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Tracks that should've been a mainstream hit

Once in a while, we come across EDM tracks that also seem quite good even from the mainstream audience perspective (assuming in most countries mainstream audience = non-edm audience). I know quite a few tracks that my friends who don't really like anything in general from the House/Trance/Breakbeats/Techno genre appreciate and actually buy and keep them in their "favourite" collection.

Some examples:

Motorcycle - As the rush comes
Nalin & Kane - Beachball
Armin Van Buuren - Burned with Desire
IIO - Rapture
Deep Dish - Flashdance
Interstate - I found you

Also, many remixes as well as actual edm tracks featuring the likes of Dido, Sarah McLachlan etc.

Some of you may have the opinion that those tracks are in general "too cheesy", "poppish", "watered down" etc. but that's besides point. They do represent an aspect of EDM that would've been palatable and actually lapped up by the mainstream if they were marketed well or had reasonable airplay.

I am sure there are many tracks that would've gone well with the mainstream audience in the North America, Asia and elsewhere (generally outside Europe - assuming they did quite well in Europe) if they had been marketed appropriately (instead of just word-of-the-mouth or club-plays).

Can you list some of the tracks that you strongly feel should've been hit with the mainstream audience but missed out on?

P.S: This post has been written in keeping with the mainstream audience in North America which essentially a non-EDM audience. I am also assuming that most tracks mentioned above or to be mentioned by you were already some hit in Europe.

Andain - Beautiful Things
Oceanlab - Sky Falls Down, Satellite
Thrillseekers - Dreaming Of You
Solar Stone ft. Jes - Like A Waterfall
Above & Beyond - Alone Tonight, Can't Sleep, Good For Me, Far From In Love, No One On Earth (Gabriel & Dresden Remix)
System F - Cry
Ferry Corsten - Punk, Rock Your Body, Holding On, Whatever, It's Time
FB ft. Edun - Who's Knocking? (Ferry Corsten Remix)
Armin van Buuren - Never Wanted This, Yet Another Day, Burned With Desire (as you mentioned)

a lot of ATB and BT tracks.

The fault I think you are making is that you are trying to bring trance closer to mainstream, by exposing poor uneducated people to underproduced dogshit.

Too many DJ's try to appeal to the mainstream audience already.

quote:

Originally posted by Cetra� The fault I think you are making is that you are trying to bring trance closer to mainstream, by exposing poor uneducated people to underproduced dogshit. Too many DJ's try to appeal to the mainstream audience already.

Yeah but you need to be "accessible" to be mainstream...I mean real, true trance but EDM in general is what I think we are talking about. I doubt psy trance or any of the more underground trance would really work. Simple tracks with catchy vocals and melody is what people usually look for in "pop" music, so essentially EDM-Pop or dance-pop is what the thread starter and myself are going after that hasn't gone too mainstream but should have or could have gone mainstream very easily...even more so IMO than Darude's "Sandstorm" which became so huge but it was a little rougher i'de say than these tracks..and being instrumental it lacked what most people look for in pop music...vocals.

Nothing "should be" a mainstream hit.

quote:

Originally posted by Cetra� The fault I think you are making is that you are trying to bring trance closer to mainstream, by exposing poor uneducated people to underproduced dogshit. Too many DJ's try to appeal to the mainstream audience already.

I am not trying to bring trance closer to mainstream or mainstream closer to trance. On a side note, if it happens, i am not complaining either.

There are tracks/scores that appeal to masses in general regardless of of their genre, and trance (or EDM in general) is no exception. I have a strong dislike for hip-hop but there are a few hip-hip tracks that i have enjoyed/purchased. Similarly, there are quite a few EDM tracks that should've done very well with the mainstream (without them changing their genre-orientation).

I am just interested in knowing those tracks that should've appealed to the mainstream despite them being an adherent to a non-edm genre, be it rock-soul-hip-hop-pop or anyting else.

quote:

Originally posted by Spirit5 Simple tracks with catchy vocals and melody is what people usually look for in "pop" music, so essentially EDM-Pop or dance-pop is what the thread starter and myself are going after that hasn't gone too mainstream but should have or could have gone mainstream very easily...even more so IMO than Darude's "Sandstorm" which because so huge but it was a little rougher i'de say than these tracks..and being instrumental it lacked what most people look for in pop music...vocals.

Very well said.

quote:

Originally posted by inconspicuous Nothing "should be" a mainstream hit.

So everything should be underground then? If nothing is mainstream then what is pop music then? The whole basic idea behind pop music is music for the masses. There's plenty of pop EDM out there. Not everything should be this underground type of music only heard and played by a certain select group of people whose tastes might be different than the "mainstream". Not everything should be mainstream, true, but to say nothing should be mainstream is snobbish/elitist, not realistic.

quote:

Originally posted by Spirit5 So everything should be underground then? If nothing is mainstream then what is pop music then? The whole basic idea behind pop music is music for the masses. There's plenty of pop EDM out there. Not everything should be this underground type of music only heard and played by a certain select group of people whose tastes might be different than the "mainstream". Not everything should be mainstream, true, but to say nothing should be mainstream is snobbish/elitist, not realistic.

I didn't say that everything should be underground. I said that nothing "should be" mainstream.

Seriously, I've heard enough fucking bullshit trance.

No, it should not be easily accessible or however you want to put it. If people want to listen to trance they should.

If they want to listen to what mainstream media and theiving record companies want you to listen to, then they can do that too.

things like 'top 40' etc... are all shams, they don't portray accurately what the most popular types of music are and aren't healthy at all.

quote:

Originally posted by Cetra� things like 'top 40' etc... are all shams, they don't portray accurately what the most popular types of music are and aren't healthy at all.

um, yes, that's exactly what they portray.

lustral - broken (way out west remix)

if lost language tried, it could have easily cracked the top 20

Well, if you want to fall victim to that shit then go ahead

I'm just sick of hearing the same old regurgitated shit being passed off as music. The 'dance charts' especially. The whole concept of top 40 doesn't work for the trance scene.

I think there's been a bit of discussion about this before, like in the j00f thread so I'll shutup now

The only track I'm glad was somewhat of a mainstream hit is The Knife - Silent Shout. It's wonderfully dark and melancholic, but not try-hard.

Re: Tracks that should've been a mainstream hit

quote:

Originally posted by DJ Indus Creed Once in a while, we come across EDM tracks that also seem quite good even from the mainstream audience perspective (assuming in most countries mainstream audience = non-edm audience). I know quite a few tracks that my friends who don't really like anything in general from the House/Trance/Breakbeats/Techno genre appreciate and actually buy and keep them in their "favourite" collection. Some examples: Motorcycle - As the rush comes Nalin & Kane - Beachball Armin Van Buuren - Burned with Desire IIO - Rapture Deep Dish - Flashdance Interstate - I found you

All those tracks were massive, with varying degrees of success.

Flashdance was on The Ministry Of Sound Annual 2005 and, over here, got played at least three times a night in every commercial club for like six months.

Re: Tracks that should've been a mainstream hit

quote:

Originally posted by DJ Indus Creed Some examples: Motorcycle - As the rush comes Nalin & Kane - Beachball Armin Van Buuren - Burned with Desire IIO - Rapture Deep Dish - Flashdance Interstate - I found you

Motorcycle - As The Rush Comes: #11, UK Singles Chart
Nalin & Kane - Beachball: #17, UK Singles Chart
IIO - Rapture: #2, UK Singles Chart
Deep Dish - Flashdance: #3, UK Singles Chart

They were big mainstream hits.

Re: Re: Tracks that should've been a mainstream hit

quote:

Originally posted by Beat Blog All those tracks were massive, with varying degrees of success. Flashdance was on The Ministry Of Sound Annual 2005 and, over here, got played at least three times a night in every commercial club for like six months.

I think he was using those tracks as examples that HAVE made it mainstream. The topic seems to be about other tracks that had all the hallmarks of such tracks, but didn't quite cross over (for whatever reason).

tracks that are supposed to be mainstream hits are mainstream hits...if you know the way the mainstream music industry works, you would realize how stupid your question is.

why not just say tracks you like?

MD amazes me with logic sometimes.

quite alot of trance got into the charts in the 90's in england like out of the blue, cafe del mar, carte blanche

quote:

Originally posted by Spirit5 If nothing is mainstream then what is pop music then?

Pop music is not a thing.

It is a process.

Quality music does not become mainstream.

quote:

Originally posted by Gauss Quality music does not become mainstream.

not strictly true.
chemical brothers? chicane?

quote:

Originally posted by sleepydragon not strictly true. chemical brothers? chicane?

Every rule has an exception.

Re: Tracks that should've been a mainstream hit

quote:

Originally posted by DJ Indus Creed Some examples: Motorcycle - As the rush comes Nalin & Kane - Beachball Armin Van Buuren - Burned with Desire IIO - Rapture Deep Dish - Flashdance Interstate - I found you