MovieChat Forums > Unsung (2008) Discussion > Why do singing groups get mad @ the lead...

Why do singing groups get mad @ the lead for wanting to go solo?

posted 8 years ago by Born_Tomorrow
4 replies | jump to latest

What the hell do they expect? Don't they know that singing groups rarely stay together for the duration of their careers? That's damn near unheard of so why, when it happens, do they seem dumbfounded and act like they've been stabbed in the back? They're in the industry so they should already know that the lead singer always gets offered a deal. That's standard in the industry. Then they get mad at the lead for accepting the offer. Why wouldn't they accept? Don't nobody want to be a 60 year old with grandkids and still in a boy band. Also, who wants to do most of the work and still have to split the check 3 or 4 ways, when they've been offered a chance to go solo and keep all of the money? That's common sense. What idiot would turn down an opportunity at a job promotion, just to make their co-workers happy? It's called professional growth. Instead of relying on the lead to do all the work, they should have been getting their sh!t together and planning their own solo careers from the jump. That is, if they even have any talent. Otherwise, they're just some leaches, holding someone else back so they can live off of that persons hard work and talent. Then when they get cut off, they have the nerve to complain about it when they should've been grateful that they even had the opportunity in the first place.

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[–] luvtzone 8 years ago

? Who wants to do most of the work and still have to split the check 3 or 4 ways, when they've been offered a chance to go solo and keep all of the money? That's common sense. It's called professional growth.

Good point. I think these group members get used to laying back while the featured performer does all the work, but with SWV, I do think Leelee and Taj had major talent as well...just not as vocally strong as Coko. They harmonize very well a capella. It's just that Coko is a powerhouse with a truly unique and instantly recognizable voice. She definitely is the sound of the group. Like the twins are the sound of the Whispers or Eddie and Walter are the sound of the O'Jays.

Leelee and Taj should have gotten more into writing and production and that would have grew their pockets and intensified the brand as a group. What a great episode tonight. I learned a lot, even more than the "reality" show the girls did for a hot minute.

SWV was the shi- back in the day. Major major hits from these ladies and Brian their producer was/is the true essence of the group.

"You unlock this door with the key of imagination..."

[–] SmokyBrownEyes 8 years ago

This is so true. If you're already carrying the weight of the band, you might as well go on and do your own thing. We've seen this many times before with Coko of SWV, the late George Michael, El DeBarge, and especially Michael Jackson just to name a few. Sometimes the other members of group can sing as well (or wrote some of the songs) and as you mentioned should've been planning their own solo careers or work behind the scenes instead of just hanging around collecting a paycheck like a welfare recipient.

[–] mojo2004 8 years ago

It's not hard to understand why members of a group don't want the apple cart upset with the lead singer or another member breaking up the act to go solo. One person can make or break an act. Very often opportunity knocks only once. But that goes both ways. Look how many artist went solo never to have a hit or if they did it was their only one. It's not just the singers either who leave. Sometimes the group stayed together but their songwriter(s) moved on without them. Turns out that's where the magic was and very often that person(s) started singing their own songs and found success too.

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[–] tmontyb 8 years ago

Look how many artist went solo never to have a hit or if they did it was their only one.

True. Plus, Coko was fail as a solo artist. That song "Sunshine" was weak(no pun intended). I mean it was okay, but she is much stronger with the other two. I don't count her gospel albums because they are for a specific segment of the audience and they did not sell well. I disagree that she was the sound of the group. The three of them together is what made them special.

To be sung of a summer, night on the water......us on the water.- Kate Bush