​The 'flop eras' of some of our fave pop girlies, explained

What makes a "flop" album?

The term is thrown around loosely among chronically online fans of female pop stars to describe poorly performing singles and albums based on chart performances or sales, but many times the sentiment is more of a vibe than an absolute. Some of the most iconic "flop" albums still hit #1 on the charts, have produced iconic pop culture moments, or have become cultural staples in one way or another.

So where do we from here?

Should we, as listeners, care about chart success, especially in an era when both artists and fans can game the system? Why can't we just enjoy the music or press skip? Numbers aren't everything, and good music isn't defined by chart position but by whose heart it touches.

As the icon Beyoncé once pointed out, "There was a time in my life when charts and sales excited and motivated me. Once you have challenged yourself and poured every ounce of your life, your pain, your growth, and your dreams into your art, it's impossible to go backward."

Scroll through to explore some of the biggest "flop" albums by pop stars that we adore.

Witness - Katy Perry

As one of the best-selling artists and eras of all time, there was nowhere for Katy Perry to go but down. Her 2010 album Teenage Dream gave Perry five #1 songs (six if you include "Part of Me" on the deluxe version) and several anthemic bangers that are forever bound to the culture. (Be honest, did you play "Firework" on the 4th of July?) But after such meteoric success, Perry's fourth studio album stumbled and the pop star hasn't quite picked up the ball in the same way since. She took risks on this album, cutting her iconic black hair and dismissing her longtime collaborator Dr. Luke (amid his overlapping lawsuits against her friend at the time Kesha) in favor of smaller producers, but the change in sound seemingly alienated casual listeners. Her signature campiness suddenly felt cliché and was admittedly a bit cringe at times. This era of "purposeful pop" is also forever tied to the run of the historic, losing 2016 presidential campaign of Hilary Clinton. All of that combined with our culture's schadenfreude in tearing a woman down set Perry up for a losing battle.

Still, Witness sold 180,000 copies in the first week reaching #1 on the Billboard 200. The first single "Chained to the Rhythm" reached #2 on the Billboard Hot 100. The following singles "Bon Appetit" and "Swish Swish" both charted but kicked up firestorms of controversy with Migos and Taylor Swift. But through it all, Witness is not a bad album. "Deja Vu," "Mind Maze," and "Tsunami" are three of the most sonically interesting tracks in Perry's discography, and Minaj's verse on "Swish Swish" is one of her most iconic.

4 - Beyoncé

Let's be clear, there's no such thing as a "flop" Beyoncé album, but her 2011 release 4 boasts the weakest sales and least commercial hits of her discography at the time of its release. Her lead single, "Run The World (Girls)" peaked at #29 on the charts and the iconic "Love On Top" peaked at #20. They are now considered two of her most influential songs of the 2010s, but were both outpeaked by "Best Thing I Never Had" which reached #16. The album also suffered from leaks ahead of its release, which many believe accounts for the dip of first week numbers, combined with the rising popularity of EDM. 4 sales still reached #1 on the Billboard 200. The fumble of the release as well as the public backlash to Beyoncé's pregnancy (remember the fake belly controversy?) is widely believed to have set the stage for her now signature brand of secret releases and pervasive privacy around her personal life.

Pop 2 - Charli XCX

The gays have always been in the trenches with Charli XCX. The pop icon got a taste of fame with her initial hits "Fancy" and "Boom Clap," but her following songs and albums were largely panned by the general public. We didn't care, and we've been streaming and attending shows ever since. We were the ones preaching the gospel of "hyperpop" before it was ever taken seriously, amassing a subculture around her and other visionary artists like SOPHIE, who have influenced so much of today's pop music revolution. Pop 2 was at the peak of this subculture and is considered one of her best albums by diehard fans and critics. The album set the groundwork for the Charli XCX we know today, including her signature sound, experimentation, and vulnerability. People eventually caught on, as "Unlock It" featuring Kim Petras and Jay Park went viral on TikTok four years later in 2021.

We always knew XCX had BRAT in her!

DOPAMINE - Normani

We're honestly not sure what happened here. Normani's highly-anticipated debut album has been one of the most confusing eras of pop music history. She kicked off her solo era in 2018 with features with Khalid and Sam Smith that both peaked in the Top 10 of the Hot 100, then she dropped her unappreciated banger "Motivation" that peaked in the Top 40. Her debut album was imminent, but the momentum was cut short following the pandemic, troubles in her personal life, and problems with her management team which amounted to a five year delay. But when Normani shared the album cover earlier this year, fans were hopeful.

Unfortunately, the release came and went without much more than few social media posts and YouTube interview appearances. Normani teased music videos for multiple songs, none of which came to fruition, and the album peaked at #91 on the Billboard 200. She was also set to perform at the BET Awards, which would've been her first (and only) performance of music off the album, but was injured in rehearsals and the performance was scrapped. Normani has been lowkey on social media since. While we're baffled at the rollout, Dopamine is full of sleek pop/R&B hits including "1:59," "All Yours," and "Insomnia" which features vocals from R&B legend Brandy.

Glitter - Mariah Carey 

It's not Mariah Carey's fault her eighth studio album came out on September 11, 2001 in the US. There are even videos of the twin towers falling with Carey's billboard for Glitter in the foreground, which just feels... surreal. The album debuted at #7 on the US Billboard 200 and marked Carey's lowest first-week sales of her career at that point. Though it's considered Carey's flop era, it still produced a #2 hit in "Loverboy." Luckily, after another slightly rough era with the Charmbracelet album, the R&B icon returned to her rightful throne a few years later with her Grammy-winning magnum opus, The Emancipation of Mimi.

HOLY FVCK - Demi Lovato

Demi Lovato returned to her pop punk roots in 2022 and made the best album of her career, though it was not received as well as her previous pure pop endeavors. As a body of work, HOLY FVCK has a clear message, cohesive sound, some of her best-suited vocals, and brutally honest lyrics about love, death, addiction, and the industry. "29" did have a viral moment on TikTok but peaked at #96 on the Hot 100. Though none of the songs off HOLY FVCK hit the Top 40, it was widely-acclaimed and beloved by her fans.

"The process of making this album has been the most fulfilling yet, and I'm grateful to my fans and collaborators for being on this journey with me," said Lovato in a statement at the time of the release. "Never have I been more sure of myself and my music, and this record speaks that for itself. To my Lovatics who have been rocking out with me since the beginning and those who are just now coming along for the ride, thank you. This record is for you."

Joanne - Lady Gaga

Lady Gaga's "flop" era produced two Top 40 hits. Her 2016 album Joanne opened with "Perfect Illusion," showcasing her vocal abilities and pop-rock ear. And though it initially entered the Hot 100 at #76, "Million Reasons" skyrocketed to #4 following her slam dunk of a Super Bowl performance in 2017. The album was also nominated for four Grammy Awards, and "Million Reasons" won Best Pop Solo Performance.

So at the end of the day, does a "flop era" even really mean anything or define an artists, especially considering how iconic these pop queens on this are and will always be?

While we can't provide a definitive answer, we're gonna go with "not really" and stream the music anyway!