What Exactly is a "Flop"? (with Brittany Spanos & Chris Stedman)
Nov 7, 2024
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Brittany Spanos, a Senior writer at Rolling Stone, joins Chris Stedman, a writer and host known for his insights on music, to dissect the concept of a 'flop' in pop music. They dive into Katy Perry's underwhelming '143', exploring how audience expectations and commercial performance affect reputations. The duo discusses how flops can lead to artistic growth, the shifting definitions shaped by digital culture, and how fans, particularly in the queer community, embrace these 'failures' with a sense of affection.
The term 'flop' in pop music encompasses not only commercial failure but also shifts due to evolving fan culture and expectations.
Queer fans often develop deep connections with perceived flops, fostering a sense of community and shared adversity in supporting misunderstood artists.
As consumption habits evolve, the definition of a flop may diminish in significance, prioritizing artistic exploration over traditional notions of commercial success.
Deep dives
The Concept of Flopping in Pop Music
Flopping, traditionally understood, refers to the underperformance of an album or single, especially compared to previous successes. This term originated in the film industry, where a movie that failed to recoup its costs was labeled a flop. In music, the definition becomes more nuanced as fan culture evolves, with stan Twitter contributing to a redefined understanding. Flops can encapsulate commercial underperformance, critical disappointment, or unmet expectations, all of which have shifted over time as the music landscape has changed.
Historical Context and Evolving Definitions
The discussion of flopping has evolved, particularly with the rise of the internet and fan communities that allow for easier engagement and commentary on pop music. Artists like Christina Aguilera and Katy Perry exemplify this shift, where initial failures can be revisited through a contemporary lens. Certain albums, once dismissed as flops, like Britney Spears' 'Blackout,' have garnered a cult following as fans reassess their significance over time. The advent of streaming has further complicated the narrative, enabling artists to maintain a career without needing massive commercial success.
Flop as a Term of Endearment
There exists a unique connection between queer culture and the appreciation of flops, as fans often champion misunderstood pop stars. This relationship fosters a sense of ownership and loyalty towards artists who are perceived as flops, creating a bond rooted in shared adversity. For queer fans, supporting an artist facing commercial struggles can feel like a reflection of their own experiences of misalignment with mainstream society. As a result, flops often transcend mere commercial metrics and morph into emblematic expressions of relatability and community.
Contemporary Examples of Flopping
Examples of contemporary flopping include Katy Perry's recent single '143,' which fell short of expectations both commercially and critically. This song is positioned alongside other notable flops such as Christina Aguilera's 'Bionic' and Lady Gaga's 'Joanne.' However, the perception of flops can be subjective, depending on the expectations set prior to release and the artist's standing within their fanbase. As pop music continues to diversify, highlighting the varied definitions and perceptions of flop may become increasingly important.
The Future of the Flop Narrative
The future of the flop narrative seems to be one of diminishing significance as the music industry and consumption habits evolve. Artists can maintain success and relevance without being dominant chart-toppers, leading to a potential decline in universally accepted definitions of flops. Instead, albums may be viewed through a multi-dimensional lens that values artistic exploration over commercial gains. This could ultimately redefine the terms of success and failure in music, allowing for a broader interpretation of what it means to thrive as a pop artist.
Katy Perry's latest album 143 lit the internet ablaze for all the wrong reasons when it dropped earlier this year, mostly because of how wrong it got nearly everything and how hard it underperformed as a result. 143 was a capital-F flop in the classic sense of the term. But what exactly does the moniker "flop" mean when it comes to pop music? What constitutes a true flop? How do pop fans use it? Where did it originate and how has it morphed over time into a term of endearment for diehards, especially queer ones? All that and more in this fascinating conversation.
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