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thesinglesjukebox · 5 years

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MILEY CYRUS - SLIDE AWAY

[6.29]

Baby let all them voices slide away-e-yay-e-ay-e-yay [massive wall of sound appears]

Jackie Powell: "Slide Away" might be Miley Cyrus's most focused song since "Wrecking Ball," but it also represents so much more than just similar lyrical themes. It illustrates her evolution as an artist and a queer human being. Cyrus was trying to fit in a box with both that 2013 music video and her very short hair. In 2019, she's wearing black in her VMA performance of "Slide Away" with her wavy dirty blonde hair. She's no longer embarrassed to wear a cowboy hat nor is she shoving her love of women down our throats. We all just know that this is who she is. Her desire is to be herself, but she also craves substance and quality over just plain erraticism. She doesn't want to be milquetoast. "Slide Away" also proves that Cyrus understands which collaborators allow her to shine. I was pleasantly surprised by MikeWillMadeIt's involvement on this track. I didn't think he had the potential to contribute something so subtle yet fruitful. Cyrus has found her match with Andrew Wyatt. Alma has also assisted on this one as with "Mother's Daughter" without taking the song away from its artist. This combination just works. "Slide Away" is a breakup song about not only letting go of someone but Cyrus liberating herself simultaneously. She doesn't drown in sadness but rather rises and reflects gracefully. She did this purposely. [9]

Tobi Tella: Refreshingly mature and grounded, it's always nice to hear a Miley Cyrus song without the forced guise of The Music I've Always Wanted To Make. It's a meandering, repetitive song and while that's normally something to criticize, here it's just another addition to the sullen, mellow vibe. It lacks the theatrics of something like "Wrecking Ball" because that's not where she or the relationship is. People grow up, grow apart and stop being compatible. Despite not feeling the need to announce it, it's the first time I've been able to feel real artistic growth from her. [7]

Pedro João Santos: It's alright. The sound is translucent; the words distribute the overbearing weight of a breakup between mature avowals and trite metaphors. Aside from poor hooks and metrics, "Slide Away" is full of gaps, which is not counting that crystalline outro. You're free (even encouraged) to fill those in -- second-hand People literature and even Cyrus's recent tell-all Twitter thread are not just supplemental gossip, they charge the anodyne lyrics with meaning. The VMAs rendition is gaining traction for a reason: it taps onto something rawer -- not sure whether in spite of, or due to the vocal strain. Perhaps the latter is more enchanting as a natural flaw, unlike the studio version's disconcerting vocal treatment -- the stinging, affected "won't you slide away" parts awake you from even trying to indulge in its vibey, patched nature. Can't let this one slide. [5]

Scott Mildenhall: Hackneyed as it may be to call something like this "raw," there is a particular rawness to that call to "move on," both for its surface-level sting and the pain it belies. It's the pretence of greater control -- I'm fine, you're not and I can affect superiority with that lie. It's a front that brings extra texture to a desperate bask in angst for which the tone is struck just right; so right that it's more of a mood piece than something that would jump out of the radio. [7]

Kylo Nocom: I wish I loved this, but every one of my qualms feels so damn fixable that I can't even bother to like this. The pre-chorus's piano presets are ugly and out of place, those constant pitchy distorted moans are like nails on a chalkboard, and the fact that the song ends on the weak pre-chorus and a full minute of meandering strings is confusing. All of these make that sun bleached chorus of alternating shouts and swoons sound so much better, and for the briefest moments I can feel immersed in Miley's pop psychedelia. Unfortunately, moments aren't enough to make "Slide Away" sound like anything revelatory, or even just a simple return to form. [4]

Alfred Soto: Her voice starchier, Miley Cyrus sings country lyrics over a basic chord pattern, mourning the collapse of something or other. Her ability to personalize any genre into which she chooses to insert herself remains impressive as gesture. [5]

Wayne Weizhen Zhang: Miley's music has always sounded very calculated, but I've never quite had a grip on who she genuinely is as an artist. This isn't to take anything away from her creative agency, but rather to say that, as opposed to a Lady Gaga or Beyoncé who can proactively bend pop's trends to their will, Miley's constant persona changes seem mostly reactionary: the Hannah Montana era was curated by Disney, Can't Be Tamed was built to disown the show, Bangerz attempted to ride the waves of hip-hop's popularity and Younger Now shed blackness in favor of country-lite during the Trump era when early 2010s pop was dying and pop stars were appealing to authenticity. (Note: I refuse to acknowledge Her Dead Petz.) Even her most recent work follows this pattern: the SHE IS COMING EP's excessive vulgarity felt like another reaction to the underwhelming fan reaction to Younger Now's mellower tones. It's interesting then, that post-starring in a Black Mirror episode satirising the process of pop music creation, that she released "Slide Away," the most at home she's ever sounded singing anything. There's nothing gimmicky here, just an honest reflection about her life and career, sung compellingly. It's full of songwriting gems: the subtle inflection of her past being both a "paradise" despite feeling "paralyzed"; the 180 from life being "made for us" to being "turned to dust"; and the tender assuredness with which she sings "It's time to let it go." Never has she crafted her own narrative so simply or so powerfully. Over and over again she sings, "I'm not who I used to be," reflecting on her persona rather than labouring to create a new one. Finally, she sounds at peace as an artist. [7]

[Read, comment and vote on The Singles Jukebox]

#Miley Cyrus #pop #music #music review #writing

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cstesttaken · 7 years

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15 Common Social Media Questions & Answers

Whether you’re just getting started with social media marketing, or you’re an experienced marketer, there’s always something new to learn. Asking the right questions can improve your chances of success and help you avoid costly mistakes. In order to help steer you in the right direction, we’ve compiled a list of some common social media questions you might be dying to ask.

1. Do I Have to Be on Every Social Network?

Here’s why: As tempting as it is to increase your visibility by jumping on every social network, a lot of times it’s too much to take on. Instead of creating accounts just for the sake having a profile, get strategic with the networks you choose.

An easy way to figure out which social networks to be on is by simply asking where’s my audience’s attention? If they’re not on Pinterest, there’s no need to spend a bunch of time and energy there. Check out our social media marketing guide to help decide which network is best for your brand.

Another good litmus test for which networks to choose is by asking yourself what value you can bring to the network. If you can’t create content that people on the network want to see, put your efforts elsewhere.

For instance, if you have the time and resources to make outstanding videos, then you should definitely have a presence on YouTube so you can share those videos across the networks your audience loves most. If you don’t have the bandwidth for video production, get off of YouTube and don’t feel guilty about not being there.

Remember, you don’t have to take on everything at once. Start out with one or two profiles. If you see success and have time to expand, then slowly add other networks.

2. Do My Social Media Handles Have to Be Consistent?

Here’s why: Not only will it be easier for you to promote your social media handles if they’re consistent, but it will also be easier for fans to find and tag you. When usernames are different across every network, it can get confusing. If you Tweet an Instagram image but you have two different usernames, it complicates things. Inevitably, someone will tag your Twitter name on Instagram or your Instagram name on Twitter and you’ll miss opportunities for engagement.

Today it’s not only domain names that matter; usernames are just as, if not more, valuable in terms of digital real estate. Sites like Knowem tell you whether or not your desired username is available across multiple networks.

If your first choice isn’t available, don’t despair. Get creative. And it’s okay if your social media usernames are slightly different than your URL. What’s more important is that your usernames are consistent across each network. For instance, the toothbrush subscription company Quip was unable to get the username Quip on social media. So instead, they used GetQuip and kept it consistent across all their social channels.

If your exact username isn’t available, don’t sweat it. Use an alternative like “Companyhq” or “getCompany.” One thing you should avoid is adding numbers, characters, underscores or phrases that have nothing to do with your business. Keep your usernames as simple as possible.

3. What Type of Content Should I Share?

Answer: The type of content your audience wants to see.

Here’s why: It all comes down to knowing your ideal customer. If you have a solid understanding of their lifestyle, desires and pain points, it will become much easier to create or find relevant content they’re likely to enjoy and share.

Beyond that, start following influencers in your industry who create outstanding content and share their stuff. Or you can use it to inspire you to write a few blog posts or conversation starters that riff off the topic or expand upon it. You can also search relevant hashtags or check out what’s trending on Twitter and Instagram to understand what people are talking about right now, then join in on those conversations.

Idea generation is the hardest part, so let your audience do it for you. Talk to your followers or ideal customers and ask them what they would like to see. You can also ask your employees to contribute one blog post per month. When you divvy up the work, it becomes less stressful and more thoughtful.

4. How Often Should I Post?

Here’s why: Your posting frequency depends on your resources and audience. Your goal is to get quality content that your audience will love in front of as many eyes as possible. Never sacrifice quality for quantity.

It’s better to put nothing out there than to publish content that’s subpar. If that means you can only post on Facebook three times per week—but they are three really good posts that get a lot of engagement—that’s perfectly acceptable. Just find a consistent schedule that you can maintain.

If you’re struggling to publish on a consistent basis, you can always repurpose content. For instance, if you made a YouTube video, take 30-second segments of it and post them on Instagram. Old blog posts can be Retweeted with new phrasing and imagery.

In fact, you can set a strategy in which every blog post gets shared across every network on day one, a repeat on Twitter on day three, a repeat on Facebook on day eight and so on.

If you share the same content across networks, each post should be phrased differently. For example, LinkedIn doesn’t use hashtags, so you wouldn’t want to copy and paste something from Twitter. An infographic might perform better on Pinterest than on Facebook.

You’ll have to track what kind of content and format does best on each network using social media analytics software. Take that data into consideration when publishing on each platform.

5. What’s the Best Time to Post?

Here’s why: We actually have an entire post on the best times to post to social media. The reality is there is no single best time to post. It all depends on the network you’re using and when your audience is most active.

It’s going to take a little trial and error to get your timing down. A good idea is to use Sprout to schedule your content to be shared at different times and days of the week.

Then dig into your analytics to see which posts are getting the most engagement to get an idea of when the best time to post is for your audience, on each specific network.

6. How Do I Get More Followers?

Answer: By giving people a reason to follow you.

Here’s why: Regardless of which network you’re talking about, it’s the quality not quantity of followers that matters. You need followers who will actually engage with your content, not just add to your follower count.

Since people are bombarded with content from all over the place, you have to give them a compelling enough reason to follow you. You’re not just asking people to follow you. You’re asking for their attention which is a limited resource. Why should they give their attention to you instead of someone else?

There are plenty of ways to earn their attention. For instance, Taco Bell gets people to follow them on Snapchat by sharing exclusive content that fans can’t see anywhere else.

Another approach is to share exclusive industry news and events. This tactic works particularly well on Twitter because 86% of users use it to get news. NFL insider Ian Rapoport gained over 1 million Twitter followers by being a reputable source of the latest news in the NFL.

At this point, the calf injury that sidelined #Falcons DE Dwight Freeney for today's practice is not considered serious, source said.

Another popular tactic is to share coupons, deals and giveaways exclusively for social media followers. National Geographic recently launched their Wild to Inspire Instagram contest where users had to submit videos that showcase wildlife or people making a difference for animals in the wild.

Beyond that, using appropriate hashtags (especially on Instagram) and potentially partnering with influencers for co-marketing campaigns to expand your reach are great ways to get engaged followers. Also, Remember that social media is a conversation, not a broadcast. Respond to your followers and interact with them. Go where they are. Get involved.

7. Does Social Media Affect SEO?

Answer: It can, but indirectly.

Here’s why: One common misconception about social media and SEO is that getting your content shared on social media will help improve your rankings. Google has flat out stated it doesn’t count social shares in its algorithm. Social shares are easy to manipulate, so they aren’t the most reliable metric to decide the value of a piece of content.

However, social media can still help your SEO efforts indirectly. You can use social media to network with influencers like bloggers, editors and journalists. These are all people that can potentially link to your website in their own content, which can help your SEO.

By using social media to build relationships with the right people, you can even land guest blogging or interview opportunities. Just be cautious of spamming people. You don’t want to come right out the gate begging people to link to your content. Instead, build relationships organically by liking, sharing and replying to their content. Build familiarity first, then when the time feels right look for an opportunity to work together.

8. Should I Connect With Everyone?

Here’s why: You don’t always have to “follow back” on Twitter or Instagram or accept every LinkedIn request. Why? Because you’re curating a network. Who you follow says as much about your brand as who follows you. It’s ok to be selective about who you follow.

Here are some ideas on who to follow:

Users you’re genuinely interested in hearing from

Influencers you’re trying to build a relationships with

Loyal customers

People who frequently engage with you on social media or share your content

The downside of following a bunch of people is it makes it difficult to sort through your feed and see the most important messages like mentions of your brand or products. A good workaround is to use a social media management tool to manage your incoming messages. Sprout’s Smart Inbox makes it extremely easy to isolate messages that require a response.

Also keep in mind that you don’t have to follow people to engage with them. You Like Tweets or Instagram posts or leave comments whether you follow them or not.

9. Should I Pay for Social Media Advertising?

Here’s why: On a platform like Facebook, you have to “pay to play” in many cases. In 2016 alone, organic reach dropped 52% for publishers. And with Twitter and Instagram following in the footsteps of Facebook with an algorithmic feed, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to get your content seen organically.

Whether or not you decide to try your hand at social media advertising will depend largely on your budget. If you can afford to spend some money to promote content on social media, it might be worth experimenting with. Decide on how much you’re willing or able to spend first, then create an advertising strategy within it.

Facebook is by far the most popular platform marketers use for social media advertising. In Social Media Examiner’s Social Media Marketing Industry Report, 84% of respondents said they use Facebook ads. However, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram (via Facebook), YouTube and other networks offer advertising as well. Feel free to test out different platforms to see which works best for you.

In addition to getting engagement on your posts and growing your follower count, you can also use social media advertising to generate leads, grow your email list or get more eyes on a piece of content.

10. Do I Need an Editorial Calendar?

Here’s why: If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.

An editorial calendar is a necessary step in bringing your strategy to life. It can help you stay on track and consistent in messaging across various networks. It can also help you create quality content by planning ahead. When you see the entire month across all networks in one place, it’s easier to edit the copy for strength and consistency.

Also, when you’re planning ahead, you have a better chance of maximizing your impact on social media. You’ll have time to plan a distribution strategy for any upcoming content, instead of doing everything as it happens. For instance, if you know you’re going to launch a contest or sale at the end of the month, reach out to influencers in advance and gain some momentum.

Content will be more likely to go viral if you’ve already lined up influencers to Tweet about your product launch or big announcement the same time you do. Check out this post that outlines four steps for creating a social media editorial calendar.

11. What’s My Social Media ROI?

Answer: The amount you earned from your social campaigns, minus the amount you invested.

Here’s why: Social media ROI can be a tricky subject, and 41% of companies say they have no idea whether or not their social efforts are paying off at all. But calculating the ROI isn’t as difficult as you might think. Read our guide on how to measure social media ROI for a complete step-by-step walk-through.

Keep in mind ROI might look different depending on your goals. If you’re using social media to get leads, your return won’t be the same as it would if you were using it to build brand awareness.

12. I’m in a “Boring” Industry, Do I Still Need Social Media?

Here’s why: Social media isn’t just reserved for athletes, fashion brands and retailers. When it comes to marketing, your goal is to reach your target audience where they’re paying the most attention. And for the past 10+ years, that has been social media. A whopping 78% of Americans have at least one social media profile, so there’s a strong chance your target customers are on at least one of the major networks.

If you’re unsure which network to reach your audience on, we’ve compiled a list of the demographics of some of the most popular social networks. That’ll give you a nice starting point, but also make sure you dive in and get familiar with any network you’re interested in joining.

Remember, social media isn’t an advertising platform for you shout your message as loudly as possible. Instead, use it as a platform to educate and entertain your audience.

For instance, taxes are about as boring as it gets for most non-accounting people. But H&R Block puts together fun social media campaigns that don’t make you cringe at the thought of tax season.

13. Is It OK to Share Promotional Content?

Answer: Yes, but don’t overdo it.

Here’ why: There’s a fine line between using social media to promote your brand, and spamming. If every other Tweet from your company is promoting your products and services, you risk losing your audience. Our Q3 2016 Index found that posting too many promotions is the most annoying action brands take on social media.

Not only that, but 46% of people are willing to unfollow a brand for sending too many promotional messages.

There’s no magic ratio of promotional to non-promotional social media content you should share. You’ll have to find the right cadence for your audience. To be on the safe side, aim to share much more non-promotional content than promotional.

14. Do I Need a Social Media Management Tool?

Here’s why: Native social media apps are great for personal use. In fact, it’s what they were made for. But as a business, your needs are a little different. You often need to schedule content in advance, look at in-depth analytics to measure performance and work in teams. The native social media platforms weren’t built for that, which is the reason why social media management tools like Sprout Social exist.

If social media is an important part of your business (it definitely should be) then you need the right tools to work more efficiently and effectively.

15. Should I Outsource My Social Media Marketing?

Here’s why: For brands that don’t have the resources to put together social media campaigns from scratch, working with an agency can be a smart move. Social media agencies understand the nuances of different networks, and can often help you be much more effective.

On the flip side, you don’t want to take a completely hands-off approach. That’s why often times social media agencies prefer to work with clients, rather than completely take over everything. Nobody knows your brand like you, so you should always have a hand in your social efforts. But there’s nothing wrong with getting help from specialists.

Have a question that’s not answered here? Comment below or Tweet us and we’ll see if we can answer it for you. Remember, there’s no such thing as a dumb question, so ask away!

Source

http://sproutsocial.com/insights/social-media-questions/

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cstesttaken · 7 years

Text

15 Common Social Media Questions & Answers

1. Do I Have to Be on Every Social Network?

Remember, you don’t have to take on everything at once. Start out with one or two profiles. If you see success and have time to expand, then slowly add other networks.

2. Do My Social Media Handles Have to Be Consistent?

3. What Type of Content Should I Share?

Answer: The type of content your audience wants to see.

4. How Often Should I Post?

In fact, you can set a strategy in which every blog post gets shared across every network on day one, a repeat on Twitter on day three, a repeat on Facebook on day eight and so on.

You’ll have to track what kind of content and format does best on each network using social media analytics software. Take that data into consideration when publishing on each platform.

5. What’s the Best Time to Post?

It’s going to take a little trial and error to get your timing down. A good idea is to use Sprout to schedule your content to be shared at different times and days of the week.

Then dig into your analytics to see which posts are getting the most engagement to get an idea of when the best time to post is for your audience, on each specific network.

6. How Do I Get More Followers?

Answer: By giving people a reason to follow you.

There are plenty of ways to earn their attention. For instance, Taco Bell gets people to follow them on Snapchat by sharing exclusive content that fans can’t see anywhere else.

At this point, the calf injury that sidelined #Falcons DE Dwight Freeney for today's practice is not considered serious, source said.

7. Does Social Media Affect SEO?

Answer: It can, but indirectly.

8. Should I Connect With Everyone?

Here are some ideas on who to follow:

Users you’re genuinely interested in hearing from

Influencers you’re trying to build a relationships with

Loyal customers

People who frequently engage with you on social media or share your content

Also keep in mind that you don’t have to follow people to engage with them. You Like Tweets or Instagram posts or leave comments whether you follow them or not.

9. Should I Pay for Social Media Advertising?

10. Do I Need an Editorial Calendar?

Here’s why: If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.

11. What’s My Social Media ROI?

Answer: The amount you earned from your social campaigns, minus the amount you invested.

Keep in mind ROI might look different depending on your goals. If you’re using social media to get leads, your return won’t be the same as it would if you were using it to build brand awareness.

12. I’m in a “Boring” Industry, Do I Still Need Social Media?

Remember, social media isn’t an advertising platform for you shout your message as loudly as possible. Instead, use it as a platform to educate and entertain your audience.

For instance, taxes are about as boring as it gets for most non-accounting people. But H&R Block puts together fun social media campaigns that don’t make you cringe at the thought of tax season.

13. Is It OK to Share Promotional Content?

Answer: Yes, but don’t overdo it.

Not only that, but 46% of people are willing to unfollow a brand for sending too many promotional messages.

14. Do I Need a Social Media Management Tool?

If social media is an important part of your business (it definitely should be) then you need the right tools to work more efficiently and effectively.

15. Should I Outsource My Social Media Marketing?

Have a question that’s not answered here? Comment below or Tweet us and we’ll see if we can answer it for you. Remember, there’s no such thing as a dumb question, so ask away!

Source

http://sproutsocial.com/insights/social-media-questions/

0 notes