Four MTV Unplugged albums that failed to meet expectations
- MTV Unplugged albums sold over 80 million copies.
- They weren't all huge hits or well-received though.
- Here are four big names who didn't hit the mark with their unplugged albums.
By StevieMac
Katy Perry - MTV Unplugged
In the late 2000s, there was a move by MTV to attract a younger audience by securing some different acts. Katy Perry was added to the list with that in mind. She recorded her MTV Unplugged show in New York in July 2009. Her eight-song EP was released a few months later in November.
While some artists are a great natural fit, the wisdom of choosing Perry remains under question. She is a pop artist, she makes fun catchy records. Perry is not the world's best singer, but the production of her pop tunes makes that less important. If you take away all that studio work and swap the fun pop element for an acoustic approach with less glitz, that isn’t a guarantee for success.
When she recorded the EP Perry had only released her first album, One For The Boys, a year earlier.
Which meant it provided the bulk of the seven songs on this unplugged album. Naturally her hit singles from then took prominence, “I Kissed A Girl” in particular. She also included “Brick By Brick” a song that only appears on this release, and a cover of “Hackensack” from Fountains Of Wayne.
Obviously, some people will like or not mind the EP. Personally, I want more from the unplugged albums. They should highlight the artist's musicality rather than create a problem for it. This Katy Perry release doesn't quite deliver for me.
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