Chinese Democracy: Would Axl rather have radio success or a complete album?

[Mr.Intensity]

By this I mean do you think Axl is going to opt to try to load this album with as many songs as possible that could be singles in order to make it easier to sell in stores, or do you think he'll select mostly songs that aren't radio friendly like "Catcher In the Rye." For instance, look at Nine Inch Nails "The Downward Spiral", really no radio friendly songs were on that album, however when listened to in its entirety, it's a very complete album.

I'd like to see "Better" and "The Blues" be the only songs on the album that might have single written all over them. I think the true gnr fans wouldn't mind a lot of epic songs like Estranged, Catcher in The Rye, etc....

Also, don't say Axl doesn't give a fuck about what people/the public think, because in my opinion he does, which is why you have seen a drastic overhaul of his image since 2002, he might want to be a radio god once again (which doesn't make him any less of a musician, most want to be as popular as possible) or maybe when it comes to his music he will just put the tracks that make the most complete/complex album on there.

I mean I am concerned that "This I Love" and "Citr" are supposedly not going to be on the album, both those songs seemed like they'd be great tunes to the die hard gnr fans, since we'd obviously read deeper into the lyrics, etc...

your thoughts??

[Howard2k]

Were the lyrics for This I Love released?

[rds.06]

Were the lyrics for This I Love released?

Has anyone got a link for the song,? i cant find anything on you tube.

[Captain P?l]

THIS I LOVE isnt leaked... or played live

but it is been talked about for a decade now.....

speculation says its what played in the background in the Making Of Estrange video when Dizzy talks.... dunno though...

[Howard2k]

So where are the lyrics?

Back on topic:
I think Axl will want to make the best alnum  HE can.   If anything, the big issue I see is what influence the record company has.  How much power do they have to push for "chart friendly" songs. 

I'm not sure that the decision is all Axl's.

[Chief]

in the end i think Axl wants an album that he is happy with, a 'complete' album as you said.

[Natasha23]

Commercial success and artistic integrity don't have to be mutually exclusive. ?Artists (or "artists") who say you have to choose one or the other usually don't have the goods to back it up. ?I don't think Axl would release anything he wasn't proud of, even if he thought the songs would be huge radio successes. ?But that's not to say he isn't thinking about the financial success of this record. ?

[rds.06]

THIS I LOVE isnt leaked... or played live

but it is been talked about for a decade now.....

speculation says its what played in the background in the Making Of Estrange video when Dizzy talks.... dunno though...

Thanks ?, ive been seeing it meantioned on various message boards like it was a leak i haven't heard, like in the first post of this thread. Strange. Well, we might get to hear it some enough.

[bazgnr]

By this I mean do you think Axl is going to opt to try to load this album with as many songs as possible that could be singles in order to make it easier to sell in stores, or do you think he'll select mostly songs that aren't radio friendly like "Catcher In the Rye." For instance, look at Nine Inch Nails "The Downward Spiral", really no radio friendly songs were on that album, however when listened to in its entirety, it's a very complete album.

I'd like to see "Better" and "The Blues" be the only songs on the album that might have single written all over them. I think the true gnr fans wouldn't mind a lot of epic songs like Estranged, Catcher in The Rye, etc....

Also, don't say Axl doesn't give a fuck about what people/the public think, because in my opinion he does, which is why you have seen a drastic overhaul of his image since 2002, he might want to be a radio god once again (which doesn't make him any less of a musician, most want to be as popular as possible) or maybe when it comes to his music he will just put the tracks that make the most complete/complex album on there.

I mean I am concerned that "This I Love" and "Citr" are supposedly not going to be on the album, both those songs seemed like they'd be great tunes to the die hard gnr fans, since we'd obviously read deeper into the lyrics, etc...

your thoughts??

I think there will be a definite balance between shorter, more radio-friendly / "single-material" songs, and the less radio-friendly epics Axl creates. ?Given the number of songs rumored to be written during the democracy sessions, the initial album will find the proper ratio between songs that will sell the album, get heavy play, and fill stadiums, as well as the more personal and/or experimental songs that Axl cares about.

And I agree - to an extent, Axl does care about what the public thinks. ?I doubt he'll risk alienating everyone after all this time by putting out an album full of songs that don't lend themselves to radio play and could potentially alienate new fans. ?There's been far too much planning, thought, and meticulous care put into this album as a concept to let that happen. ?Assuming that so much material is already "in the bank," it's now a question of finding the right balance in terms of track lists that make for both an artistic and commercial success without compromising any of the integrity and passion that went into its creation. ?

[The Legend]

GN'R will release what GN'R feels is the right album.

It'll be like the Illusions imo, there will be some radio friendly rockers like CD & Better, there will be some radio friendly ballads like Madagascar & The Blues, and there will be some non-radio friendly epics To Be Determined.

[Mr.Intensity]

I'm just shocked that what was mentioned as one of the most lyrically deep tracks that Axl ever wrote, might not make the album.. and in my opinion C.I.T.R is a very strong potential album track, but I'd have to say it isn't a radio friendly one. I trust Axl will choose the right mix though, I hope we get 15 tracks....

[Randy Jesus]

I don't anyone gets it. Axl was trying to put together an album that everyone song could be a hit single. There haven't been very many albums that have done that. When I talk album, I don't mean subcategory rock. I am talking mainstream, everyone.

[cody6977]

he's had a history of putting at least one or two songs on an album that aren't necessarily mainstream...a little off the wall if you will (My World, Look at your Game) ....and of course he cares what the public thinks, what else would explain the way he secludes himself and his appearance (extensions, alleged surgeries, etc)

[bringbackadler]

GN'R will release what GN'R feels is the right album.

It'll be like the Illusions imo, there will be some radio friendly rockers like CD & Better, there will be some radio friendly ballads like Madagascar & The Blues, and there will be some non-radio friendly epics To Be Determined.

well said... I agree   

[slane92]

Coma being an example of a great song from UYI 1 , but at almost 10 mins long not radio friendly!

Certainly not in Ireland where our radio stations play non-stop pop?

[SlashRock]

Of course he wants radio success. Every artist/band wants radio success no matter what they say about it 'selling out' or whatever. It makes them money and so they all go home happy with a big wod of cash in their back pocket. In my opinion, like has been stated by others, it'll probably be like the Illusion CDs, a few rockers and a few ballads.

[bringbackadler]

I think that Chinese Democracy will be both a complete album and have great radio success. Oh yeah, and I think it will change rock as we know it !!   

[SlashRock]

Why do people believe 'Chinese Democracy' is going to 'change the music world', 'be revolutionary' and all that? I couldn't care less if it is or isn't to be honest. Don't get your expectations up so high or you'll just end up dissapointed. Just accept the album for what it is [whenever it comes out..].?

[madagas]

Well, how I know rock-which looks at the genre from a historical perspective and doesn't concern itself with current trends-Chinese won't change ANYTHING. It has all been done before. However, I do hope the album brings back the love for melodic hard rock and not just headbanging/screaming/emo type horseshit. I also think it could help put some "balls" in the adult rock genre (Coldplay, Maher, Dave Matthews-shit like that). Nothing will come out of Chinese musically that hasn't been done before, but it can possibly help unseat some irritating current trends. In the end though, I want a complete album and don't care if there is a radio friendly jingle on it or not.

[NicoRourke]

I think he'll just go for one song like Better (meaning : radio friendly).

Then he will try to deliver the most complete album.