The last week of round two, with the ... strangest choices yet. The fact that most of these songs were considered to be the second greatest offerings these eight artists delivered is troubling, to say the least. As a partial lamb, I can say ... you did Mimi dirty.

But some of them ****!

Natalie Imbruglia, performing Pigeons and Crumbs Youtube link

Janet Jackson, performing If

Oasis, performing Don't Look Back in Anger Youtube link

Mariah Carey, performing Heartbreaker (featuring Jay-Z) Youtube link

The Smashing Pumpkins, performing 1979 Youtube link

Jay-Z, performing Can't Knock the Hustle (featuring Mary J. Blige) Youtube link

Tupac, performing Keep Your Head Up Youtube link

George Michael, performing Praying for Time Youtube link

As always, listen to all eight songs, comment on them and rank them - eight is your most liked of the week, one is your least liked.

Have fun.

These picks are so wrong. Who wronged Natalie? Name & Shame please.

Janet.

I think one of George's more upbeat numbers would fare better this round, but maybe people will surprise me and be open to Praying for Time.

I have plenty of issues with PfT, but I kind of George to advance ... because his third song will body everyone in the third round.

But, seriously, I still can't believe that Heartbreaker made it into the top four - let alone number two. And I compiled the votes!!

Do not knock "If." Whoever has a problem with it, I'm coming for heads.

And while this week certainly has an unexpected collection of picks, but I don't think it's all so bad. I mean, "1979" is a fantastic song. And I personally love "Heartbreaker." I know it's not at the top of Mariah's '90s output ("Fantasy"? Hello, people!), but at least it's not "Hero"...

8. The Smashing Pumpkins, performing 1979 Iconic

7. Oasis, performing Don't Look Back in Anger My favorite song of Oasis.

6. Natalie Imbruglia, performing Pigeons and Crumbs A hidden gem in Natalie's debut album. I always enjoy listening to this song

5. Janet Jackson, performing If The intro is always my favorite part. That instrumental

4. Mariah Carey, performing Heartbreaker (featuring Jay-Z) I love this song, but where is "Vision of Love" and "Fantasy"? These 2 songs would have been much better choices.

3. George Michael, performing Praying for Time Great lyrics.

2. Jay-Z, performing Can't Knock the Hustle (featuring Mary J. Blige) It's ok.

1. Tupac, performing Keep Your Head Up I didn't like it.

I do think the rap tracks will suffer the most this week, which would be unfortunate.

This week was just not exciting to me at all.

Natalie Imbruglia, performing Pigeons and Crumbs
Boring.

Janet Jackson, performing If

Oasis, performing Don't Look Back in Anger
Show stopper. Perfection. This song might be their best record. 8

Mariah Carey, performing Heartbreaker (featuring Jay-Z)
Even Mimi knows this song is not the business. But 5 for that fantastic voice and the way she uses it in the song that always makes me so happy.
A 5 for this song just shows how indifferent I am to the other songs.

The Smashing Pumpkins, performing 1979
Great track. 6

Jay-Z, performing Can't Knock the Hustle (featuring Mary J. Blige)

Tupac, performing Keep Your Head Up
One of these songs that makes me so proud to be a stan. From the lyrics to the sample and its use, I love everything about it. But I have to admit it is not as instant as some of his other songs.
"And when he tells you ain't nothing don't believe him, and if he can learn to love you, you should leave him, cause sister you don't need him... and since we all came from a woman, got a name from a woman...I think it's time to kill for our women...And since a man can't make one he has no right to tell a woman when and where to create one". That man was something else, I don't know why some of my aunts don't listen to Tupac, it could at least raise their self esteem. One of the best homages to women ever done by a musician, the subject here is mostly "black woman" though. Anyway...7

George Michael, performing Praying for Time


I can't rate the rest . I am so indifferent to them that I don't which one makes me more indifferent than the other. I spent a week on that and I still don't know. Sorry.

Sis, we all feel this way about this week but you ...

... actually, I'll determine your 4-1. Glad to see you're here for 1979 though!

Natalie Imbruglia, performing Pigeons and Crumbs: 2
Perfectly pleasant, but not even half as compelling as "Torn." That short guitar breakdown at about 3:15 (why is this song over 5 minutes long?!) is the only truly interesting part. But really, how much further are we going to let Ms. Imbruglia get on the strength of one hit single?

Janet Jackson, performing If: 8
Janet always tackled rock influences like no other pop diva (see: the incredible "Black Cat"). Her vocals sound as thin as ever here, but it doesn't matter, because this is not a singer's song. It's all about the effortlessly cool snarl that she could pack with so much attitude and power. The performance is surprisingly emotive: she's fierce and in complete command of the track—and she sounds so much sexier than she ever has in her recent moderately-desperate, orgasmically-cooing cougar phase. (All of this is yet another reason why Britney should really be considered the Janet Jackson of her generation, not the Madonna. But I digress.) Anyway, that Supremes guitar sample is TO. DIE. FOR. Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis done good.

Oasis, performing Don't Look Back in Anger: 4
It's a solid song—great bluesy guitar line, great Lennon-esque vocal performance—but it doesn't quite seem special. As much as I enjoy it, I just feel like I'm being taken to musical territory that I've visited many times before. (Now, whether that's because the sound is derivative or influential, I honestly don't know.) There aren't really any elements that linger with me like in "Wonderwall."

Mariah Carey, performing Heartbreaker (featuring Jay-Z): 7
Admittedly, it sounds a bit like a more urban "Fantasy" redux, but I simply can't hate it for reminding me of one of Mariah's best songs. Personally, I find that groovy sample irresistible.

The Smashing Pumpkins, performing 1979: 5
Those chord progressions are so hypnotizingly beautiful. And I love the rush of emotion when the subtlely melancholy verses break out into the quietly anthemic chorus. This song is like a study in peaceful bliss. Billy Corgan's vocals are barely discernible, so I honestly have almost no idea what this song is actually about, but I don't really mind.

Jay-Z, performing Can't Knock the Hustle (featuring Mary J. Blige): 3
Yeah, not Jay's best. His swageriffic flow is impeccable and he's got some strong rhymes, but something about it just doesn't come together for me. Even Mary feels wasted singing that hook.

Tupac, performing Keep Your Head Up: 6
I love Tupac's casual, sing-song delivery in this one. It feels so friendly and inviting, even though the subject matter is really dark. He succeeds in being uplifting and empowering without resorting to cloying cliche. Plus, that harmonic retro chorus is fantastic!

George Michael, performing Praying for Time: 1
It sort of offers the flipside to "Keep Your Head Up": laughably over-dramatic and trying way too hard to be inspiring. George's breathy vocals on the verses are easily the most annoying I've ever heard from him. The cheese factor on this one is gloriously high, but good it is not.

No time for comments, but overall - this week wasn't as bad as I thought it would be.

1979 - 8
Can't Knock the Hustle - 7
Heartbreaker - 6
Don't Look Back in Anger - 5
Keep Your Head Up - 4
If - 3
Pigeons and Crumbs - 2
Praying for Time - 1

Smashing Pumpkins 1979 (8)

Oasis Don't Look Back in Anger (7)

George Michael Praying for Time (6)

Jay-Z Can't Knock the Hustle (feat. MJB) (5)

Mariah Carey Heartbreaker (4)

Janet Jackson If (3)

Tupac Keep Your Head Up (2)

Natalie Imbruglia Pigeons & Crumbs (1)

I don't think there's been a week where every female in the competition has found a spot in the bottom half of my list.

Damn, nobody else likes "If"?