From: owner-basia-digest To: basia-digest@smoe.org Subject: basia-digest V1 #128 Reply-To: basia@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-basia-digest Precedence: bulk X-To-Unsubscribe: Send mail to "basia-digest-request@smoe.org" X-To-Unsubscribe: with "unsubscribe" as the body. basia-digest Friday, 31 May 1996 Volume 01 : Number 128 Today's Subjects: ----------------- Re: Anyone There? Re: A Really Long and Complaintive Post... Re: Anyone There? Re: Anyone There? Re: A Really Long and Complaintive Post... Re: Anyone There? Re: A Really Long and Complaintive Post... Re: A Really Long and Complaintive Post... Re: A Really Long and Complaintive Post... ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Philip B Hall Date: Thu, 30 May 1996 08:13:18 -0400 (EDT) Subject: Re: Anyone There? On Wed, 29 May 1996, J.S. Lohr wrote: > On Wed, 29 May 1996, Philip B Hall wrote: > > > Dennis, > > Yo! > > Thing is, there's nothin to report re Betty. > > Betty? Uhhhh... > This goes back to the Slavic languages period (you must remember this) when it was determined the name 'Basia' is the Polish equivalent of 'Betty', or something like that there.... > > However, I did get a message from Smoe welcoming me to the list the other > > day (?). > > Hey, I sent a big, long, complaintive message yesterday - apparently, no > one's gotten it yet. Maybe I finally broke the computer with all my yackin'. Got it, read it. Very INCITEful, Jeff. The simple truth is: EVERYONE dropped the ball, from Basia on down (or up). The article read like a PR writer's primer (full of as many facts as a Tolkien novel) based on what she was hearing from the artist. Probably never bothered to check one fact from SONY or VH-Zero ("And guezz what? I'm goink to be Ahtist of de Munt! Izn't dat gread?"). Basia (or was it Dee the Genius) was so hot to make the grand departure from studio generated to "live" sounding music for TSI (I think I'm the only one on the planet who actually didn't mind it) neglected to consider what had actually been the 'secret' to her previous successes. Even MattB had the smarts to put a limited number of Estephan-inspired into the INDIGO mix, balancing it with what I take to be their traditional output. So by the time BOB appears, the Basia-cult you refer to had dropped her like a hot Karesh, proving to most of the muckies at SONY they were correct in granting her post-LWNY efforts as few PR bucks as possible, since they would be wasted. Anyway, her bottom-line problem: She's too good-looking, talented, and hard-working (?) for her to make it in today's market to generate the bucks these outfits require to remain interested. Let's just hope she signs with Teenie-Tiny Records and continues her career. The 'Big Time' is just not in the cards, thank goodness. Phil (Whose wife says should not be allowed to have an opinion). ------------------------------ From: kenneth.drew.3@nd.edu (Ken Drew) Date: Thu, 30 May 1996 07:45:12 -0500 Subject: Re: A Really Long and Complaintive Post... Thanks Jeff for the article. >Welcome back to reality. >First and foremost: Basia never was VH-1's May artist of the month. You >know who was? JON SECADA. See, I'd always had my suspicions that Jon >Secada was the antechrist, but now I'm convinced. Its that particular >infuriating part of the article (as opposed to all the other infuriating >parts of the article) that has me peeved the most. But the real question >is, who should I or we be peeved at? I do not have VH-1 as it was replaced by FX and our cable system blows. Sadly, Basia is stuck with the notion that "her albums sell well regardless of what we promote" thus why should we spend any money to promote her album- this is something I heard from Sony (in not so many words) and , in fact, from Dan Beck! >So, if Sony isn't the badguy, who is? Sony is! >ya how: VH-1 must've hated "Yearning." They must've called up that same >idiot from the article, Dan Beck, and told him something like, "get with >the program, pal - we don't play this crap anymore." Maybe BUT as far as I know, VH-1 was more like MTV (at first) and it left out artists like Basia from their "rotations" long ago. Even when Basia first started, I rarely saw her videos although LWNY did get a major push via VH-1. It has been noted that a FOUR, yes 4!!!, year delay between albums is probably the biggest reason for no airplay. >Next bone to pick: "What the label noticed with 'Time and Tide' is that >Basia's records have a lingering shelf life and tend to sell over a long >period of time." By this, they may mean that there is very few radio stations that play Basia. In the shi... (sorry) crappy town I am in, there are 4 rock stations, one AC station, and some others and NONE has ever played a Basia song. At least in Chicago there is a few stations that play Basia. Basically, they know that people do not line up for Basia albums like fans of Metallica or Hootie thus "who cares?". I agree that it blows and the switch to Sony 550 Music worries me and the lack of anything with Angels Blush, 1/2 a minute, or the Broadway album confirms this. Plus the infamous Water album..... Anyway, here's hoping for new music soon..... KEN (kdrew@nd.edu) - ----------------------------------------------------------- *Webb Wilder : http://www.nd.edu/~kdrew/ * *The Beat Farmers : WWW page at: * *http://www.ucsd.edu/sdam/artists/bf/ * *Check them out today * - ----------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ From: jacki@magicnet.net (Jacki) Date: Thu, 30 May 1996 19:48:57 -0400 Subject: Re: Anyone There? >> Betty? Uhhhh... >> > >This goes back to the Slavic languages period (you must remember this) >when it was determined the name 'Basia' is the Polish equivalent of >'Betty', or something like that there.... My cousin's pregnant so I've been spending some time on the 'net looking up baby names for her. I actually saw the name Basia, and it said it was a Polish nickname for Barbara. Just food for thought. (Whose wife says should not be allowed to have an opinion). Smart woman.... I see she's got you trained right. ;-) Jacki ------------------------------ From: "J.S. Lohr" Date: Thu, 30 May 1996 21:17:13 -0400 (EDT) Subject: Re: Anyone There? On Thu, 30 May 1996, Philip B Hall wrote: > This goes back to the Slavic languages period (you must remember this) > when it was determined the name 'Basia' is the Polish equivalent of > 'Betty', or something like that there.... Actually, its more like "Barb," or "Barbie." Toodles! ********************************* R O A C H ********************************* * The Roach Motel @ http://zeus.towson.edu/~jlohr1 -- Bugs are people, too * * He loves Yugoslavians, Boba Fett, Chunky Chicken, and Yummy British Cows * ***************************************************************************** ************* "Live every day as if it were your last `cause ************* ************* sooner or later, you'll be right." - Hal Roach ************* ********************************* R U L E S ********************************* ------------------------------ From: "J.S. Lohr" Date: Thu, 30 May 1996 21:41:50 -0400 (EDT) Subject: Re: A Really Long and Complaintive Post... On Thu, 30 May 1996, Ken Drew wrote: > I do not have VH-1 as it was replaced by FX Don't worry, you're not missing anything. Give me "Vega$" and "Eight is Enough" over Hootie and the Blowfish anyday. > Sadly, Basia is stuck with the notion that "her albums sell > well regardless of what we promote" thus why should we spend > any money to promote her album- this is something I heard from > Sony (in not so many words) and , in fact, from Dan Beck! Well, BOB alone just about demolishes that little theory. > >So, if Sony isn't the badguy, who is? > > Sony is! Well, we know Sony isn't all that, but I don't think they were behind this "Artist of the Month" fiasco. If Sony was Hitler, VH-1 would be Satan. > Maybe BUT as far as I know, VH-1 was more like MTV (at first) and it > left out artists like Basia from their "rotations" long ago. HELL-O...are we talking about the same channel? VH-1 was always consistent with their choice of programming until about 1993... I'm a Basia fan because of VH-1, and I know there are many others who fall beneath the same category. If not for pre-1993 VH-1, I wouldn't be listening to about 1/3rd of the music that I do today. > Even when Basia first started, I rarely saw her videos although LWNY did > get a major push via VH-1. Eh?! You apparently didn't watch as much as I did during those years (1988-1990)...believe me, they showed the T&T singles quite alot (with the exception of "Prime Time TV" which, for some reason, escaped the regular rotation). LWNY got a lot of VH-1's attention right off the bat, too, but they also seemed to let up at the same time LWNY's sales fell through the floor. "Baby You're Mine" hardly got any airplay and "Until You Come Back to Me" was used more as a promotional tool for "A New Day" than it was for LWNY. > It has been noted that a FOUR, yes 4!!!, year delay between albums is > probably the biggest reason for no airplay. Plus, the industry changed ALOT during those four years. She also apparently lost her membership in the Modern Jazz club during those years (ie both T&T and LWNY went as high as #1 on Billboard's Contemporary Jazz chart while TSI wasn't even placed beneath this format). > By this, they may mean that there is very few radio stations that play > Basia. In the shi... (sorry) crappy town I am in, there are 4 rock stations, > one AC station, and some others and NONE has ever played a > Basia song. At least in Chicago there is a few stations that play > Basia. Exactly; and without VH-1, who's left to hear new Basia stuff with the noted exception of the pre-established fan backing (which, by today, is probably almost non-existent). > I agree that it blows and the switch to Sony 550 Music worries me Why is everyone so worried about this? She's still on Epic, only now her albums say "Sony 550/Epic" instead of just "Epic." I've seen some Celine Dion stuff released on 550 (matter of fact, I think all of her stuff is) so I don't think its a demotion of any kind. > and the lack of anything with Angels Blush, 1/2 a minute, or the Broadway > album confirms this. Well, the Broadway album was a total sham - Angels Blush was an unfortunate oversight, and Half a Minute, well...I have only one thing to say about Half a Minute: GO FIZZ GO FIZZ GO FIZZ GO FIZZ GO! > Plus the infamous Water album..... What Water album...there is no Water album. Matter of fact, has anyone asked for their money back, because I think I'm about to... > Anyway, here's hoping for new music soon..... 1998 - so close and yet, so far away. Toodles! JSL. ********************************* R O A C H ********************************* * The Roach Motel @ http://zeus.towson.edu/~jlohr1 -- Bugs are people, too * * He loves Yugoslavians, Boba Fett, Chunky Chicken, and Yummy British Cows * ***************************************************************************** ************* "Live every day as if it were your last `cause ************* ************* sooner or later, you'll be right." - Hal Roach ************* ********************************* R U L E S ********************************* ------------------------------ From: Philip B Hall Date: Thu, 30 May 1996 22:07:57 -0400 (EDT) Subject: Re: Anyone There? On Thu, 30 May 1996, Jacki wrote: > >> Betty? Uhhhh... > >> > > > >This goes back to the Slavic languages period (you must remember this) > >when it was determined the name 'Basia' is the Polish equivalent of > >'Betty', or something like that there.... > > My cousin's pregnant so I've been spending some time on the 'net looking up > baby names for her. I actually saw the name Basia, and it said it was a > Polish nickname for Barbara. Just food for thought. Barbara, right! Its Barbara (cut to me slapping myself upside of the head). > > > >(Whose wife says should not be allowed to have an opinion). > > Smart woman.... I see she's got you trained right. ;-) > > Jacki > She can claim no credit for curing me - as should be more than obvious. Phil ------------------------------ From: David Cervantes Date: Thu, 30 May 1996 17:34:53 -0700 (MST) Subject: Re: A Really Long and Complaintive Post... I probably don't know as much about the music business as the rest of you guys. Questions and comments about this article: What's NAC? Does anyone really give a @#$% who directs music videos? Every once in a while I see that Michael Jackson or REM is employing Dino de Laurentiis or Quentin Tarantino to direct their latest video. WHO CARES?? More on videos: If VH-1 and MTV don't show them, how do people ever see them? Do you have to go to a bar (shudder) or buy them somehow or. . . ? Besides which, when do VH-1 and MTV actually broadcast videos? It seems like every time I look at the TV listings (I don't get cable anymore) those stations have some non-music related program on. I'm perfectly happy that Basia is not a household name, rather than seen everywhere like Mariah Carey or Janet Jackson (though I wouldn't mind seeing Miss T's visage regularly plastered all over supermarket mags and tabloids a la Teri Hatcher and Fran Drescher [ahem]). I think her music fills a small niche, not a large one. What's wrong with that? Basia herself has admitted that she's lazy; I bet part of the reason that her name is not on everyone's lips is that she doesn't want it that way. Jon Secada instead of Basia Trzetrzelewska. Ugh. Sometimes I'm glad I don't have cable. ------------------------------ From: Jason Date: Thu, 30 May 1996 21:24:16 -0700 Subject: Re: A Really Long and Complaintive Post... >Does anyone really give a @#$% who directs music videos? Every once in >a while I see that Michael Jackson or REM is employing Dino de >Laurentiis or Quentin Tarantino to direct their latest video. WHO >CARES?? I agree 99.9% of the time. But if Spike Jones is the director, I care. He is the Orson Welles of music videos. ------------------------------ From: "J.S. Lohr" Date: Fri, 31 May 1996 00:47:50 -0400 (EDT) Subject: Re: A Really Long and Complaintive Post... On Thu, 30 May 1996, David Cervantes wrote: > I probably don't know as much about the music business as the rest of > you guys. Questions and comments about this article: > > What's NAC? Well...ummm...I uh...Neato Adult Contemporary? > Does anyone really give a @#$% who directs music videos? Every once in > a while I see that Michael Jackson or REM is employing Dino de > Laurentiis or Quentin Tarantino to direct their latest video. WHO > CARES?? I didn't know that we were talking about that.... Perhaps you're referring to the comment I made about the Basia videos directed by Crescenzo Notarile...I only mentioned this because I think the guy needs serious mental help to try to get past that obvious oral fixation of his... (plus, the guy who directed "Time and Tide" and "New Day for You" did a much better job in my opinion). > More on videos: If VH-1 and MTV don't show them, how do people ever see > them? The Jukebox Network. ;D (time fo anuthah Jukebox Jamboree!!!) Or for the lucky ones among us, MOR Music (the only channel I know of that showed any of Basia's videos from TSI). > Do you have to go to a bar (shudder) Do you mean, like, dance clubs?!?! You mean there's a dance club out there somewhere that would show a BASIA video?!!? All we ever get on the screens at the dance clubs here in the D.C./Baltimore area are female bondage type foreign things... :( > Besides which, when do VH-1 and MTV actually broadcast videos? It seems > like every time I look at the TV listings (I don't get cable anymore) > those stations have some non-music related program on. Very true. > I'm perfectly happy that Basia is not a household name, rather than > seen everywhere like Mariah Carey or Janet Jackson I guess it has its perks. Easy to buy concert tickets... very little competition on the collectible market (ie no one wants to buy Basia promos except you and maybe some sicko psychopath who just happens to live near you)... internet mailing lists that aren't too crowded and are free of big mouth know-it-alls who ramble on incessantly about trivial topics and female bondage vids at dancecl - oops. > (though I wouldn't mind seeing Miss T's visage regularly plastered all > over supermarket mags and tabloids a la Teri Hatcher and Fran Drescher > [ahem]). What is it with the gutter-minds recently? You guys are disturbed... Hell, you guys couldn't handle receiving that sort of exposure - I ask you, what if Basia were to do a photo spread on her next album similar to the one Tori Amos did for her most recent release (yes, the ones of her breast-feeding a pig)? You guys would go nuts. You wouldn't know what to do with yourselves. Your wives/girlfriends would probably throw out the CD (or at least the linear notes) and tell you to get your minds out of the gutter. > Basia herself has admitted that she's lazy; I bet part of the reason that > her name is not on everyone's lips is that she doesn't want it that way. Well, she hasn't ever complained about being a Sony artist...and as long as she remains with them, her releases are guaranteed to remain in a state of total secrecy. :D > Jon Secada instead of Basia Trzetrzelewska. Ugh. Sometimes I'm glad I > don't have cable. YOU DON'T HAVE CABLE!?!?!!?!? Oh, the humanity....... life without cable is no life at all. (a public service announcement brought to you by the Slacker generation of America) Toodles! JSL. ********************************* R O A C H ********************************* * The Roach Motel @ http://zeus.towson.edu/~jlohr1 -- Bugs are people, too * * He loves Yugoslavians, Boba Fett, Chunky Chicken, and Yummy British Cows * ***************************************************************************** ************* "Live every day as if it were your last `cause ************* ************* sooner or later, you'll be right." - Hal Roach ************* ********************************* R U L E S ********************************* ------------------------------ End of basia-digest V1 #128 ***************************