BY MIKEY MIGO
I got into a random conversation with a friend this past week about musical sequels. I was ranting about a few of the artists on this list and how they are making sequels to their hit albums, songs, or former glory. Is this for artistic reasons or just pure laziness? That's subjective. Yet, subjective does mean one can have opinions about it. Here are mine…
Artist: Metallica
Sequels: "Unforgiven", "Unforgiven II", and "Unforgiven III"
This is a song sequel as opposed to the majority of the list being album sequels. Then we can take into consideration the "Load" and "Reload" albums are in fact sequels as well. When the track listing for "Death Magnet" was released months ago I was taken back by the song "Unforgiven III" being listed. I enjoyed the first one a lot, the second one noooooot as much. The band was all about doing something fresh with "Death Magnet", so that's why I was shocked about the III. It's not a bad track at all, but it might have been a bit better if it were replaced with a different song. If only they'd of done sequels to "Enter Sandman" or "Master of Puppets" things would be awesome.
Artist: Jay Z
Sequels: "The Blueprint", "The Blueprint 2", "The Blueprint 2.5", and the rumored "The Blueprint 3"
This where HOVA cheats our asses. "Blueprint", okay. "The Blueprint 2", I can live with that. Then because of it being a double album, they trimmed it down and made "2.5" to get some more cash out of the fans. Now it's rumored that the next album is "The Blueprint 3". This is where we're getting screwed. So it goes "2.5" to "3.0". Does this mean we're only getting ".5" of an album? Wouldn't that ".5" be "American Gangster"? I am a Jay Z fan, but I want "The Blueprint 3.5". It just makes more sense. If you're going to do a sequel do it right.
Artist: Lil Wayne
Sequels: "Tha Carter Project", "Tha Carter Project II" "Tha Carter Project III", and the rumored "Tha Carter Project IV"
Now that he's "Got Money", it's like he's saying "If it ain't broke, don't fix it". Lil Wayne is not an epic performer worthy of roman numerals. He's a disposable rapper that has snuck in some really big hits. He has all the potential in the world to secure himself a legacy, but he needs to get away from "Tha Carter Project" and do something with substance. Then again, he could easily lead the ring tone rappers to the promise land.
Artist: R Kelly
Sequels: "Trapped in the Closet" series
Say what you will about the man, but this was a great idea. The rap-opera was a VERY original and unique concept. Whether you like it or not, it sold a lot of albums and got a lot of buzz for the guy. The way it was done had EVERYONE talking about it and wondering what would happen next. I was working at a place with like a hundred people at the time this came out. A good majority of them would discuss the different parts and got hooked. This shit was just off the wall and bizarre. Maaaaybe he should have stopped after the first 6 parts. Maaaaaybe TWENTY TWO parts to the series was a bit overkill.
Artist: Meatloaf
Sequels: "Bat Out of Hell", "Bat Out of Hell II", and "Bat Out of Hell III"
Outside of "Rocky Horror", I have no use for Meatloaf's music in my life. To me it seems that every so often when he decides he wants attention again he'll dust off the "Bat Out of Hell" gimmick and ride it to the pay window.
Artist: Led Zeppelin
Sequels: "Led Zeppelin", "Led Zeppelin II", "Led Zeppelin III", "Led Zeppelin IV"
Four of the greatest rock albums of all time. This is NOTHING AT ALL comparable to Lil Wayne's "Tha Carter Project" series. Zeppelin didn't make it cheesy and I truly believe they were NOT capitalizing on the success of the one before it. I believe they were just trying to catalog their music with a, at the time, really original concept. I'm sure there might be others, but I think it's safe to say this was an idea ahead of it's time.
What are some of your favorite musical sequels? Do any of them actually surpass the original?
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