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ATRL: BoTB 90s Style Week 4: Don't Back Down Genie
Member Since: 11/29/2010
Posts: 19,102
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Quote:
Originally posted by Ace Reject
Sis, you do know that you can still play, right? There were no cherrypicks this game.
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I can't be bothered to make comments or any of that.
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Member Since: 8/23/2010
Posts: 16,089
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I just realized you put the YT links, I didn't realize right away that the previous links suddently got bigger. Actually you don't have to bother next time, I thought you wanted us to rate special live performances. I saw "performing" and I assumed it was live performances, the failure that I am. I will just look for the YT links myself next time. Thanks anyway.
10.PJ Harvey Down By the Water
9.Goo Goo Dolls Black Ballon
8. Toni Braxton Let It Flow I love it too much to no rate it top 3.
7. JayZ Hard Knock Life (JayZ at his best)
6. SWV Weak
5. Smashing Pumpkins Tonight Tonight
4.Fat Boy Slim Right Here Right Now
3.Xtina Genie In A Bottle
2. Monica Don't Take It personal. It shouldn't be so low, the beat is good, the whole feel of the song is great, but I find her delivery so blah.
1.NSYNC I Want You Back. nevermind.
I had a tough time ranking 6,5 and 4.I'll try to send you my results for next week soon.
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ATRL Senior Member
Member Since: 6/23/2008
Posts: 14,330
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I've was busier than I anticipated last night. I figured I should do some rankings before I headed out for the evening.
This was a difficult week. I was familiar with every song here, with the exception of the PJ Harvey track. Will I be able to rate these tracks objectively with a number of old favorites in the mix?
Smashing Pumpkins Tonight, Tonight (10)
Jay-Z Hard Knock Life (9)
Christina Aguilera Genie in a Bottle (8)
Toni Braxton Let It Flow (7)
PJ Harvey Down By the Water (6)
Monica Don't Take it Personal (One of Dem Days) (5)
N*Sync I Want You Back (4)
Fatboy Slim Right Here, Right Now (3)
SWV Weak (2)
Goo Goo Dolls Black Balloon (1)
Conclusions: No, I probably wasn't particularly objective, but with Smashing Pumpkins, a band I've acquired an unexpected appreciation for in the past 5 or so years (I don't mess much with rock/alternative), and the best single of Christina's career both playing, I felt the need to give both tracks top billing. "Down by the Water" had elements I loved. There might be something to that indie darling.
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ATRL Moderator
Member Since: 3/18/2009
Posts: 35,164
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Wow, this week was really competitive (much more so than the last). It's too bad I have to rank any of these songs low, because they're all pretty good. The fact that "Don't Take It Personal," "Down By the Water,""Right Here, Right Now" and "Hard Knock Life" are all in the bottom half is almost a shame.
Smashing Pumpkins, performing Tonight, Tonight : 10
From those opening chords, this song is just unrelentingly awesome. Simply one of the best of the '90s.
The Goo Goo Dolls, performing Black Balloon: 9
I've always loved this song, but listening it to now, the chorus seems kind of... easy? Anyways, the verses and the bridge remain fantastic. (Side note: why does John Rzeznik look like a woman in the music video?)
Toni Braxton, performing Let It Flow: 8
I've never heard this one before, but it's gorgeous. Toni sounds so good.
Christina Aguilera, performing Genie in a Bottle: 7
I want to separate my nostalgic appreciation for this song from my judgment, but it probably doesn't really matter, because it's still great.
*NSYNC, performing I Want You Back: 6
I've always been more of a Backstreet Boys fan, but "I Want You Back" is genuinely terrific pop music. It's not hard to see why this song was a breakout hit for them. (Another side note: is this one of the worst music videos ever? That space station looks like a cheap screen saver. I realize there was probably no budget, but then why do it? BSB's "Larger Than Life" came around just two years later and ******* all over this.)
Monica, performing Don't Take It Personal (Just One of Dem Days): 5
It's nice to be reminded that R&B production got better after the early 1990s.
P.J. Harvey, performing Down by the Water: 4
P.J.'s voice is incredibly sexy, but the song is perhaps one step beyond enjoyably quirky.
Fatboy Slim, performing Right Here, Right Now: 3
Good, solid dance track. That string hook is entrancingly beautiful.
Jay-Z, performing Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem): 2
Such a fantastic sample, but the song just isn't as infectious as some of his other hits.
SWV, performing Weak: 1
Sure, the production is kind of cheesy, but I still enjoy their harmonies.
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ATRL Moderator
Member Since: 2/19/2003
Posts: 34,484
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Yeah, I concur that this is the strongest week so far. Can't wait to see what next week has in store?
Don't Take it Personal (Just One of Dem Days) - What a superb first single for a teenage girl. Clearly of a post-Mary era, when reliability and realness replaced the gloss of late 80s/early 90s R&B. Monica gives one of her strongest, most sincere vocals here, and altogether this is one of the best things she's ever done. 6
Down by the Water - It makes me ashamed to say, as a fan, that I still don't understand the narrative completely - something about a very twisted family, and a young girl's death. But damn if it isn't sexy in its own way. Polly Jean very rarely does slinky, but she pulls it off like no one else. 9
Genie in a Bottle - Best single of Christina's career? Yep. Arguably the finest vocal she's ever delivered, all push and pull and controlled fire? Check. This is really a work of pop art, and the production reveals its nuances with each listen. Nostalgia plays a big part in the song's appeal, but not that big - it's still damn fine. 8
Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem) - Maybe the most ingenious sample of the late 90s? What gets me is how well the world of Annie and the world of Bed-Stuy work together; they come together to create something that feels, against all odds, viscerally real. 7
Weak - Not a big fan of this version's production - it muddles the songs strong points, melodically and harmonically speaking - and, honestly, have never been a HUGE fan of Coko's voice - she sounds too much like the female version of this reject R. Kelly from the mid - 90s. Aaron something or other? Having said all that, this song is a perfect example of SWV's strengths - and their placement in 90s R&B (somewhere in the C-level, below TLC and En Vogue but above X-Scape and the one hit wonders.) 4
Black Balloon - Really surprised this was their top pick. Sums up their catchy mediocrity, doesn't it? 1
Right Here, Right Now - I have to wonder if primarily dance artists are sort of handicapped in this game. I remember last time Freemasons did well - but that was partially because they had guest vocalists. In such a strong week, it's hard for this to hold my attention. 2
Let It Flow - Of all Toni Braxton's number one singles, this is the one that gets remembered least. Unfair, because it's probably her best. Babyface created this song, and his voice is all around it; one can very easily hear him singing this. Usually that would be a sing that the artist who released it plays second fiddle to the track itself, but there's something about the way Toni connects to the lyric that is nothing short of remarkable. I'm a sucker for songs of reckoning, and of songs sung by women to the female fans - this one is a pinnacle of both.10
I Want You Back - Great chorus, too bad the rest of the song doesn't live up to it. Although the harmonies are SICK. 3
Tonight, Tonight - On the preferable side of the Pumpkins, as it masks Billy Corgan's whine. It is majestic, but, let's be honest - it doesn't hold a candle to 1979. 5
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Member Since: 8/7/2010
Posts: 5,351
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Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem) Because I ****ing said so. Jay-Z absolutely needs to make it to the second round. 10
Don't Take It Personally (One of Dem Days) I know I should've resisted this sick guilty pleasure of mine because she sneaked right above Toni Braxton. I'll let it pass this weak, but for future weeks, I will not allow any ****ery involving people getting above Toni. 9
Let It Flow GIVE ME ****ING LIFE, TONI. She has much more in store for our future weeks and it's inevitable she's making it to the future weeks, it's Toni Braxton. 8
Weak It was good enough to jump over Christina, THANK GOD. I was not gonna be here for giving Christina I high score. Dis is cute, dis is cute. 7
Genie In a Bottle Pre-Bionic Christina gives me life. This song in particular. 6
Right Here, Right Now That's a ****ing trip. 5
I Want You Back You guys know I'm gay, right? 4
Tonight, Tonight The Smashing Pumpkins are wonderful, and I feel they're just a little bit unrepresented by this song. STILL, it ranks pretty high! 3
Down By the Water What the **** is happening? I really wanted to get into this to avoid a beating, Ace, but I'm sorry. 2
Black Balloon Nah, B. 1
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Member Since: 11/30/2007
Posts: 26,796
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10) Christina Aguilera - "Genie in a Bottle"
09) Jay-Z - "Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)"
08) *NSYNC - "I Want You Back"
07) Toni Braxton - "Let It Flow"
06) Monica - "Don't Take It Personal (Just One of Dem Days)"
05) Smashing Pumpkins - "Tonight, Tonight"
04) The Goo Goo Dolls - "Black Balloon"
03) SWV - "Weak"
02) P.J. Harvey - "Down by the Water"
01) Fatboy Slim - "Right Here, Right Now"
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ATRL Moderator
Member Since: 2/19/2003
Posts: 34,484
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Need more votes for next week before I can close things up! FL, don't let No Doubt (and others) down!
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Member Since: 11/30/2007
Posts: 26,796
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Done.
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ATRL Moderator
Member Since: 2/19/2003
Posts: 34,484
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Wow. I never thought this week's leader would actual lead the week. Not only that, but she has the highest score of any artist this round (so far).
Good on ya guys.
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Member Since: 11/29/2010
Posts: 19,102
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Can't wait until next week.
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ATRL Moderator
Member Since: 3/18/2009
Posts: 35,164
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Quote:
Originally posted by Ace Reject
Wow. I never thought this week's leader would actual lead the week. Not only that, but she has the highest score of any artist this round (so far).
Good on ya guys.
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That's because nobody ranked Toni lower than a 7. Pretty impressive widespread support.
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Member Since: 10/18/2010
Posts: 29,224
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10! SWV - Weak
9. Monica - Don't Take It Personal (Just One of Dem Days)
8. Toni Braxton - Let It Flow
7. P.J. Harvey - Down By the Water
6. Jay-Z - Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)
5. The Goo Goo Dolls - Black Balloon
4. Christina Aguilera - Genie in a Bottle
3. *NSYNC - I Want You Back
2. Smashing Pumpkins - Tonight, Tonight
1. Fatboy Slim - Right Here, Right Now
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