How Clive Davis Destroyed Vertical Horizon

[DiscoHeaven23 35,007]

 

In early 2000, you might remember a group called Vertical Horizon blowing up on the scene. 

They hit it big during a time when Adult Top 40 centric bands were hitting it big. This movement was led by Matchbox 20 and Creed in the late 90s. Their genre would later be joined by Nickelback and Coldplay in the coming year. 

Vertical Horizon's single "Everything You Want" went #1 in 2000, becoming the 5th biggest song of the year (and became the 55th biggest song of the decade *'00-'09*)

The next single "You're a God" made it to #11 on Pop Radio. 

 

The album (which was released in mid-1999, but became popular once "Everything You Want" became a hit in 2000) ended up selling over 2 million copies. My parents actually bought this CD and we listened to it all the time in the car that year. It was a favorite in my household and it seemed like a favorite in every other soccer mom's household that I knew. So it got me wondering, what happened to them!?!

 

 

 

 

 

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When it came time to release a sophomore major label album. Disfunction ran amok (insert Sarah Sanderson amok gif).

RCA Records ousted the president in a surprise shake up, based on restructuring of the company. Clive Davis was then in charge. 

 

The album was ready to be released in August 2002, but was pushed back until September 2003, because of the label. 

When the album was released...it completely flopped. No single charted. The album debuted at #61. 

 

The lead singer Matt Scannell once reflected on the situation saying:

"Clive Davis had just taken over RCA Records and we knew he was not a fan of our band and certainly didn’t like me or our music much...We knew this album was going to virtually end up stillborn. I remember walking around to seven different record stores that day and finding only one copy of the new album."

 

 

So basically Clive didn't like them so didn't put energy into promoting them and distributing their music. Terrible how someone's whole career can be destroyed by one person. 

 

 

 

[Dilwyn 4,090]

he almost did the same thing to kelly clarkson once, gladly she won in the end

[DiscoHeaven23 35,007]

4 minutes ago, Sugden said:

he almost did the same thing to kelly clarkson once, gladly she won in the end

 

I just looked it up after i read your comment and wow...

https://www.etonline.com/kelly-clarkson-opens-about-clive-davis-feud-i-was-told-i-should-shut-and-sing-88948

 

Also find it hilarious that he thought "Because of You" was a "shitty" song and it went on to be a Top 10 smash 

 

 

[Miel 15,009]

God, hearing that song is a flashback to both early 00's romantic comedy teen flicks, and also my very very early upbringing. Jesus.

[RAMROD 107,515]

They were just one hit wonder. Just like Hoobastank with The Reason, both were overplayed to death during my High School days sksksks

They just need to admit that. 

I personally enjoy You're A God and Best I Ever Had better than that hit singles.

 

[FFXSoul91 1,096]

1 hour ago, Sugden said:

he almost did the same thing to kelly clarkson once, gladly she won in the end

In some ways, he did get what he wanted though. Her career wasn't destroyed, but My December didn't meet expectations after Breakaway's massive success and so he was able to influence the people around her to push her into situations she wasn't personally invested in. She ended up working with Dr. Luke on All I Ever Wanted and going in a more cookie cutter pop direction after she made it clear that that was not her preference on My December.

[PoshLife 16,973]

18 minutes ago, RAMROD said:

They were just one hit wonder. Just like Hoobastank with The Reason, both were overplayed to death during my High School days sksksks

They just need to admit that. 

I personally enjoy You're A God and Best I Ever Had better than that hit singles.

 

Being presented with interesting and new information and responding with "nah they're just a flop" is the most GGD thing I've ever seen

[RAMROD 107,515]

4 hours ago, PoshLife said:

Being presented with interesting and new information and responding with "nah they're just a flop" is the most GGD thing I've ever seen

. They simply lost momentum and blaming it to someone. Their follow up album came in 2003, 4 years after the album that got their name out. I remember nobody even listening to them anymore. That year was filled with heavy competition, lots of interesting new artists, that the radio simply doesn't play VH anymore, from Evenescence who debuting with Bring Me To Life to 50 Cent who also debuting with In Da Club, to Avril Lavigne with Let Go, to Beyoncé who launches her solo career with Crazy In Love. I just talking from experience. What I seen and heard. It's up to you how you take that information.