything that requires musical talent.
So... how exactly will she top Thriller? She won't even be able to top Britney Spears, let alone a pop icon and music legend.
I'll second, third, fourth, and fifth that. I don't care what you think of Mike's private life, his monkeys, or his personal issues. I don't even care if you like his music. But you can *not* take away what "Thriller" achieved both artistically and business-wise. It was an absolute watershed moment for pop music. Meanwhile, Rihanna can't sing without computers and dresses like she just discovered mid-90s industrial music. You really want to compare "Wanna Be Startin' Something" with the lyrical brilliance of "Rudy rude rude ella ella rudy ella rude?" Don't make me laugh. "Thriller" sold more copies than Rihanna could ever give away.
I also think that Riri isn't as good Michael,but i think that Thiam didn't ment the sales of the album but that she was going to release many singles of the album.
and i think every single she is going to release will be a hit
OMG CNN is totally putting it the wrong way, she says she won'ts another HIT album she didn't say anything about MJ
Girl can't even sing live! Unless she wants to "autotune" Thriller my answer is NO,
Rhianna sucks....she just needs to stop. And who are they kidding, she doesn't sing on any of her records...the computers do it all, so who knows, can the computers compete with MJ?
The problem is that Rihanna is NOT Michael Jackson? I love RiRi, but she is not even close to MJ. The day she writes, produces, compose, play several instruments, write songs about what is going on in the world then she will be a quarter of the consummate entertainer that Michael Jackson was. I loved Good Girl Gone Bad and it should have done better than it did so that's what they need to concentrate on topping.
Didn't mean the ? after Michael Jackson. I love RiRi but she is NOT Michael Jackson.
LMAO @ "He must be on Fantasy Island" he sure is!! uummm, i wonder what Thiam was thinking, i mean she might be good, but that's just a dream he needs to wake up from.
Peace
This is not happening, unless that cult illuminati really wants her to pass that glass ceiling. No one will ever be as great as Michael Jackson. He wanted out and was going to expose some people but they did not want that to happen, and tried to tarnish his image. Ri is kinda of entertaining to watch but she doesn't have the moves or a signature move to capture everything. The only people that was capable of achieving that greatness is Justin Beiber (age) and Chris Brown (before the staged incident).
Ummm... what planet are you from. Illuminati? Head out of rear please. The world is not run by shadow organizations with alterior motives. Come back to reality.
http://vigilantcitizen.com/?p=175 <-– Frame by frame proof of Rihanna's illuminati connections and devil worship.
Nope, All have to say is puuuullleeeaseeee?????
never...she is good but MJ was GREAT.....she really aint even all that...lets see how well her dums but can do in the real world...getta reg job.....we pay you and you never pay us back, sick of this mess...the head will be the tail and the tail will be the head...get ready..the bible is showing itself to be true.........make a song called "what must i do to be saved"
HAHAHAHAHA!!!! HELP LAWD!!!!!
NEVER!! He must be on Fantasy Island! No way her album even comes close to Thriller. There aren't even enough of those who still buy into her victim act to buy it enough times to reach Michael's level. Yet another reason why I wouldn't waste my $$!
Michael Jackson will always,always rein as the King Of Pop –there will never be another. Rihanna is good but can never top those numbers– RIP ,MICHAEL. Peace.
not at all. MJ was a classic pop artist, who will NEVER be topped. There are not even any that came close. Rhianna is an ok singer, who is being made famous by the people that she has collaborated with. nothing is that mind blowing that she has released, in my opinion.
From what I've heard, he was topped many times. Over and over again.....
No one can compare to Michaels "Thriller", but I am sure it will be a good fun album. People really need to give up that goal of beating MJ in anything; he was truly one of a kind.
If everyone set a bar as high as this for themselves, we'd likely live in a much better society where everyone strives to exceed their best efforts. Instead, I hear a whole lot of talk and very little action from a lot of people in this world when it comes to an actual work ethic and pride in one's own work.
Good for you Rihanna. I hope you get as close to this goal as you can!
Doubt it. To be compared to the all time highest paid album in the world is a slap in the face. Yes, she's a good singer, yes, she has talent, yes, she has the looks but the one thing she doesn't have is originality. Michael Jackson sold songs based off his music alone. He didn't have to have a bunch of people singing on his album to make it work. HE made it work.
"Yes, she's a good singer, yes, she has talent"
Um, are you seriously talking about Rihanna? No, she can't sing, and no she is COMPLETELY devoid of musical talent. She's successful solely because of her image, period. And because of that, no one will care for her a few years from now, unless she manages to stay in the news by getting caught up in more scandals.
I highly doubt it she could achieve those numbers on her own writing merit and if she were to even come close it'd be ONLY because the album would have like 10 featured vocalists/writers while 'Thriller' featured only Paul McCartney, some background vocals and even majority instrumentals were written by Mike.
First off, the biggest reason there will never be another "Thriller" is because the industry has changed so much since that album(yes, album!) came out. With all the music piracy going on, they could never sell over 50 million units like MJ did. Those days are long gone, just ask any record company. I don't care if she brought MJ back from the grave, she still couldn't reach those numbers. Let's not even get into the fact that MJ did it alone, RiRi needs umpteen people to help her...
Prince is still selling records?? she sucks like the majority of hip hop...I cant find talent in anything she does
NO.
....Besides I might be impressed with her when she learns to sing for real. Anyone that's had ANY voice lessons or even an ear towards music knows she sings from her throat. When you really sing you can feel it resonating from your chest and you have real breath control – not this guttural throat thing that drives me up the friggin' wall.
I totally agree with Mike. Where is her talent?
Rhianna cant even moonwalk...
@kbeysan
McCartney is the most important composer of the 20th century? You mean besides Schoenberg, Strauss, and Stravinsky? Not to split hairs, but at least specify that you're talking about Pop music.
Remember there is Michael Jackson and then everybody else. don't discredit Rihanna to make your point. she is talented.
Record sales were brought up in a music lesson. My teacher said that we have at least 10 times as many people buying records than there were in the 50's. If these records are broken, it's only because 1/20 people used to buy LP's...but now at least 1/2 of the public buys music in some way. An upcoming opera star may surpass Pavarotti in record sales because of music videos, youtube and ITunes, but no one will ever surpass his voice.
This woman may surpass MJ in record sales (I doubt it) but there is a far bigger record sales market today compared to the 80's.
She's fine! But she's not THAT FINE!
Eddie Van Halen was also featured on "Beat It".
I don't really think of MJ as a musician, but more as a performer. There is a difference. That being said he was amazing in the 80s and will go down in history with Prince, Madonna, and Elvis as someone who changed music. Come on.....anyone actually think Rihanna, as talented as she is, will ever match Billy Jean, Beat it, or Thriller(maybe if Vincent Price was still alive to help her out).
Music piracy has nothing to do with lack of sales. The truth is music these days sucks. Thriller was packed with hit songs. These days you buy a cd and you end up paying $20.00 for one half decent song that will be forgottoen in a matter of weeks. The rest of the album is pure garbage. It's been like that for the past 10 years or so. And these so called artists are really bad as well. Just corporate puppies who couldn't compose their own music even if their life depended on it.
Regardless of her music, she needs to lose the hairdo! I mean really!
I'm sure her album will be a success & sell millions of copies making her even richer but like "Thriller" it will just be just another album full of overblown & overproduced pop crap that will sound pretty much like all the other pop crap that is being produced by the music "business".
People talking about the impact of "Thriller" here seem to forget about Quincy Jones and the role of producers. MJ didn't do the album by himself like some here have said. Jones was there every step of the way shaping the sound on Thriller just like he did on Off The Wall.
Producers are important because they help create the sound but they are also stop the indulgences of a singer. MJ was definitely guilty of this in his latter career.
Think about it: when was the last time you listened to "Invincible"? Or "Dangerous"? Or "Bad" for that matter? Especially compared to Thriller and Off The Wall. There's a reason for that.
No! Michael didn't need or have other big names to pull off "Thriller". What they're doing is using PR now to hopefully boost sales later. You know – people feed into "hype". If they feed the public with this notion – the public will "eat" it. It's called subliminal suggestion.
I don't think ANY of the current crop could touch Michael Jackson's Thriller, which had 7 top 10 singles, or Bruce Springsteen's Born in the USA, which also had 7 top 10 singles, or Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation which had 7 top 5 singles!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Who is Rhianna?
She or anyone else will never out sell the King of Pop because there is no more Ed Sullivan where the whole family sat down to watch on Sundays. Even our grand mothers knew about Michael and his brothers. And when MTV started playing his videos there wasn't any other stations you could see it. It like having a hold over all music lovers to watch and enjoy his music. Now there are to many choices for your music taste. And if you don't like Rihanna's song when you first hear it, you just choose another venue for your listening pleasure.
As a music producer/composer who takes a keen interest in 'who plays what' on each album (and being doing this for YEARS), I can tell you that Quincy Jones was the MAIN MAN behind Thriller, not Michael Jackson. MJ wrote 4 of the 9 songs and Rod Temperton wrote what is arguably the best song on the album 'Thriller'. MANY other artists were involved with the 'Thriller' album. Please stop giving MJ more credit than is due as a producer/composer/songwriter. Prince is the only pop artist who ever fully achieved the stature of 'Doing it All' with MAJOR success year after year. If Rihanna can make every song on her album a hit the way Quncy Jones and MJ did for 'Thriller' it will be a result of her videos, marketing, etc (just like MJ). She won't sell nearly the same amount of records as MJ or Prince (those days are DEAD), but she might be able to pull off 12 Billboard Top Ten songs with these other writers/producers (just like MJ).
News Flash: Regardless of what anyone says or thinks, MJ did NOT write all of his songs and music. He, as is the case with most artists, made records with the help of many credited and/or non-credited writers, producers and musicians. For the opportunity to work with and/or have one of your songs recorded by MJ, you had to give up some or all of the publishing, songwriting credit, etc. Everyone from Elvis, Madonna, to Janet Jackson and beyond plays the same game.
Rihanna surpassing MJ? That's like saying Justin Bieber can surpass Elvis.
Well, said; in addition the chances of any artist we see out there presently, producing an age-less, race-less gender-less album the way MJ did are slim to none! Thriller spread globally like a wild fire taking fans on of all ages, race and gender. If this or any other current to future album surpasses Thriller, it will be under the terms of "apples to oranges" comparison and based strictly upon sales...not content.
until Rihanna actually starts writing and producing her own songs, she will NEVER approach "Thriller" proportions. What made MJ's songs so good is that he had a hand in the album making process the entire way through. Rihanna is merely a tool of her marketing team.
Queenbridge - outtie!
The article says it best, "Hmm…ok. And how exactly will she pull that off? With help from the likes of Ne-Yo, The Dream, Stargate, Ester Dean, Mel & Mus and Rock City, Thiam said." Yeah, she can't do it herself...and if she did, the album wouldn't even TOUCH Thriller, besides, all those people are nearly no name talent. What's happened to real music?
Jeez, read the article and understand it before you make a comment about something that wasn't never said. The record exec isn't talking about selling as many albums as Thriller. He's simply saying that he believes that most of the songs on it, like Thriller, will be popular i.e. "hits".