Poll of the Day > Do you suppose becoming a meme is good for an artist's career?

(+) Yeah! (+)

The obvious answer would be yes. You get A LOT of free exposure very quickly. But do you also run the risk of over saturating the market? And what about being typecasted?

Like, think about the Rick Roll. Rick Astley will forever be know only for his one song. It seems he's trying to get back into the business again, but does anyone really care about his new music? That meme dominated the internet during its time. You couldn't escape it. Now people have gotten pretty sick of it. The very thought of Rick Astley makes people cringe. If he ever really considers taking music seriously again, I don't really believe he'll ever recover from his meme status.

So what about Childish Gambino? The Redbone meme is starting to pick up steam. It's a good meme, but it's really going to run its course quickly. I hear he has one final project that he's working on, and I'm curious if it's because he's thinking the same thing. That the meme status is going to burn bright and fast and his music career is going to suffer once it hits peak saturation. Maybe he wants to move on now before that happens? I mean, it's not a perfect analog comparing Rick Astley to the overwhelming success of Childish Gambino, not to mention his success in writing, comedy and acting. But it's something to think about.

It depends on how many other hits they've done. I don't think Rick Astley was ever all that popular, so there wasn't exactly much career to ruin.

But A-list artists and actors obviously have plenty to offer even if they have several memes about them.
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No publicity is bad publicity.
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Snuggletoof posted...

Like, think about the Rick Roll. Rick Astley will forever be know only for his one song. It seems he's trying to get back into the business again, but does anyone really care about his new music? That meme dominated the internet during its time. You couldn't escape it. Now people have gotten pretty sick of it. The very thought of Rick Astley makes people cringe. If he ever really considers taking music seriously again, I don't really believe he'll ever recover from his meme status.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cc91EfoBh8A
Not a bad song at all. Seems like something perfectly appropriate to be playing in the overhead speakers during an uncomfortable medical or dental procedure.

The guy who created Pepe didn't like being a meme. Honestly, it's great for most musicians, but probably as bad as typecasting for actors (although the guys who embrace that casting can make a profit, like Adam West).

Snuggletoof posted...

Like, think about the Rick Roll. Rick Astley will forever be know only for his one song. It seems he's trying to get back into the business again, but does anyone really care about his new music? That meme dominated the internet during its time. You couldn't escape it. Now people have gotten pretty sick of it. The very thought of Rick Astley makes people cringe. If he ever really considers taking music seriously again, I don't really believe he'll ever recover from his meme status.

That meme makes him assloads of money. He's fine.

Snuggletoof posted...

So what about Childish Gambino? The Redbone meme is starting to pick up steam. It's a good meme, but it's really going to run its course quickly. I hear he has one final project that he's working on, and I'm curious if it's because he's thinking the same thing. That the meme status is going to burn bright and fast and his music career is going to suffer once it hits peak saturation. Maybe he wants to move on now before that happens? I mean, it's not a perfect analog comparing Rick Astley to the overwhelming success of Childish Gambino, not to mention his success in writing, comedy and acting. But it's something to think about.

Given that he's not strictly a musician, it doesn't really affect him.
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Zeus posted...

Snuggletoof posted...

Like, think about the Rick Roll. Rick Astley will forever be know only for his one song. It seems he's trying to get back into the business again, but does anyone really care about his new music? That meme dominated the internet during its time. You couldn't escape it. Now people have gotten pretty sick of it. The very thought of Rick Astley makes people cringe. If he ever really considers taking music seriously again, I don't really believe he'll ever recover from his meme status.

That meme makes him assloads of money. He's fine.

In this aspect, yes. As pretty much a one-hit-wonder, that did great things for his bank account. But as far as creative success goes, I don't know. On the one hand, he probably wouldn't have even thought about it if it weren't for the meme, but for someone else in that position who had more going on in their prior career, trying to get back in the game might be a struggle to overcome being known as just the meme. How long can you really ride the wave of sudden relevance again before it ends?

Snuggletoof posted...

So what about Childish Gambino? The Redbone meme is starting to pick up steam. It's a good meme, but it's really going to run its course quickly. I hear he has one final project that he's working on, and I'm curious if it's because he's thinking the same thing. That the meme status is going to burn bright and fast and his music career is going to suffer once it hits peak saturation. Maybe he wants to move on now before that happens? I mean, it's not a perfect analog comparing Rick Astley to the overwhelming success of Childish Gambino, not to mention his success in writing, comedy and acting. But it's something to think about.

Given that he's not strictly a musician, it doesn't really affect him.

Yeah, that's why I thought it wasn't a perfect comparison. Just something I was thinking about. He's going to do fine with his other ventures, but it looks like he's thinking it's a good time to end his music career.

Somewhat. I remember there was some musician who wrote pop-culture related songs and as soon as he said he wanted to stop and branch out his popularity dropped like a sack of bricks. But I'm sure it works for some people especially if they can keep producing meme worthy Content.
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Cruddy_horse posted...

I remember there was some musician who wrote pop-culture related songs and as soon as he said he wanted to stop and branch out his popularity dropped like a sack of bricks.

Uh... Paul McCartney?

Edward Kiel ?
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Cruddy_horse posted...

I remember there was some musician who wrote pop-culture related songs and as soon as he said he wanted to stop and branch out his popularity dropped like a sack of bricks.

I think that's more of a personal typecasting. If you build yourself up to be known as "The guy who does ____" it's extremely difficult to diversify your career. And you've gotta do it as your popularity is building, not after it's peaked.

Do I suppose that an artist gaining exposure is good for their career? Um, yes??
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Donald glover don't give a fuck about being a meme. He just won two golden globes and is about to create a deadpool show with his brother. He's going to be lando in the Han Solo movie. He is one of the smartest, funniest, and easily the most rounded celebrity in the game today. And while "Awaken, My Love!" Was one of the best albums I have ever heard, and he is EASILY my favorite rapper of all time, he doesn't need music. As he put it, You started rapping when you wasn’t good at basketball. I started rapping because I needed Adderall.

I wouldn't be surprised if he was president one day.

Snuggletoof posted...

In this aspect, yes. As pretty much a one-hit-wonder, that did great things for his bank account. But as far as creative success goes, I don't know. On the one hand, he probably wouldn't have even thought about it if it weren't for the meme, but for someone else in that position who had more going on in their prior career, trying to get back in the game might be a struggle to overcome being known as just the meme. How long can you really ride the wave of sudden relevance again before it ends?

His career had floundered long before he became a meme. Remember that "Never Going to Give You Up" was recorded in 1987. It became a meme in 2008.

The same has kinda been true for Sir-Mix-a-Lot who embraced his one-hit wonder status. Plus, since Nicki Minaj sampled him for Anaconda, he has royalties coming in on that, too.

Snuggletoof posted...

Yeah, that's why I thought it wasn't a perfect comparison. Just something I was thinking about. He's going to do fine with his other ventures, but it looks like he's thinking it's a good time to end his music career.

Was he music first? Or was he doing comedy first?

MICHALECOLE posted...

He just won two golden globes and is about to create a deadpool show with his brother.

Damn, I want his life.
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Depends on the individual. Some will embrace their meme status and the money that comes with it.

On the other hand, some might feel that being a meme can interfere with creative expression and such