Music lovers who’d written off Grammy winning stageblazer Ciara after the unforgiving dismissal of her third and fourth albums, ‘Fantasy Ride’ and ‘Basic Instinct’ respectively, were in for a rude awakening when her self-titled project dropped in 2013.
A return to prominence of sorts for the dancing diva, the album waltzed its way to a top 5 debut on the Billboard 200 courtesy of the modern-day slow jam ‘Body Party’ and other supporting cuts. The truest test of her commercial relevance in the day’s music market, however, would be passed if the reignited momentum could carry on to its follow-up. The answer to the challenge would arrive in a somewhat unlikely single choice: ‘I Bet.’
Perceived as a clear clapback to her highly publicized relationship woes with former fiance/rapper Future, ‘I Bet’ was greeted with mixed reviews as some praised the singer for the tune’s brazen content while others expressed disappointment over its dated sound. A slow, but steady climb up the Billboard Hot 100 (thanks to promotional appearances and radio play) would prove ‘I Bet’ a sure bet – a “winner” in some contexts given the unfavorable treatment “pure R&B” tracks were receiving on the pop charts in 2015.
However, that relative “win” would not be enough to launch the song’s parent album, ‘Jackie,’ to the heights of any of its predecessors:
Despite its featured number, ‘I Bet,’ earning the songstress the only platinum plaque for a female R&B single released in 2015, ‘Jackie’s debut numbers were Ciara’s lowest to date. With 25,000 SPS to its first week credit, the album premiered at #17 on the Billboard 200.
Granted, its promo push did see Ciara visit a number of top outlets (print and broadcast) and even light up New York’s Times Square with adverts, but some fans cried those funds could have been more strategically spent. In addition, ‘Bet’s follow-up single – ‘Dance Like We’re Making Love’ – was selected after a confusing set of announcements christened other ‘Jackie’ cuts as ‘Bet’s official successor. Boasting a glossy, Dave Meyers-directed video and Ci’s oft-envied choreography, her performance in ‘Dance’ did get much applause from viewers, but that praise did not translate into a noteworthy chart performance.
What was the dancing diva’s misstep? Since the ‘Jackie’ campaign was afforded a traditional promo push that many of Ci’s contemporaries would beg to have, especially for her genre of choice, was it the music that hit a sour note? Or, did Ciara simply curtail her promotional efforts in the wrong direction?
In other words: what caused the failure of ‘Jackie’?
Flop flop flop flop it’s been a decade since she’s had a platinum album lol
Ciara forces it too much on following the trend… i wanna here her on some funk… she’s such a beautiful lady… she needs so change her sound and all she need to come for real.
Ciara girl, truth is you are no longer a force in the music industry! You last hoorah was “The Evolution” 200-2007. Ciara messed her career up when she tried to abandon her urban fan base in exchange for “pop audience” & Hollywood with “Fantasy Ride”. Then came the fake friendships with “Kardashain’s and Ciara’s FAKE HOLLYWOOD/Valley girl accent. From their it went downhill fast she lost her urban fanbase. Then in 2010 she tried to come back with “Basic Instinct” however the R&B scene was gone & pop/Electronica had completely taken over! Now these days her modeling career and her relationships are more relevant than any music she puts out! She really is nothing more than a great dancer who made a short impact… Still love Cici though ?
If this ain’t the truth, I don’t know what is.
Idk. I think her career went downhill after she posed n*** for Vibe Magazine then LIED and said they photoshopped her clothes off. Then GGGB, IASF and Gaga came along…
I don’t know about to the n*** photographs or photoshop… Both of those things were not a big deal back during those days! I think your second point about Rih, Bey, and Gaga has more truth. I said when Ciara tried to come back to R&B the entire scene had gone away and Cici couldn’t keep up with the changing tide and got lost in the shuffle!
It was, actually…. Then Lloyd basically clowned her for being “too Hollywood,” then “SR” released “The Ciara Diaries” which made her a laughing stock in the urban community. Her image was tarnished by 2009.
Promotion.
I don’t ever remember her promoting her album outside of the TV show with Bae Jonas and her singing the national anthem.
It’s a pitty because Ciara is so beautiful and talented.
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Side bar, I do love coconuts. So milky and exotic. Definitely a fruit for a good time.
She promoted tht album everywhere!
Pop is just not her thing. Her self titled album did okay due to a more urban/crossover sound. “Jackie” went completely pop and that’s just not her thing. Fortunately she’ has a wealthy mate and she’s capable of making money in other ways besides music. If she wanted a decent music career she wouldn’t have burnt bridges with Mike will made and her baby daddy. Musically more urban producers are the only thing working for her. Ciara’s music isn’t bad, It’s just dated and safe, nothing new.
🙂 I’m going to come back to this post in an hour after my lunch break to get my KIIIs.
Same here. I already know some of the regulars are crafting up the shadiest comments ever lol!
RIGHT! I haven’t commented in a while but I couldn’t miss out on this
KIIII I just knew these comments were going to be too funny
@FakeBodyNow, how you doing, you bad body built b*****? Still pretending to be ElusiveLamb?
KIIII
Uh oh! I absolutely love my Ci, so I’m not gonna offer my opinion. I’m just gonna continue to support her and be optimistic about her return too the top.
Me too! I don’t care if Ciara sells 10 million or 10,000 albums. I f**** with Ci and you’re not going to see many artists bring it on stage better than Ci does these days!
Yep! I swear you don’t get tired of telling the truth.
No lies told…
@HœChile, shut your annoying ass up, hœ
#WeSupportCiara !
The only problem I as a Ciara fan began having with her is that there is no growth in her music. Her music has been consistent but no growth. With every album, she release a mid tempo or slow song as the lead single and that’s what eff’s her up. People want something HARD and upbeat. I Bet is a nice song but she should’ve gone with either BMF, That’s How I’m Feeling, or even One Woman Army as the lead. Get people and keep people excited for your music.
Exactly! Damn, “That’s How I’m Feeling” is a jam and I was waiting for it to be released – at least as a buzz/club single. But nooo!
I love love love “I Bet” too and I’m happy it turned out to be somewhat of a hit, but in general she or her label make questionable single choices. “Dance like we’re making love” was a little too obviously trying to be a hit. The video is great, but it’s not very exciting overall.
Cedric is DONE and has been done for 10 years face FACTS
S-HE HAS THREE FANS AND THEY COULD NEVER TELL THE GREAT LACEFRONCE WHEN HE-R LAST CERTIFIED ALBUM WAS EVEN WITH STREAMS S-HE CANT GET CERTIFIED
SHE TRIED TO DO POP AND FLOPPED
THE PPL ARE OVER HER
WE ONLY TALK ABOUT SHIM WHEN HES JUMPING FROM ATHLETE TO ATHLETE FOR RELEVANCE
SO IS Lady Garbage Where is her music
Shady fact: if you add up ciaras last 4 flop albums it still will not outsell mariah’s floppiest album during her reign “glitter”
And people had the nerve to say this he-bítch was the next Janet/Aaliyah lol
This album was trash. No questions. With the other albums that flopped i really didnt understand why cause the material was on point.. With this 1, i definitely understood.
The problem was both basically. She killed off her last album so after she came back she should’ve went on tour to promote herself and the record. Instead she went back in the studio, like why give up on a hit album? CIARA put her back on the map again and she abandoned that for pop radio because ppl boosted her head over Overdose. The Jackie album is horrible like, BAD! She needs to move back to ATL and get her swag back and cater to urban radio cause pop radio keeps denying her ass.
Dance Like We’re Making Love should have been the first single. It was more crossover and pop. It was confusing to come out with RnB and then Pop. She’s a great performer , but her material has become hit n miss. Hopefully it’s not too late for her.
Her last 4 albums have flopped… I think it’s too late for her music wise. That’s why she signed that major multi million dollar modeling contract, she has seen a lot of success in the industry the past few years so it’s smart she is going in that direction!
The issue with Ciara is that her music has no substance on top of that she’s not a great vocalist! No one’s gonna spend money on an album from her when tht is the case. Take Janet Jackson as an example… She wasnt the strongest singer vocally but her music had great balance… She had substance in her music, she gave u ballads and she gave u uptempo dance songs! Janets music is timeless…
Product promotion it honestly doesn’t matter nobody was going to buy the album. CICI was just a filler her success was an accident. *waits for Molly the Maid ??
The issue is the promotion and the CONSISTENCY. But people with common sense would know that. Epic really didn’t give her enough support so the thing left for Ciara to do is figuring out to get the RIGHT team for her next album. I love “Jackie” and it’s Ciara’s solid work but I know she’s going to push the envelope. She’s thirty years old and needs to DEVELOP a mature but edgier direction. We’ll have to wait and see because I’m excited for her to bring her GRITTIER side back.
I used her album booklet to wipe my ass with and it really did some wonders. Just apply the booklet cover to your ass once and it gets rid of all the sh$t in there. Thank you ci
You should be using that money to purchase Kehlani’s music
Ciara messed up when she tried to become someone SHE WAS NOT. Yes, evolve as an artist but she lost the essence of Ciara. She was the hood (if you will) popstar. When she started trying to be more mainstream pop is when her career started suffering majorly. The GP responded to R&B/Crunk&B Ciara. We already have Bey and Rih. She wanted to compete with them when she should have just continued carving her own lane. She’s had the potential to be the Janet of our time but, sadly, I think that ship has sailed at this point. And, this is coming from someone who has purchased plenty of her music over the last decade. Also, I’m so over her with the “I’m working on my best album yet” bull! Like, girl.. Lolll you’ve been saying this the past 10 years now. Cut it.
Honestly, its neither. Her self-titled album had promo and good music and still under-performed for R&B standards. Ciara doesn’t sell for three reasons in my opinion.
1. R&B music in general doesn’t sell. Unless you’re Beyonce or Alicia Keys, your album aint selling platinum period.
2. Ciara is a product of the past. She never did have the artistry or handling of Beyonce or Alicia Keys to stand the testament of time. She packaged with the crunk sound and when it died she never really made it out. The Evolution did decent but like I said, she didn’t have the handling or the artistry to carry out. Ciara should’ve headlined a theatre tour after Evolution and built her name as a touring act but poor handling missed that. She tried to change with Fantasy Ride but poor artistry killed that.
3. Because she has no artistry she is doing the same song and dance. Jackie was hardly any different from Ciara or The Evolution. Ciara hasn’t shown much growth sonically between albums. She is still delivering the same message every album.
To say that “Jackie” wasn’t anything new from “CIARA” and “The Evolution” means you really didn’t listen to any of the three! “Jackie” is nothing like either albums or else it would’ve sold better and this post wouldn’t be here, “CIARA” is where she should’ve went after “The Evolution”. That album was both growth and staying true to herself and original sound while adding touches of pop and honestly, she shouldn’t have recorded another album because even though her sales started off slow, they could’ve raised quickly with single releases and video releases. Her and Future made great music together, Body Party and DUI is f****** timeless in my opinion, but instead of capitalizing of the album they were trying to get some quick nuts. Another problem is that ppl wanted a heartbreak, he f***** me over, I’m angry type of album from her and she just wanted to move on from the situation KNOWING what ppl wanted AND STILL gave us some Selena Gomez ass album. Like someone said, if the album played more towards BMF (even though it’s corny AF) and I Bet …maybe even All Good (cause that’s sounds more like her style), it could’ve done well. DLWML was a hit waisted on LA Reid and Ciara ass!
WELL WELL WELL………..CI-DUDE WAS ONCE A LITTLE URBAN AND CRUNK PRINCESS, BUT ITS TRUE THAT SHE LOST HER CORE FAN BASE WHEN SHE WENT POP, ESPECIALLY WITH SONGS LIKE LOVE S** AND MAGIC (WHICH I LOVE AND THINK ITS ONE OF HER BEST SONGS). AND WHEN ‘TRAGIC INSTINCT’ CAME OUT, IT WAS THE FINAL NAIL IN THE COFFIN THAT HER CAREER WAS DONE. ‘JACKILLED’ WAS ALSO A MISSTEP IN MY OPINION. ‘I BET’ WAS A VERY GOOD SONG, BUT WAS NOT REFLECTIVE OF THE ENTIRE ALBUM, IF THE OTHER SONGS WENT THE ROUTE OF I BET, THE ALBUM WOULD HAVE SO MUCH BETTER…..STILL WOULD HAVE FLOPPED, BUT WOULD HAVE BEEN A VERY ENJOYABLE AND COHESIVE ALBUM. SHE COULD HAVE GONE WITH THE COMMON THEME OF HEARTBREAK, JUST LIKE 21, LEMONADE E.T.C THAT WOULD HAVE MADE THE ALBUM MORE INTERESTING TO LISTEN TO, NOT JUST A BUNCH OF RANDOM SONGS WITH THE HOPES THAT ONE SONG WILL BECOME A HIT.
P.S I LIKED THE VIDEO FOR DANCE LIKE WE’RE MAKING LOVE AND THOUGHT IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN NOMINATED FOR A VMA
IS THERE ANY HOPE FOR A CAREER REVIVAL??? YES AND IT IS RUSSELL WILSON..GET THAT MONEY CI-MAN, WHEN ALL ELSE FAILS GRAB THE NEXT SEXUALLY DOWNLOW MAN AND MAKE UR CASH.
Tragic instinct SCREAMS
Both. Jackie was a pop/dance album, yet they were sending her pop singles to Urban radio. Stupid! And then you had the first single, it did ok, but it wasn’t a good rep of the theme of the album. Here’s this early 2000’s R&B song to launch this Pop album. She had two pop songs on Ciara and we wanted those to be singles, but she got knocked up by a rapper that still giving her problems. Hint the reason she’s trending right now.
At least she has Grammy. Can’t say the same about the songwriter who is too scared to release an album and Queen Of Urban Pop.
And let’s not forget, THAT album flopped…even after she waited. It’s a FLOP. Now she’s getting hits from soundtracks and ish…chile.
I think Ciara (and so many other artist tat came and went) just never had it. In 2004, was it CIARA that was the star or the ATL SOUND that was very IN at that time? So many ATL rapper of that sound came and went with that sound. It’s hard, but you have to grow, stay with or more importantly AHEAD of the sound while still keeping your core fans while grabbing new ones.
Have you come out of the closet yet, sis?
I think both were horrible tbh. The product wasn’t all that great only like 2 or 3 songs were okay then her promo was horrible too like she set herself up to fail.
I’ve said it once I’ll say it again she rushes her albums! She makes one maybe two hits and then a whole bunch of fillers. She really needs to take a two year break and make an excellent body of work. I know y’all give Keri Hilson hell but I really respect her taking this extended break to make a great album.. Even Keyshia is doing the same. CIARA TAKE YOUR TIME AND GO BACK TO YOUR ROOTS!
Ciara tried to go back to her roots twice and failed both times. I think it’s safe to say that people are just over her music.
Ciara has had a terrible team from day one. The Evolution era should have set her up to be a solid star. She should’ve launched a massive tour and inked every endorsement deal she could think of. She should have turned to movies then too. Idc what the rest of the C-Squad says, Fantasy Ride was a great album. LSM was hardly even pop enough to merit the sell out claims. The problem is that they did nothing with it after LSM. Ciara should’ve went on her own solo tour instead of opening for Britney and should’ve had Keep Dancin On Me as the follow up single. Basic Instincts was overall a bad album save Ride and Wants for Dinner. Career wise she was “done” by then. Ciara and Jackie were both great albums but by that point CiCi had timed out. Most artist don’t last longer than a decade in this industry. If album #2 and #3 were done right, Ciara could’ve had until Jackie to be on top but she would’ve fallen off anyways. Her team was and still is the worse. The only era handled right was “Ciara”.
Honestly Ciara is a gifted dancer! but her problem has always been content…. and just development of her as an artist in all facets. To be on top and remain there takes dedication, i feel like she’s not as dedicated to music as id like her to be..
Ciara has had a terrible team from day one. The Evolution era should have set her up to be a solid star. She should’ve launched a massive tour and inked every endorsement deal she could think of. She should have turned to movies then too. Idc what the rest of the C-Squad says, Fantasy Ride was a great album. LSM was hardly even pop enough to merit the sell out claims. The problem is that they did nothing with it after LSM. Ciara should’ve went on her own solo tour instead of opening for Britney and should’ve had Keep Dancin On Me as the follow up single. Basic Instincts was overall a bad album save Ride and Wants for Dinner. Career wise she was “done” by then. Ciara and Jackie were both great albums but by that point CiCi had timed out. Most artist don’t last longer than a decade in this industry. If album #2 and #3 were done right, Ciara could’ve had until Jackie to be on top but she would’ve fallen off anyways. Her team was and still is the worse. The only era handled right was “Ciara”.
It’s just sad that her stans bandwagon Natalie la rose, iggy and Selena.
KIIII!!! You’re always getting Molly together ???
IDK was worse, stanning for a has been like Ciara or those no names that you just mentioned lol
Girl right? ☕️☕️☕️?
LOL MAYBE SHE JUST DIDN’T SPREAD HER LEGS FOR THE RIGHT PEOPLE LIKE BEYONCE AND RIHANNA DID LOL.
Isn’t that how gaga started her career……?
jhshshdhsjshjsshdh
No chill! Lol you’ve been goin in lately.
DEATH
Ciara is an inconsequential artist. She has zero qualities that put her above the pack. She is an okay singer and an okay dancer. She doesn’t mean anything to anyone. Her songs are slow jams and bangers….but no one is at her shows saying “GOODIES CHANGED MY LIFE!”. She will only ever be as hot as her songs…and she hasn’t produced a great one of those in a long time.
July 5, 2016 at 12:19 pm
The Kpop Guy, Matt~ says:
+2
-6
Vote
Promotion.
I don’t ever remember her promoting her album outside of the TV show with Bae Jonas and her singing the national anthem.
It’s a pitty because Ciara is so beautiful and talented.
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Side bar, I do love coconuts. So milky and exotic. Definitely a fruit for a good time.
Reply
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“so milky and exotic. Definitely a fruit for a good time.”
I knew you were a swallöwer, sis ???
Child, you don’t waste life
This post is dryer than @TrashNows artificial, non-self-lubricating vagína 🙁
Why can’t she try working with underground/upcoming producers and writers? She relies on the same producers every time! Thinking that they’re going to give her hits.
She has to get signed to a label before she can do any of that ….
People are just jealous and cruel towards ciara when she was doing rb that what everybody wanted her to be when she was doing pop they wanted her to do that but change there mine anything she does people have something negative to say I like the fact she never gave up regardless what people or the media has to say for her to be in the game more than 10 years is a good look I applaud her for that.
Ciara needs a signature sound! When she first popped she had a lane carved out for her. she was a lot like a aliyah which was what the world needed at that time and it was working. she was that hood rough pop girl who was ratchet but really beautiful but also a tomboy who was in l I ve with love. then she totally abandoned that image for some reason. I just don’t get it. her first two albums went platinum in less that two months! so at this point I don’t know. I honestly think she could SERIOUSLY make a comeback. all she needs is an album full of nonstop hits! kinda like the game monster. The reason I liked gaga was because her music was a perfect fusion of rhythmic pop with a little bit of rnb underneath. that’s what Ciara needs. Fire ass music that we can see killer choreography with.
Nobody cares.
You obviously do f**
What is this I’m hearing about Ciara running scared cuz Future will kill Russelll? Really?? ?????
You forgot to add 2 more things too vote for……FLOP and CAN’T SING!!!!!!! Stop with the excuses! She was too interested in the man she was laying with at that time, like she is doing now, and not her music. Excuses, excuses excuses!
Honestly Ciara has what it takes to push her career to new hieghts. Imo what she needs to do is obviously take some vocal lessons so she can gain better control during her live performances. Next, Cici is an artist who would seriously benefit from the “stream wave” the music industry is currently in, so therefore Cici should focus on being a singles artist like other top gals in the industry. Say what you want but Ciara videos slay! And she needs to make more of them. What’s been disappointing for almost every era is the lack of visuals her fans recieve. Basic Instint has some great hits! You Can Get It, Yeah I Know, and Girls Get Your Money should have all had videos. And the Ciara LP was a step in the right direction in regards to material. Cici needs to focus on her strength, come back to the R&B and even get into the trap, make dope videos and she will be fine. But if she keeps playing it safe then she’ll remain a flop. But as a fan I will continue to support because I honestly don’t hate any of her albums.
Ciara’s biggest problem is that she chooses bad material. On almost every album, she comes out the gate with a strong single but then the rest of the album sucks. And Jackie by far is her worst album to date! I Bet was the only radio friendly song on the album.
She wanted to be a super popstar so bad, it was too earlier for her to go pop
Product! Ciara hasn’t released an album with any type of personality since “fantasy Ride” over the years we’ve gotten lukewarm b-side bangers,forgettable mid-tempos,and never should’ve been recorded by her ballads,material that should’ve stayed in the vault.
Jackie was no exception. From the album title, to the single choices,to the bland material. It’s a sad state when your 18-19 year old self recorded music that had more depth and personality than your music has a decade plus later.
She and her label did their part in promotion,plus including the drama,and her social media fan base, people knew about this album, problem is majority just didn’t care an enough to buy it. The album was indeed trash!
Terrible album
I’m such a fan of Ciara but I think it’s pretty clear to see that the general public has lost interest in her on a musical level and the release of “Jackie” really solidified that. You can’t really say that the album wasn’t promoted well because I think she had some decent promo spots. I personally thought it was a weaker album for her. It was just a little too generic and poppy. I preferred her 2013 self-titled album over “Jackie.” With all that said, I still love her though. She’s talented and drop dead gorgeous!
If i had to pick, it would be product. Her self-titled was the start of something fresh and finally a balance of what I believed she had been trying to do again since her first and second album. Then she comes out with the “Jackie” album which went left to many of her fans because the start of her new sound was being created with that album I believe. That album was a complete evolution. I really don’t the straight pop is her thing. Especially not her day 1 fans even though some of us support her either way. I really think she should balance it out again. I still listen to her self-titled the most to this day. That album is timeless. I’m anticipating her new Era though. Come through CiCi.
Ciara need new songwriter & new producers or would like to see ciara get into acting
I would like for Ciara to go in the direction of her Self-titled album which was amazing. If her next album is as good and has as much promo as Jackie, I see it being Ciara’s comeback era. Now with the streaming b******* she could debut with at least 60k+ and could get a Body Party and Ride sized hit.
I may drag her from time to time, but I am rooting for her.