R&B singer Amerie recently spoke to our good friends over at Rap-Up.com about the poor performance of her latest LP ‘In Love & War’. The 31 year old stunner isn’t ‘sweating’ sales, because she apparently sees ‘the bigger picture’. This despite, the album (her Def Jam debut) selling just 12,500 in its first week and only managing a lowly #46 peak on the Billboard 200:
On The Album’s Sales
“It’s a very weird time. I didn’t worry about it ’cause I felt like it’s not about the first week. I knew when the album came out, it wasn’t coming out with a big hit ’cause we just went to radio with the ‘Pretty Brown’ record two weeks before the album came out, so we already knew it was going to be one of those over time things vs. a first week thing, which is cool.”
On not setting expectations of herself due to unpredictability of industry
“There’s no way to tell right now. I was actually curious ’cause I kept saying, ‘This is interesting, going to radio with a song and two weeks later your album is coming out.’ I’ve never really done it like that before.”
On the iTunes error which saw the album not available on the leading music outlet
“That was weird. I don’t know what happened with that. The people at iTunes are really cool. I just thought that was so odd. They tried to fix it as fast as they could.”
Though I feel both the album and Amerie herself are criminally underrated, I’m sure hoping she was putting on her media/political ‘face’ on when giving this answer. For, if not, her ramblings would be denial personified. Having interviewed her for this very project, she came across very intelligent to me, so I’d lean more towards the notion of her knowing internally that her label screwed all the way up and that she’s putting on a brave face.
The whole situation is such a shame, as had Def Jam paid even a fraction of the attention they paid to Rihanna (yes, I went there), I’m sure Amerie would be performing a lot better than she is. Not to be confused as me taking a pop at Ms. Fenty (which I’m legitimately not, it’s in no way her fault), it’s oh-so-annoying seeing a label pump money into a less talented entity, when they have a performer of Amerie’s calibre on their roster. If we’re talking aesthetics too, Amerie is equally if not more stunning – but that’s just my opinion. In any case, it seems like this album is done. SMH…
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It’s Me Again
Sam you KNOW people are going to jump on you for talking about rihanna….
It’s hard to believe they’re on the same label. Amerie is by far a better singer, a better dancer, and a better performer than Rihanna. Def Jam definitely promoted the wrong artist here, and they STILL failed to create the impact they wanted.
And when it comes to aesthetics, OF COURSE Amerie wins! She keeps it s***, yet classy all at once – never resorting to over-the-top gimmickry b*******, or slutting it up to the point where it’s just plain offensive. Rihorror can go either way – one minute she manages to look even skankier than Beyonce (and that’s definitely saying something), the next minute the b**** is walking around like she’s about to perform some type of voodoo witchcraft s*** on ALL of us, for f*** sake!
Anyhoo.
I don’t know what it is about Rihanna but for some reason, the folks at Def Jam put everybody on the back burner in favour of her. I remember when Tiaerra Marie came out just before Rihanna, and when Rihanna came along she was dropped like nobody’s business and all energies were focussed on Rihanna.
Maybe because the folks at DJ think she’s very talented? Maybe because she has friends in high places? Maybe because Rihanna is the kind of artist who is more sellable because of her looks? Maybe Rihanna is really hard-working?
i don’t know what to tell you…
It’s her eyes. Rihanna has pretty eyes and they’re distinct; that’s what sets her apart from the rest, that’s one of the main aspects of her image. So they gassed and hyped her up because her eyes are pretty, trying to build her up into something she clearly isn’t.
Anybody who doesn’t see this for what it truly is is either in denial, or just doesn’t get it. If her eyes were dark brown, we wouldn’t even be having this discussion.
Fair enough to make the comparison between Amerie and Rihanna in terms of talent but talking quality, Rated R is an awful lot better than In Love & War. I was a big Amerie fan and I’m still checking for her (as you would say Sam) but she dropped the ball big-time with this album. So dull and mediocre – it says a lot that the highlight relied on a recycled T.I. backing track. Heard ‘Em All is the only song I’ve genuinely loved. She just can’t seem to nail that middle ground between artistry and wide commercial appeal which is a shame, but the album she delivered didn’t deserve to be a big hit sadly.
WAIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Amerie is 31????????????? She’s looooooooooooks GOOD!!!! I thought she was in her 20’s. WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sam I love you!!! Amen to everything you said and will ever say about Pon De Forehead!
damn, i’m not even a rihanna fan (i used to be but she got way overexposed/overblown), but can you go ONE post without mentioning this chick? it’s all quite redundant — we get the point. you don’t think she can sing and def jam is wasting their time/money on her blahblahblah. i’m not arguing any of your points, because i agree with some of them. but really, as much as you seemingly hate her, you need her to keep your blog afloat, so you better hope she still keeps making music and being in the public eye. otherwise its rip thatgrapejuice.
SAM’S ONLY SAYING AMERIE’S INDENIAL BECAUSE HE DOESNT WANT TO APPEAR LIKE A HYPOCRITE FOR HIS JOY AND PRAISE ABOUT RIHANNA’S OPENING WEEK SALES..
SAM KNOWS JUST LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE.. OPENING WEEK SALES ARE WEEK THESE DAYS
AND JUST LIKE IT HAPPENED WITH RIHANNA’S “GOOD GIRL GONE BAD” ALBUM
THE OVER TIME THING WORKS.. ITS NOT ALL ABOUT FIRST WEEK THESE DAYS..
NOT EVERY ARTIST IS GUARANTEED THAT “HUGE” FIRST WEEK
ITS ALL ABOUT WHAT THEY DO AFTER.
SAM HAS SAID THOUSANDS OF TIMES.. THAT IN TODAYS CLIMATE.. RECORD SALES ARE LOW.. BUT WHEN IT SUITES HIM, HE WANTS TO PICK FUN AT RIHANNA FOR HAVING LOW FIRST WEEK SALES.. SIMPLY BECAUSE HE’S A B****
AMERIE CAN STILL SELL RECORDS AND CONTINUE WITH THIS ALBUM IF FROM HERE.. SHE KNOWS WHAT SHE’S DOING..
ITS ALL ABOUT THE PROMO.. THE SINGLES.. ETC GOING FORWARD
SO SAM NEEDS TO SIT HIS ASS DOWN AND STOP BEING A LITTLE HYPOCRITICAL BITCHBOY WHO GOES BACK ON EVERYTHING!!!!! HE SAYS,.
It’s already proven big promotions do not automatically make artists have big success Sam.
Ffs this site is full of s*** when it comes to certain artists. Rihanna didn’t get big promotion at first. She was making songs the public liked, she has proven herself worthy in terms of sales success and acclaim for a bigger budget. Look at GGGB, Rihanna funded a lot of the videos and songs from her own f****** pocket. She’s selling out concerts, she’s going platinum with albums whereas Amerie, as much as I like her, is not. Rihanna can sing very well, she’s actually got a great voice. If you don’t like how it sounds that’s your problem, but the majority love it. It’s like MJ and Britney, they both have very distinctive voices that sets them apart on the radio. She’s DEFINITELY got better vocals than Amerie.
This girl has always been a 3rd-rate hasbeen. She never had any memorable hits and there is nothing promo could do for her anymore. It is not reason why her album flopped except people weren’t feeling her. Stop comparing her to Rihanna. Rihanna’s album was better quality than this paper weight anyday.
And it’s pathetic that everytime someone you like underperforms you blame Rihanna lmfao. Face it, she’s gonna be around for a long time, she’s 9 or 10 years younger than Amerie and already sold loads more. People are deluded if they think she is untalented, nobody without talent EVER makes it big, unless they are Milli Vanili or some s***. I mean you promote artists like Madonna who couldn’t even sing at the start of her career yet insult and bash someone like Rihanna who has a lot of technical skill when it comes to singing. My friends is very picky when it comes to vocals and he went to see Rihanna in concert and said she sounded amazing. I’m not even a stan, just b******* and whack comments p*** me right off. I mean you gave Chris Brown, the guy who nearly ducking killed her and put her in hospital a glowing album revi3w, full and indepth. What did Rihanna get? A post about how s*** it is LOL. You’re so ignorant, so are most of Chris’ stans lol. He f****** blames Rihanna for it all in a song about her, he’s such a hero.
Oh and Rated R is in my opinion the best album I’ve heard this year, and I have got a lot of Albums this year.
the thing is, rihanna has GOOD tunes, unlike amerie, who HASN’T. amerie is a fail, sam only jumps on rihanna because he hates his favourite artists FLOPPING. amerie is a flop and she should just stop, because rihanna HAS MORE FANS THAN HER. rihanna is more relevant, not many people know who amerie is,, she should just STOP!!
COME NOW LETS BE REAL RIHANNA HAS WAY MORE HITS SELL WAY MORE ALUMS THAN AMERIE SO WHAT DO U THINK MORE MONEY GOES IN TO THE BETTER ACT AND RIHANNA IS THE BETTER ACT BECAUSE SHE SELLS MORE THATS THE WAY IT IS SAM SIT DOWN FISH DIDNT AMERIE COME OUT WAY BEFORE RIHANNA ANYWAY SO THATS HER FAULT Y SHE AINT SELLING NOT RIHANNA
Sam you need to shut up with this trash. Your blog is fading into a piece of s*** with all this trash talk. Please keep it moderate.
amerie is boring. she doesnt have that “umph”, that “it” factor. you need more than a good voice to make it in this business, and that is all she is, a good voice. nothing else more, nothing less.
she can play it off as tho 12,000 first week sales mean nothing to her, but deep down she’s pissed. those numbers are just hella lame no matter how you look at it. if it were even 50/60k, i could understand, but 12k? a flop is a flop is a flop, period. she’ll be lucky to reach 50,000 copies sold by the time this era is ova……..
Preach Adam!!!Preach!!!amerie will neva be a badder bi*ch than Rihanna!!Rihanna has that it factor and Amerie doesnt!! I like amerie but she jus don’t make enough hits 4 me!!When Amerie make a album where i don’t have 2 keep skipping 2 the next song then i wouldnt mind buying her album..Basically amerie album need 2 be full of hits like Rihanna’s 2 make it through the game!! amerie need 2 be fazed cuz thats Embarassing as Hell!!Lmao!!
This site should now be referred to “That Hater Aide” with all this unnecessary hating going around.
Amerie’s album SUCKED this time around! Sorry Sam, but the woman is nearly 30 years old without a suffiient smash album. Of course they’d focus on a 21 year old. Not to mention that Rihanna’s opening weeks are way better.
Amerie should have came harder.
Come on now. We all know that talent has nothing to do with selling albums in 2009. LOL. It’s all about image and hot beats.
Amerie can’t have commercial success without commercial songs. If she wants to sell records, like somebody said, she needs to find that balance between doing her as an artist and doing commercial music to sell. If she is truly happy with her place in the music industry, she can continue doing her. It’s not like her music is awful. If she wants to be a superstar, she needs to call the usual producers and songwriters and get a commercial hit.
Lack of promo is no excuse. If you have a hit single, it’ll get heard regardless of how many shows you do or interviews. Most new artists get no promo UNTIL they have a hit. Did anybody know Jeremih before Birthday S**? Did anybody care who Jason Derulo was before Whatchu Say (or whatever that song is called)?
LOL at people saying that Rihanna is talented an can sing very well… yeah, okay! If you knew anything about singing, you would hear that Rihanna is always very flat when singing in her performances. And when she “hits a high note,” all she is doing is getting loud/yelling. Rihanna is one of the world singers that I have ever heard. And Britney Spears can sing… LMMAO! Britney Spears has a distinctive voice, but it’s so irritating. She doesn’t even hit and REAL notes. She’s all about tone and that’s a shame. She was recently booed at her concert in Australia because they were pissed that she lip synced and had stiff dance moves. Something that has been obvious for years. Anyway, Amerie is the one who is extremely talented and has powerful vocals with a light and sweet tone. It’s just that she’s singing to high and straining her voice. She needs to tone it down a lot. Her music gets worse every album. I absolutely love Amerie, but she has let me down so many times. She’s the only female artist who is real, articulate, reserved, and classy. I wish she would stick with light R&B music mixed with a nice hip-hop bass that makes you move. She’s done that only a few times before and I wish her whole album would consist of those types of beats.
I like Amerie and there has always been a lack of exposure and promotion regardless of the label she’s with. Neither of her albums have ever really sold so it’s only natural that the label would go with the person bringing in the money. Amerie may be a little more talented but ultimately she comes across as boring. Her album is nice but I can only really get with three of tracks whereas Rihanna’s album I rock all through. Plain and simple none of these artist are Beyonce so it doesn’t matter who has more talent, they’re always going to fall short to Bey (right)?. Including those with talent. anyone heard from Jazmine Sullivan, and just how far do you think Melanie Fiona is going to make it in this game? In the music industry, I believe the consumers and fans make the artist so maybe the finger should be pointed at us, the people who are and aren’t buying the albums. So everyone on here including Sam, I hope you all have a paid copy of Amerie’s album and not just talking s***.
you need to stop blaming rihanna for Ameries demise. Amerie was out waaay before Rihanna even made a blip on the radar screen. If Amerie didn’t do well, that is because maybe people are just not feeling her music. Out of all the songs I’ve heard of Amerie, only one stood out to me and I liked. Its that one thing. Otherwise, I find Amerie Boring and not that interesting. Everything that goes wrong with anyone is because of Rihanna. SMH.
For those saying rihanna can’t sing, thats your opinion, I happen to like many different types of Music, and Rihanna’s is one of them. I appreciate the different styles range and tones in different artists voice, and I like rihanna’s husky, gritty voice on her tracks, it works for what she is singing. Different strokes for different folks. Can’t get enough of Rated R right now. Love that album. Some of you all haven’t even heard the album for yourselves, but you are going by hearsay. You need to judge things for yourself, because not everyone has the same taste in music. But I’am going to have to say that Rated R is a very good album with great hits.
Excuse me? Rihanna’s album is much better and much more original.
Sorry, but Rihanna isn’t wearing Britney’s Spear’s hand-me-downs from last year.
Amerie is knock off trash. I’m surprised she sold that much.
MUSIC SUCKS THESE DAYS ANYWAY EVEN MUSIC FROM WELL KNOWN ARTIST LIKE MARIAH. I LIKE AMERIE BUT I DON’T THINK SHE WOULD EVER BE SUCCESSFUL UNLESS SHE FINDS SOMEWAY TO BRING SOMETHING BRAND NEW TO MUSIC. RIHANNA IS COOL BUT RIHANNA IS A LOOK AND AN IMAGE. I WOULD NEVER EVER PAY TO SEE HER ON A STAGE DOING ANYTHING. THEY DRESS HER WELL THO.
its simple, for amerie to be pushed like rihanna she has to be yes woman..i doubt she would do that…to get the push rihanna has tfrom IDJ there is a price to pay which includes sucking d*** and being naked all over amongst other things…morals in the music world are out the window….its tricky and am not sure what to say to here…
she could most probably do well with catchy tracks and still being able to keep her clothes on coz she is pretty( better looking than rihanna imo) and can dance but i guess she needs to get a label that supports her….
@wtf, so your saying that every female successful artist is a yes woman? Please with that. You all fail to give this girl her props, and the only thing you can say is that about sucking and nakedness. So I guess you didn’t see Amerie’s one thing video, and her very first single in the video years ago when she was wearing a bootie shorts so short her cheeks were hanging out. If you are going to point out s*** ness in one artist, you need to be consistent and point them all out.
“nobody without talent EVER makes it big,”
That’s ridiculous. It happens ALL the time, in every industry.
“If her eyes were dark brown, we wouldn’t even be having this discussion.”
FINALLY someone else sees this. Anyone with hair or eyes besides brown is automatically ‘beautiful’. Rihanna’s face is quite average to me. There are times when she looks pretty, but most of the time I see nothing I haven’t seen everyday walking down the street. When a few powerful people call someone ‘beautiful’, the sheep soon follow.
I think Amerie is a better singer when she’s not straining her voice, and her dancing, even though it’s nothing to write home about, is better than Rihanna’s. Like people have said, Amerie’s material lacks the oomph factor. Then again, it’s not entirely her fault if the label brings weak producers and songwriters. RR is better than L&W, but it still lacks overall as well.
I’m glad Amerie is being positive, but she is indenial. You could save 100,000 first week sales, but 12,000…No. Especially not with no hits whatsoever and a bland album. I think she should use the One Thing money and go independent.
AMERIES MUSIC JUST WASNT GOOD ENOUGH.
LOOK AT GAGA….IF THE MUSIC IS GREAT, PEOPLE WILL BUY IT!!!!
i enjoyed amerie’s album better than rihanna’s. but i do agree that amerie had no commercial hit off this album.
Although I do not like Ameries nEW sound..(her first album is the direction she should have stuck with) ….she most certainly deserves waaaaaay more recognition and promotion then Rihanna. Im soo sick of that demon child its not even funny. I will be so damn happy when her s** sellin non talented gun glorifyin self disappears.
@STX….Rihanna sounds exactly the same on every song. she needs to thank THE NEW TECHNOLOGY THEY HAVE IN THE STUDIO for helpin that voice of hers. Because when she sings live it is very quite obvious that girl is NOT A SINGER, ENTERTAINER OR A TRUE ARTIST. She is a puppet, a pretty one at that. And by that fact alone Miss thang is famous for absolutely nothing but looks alone. Back then true singers like Sarah Vaughn to Billie Holiday to Minnie Ripperton to Janis Joplin to Aretha Franklin to Erykah Badu all pocessed a natural gift. when they sing you can literally feel the emotion and truth in there voice they literally become like a musical instrument…something that technology couldnt even compare to. When you know real music and have a real respect for it…certain artist like Rihanna goes unrecoginzed. She to me is for the children and now that shes gone a more sexual VIOLENT approach in her “new” sound shes not even for that but better yet for those that listen to anything that will make them dance vs think.
I mean look at the lovely Jazmine Sullivan to Chrisette Michelle to Melonie Fiona and Janelle Monae and let me not forget Teedra Moses. all Beautiful NEW talent that goes forgotten because A. There Not sellin s**. B.Dressin like s**** and last but not least C.They have talent something that music is not giving focus to these days anymore, and its truly sad. MONEY POWER AND LOOKS are all you need to become a singer. this generation seems to lack the most knowledge and respect when it comes to knowing what good music is.
People saying it’s because of her eye colour are beyond retarded. I can’t even remember the colour of her eyes. Britney’s eyes are brown and her hair was brown, that didn’t stop her from having the biggest selling album and single back with Baby One More Time did it? I’m pretty sure Mariah’s hair and eyes are Brown. Visually, Rihanna has stunning features, beautiful eyes no matter what colour. But above all, she has put out some incredibly catchy tunes with the likes of SOS, Unfaithful, Umbrella, Don’t Stop The Music, Russian Roullett etc. At the end of the day, it’s all about the music. Look at Lady Gaga, as much as I can’t stand her she’s really selling and she is probs the “ugliest” pop star there ever was. Madonna was hardly pretty either. Look at Cassie too, as much as I love her first album she’s had no success since Me & U, and she is in my opinion once of the best looking girls I’ve ever seen. Rihanna has worked hard to get where she’s at, why do people have to spread hate so much?
yes, amerie is artistically creative,but she needs to be able to compromise & make her music CATCHY too! that way ppl will be checking for her, and then if she has more of a following, her label will spend money on her promotions, videos etc.
and in this industry all u need is a GOOD VIDEO + A GIMMICK.
amerie doesnt have that.
@stay smoking, how should she sound different, its her voice. I sound the same way on every song I sing too, cause its my voice. So what are you saying? Rihanna is not trying to stop chrisette michelle, melonie fiona, jasmine, and all the others from getting their shine. What has she got to do with them? People like who they like, they have their fans, and rihanna has hers. So why get mad at her. and @adam, I agree with everything you said, rihanna puts out great hits, so this whole thing about her beauty is a bunch of BS. She brings the hits, sounds good doing so, and has a right to be in the biz as much as anyone else. SHe is a hardworking 21 year old that deserves everything she has.
“Britney’s eyes are brown and her hair was brown, that didn’t stop her from having the biggest selling album and single back with Baby One More Time did it? I’m pretty sure Mariah’s hair and eyes are Brown.”
Britney is naturally brunette and has dyed her hair blonde or worn blonde hair extensions ever since her second single. Blonde + white = ‘more marketable.
Mariah started wearing her hair blonde too, and straightened her hair. This made her more marketable because she can move between black and white at the drop of a hat.
They’re all playing the game to be ‘pretty’.
“Look at Lady Gaga, as much as I can’t stand her she’s really selling and she is probs the “ugliest” pop star there ever was. Madonna was hardly pretty either.”
I think Gaga is pretty, and definitely find her more attractive than Rihanna. Rihanna’s face reminds me of the Scream mask. Madonna has aged, but she was pretty at a young age. Of course, beauty is objective so we see different things.
“Rihanna has worked hard to get where she’s at, why do people have to spread hate so much?”
How has she worked hard? She hasn’t done anything other artists haven’t done. She steals her image from other artists, adds a few words, if that, and claims to be a songwriter, prances up and down the street with her tits out, and then stands there like a dead fish on stage. Where’s the effort? Behind the scenes. The producers, REAL songwriters, and label supplying the budget. You could remove Rihanna and replace her with another singer and people wouldn’t care. It’s not her people rave about, but the songs or fashion.
Basically you guys are saying Amerie has to sell out to be big ( which she won’t do). look at who you are comparing her to Gaga and Rihanna..wow are u kidding as a fan of Amerie i love that she does her own thing and does not follow trends like the 2 mentioned. Amerie writes her own music ( not hating but stating the facts) but Rihanna does not , she sings whats given to her like the pretty face she is but on the other hand i will give Lady Gaga her props because she writes her own materiel. I believe that Amerie is happy where she is because if she wanted catchy hits she would write ’em but clearly its not what she wants. i will admit 12k is horrible but i got my copy and love it and Rated R are is cool but I’m sticking In Love & War (quality over quantity)….Can’t wait for More Than Love Video!
I could not have written this better!!!! Amerie is FAR betta than Rhianna (only comparing the
m becuz they on the same label)! Her aesthetic is clear and true. Rhianna is a manufactured doll who wrote nothing on her cd…. Thank you.
@ Healthy Black Queens…
“Of course, beauty is objective so we see different things.”
I think you mean beauty is subjective, not objective.
@healthy black queen, that’s the point, she is working just as hard as others in the business, so she has a right to be right where she is. I doubt you can remove rihanna and replace her with another singer, because people support rihanna because they want her, plain and simple. So you tell me if people remove rihanna and replace her with Amerie, people wouldn’t care? Do you think people are so stupid they don’t truly know who they are supporting? I agree beauty is in the eye of the beholder, because i think rihanna is beautiful.
i have been am amerie fan since the beginning and i rmbr tryna find promos on her and there was none….im gonna cop her latest album 4 xmas
I agree with what you said. Amerie is better than Rihanna in every way possible, if the label paid more attention and put as much investment into Amerie as RIhanna, she’d have performance WAYYY better
I also completely agree with HEALTHY BLACK QUEENS JOIN!
& Amerie’s album was actually exptional. If was far different than the last. People saying, she should stick to R&B. Then, she wouldn’t be an artist. An artist is supposed to expirement, and explore new things & sounds. If she did the same R&B, sound she would be critiqued for not trying something different. So, let’s not go there. I guess people liking her album is preference, so i’m not going there. As to Prince, Rihanna is the it factor. How? She looks pretty, is that the “it” factor, cause that’s all she has going for her. What else can you say. Her label/stylist dress her? Her label molds her into a marketable image? She doesn’t write her own songs? She sounds horrible live? She can’t dance? She can’t perform? Her personality is a lil bland? Is that the it factor? If so, I don’t think Amerie wants this “it” factor.
Yes I agree, her album is definately underrated! Please don’t sleep on this one, cause it is a banga….
Yall been smoking bottom line is if you put Rihanna on stage to perform after Amerie, Rihanna will get embarrassed!!!!!!! Amerie has the upper hand any day, folks just like Rihanna because she is fake, people don’t know how to accept realness anymore.