Thanks so much to everyone who participated in phase 1 of Supaspaz's Double Choice Challenge; I received a very interesting and eclectic mix of suggested artists. This announcement of the competing songs marks the beginning of phase 2, where we will whittle down the competing tracks until we find the ultimate winner. The announcement will be made in five parts.
THE CONTENDERS: PART 4
Among the most unexpected suggestions I received, I would also include Ellie Goulding, the up-and-coming British singer-songwriter who I first heard about when her lovely ballad "The Writer" was featured in Entertainment Weekly a couple of weeks ago. Lacking any wide knowledge of her music, she also inspired a deep-dive into YouTube and I was extremely impressed with what I found. My favorite track? The enigmatic and entrancing "Guns and Horses."
I've long been aware of Radiohead (especially following the groundbreaking release strategy of their last album, "In Rainbows"). But it wasn't until the past year that I really started to get into their music, after the haunting "Karma Police" once again popped up as I was shuffling my way through my iPod. In fact, Radiohead is always good for a brilliant agonizing listen, whether on the aforementioned "Karma Police," the classic "Creep," the unsettling "Reckoner," or my personal favorite...
I think Coldplay is best described as the ultimate anthem rock band of this generation. "Yellow," "In My Place," "Speed of Sound," "The Scientist" "Fix You," "Viva La Vida" - has any group produced so many widely beloved, instantly recognizable, compellingly sing-along-able songs in the last 10 years? (Okay, maybe U2...) At the top of that list is definitely the lush synth ballad "Clocks," a deserving winner of Record of the Year at the 46th Grammy Awards.
Is it just me or has Jennifer Lopez seemingly gone through as many reincarnations in the last decade as Madonna? Admittedly, she's handled her reinventions quite well, producing some delicious pop tracks along the way: the sultry and seductive ingenue on her debut, "If You Had My Love"; the Latina barn-burner on "Let's Get Loud;" the sassy and chic superstar on "My Love Don't Cost a Thing"; the ghetto pop princess on the remixes to "I'm Real" and "Ain't It Funny"; the sweet homegirl on "All I Have"; and back to her dance roots with "Get Right" and "Do It Well." Nevertheless, my favorite side of the infamous J.Lo will always be the nightclub diva and her undeniable, unbeatable hit...
Evanescence's "Fallen" was one of favorite albums of 2003, getting copious amounts of play through the following summer. I must admit, I don't think it has held up that well. Aside from the band's biggest hits, including "Bring Me To Life," and select album cuts, such as the surprisingly luring "Hello," most of the effort comes off as redundant (and somewhat unappealing) screamo rock. Evanescence's follow-up era was only marginally better, with "Call Me When You're Sober" as an obvious stand-out. Thus, the high-water mark of their heretofore limited output easily remains their biggest crossover hit, "My Immortal," which remains just as effortlessly exquisite and affecting as it was when it was first released.
The Contenders (I-IV)
Lady Gaga "Poker Face"
Madonna "Like a Prayer"
Nelly Furtado "Say It Right"
Justin Timberlake "What Goes Around... Comes Around"
Miley Cyrus "Party in the USA"
Shania Twain "Man! I Feel Like A Woman"
Hilary Duff "Come Clean"
Britney Spears "...Baby One More Time"
Beyoncé "Crazy in Love"
The Beatles "Eleanor Rigby"
Taylor Swift "Teardrops On My Guitar"
Oasis "Wonderwall"
Keane "Spiralling"
Paramore "Brick By Boring Brick"
Girls' Generation "Oh!"
Ellie Goulding "Guns and Horses"
Radiohead "Fake Plastic Trees"
Coldplay "Clocks"
Jennifer Lopez "Waiting For Tonight"
Evanescence "My Immortal"
Coming up in part 5...
Kelly Clarkson
Pink
Jesse McCartney
Nirvana
Gorillaz
I like some of those artists but I wouldve picked diferent songs...
I would actually be interested to hear what you have picked instead. I'm loving the reaction so far, because it's interesting to actually get a discussion going about music. That's why I joined ATRL!
I love all of those. Okay, I wouldn't say I love Jennifer Lopez, but you've picked exactly my favorite song of hers. "My Immortal" and "Fake Plastic Trees" are some of my favorite ballads of all time. Coldplay, one of my favorite BANDS. And Ellie is one of the best new artists of the year.
Thanks so much to everyone who participated in phase 1 of Supaspaz's Double Choice Challenge; I received a very interesting and eclectic mix of suggested artists. This announcement of the competing songs marks the beginning of phase 2, where we will whittle down the competing tracks until we find the ultimate winner. The announcement will be made in five parts.
THE CONTENDERS: PART 5
What can I say about Kelly Clarkson, other than I completely love the girl? Among all my favorite musical artists, I think she is one of those who hold a special place in my heart because I feel like I helped discover her; I was there from her very first audition on the premiere of "American Idol" to her warbly coronation performance on the finale (and she was always be the only Idol to me). Since then Kelly has a spectacular succession of great pop albums: her debut "Thankful" (highlights include the fierce "Miss Independent," the aching "Low" and lovely non-singles "Just Missed the Train" and "Beautiful Disaster"); her Grammy-winning follow-up "Breakaway" (full of non-stop, it's one of the best albums of the past decade); the controversial "My December" (the excellent "Sober" is an exemplar of its raw and tragic tone); and finally "All I Ever Wanted" (a fantastic return to her frothier pop roots). Among all that superior output, nothing quite gets me going like the beatific strains of...
As a huge of Pink, I have loved watching her transformation from industry-constructed R&B bad girl (back when I was grooving along to "Most Girls") into a confident and consummate performer in control of her image, her music, her life. That journey has gifted us with a number of amazing albums, included the much-needed therapy of "Missundaztood!" and newly mature sound of "I'm Not Dead." And among the many superlative tracks she has recorded - from "Don't Let Me Get Me," "Just Like a Pill" and "God Is a DJ" to "U + Ur Hand," "So What," "Sober" and "Please Don't Leave Me" - the ultimate standout remains the beauty and pain of...
When I think of Jesse McCartney, I think of his days in the third-rate boy band Dream Street, from the early 2000s. I know it's been a long time since then, but I'm still not sure that he's completely made the transformation into adult pop star yet. (Songwriter? Maybe. "Bleeding Love" is perfection.) Along the way, though, he has released a couple of great tunes, including the synthy break-up anthem "It's Over."
I rarely listen to grunge music (though tracks like Soungarden's "Black Hole Sun" or Hole's "Celebrity Skin" are great) and Nirvana was at its peak when I was still a baby. But resistance is futile the moment that iconic guitar riff from "Smells Like Teen Spirit" begins. Forget the meaning of the song, its all about the atmosphere and attitude of Kurt Cobain's so-desperate-it-borders-on-incomprehensible singing.
For an animated side project, Gorillaz sure has produced a lot of infectious, electro-pop goodness over the years. The band's biggest single, "Feel Good Inc." - with its deep bass groove, psychedelic chorus and trippy featured spot by De La Soul - does exactly what the title promises, and was justly rewarded with a nomination for Record of the Year at the 48th Grammy Awards.
The Contenders (I-V)
Lady Gaga "Poker Face"
Madonna "Like a Prayer"
Nelly Furtado "Say It Right"
Justin Timberlake "What Goes Around... Comes Around"
Miley Cyrus "Party in the USA"
Shania Twain "Man! I Feel Like A Woman"
Hilary Duff "Come Clean"
Britney Spears "...Baby One More Time"
Beyoncé "Crazy in Love"
The Beatles "Eleanor Rigby"
Taylor Swift "Teardrops On My Guitar"
Oasis "Wonderwall"
Keane "Spiralling"
Paramore "Brick By Boring Brick"
Girls' Generation "Oh!"
Ellie Goulding "Guns and Horses"
Radiohead "Fake Plastic Trees"
Coldplay "Clocks"
Jennifer Lopez "Waiting For Tonight"
Evanescence "My Immortal"
Kelly Clarkson Since U Been Gone"
Pink "Who Knew"
Jesse McCartney "It's Over"
Nirvana "Smells Like Teen Spirit"
Gorillaz "Feel Good Inc."
Well, that's all folks! The competition will begin soon.
Sorry, I don't know that much music of Jesse McCartney's, but this is easily my favorite. "Beautiful Soul" and "Leavin'" are okay, but I find some of his songs - especially "Body Language" - to be truly awful.
This varied response has actually been really interesting and it got me thinking, so as start on the voting, I'd love your feedback. Could you all vote in this quick, three-part survey?
The Contenders (I-IV)
. I like all the songs except "It's Over"& "Oh!".
