What defines playability?

What defines playability?

Today while sharing an enjoying ride downtown with friends, I happen to turn a station that was foreign to my radio.  An avid proponent to exploring new music, I thought it might be interesting to survey the radio-stations’ musical selections.  After entering my choice for a couple minutes the other individuals in the vehicle strongly suggested changing the station or perhaps even putting on CD (which is a compact disc for those 13 and under).   However, unfazed by the barrage of comments and complaints, I remained steadfast in my decision.  Luckily, this decision was vindicated when a cover song by the Milow - Ayo Technology (originally done by 50 cent & Justin Timberlake) came on.   It was then I baited the others with question…

“If both the content, lyrics and cadence are all transferable, then why isn’t the song”?

Unsatisfied with their answers and slightly intrigued by the altered version, I rushed to Google to get a little more information.  It turns out that this simplified of version was doing just as good if not better than the 50 cent and Timberlake assisted song.  According to a number sources, the Milow version charted respectively just about everywhere except the U.S. including The Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, Switzerland, Belgium.  It also peaked at number two in Germany, Spain and Austria (not to mention its top ten distinction in France, Italy and Finland).

With a bevy of accolades and a hustle that resembled that of Curtis (50 cent) Jackson’s early days (at least on paper), Milows’ long plight for recognition has finally come to fruition.  However, in an effort to perhaps pacify my self I concocted the following three reasons as rationale for the stations decision to play Milow version over 50 cents. 

3 Potential Answers

Image- Despite Jackson’s recent journey into mainstream America, many still associate him with the persona he carried during his street days and early on his career.  As a result many still hit him with the proverbial black ball.

Comfort- at the time of Ayo’s release Justin Timberlake was still facing backlash from being associated with the nip slip orchestrated by he and Janet Jackson.  While he did fair better then Janet in the situation some still chose to condemn all things Timberlake related.

Format- There is also the distinct possibility that although the lyrics remained the same, and the both cadence and content as well.  Switching the artist provide just enough dissidence from the original to make it acceptable on a whole other platform.