Oh, Vanessa

[Laura]

V just has to find the right song if she wants the same success as ATM. i hope she does, because honestly..her new cd hasn't affected me as much as her last two have & my fandom for V is really dying down, i think thats how it is for most people. not because she hasn't been successful with this album, she just needs to find the right song to comeback with that connects with people more.

am i making sense?lol

[Ryou-Neko]

You're making sense, but I don't think it should be Vanessa's goal in the first place to make a comeback or to connect with as many people as possible. From a musical standpoint, I would venture to say that Heroes and Thieves is by far her best album. As far as connected with as many people, I think the subjects of the songs are broad enough, but at the same time obvious enough to where more people can connect with this album then they could with, say, Harmonium.

[Laura]

then maybe it's just me, cuz i connected with Harmonium & BnN way more than this album. i mean don't get me wrong, i still like this album. but i dunno, that's just how i feel.

[davidjp]

To be honest, there are every few songs of Vanessa that i can connect with, maybe its cos i've never been in "love". The songs which i probably connect with the most are Twilight and Ordinary Day off her first album.

[nutnlp]

I agree with everything said...with V and her management knowing what happened with Harmonium(little to no promotion) you think they would have pushed this one a little bit more than they did...it's as if they are not even trying anymore...and that can be defeating to a long supporting fanbase.  I mean come on, all the 'shows' and 'news' posted on here are by fans 'digging' for information all over the internet....she needs to put together a better team, people who believe in the music and who support Vanessa...i support indie bands(on their own record labels) that do everything on their own....it's not hard too do...and i've said it before...whoever runs the myspace......shammmmeeee...myspace is probably how most bands even sell records these days....i know it's about the music and i know vanessa has that mentality but just a better team could do a world of difference.

I just thought the whole reason for signing to The Inc. was to give Vanessa everything that A&M wasn't giving her.....I hardly saw that...hey, atleast she got a 2nd video.

And in defense to all the holics here and myself...I love Vanessa, love her music, love her song writing, her style...just amazing...I praise her everywhere I get the chance...but it's starting to get hard to do because I feel like some of the fans try harder than her 'team' does!  And thats when the death of an artist/band comes along.  I want to be apart of this, I want to help...but it's getting hard and almost pointless.

IMO!

[Martin.]

I agree with everything said...with V and her management knowing what happened with Harmonium(little to no promotion) you think they would have pushed this one a little bit more than they did...it's as if they are not even trying anymore...and that can be defeating to a long supporting fanbase.  I mean come on, all the 'shows' and 'news' posted on here are by fans 'digging' for information all over the internet....she needs to put together a better team, people who believe in the music and who support Vanessa...i support indie bands(on their own record labels) that do everything on their own....it's not hard too do...and i've said it before...whoever runs the myspace......shammmmeeee...myspace is probably how most bands even sell records these days....i know it's about the music and i know vanessa has that mentality but just a better team could do a world of difference.

I just thought the whole reason for signing to The Inc. was to give Vanessa everything that A&M wasn't giving her.....I hardly saw that...hey, atleast she got a 2nd video.

And in defense to all the holics here and myself...I love Vanessa, love her music, love her song writing, her style...just amazing...I praise her everywhere I get the chance...but it's starting to get hard to do because I feel like some of the fans try harder than her 'team' does!  And thats when the death of an artist/band comes along.  I want to be apart of this, I want to help...but it's getting hard and almost pointless.

IMO!

I agree with you - especially with the part in bold.

[I gotta wear shades]

Why should we try to save Vanessa's mainstream career when it is obviously not going to ever return to what it once was

Interesting.  Exactly what efforts could you do to save V's mainstream career?  The way you worded that sounded like you have been putting in the effort or maybe you could save it if you wanted.

 she could have a successful and prosperous career as an independent artist?

How successful? If it's not successful enough, she might decide to do something else, like design jewelry....or something more lucrative.  Musically, she may decide to stay totally behind the scenes as a songwriter.

It's one thing when you're 19 and used to having nothing to say "it's all about the music", it's quite another thing when you're 27 and you've become accustomed to a certain lifestyle and have a desire to maintain that lifestyle or possibly lean to a better lifestyle (as do most working people aspire to).

[tylor2000]

How successful? If it's not successful enough, she might decide to do something else, like design jewelry....or something more lucrative.  Musically, she may decide to stay totally behind the scenes as a songwriter.

It's one thing when you're 19 and used to having nothing to say "it's all about the music", it's quite another thing when you're 27 and you've become accustomed to a certain lifestyle and have a desire to maintain that lifestyle or possibly lean to a better lifestyle (as do most working people aspire to).

From the things she has been saying it doesn't seem like that is the case.  She also seems to have sabotaged her own fan base.  Dude, she had the most amazing fan base, and still does to a point.

[Ryou-Neko]

No, I have not put in any effort other than supporting her career by purchasing her albums and going to her performances. And my point in the first place was that a mainstream career might not be want Vanessa or her fanbase wants. And yes - the standards for independent sales are much lower than those that a major-label artist might have. 100,000 copies (which is what Harmonium sold, I believe), is an exemplary and respected sale count in the independent music business.

[shinesobright07]

For me, it doesn't matter so much...maybe it's better to not be in the spotlight so much.. imagine seeing her on the cover of a thousand magazine spreading rumours about her? Maybe that's irrelevant, but personally, I think it would be difficult for her to go mainstream, because she would want to appeal to most or all audiences, though I think for her you have to have a certain taste in music..I'd say more mature or calm? Maybe I'm biased..I don't know. But sometimes I do wish she was more mainstream, because it makes me sad when I ask people "You know that song by Vanessa Carlton?" or "Do you know who Vanessa Carlton is?" And they reply "No". Most people might think she's a one hit wonder, because they only really knew her song A Thousand Miles. Oh well, mainstream or not, Vanessa Carlton is my number one.....always will be..her music really speaks to me!

[nutnlp]

Vanessa had her shot as 'mainstream'.  I don't see a 'comeback' in the cards......and i use the term comeback very loosely because i think The Inc. and Vanessa herself are all happy about she is, and where H & T is..she seems to be happy anyway...I mean if she wasn't happy, she should show alittle bit more initiative...and try harder at pushing the record...it almost seems as if shes given up completely.  Yes, I know there was a second 'single', a 2nd 'video' but when you want to steer the ship in an indie way...you gotta go for it and tour, tour, tour.  Thats the only way 'indie minded' artists survive.

[cassiemoy]

she's not indie, though, is she? she's with a major label and her sound is pretty mainstream.

if only mainstream would give her a real chance. which they probably would if only she had more aggressive promotion. and i don't know. is she happy? anyone been to any performances lately?

[nutnlp]

Your right, shes not indie.  But the way(the little) they promoted the label was very indie minded...so I don't think V or The Inc were expected much of a bigger debut with H & T....the way they are steering ship is very indie, but still not enough to really keep your name in the game.  Personally,  I think Vanessa jumped onto another label way too quickly...which is easy to do with the way the music industry is changing.

[shinesobright07]

She should just have her own label.

[nutnlp]

It's not hard to do nowadays..especially since she already has a foundation, a name.  Lets just hope she goes in the right direction..I'm rooting for her but its getting hard to do so with the little she has given her fans.