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ATRL: BoTB 90s Style Week 7: We Like to Party!
Member Since: 8/7/2010
Posts: 5,351
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10 Outkast, Rosa Parks. Undoubtedly the number one, with no stan bias induction. Such a good song, INSANE verses, and how about I reach a little by calling them the bests 90's artist we've seen so far. I'm supporting them throughout the game for sure.
9 Lauryn Hill, Ex-Factor.
8 Oasis, Wonderwall. An obvious choice, but that's with every song this week. This really is it when it comes to love songs, and what else do I use the 90s for?
7 Janet Jackson, Love Will Never Do. DEAD, I skipped this song, and had to reorder every song under it. #oop
6 Brandy, Sittin' Up In My Room. It's always good when an artist I simply do not use impresses me with a song. I think the cute factor is what ranks this so high.
5 Weezer, Buddy Holly. WHY IS THIS THEIR SONG? Why is it not My Name Is Jonas or Say It Ain't So? This works for sure, but I'd much prefer the other two.
4 Destiny's Child, Bills Bills Bills.
3 Boyz II Men, End of the Road. BLEH.
QUESTION MY SANITY, because...
2 Madonna, Vogue. I ranked this second to last. Try me. I simply do not use this song, and you can try your best to explain how Madonna is the queen, but to no avail. I'mma bad bitch.
1 Korn, Freak On a Leash.
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Member Since: 5/15/2010
Posts: 8,120
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10. Love Will Neva Do Without You ranked with Together Again and Escapade as best Janet #1 hit imo.
9. End of the Road ---------------> sublime! one of the 90's finest!
8. Vogue ---> Iconic!
7. Wonderwall one of my fave alt. songs
6. Sittin' Up In My Room ---> relaxing I love Brandy's 90's hits
5. Freak On A Leash ---
4. Bills, Bills, Bills ----> best of 90's late r&b
3. Buddy Holly
2. Rosa Parks
1. Ex-Factor
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ATRL Moderator
Member Since: 3/18/2009
Posts: 35,164
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Quote:
Originally posted by Ace Reject
I'm going to correct a grievous wrong that's being done to the highlight of the Waiting to Exhale soundtrack.
That is all I will say for now.
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Don't get me wrong: I love "Sitting Up in My Room" and I genuinely think it's full of fantastic songcraft. I had it up as high as 6 at one point, but somehow it fell down list as I rethought and reshuffled. It would actually be great if your high vote for it helps carry Brandy through to the next round, because she has so much more to give this game.
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ATRL Moderator
Member Since: 3/18/2009
Posts: 35,164
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Quote:
Originally posted by Patrick
This was obviously recorded inside of a tin can and I question the decision to keep the natural acoustics of this makeshift studio. I assume they believed the final mix had something of a futuristic, metallic/spacey, we're-almost-in-the-90s-and-therefore-we-are-in-an-age-of-amazing-technology, quality. It may have fooled listeners at the time, but it sounds incredibly silly now.
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So true! The sound mix is awful. Yet after countless listens, it barely registers with me anymore. (Call it musical Stockholm Syndrome, I guess.)
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but at the same time I do not believe that "Vogue" is in any way a weak offering. Pettibone's production is fantastic (as always), Madonna's delivery inticing, and the whole thing is just a whole lotta fun. That's gotta count for something.
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Definitely not a weak offering; "Vogue" is a great song. I just think it never quite reaches "epic" status (well, maybe in that final chorus?)—which is kind of surprising, considering it became such a huge anthem.
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The girls really came into their own in the 00s.
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DEATH. The perfect complisult...
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ATRL Moderator
Member Since: 2/19/2003
Posts: 34,484
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Nobody's voted for Nine Inch Nails.
DEATH.
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ATRL Moderator
Member Since: 2/19/2003
Posts: 34,484
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Short comments, to get to the next week. This week was always going to be tough, because four of these songs could have been my ten-pointer.
Sittin Up in My Room - Had to give this the bulk of the points. First of all, let's get into that how present the bass is in the mix, and how perfectly it fits the song. Brandy's tone is two shades light of somnambulistic, but that's appropriate; with each movement - from verse to bridge, from bridge to chorus, and into that glorious outro - Brandy is waking up to her feelings. This song, I find, gets better than almost anything else I've ever heard, the feelings of a teenage crush.
But let's be honest: This song's best moment is that wondrous adlibbed outro. 10
Love Will Never Do (Without You) - Had to put this in the nine slot. There's a certain datedness to this, but who cares? There hasn't been much talk about Janet's vocal, and maybe it's because the back story is unknown - this was originally meant as a duet with Prince. He was supposed to sing the first, much lower part, and the fact that Janet does both, and does them so well, is a testament to her versatility. The best chorus of the week, and better than anything her brother put out - as a single - post-Thriller.
Yep, I went there. 9
Vogue - Confused as to how some have said there's no euphoric watermark in this. That third verse/middle eight combo, with the ending rejoinder - Life's a ball/so get up on the dancefloor!!" - is one of the most joyous moments in Madonna's career. Also confused, because as I see it, this is Madonna's pre-80s peak. It features everything that's so great about her - her ability to crib/steal/"be influenced" by the underground, her ongoing commitment to the power of music and dance to heal the world, and that dazzling songcraft - with none of the self-seriousness that's plagued everything she's ever done since. Vocally, she's on point, and the backup singers are even better. Really, really a stunning piece of work. 8
Ex-Factor - Yeah, man, that voice. Those lyrics, but that voice. And the last minute or so. ****. 7
Buddy Holly - Tough choosing between this and another B song for my six-pointer, but Weezer's peak was so clearly 94-97 that they HAVE to make it to the next round. Plus, the guitar lick that pops up after each verse's second line is boss. 6
Bills, Bills, Bills - I remember, in the summer of 99, having an argument with one of my sisters' deadbeat boyfriends about this song. I had to tell this near twenty-year old man that, no, Destiny's Child were NOT golddiggers; they just wanted to have a relationship based on reciprocity. (Thanks Lauryn!) Still agree with that notion. Oddly enough, twelve years later, Kelly's part is the most engaging to my ears. Only downfall of this track is that, lyrically, I can hear Kandi Buress much more than of the Children. 5
Next four could have gone any way. None of them are bad (except End of the Road). Was pleasantly surprised that Freak on a Leash resonated with me after all these years.
Rosa Parks - 4
Freak on a Leash - 3
Wonderwall - 2
End of the Road - 1
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ATRL Moderator
Member Since: 3/18/2009
Posts: 35,164
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Quote:
Originally posted by Ace Reject
Vogue - Confused as to how some have said there's no euphoric watermark in this. That third verse/middle eight combo, with the ending rejoinder - Life's a ball/so get up on the dancefloor!!" - is one of the most joyous moments in Madonna's career.
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I guess you're right about that moment—she momentarily turns it all the way up to 11. But then the song immediately returns to its simmering state. I don't mean to deny that the song is great; it could easily get me out on the dance floor any time. But considering how iconic "Vogue" has become, I guess I expected it feel more epic. Compare it to, say, "Express Yourself," which is truly anthemic in its production.
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with none of the self-seriousness that's plagued everything she's ever done since.
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What about "Human Nature"? "Ray of Light"? "Beautiful Stranger"? "Music"? "Hung Up"? I would say that Madonna has certainly taken herself increasingly seriously as her career has gone on, but she hasn't completely given up on the type of great, fun music that she began with. There were definitely times in the '90s when she became almost a bore, and the American Life era was kind of a disaster, but "Vogue" wasn't her last great moment. (Also, when she began taking herself seriously, she also released some fantastic ballads that I would put among her best work.)
Ouch...
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Member Since: 8/23/2010
Posts: 16,089
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10. Lauryn Hill Xfactor: Where can I start? Really, the song is perfection, the way this woman sings, the way she feels it. And the solo guitar kicks at the end, the prince's fan in me just wants the song to go on for ever.
9 Oasis Wonderwall: Yes I love the sound of a guitar and the song is perfect, just mostly guitar's riffs underlined by the natural vocals of Liam Gallagher. The man doesn't even try to please us, it seems he is singing for his own pleasure and doesn't care about his delivery, he doesn't force any soul or emotions here and that is something I appreciate about rockers in general.
8. Outkast: Rosa Parks: The chorus is amazing and Andre's verse ***** as always. Big Boi's delivery is also very good.
7. DC: Bills Bills Bills: Oh my childhood, the little french talking girl in me discovered what "Bills" mean because of that song. That's where I fell in love with beyoncé, I've never ever been a DC fan though, only liked the blond weave girl that everybody seemed to hate.
6. Boys II Men End Of Road: yeah cheesy as **** but I LOVE it to the fullest, I don't think they were trying to be sexy with it(supaspaz), they were trying to be the boyfriend we girls we'll be dreaming of. Fail for me though.
5. Madonna: Vogue: I don't even understand how and why it is so low on my list. Great production.
4. Janet Jackson LWNDWY: I don't understand why I am so closed to some of Janet's Rythm Nation, the harder I try the harder it gets. You know it's like when you're a kid and you know that something is really good but you just don't like it.
3/2/1. Brand/Weezer/Korn.
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