Classic Originals vs Modern Remakes

[vinyltapecd]

I've noticed that today's AC stations will only play the modern remakes of certain "classic" 1970s songs while entirely ignoring the original versions, which (in most cases) were actually much larger hits compared to the remakes. Some examples of such classic songs include:

I'll Be There- Jackson 5 (remake by Mariah Carey)
Lean On Me- Bill Withers (remake by Club Nouveau)
Baby I Love Your Way- Peter Frampton (remake by Big Mountain...this one actually charted higher than the original)
Killing Me Softly With His Song- Roberta Flack (remake by the Fugees)

Of course, stations do this under the guise that "the remakes are the only versions that appeal to the 25-54 demographic a.k.a. younger people". I'm a 27 year old male btw, and I have to ask myself, what is the basis for this claim about younger people's preferences? The answer is: THE THIRD DIGIT OF THE YEAR that the songs were recorded...nothing else!!! In other words, radio folks shallowly assume that a 1990s remake will be AUTOMATICALLY preferred by the majority of 25-54 listeners over the 1970s original...ONLY because of the two digits in boldface. I have no way of proving it, but I'm fairly sure this assumption is entirely wrong in most cases.

For instance, I'd be willling to bet that the overwhelming majority of young people prefer the Jackson 5 version of "I'll Be There" over any remake. Don't get me wrong, I think Mariah Carey did a very good job covering the song, and I'm not being fake when I say that. Point is, with classic songs like this, there is no reason to completely ignore the original in favor of the "less classic" remakes...why can't you play both versions?? This is just one example of the many disastrous mistakes responsible for ruining radio. Interestingly enough, for most of the songs mentioned above, the original versions actually move at a faster pace than the remakes, and fast pace is a characteristic that generally appeals to younger people. Not to mention that the originals are much more melodic and sound much richer in musical terms, but forget these things because according to certain radio know-it-alls, "young people have no sophistication when it comes to music". The problem is that many PDs are actually way out of touch regarding the true tastes of younger people because they are too old themselves. Therefore, they make false stereotypes about the target demographic, causing them to create a product that nobody wants. The downtrends in overall radio listenership figures and individual station ratings are my witness.

On another note, it's these same flawed perceptions that make stations ignore EVERY SINGLE 1960s song out there, even upbeat and "fun" songs like "Stop in the Name of Love" "Chain Gang" "Henry the 8th" "Lightnin' Strikes" etc. Young people like these songs for the novelty, if nothing else. And there are hundreds of other songs from the 60s that would be very "safe" if given the chance...nobody's saying they have to play "Are You Lonesome Tonight" or "Blue Velvet". Ironically, most age 55+ listeners are probably sick of hearing the same old 1960s songs for the last 40 years, but younger people would very likely welcome certain 60s songs as "good variety" for the AC format, especially compared to the alternative: hearing the same CHR songs repeated several times day, 7 days a week.

 

[carolinaradio]

Most AC stations I'm aware of that play that (horrible) remake of "Baby, I Love Your Way" also play the Frampton one, at least around here. Some play the original of Lean on Me. Not sure about the others.

Another song noteworthy that is similar is "I Can See Clearly Now", by Johnny Nash in the very early 70s and Jimmy Cliff in the early 90s. I'll have to go with the Cliff version of that one.

 

[imhomerjay]

I have to ask myself, what is the basis for this claim about younger people's preferences?

Research.

 

[vinyltapecd]

I have to ask myself, what is the basis for this claim about younger people's preferences?

Research.

Research, ah? Hate to be blunt, but I don't buy it. Obviously everyone doesn't have the same tastes, but I think the objective is to try to please the majority in the target demographic, as much as possible.

That being said, going back to my original statement, I'd be willing to bet that the overwhelming majority of 25-54 listeners prefer the Jackson 5 version of "I'll Be There" over any remake. So show me some research or any kind of EVIDENCE that the majority of 25-54 listeners prefer the Mariah Carey version, and I'll shut up. In fact, I'll make it easier for you: show me evidence that any of the cover versions I mentioned are actually preferred among the 25-54 age group over the originals. If at all, maybe the Fugees version of "Killing Me Softly" is preferred by younger people over the Roberta Flack version; even for that I have my doubts. But let's not stop there...

Show me some research indicating that the majority of 25-54 AC listeners dislike EVERY SINGLE 1960s song ever made.

Sheo me some research indicating that the majority of 25-54 AC listeners like to hear Nickelback, Pink, Daughtry, Leona Lewis, Kelly Clarkson, etc. repeated several times a day, 7 days a week.

And then I'll shut up.

Carolinaradio, I agree about "I Can See Clearly Now". I intentionally did not mention that one because the Jimmy Cliff version adds a good reggae sound but still preserves all the necessary aspects of the song. The Johnny Nash version will always have its place as a "classic", but I have to admit that it probably does not belong on AC anymore. Another one is "Drift Away"...I think the Uncle Kracker version is what a remake should be. It has a modernized sound without sacrificing the melody of the original version; heck, it even features the original singer Dobie Gray.

 

[imhomerjay]

As opposed to, say, the hunch of someone not in the primary target demo? Which would I take...people who generally work to actually find out what their listeners want or an assumption of those tastes based on one person's preferences?

 

[firepoint525]

Baby I Love Your Way- Peter Frampton (remake by Big Mountain...this one actually charted higher than the original)

I'm thinking that AC listeners would probably prefer the Will to Power remake of that one, from about 1988. I don't think I ever hear the Big Mountain version anymore. That one would probably more suitable for hot AC, or even CHR (still).

Chart positions don't really mean much, once the song is off the charts. It's more about staying power.

 

[carolinaradio]

You know, I never hear that Will To Power song. It belongs on the list of songs nobody plays anymore if any one does.

 

[Seltzer]

I've noticed that today's AC stations will only play the modern remakes of certain "classic" 1970s songs while entirely ignoring the original versions, which (in most cases) were actually much larger hits compared to the remakes. Some examples of such classic songs include:

I'll Be There- Jackson 5 (remake by Mariah Carey)
Lean On Me- Bill Withers (remake by Club Nouveau)
Baby I Love Your Way- Peter Frampton (remake by Big Mountain...this one actually charted higher than the original)
Killing Me Softly With His Song- Roberta Flack (remake by the Fugees)

It's a case by case. The first 3 are all played at the Greatest Hits stations as that format is very 70s based now. Roberta Flack usually shows up on the nostalgia stations only, except for a 70s specialty show on the weekends.

Of course, stations do this under the guise that "the remakes are the only versions that appeal to the 25-54 demographic a.k.a. younger people". I'm a 27 year old male ....
A/C stations don't program to 27 year old males. Hate to be blunt but they don't care about you. Why aren't you listening to Breaking Benjamin, Disturbed, and Godsmack? Most guys you age are or if they want a taste of the classics, its Led Zeppelin.

For instance, I'd be willling to bet that the overwhelming majority of young people prefer the Jackson 5 version of "I'll Be There" There may be some interest in the Jackson 5 version now because of Michael's death. But Mariah was a huge A/C artist in the 90s and her version tests well with both the younger and older end of the A/C female demo.

On another note, it's these same flawed perceptions that make stations ignore EVERY SINGLE 1960s song out there, even upbeat and "fun" songs like "Stop in the Name of Love" "Chain Gang" "Henry the 8th" "Lightnin' Strikes" etc. Young people like these songs for the novelty, if nothing else. And there are hundreds of other songs from the 60s that would be very "safe" if given the chance...nobody's saying they have to play "Are You Lonesome Tonight" or "Blue Velvet". Ironically, most age 55+ listeners are probably sick of hearing the same old 1960s songs for the last 40 years

Most oldies stations (or Classic Hits) stations don't even play these anymore. Why on earth would a format A/C presumably trying to target a younger audience than Classic Hits play these? This makes even less sense than some of the 70s stuff you've mentioned.

 

[imhomerjay]

Moreover, the fact that a portion of a particular audience likes something doesn't mean every station targeting that audience is well served to play it. It's about what the audience expects or wants out of a given station.

 

[carolinaradio]

I have to agree with Seltzer.
Just to add, a lot of males in their 20s still listen to CHR or Rhythmic CHR as well.

Heck, I'm a male in my 20s and listen to AC. My favorite format these days....but, I understand they could care less about me.

 

[vinyltapecd]

Seltzer, every single thing you've said is true. But the problem is that your entire post merely explains "the way radio is today" rather than "why radio should be the way it is today". Meanwhile, radio ratings and overall listenership figures are screaming that radio should NOT be the way it is today. For starters, let me ask you this: what if we found out that most (or all) of the original versions I mentioned test better in the target demo compared to their respective remakes? Would you still recommend playing only the remakes, or would you recommend playing both versions?

*The 60s debate is one I would be pretty interested in but I guess it doesn't really pertain to the main point of this thread...

 

[imhomerjay]

And the advent of new technologies might have nothing to do with ratings being where they are? Has anyone contemplated this is about what can be expected when the audience is substantially more fragmented than it was a generation or more ago?

 

[Seltzer]

Seltzer, every single thing you've said is true. But the problem is that your entire post merely explains "the way radio is today" rather than "why radio should be the way it is today". Meanwhile, radio ratings and overall listenership figures are screaming that radio should NOT be the way it is today. For starters, let me ask you this: what if we found out that most (or all) of the original versions I mentioned test better in the target demo compared to their respective remakes? Would you still recommend playing only the remakes, or would you recommend playing both versions?

*The 60s debate is one I would be pretty interested in but I guess it doesn't really pertain to the main point of this thread...

It comes back to what your target demos is. Play the highest testing songs that they want to hear. Play them often and fill out your playlist with secondary favorites. Play an occasional "Oh Wow" song to keep them surprised. Play only the right current songs and don't be afraid of newer artists because they are your gold library of tomorrow. If it is the original versions that test better, fine. And what's wrong with radio..that's your opinion. Although I think there are some former radio stations that sound like crap today, there are plenty that sound pretty good with high listenership. Stations like CBS-FM and Lite FM in NYC, B 101 and OGL in Phiilly, WLIF in Baltimore, WLYF in Miami, and many other stations in the A/C or Greatest Hits mode sound great. Yet you read listeners of the former "oldies" stations bitch that their favorite station doesn't play Dion & The Belmonts anymore. Radio is still first a business. You have to appeal to the demos the advertisers want. These stations all have high ratings month after month. Women especially are still very high on terrestrial radio and spends plenty of time with it every week. And Vinyl, again at your own admission, you're not a female.

 

[vchimpanzee]

This is a good topic for the standards board too.

Some on the standards board get upset about it, but I personally think supplemting the classic performances with the great new remakes is the way to keep the format alive. Most of these aren't going to show up on AC, but one that probably does is Celine Dion's "Alone". Now I hope never to hear the Heart version in a standards format, and Celine's isn't too much better.

I've heard a new version of Atlantic Starr's "Always". I used to hear the original but haven't lately.

Most of the others are either oldies or standards. I didn't hear the artist but I heard a version of Dusty Springfield's "I Only Want to Be with You". That would be an oldie. I can't picture the original on AC.

Renee Olstead did a version of "Hit the Road Jack" that has the big band instrumentals but also a beat that might make AC give it a try.