Our most ... diverse week, funnily enough, brings us our biggest group of ballads. More ironic - none are from the queen of ballads, The Voice herself. She's in a bit of a pickle in terms of votes, so both the original track and the remixed version will play this week. We also have maybe the two best non-Abba acts that Scandinavia has ever produced. Ready?
So, to all those new to the game - listen to all ten songs, comment on them and rank them from 1-10 - ten is your favorite song, one your least favorite.
(PS: I could write an essay on that Rush Rush video. BEST THING EVER)
10. Nirvana, performing All Apologies - Love it, classic song.
9. Red Hot Chili Peppers, performing Scar Tissue - One of my favorites from RHCP.
8. TLC, performing Unpretty - TLC classic that I can relate to.
7. Robyn, performing Show Me Love - LOVED this song when I was a kid but now I prefer "Do You Know (What It Takes)".
6. Ace of Base, performing The Sign - Good song but I've been sick of it for years.
5. Nine Inch Nails, performing Closer - Hated this song when I first heard it but I like it now.
4. Whitney Houston, performing It's Not Right, But It's OK Thunderpuss Remix - Good song but I actually prefer the original.
3. Fiona Apple, performing Never is a Promise - Love Fiona, this is a great song.
2. Paula Abdul, performing Rush, Rush - Meh. Always found this one to be boring.
1. Garth Brooks, performing The Thunder Rolls - Not a big country person.
10. TLC, performing Unpretty
9. Ace of Base, performing The Sign
8. Robyn, performing Show Me Love
7. Nirvana, performing All Apologies
6. Red Hot Chili Peppers, performing Scar Tissue
5. Paula Abdul, performing Rush, Rush
4. Whitney Houston, performing It's Not Right, But It's OK Thunderpuss Remix
3. Nine Inch Nails, performing Closer
2. Fiona Apple, performing Never is a Promise
1. Garth Brooks, performing The Thunder Rolls
10. TLC, performing Unpretty
9. Ace of Base, performing The Sign
8. Robyn, performing Show Me Love
7. Nirvana, performing All Apologies
6. Red Hot Chili Peppers, performing Scar Tissue
5. Paula Abdul, performing Rush, Rush
4. Whitney Houston, performing It's Not Right, But It's OK Thunderpuss Remix
3. Nine Inch Nails, performing Closer
2. Fiona Apple, performing Never is a Promise
1. Garth Brooks, performing The Thunder Rolls
I'm really surprised you didn't like Never is a Promise! Seems like it would be right up your alley.
I'm really surprised you didn't like Never is a Promise! Seems like it would be right up your alley.
I did like "Never is a Promise", it's a nice song but I guess it was in disadvantage against songs that I love/like more. The ranking was so difficult for me this week, especially the top 4 (Unpretty, The Sign, Show Me Love, All Apologies )
The only song I didn't like that much this week was The Thunder Rolls.
I have the tendency to overestimate songs that I listen for the first time.
I feel like I sometimes do that, too. The unfamiliarity makes them fresher and better. I have to give myself at least a couple of listens in order to make sure I really feel a certain way about the song.
I feel like I sometimes do that, too. The unfamiliarity makes them fresher and better. I have to give myself at least a couple of listens in order to make sure I really feel a certain way about the song.
Exactly. I will take some time before I rank them.
Not as immediately grabbing as some previous weeks, but this is a solid crop that goes deep. Anything except my last two choices is probably good enough to be in the top four, and most of them were considered for it, too.
TLC, performing Unpretty: 10
I adore this song, because it's so unexpected and heartfelt. Turning the electric guitar and general rock instrumentation into a soft pop song is great. I love the vocals here, too—tentatively pained on the verses, slightly more assertively confessional on the bridges, and then wearily knowing on the chorus. The song is supposed to be inspirational, but it never gets preachy, and even better, it never sacrifices its great hook or warm emotion for the sake of "having a message."
Fiona Apple, performing Never is a Promise: 9
Whimsically, beautifully painful like Fiona does so well. I'm not really hearing music here so much as being enveloped in a sonic metaphor of a mood piece. It almost doesn't feel right to compare it against the others this week because it's just such a different kind of song for me.
Red Hot Chili Peppers, performing Scar Tissue: 8
I've always thought the subtle melancholy of this track was much more moving than the operatically bombastic heights of the similarly-themed "Under the Bridge." Instead of telling you how sad he is, Anthony Kiedis almost tries to hide it, which makes you feel it all the more. Very effective.
Whitney Houston, performing It's Not Right, But It's OK: 7
I'll call it the Whiney/Mariah Problem: These big-voiced divas were always known best for their turgid ballads that favored technical precision and vocal acrobatics over genuine emotion and, you know, great songcraft. In reality, their uptempo efforts always made for better music and more pleasurable listening experiences; Mariah excelled with a blend of hip-hop, R&B and pop, while Whitney was usually at her finest when she hit the dance floor (e.g. "I Wanna Dance With Somebody"). I love late-'90s Whitney because she dialed it way the hell back and channeled all that talent into really feeling her music (maybe it was the drugs?). Can you honestly tell me that, as a listener, you get more from the somewhat-empty proclamations of "I Will Always Love You" than the fiercely pointed rage of "It's Not Right, But It's OK"?
Nirvana, performing All Apologies: 6
I like when Nirvana songs find the melody through the dissonant grunge. This one is a nice mix of hard and soft, loud and quiet moments.That outro part is fantastic, too.
Ace of Base, performing The Sign: 5
I don't want to like this song, but I can't help myself—it's so unbelievably catchy! I can't explain it's appeal at all, especially because it's chock full of early-'90s dance music tropes that sound very dated now. Nevertheless, I keep finding myself compulsively bobbing along...
Robyn, performing Show Me Love: 4
I don't know if her English has gotten better or her voice has gotten stronger, but she sounds so different here. This is bouncy and pleasant midtempo pop—it definitely holds up better than a lot of the cheesy bubblegum music from the '90s. But it's not as interesting as the subversive electropop she's doing now, I think because it doesn't allow her to convey anything other than unoffensive sentiments and universal appeal.
Garth Brooks, performing The Thunder Rolls: 3
I don't usually do country, so I was surprised by how much I liked this song. Garth is still twangy, but the sound is very rock-ish. I think the song gives into his worst grandiose impulses on the chorus (it loses a lot of impact when it switches over to a major chord progression), but the quietly unsettling verses hit you with their sense of urgency.
Paula Abdul, performing Rush, Rush: 2
The song has a good chorus, but overall, it's just kind of lacking in... dynamism? I don't know. It just kind of makes me feel ennui. There's an extended fiddle breakdown, though, so that's something.
Nine Inch Nails, performing Closer: 1
Oh my god, what is this?! It's like the worst booty call song ever.
10. TLC:Unpretty Where to start, from the lyrics, to TBoz's beautiful interpretation without forgetting the lovely "ahhhhh" harmonies in the backgroung, the song is perfect.
9. Red Hot Chili Pepers: Scar Tissue I'm really surprized it ended so high on my list, strong chorus and I like that simple yet mindblowing little harmonie when the chorus kicks in, and it ends beautifully with that guitar.
8. Garth Brooks: Thunder Rolls I love country music, yes I said it. Every second of the song is bliss. Did I ever mention how much I like songs that are mostly guitar oriented?
7. Robyn: Show Me Love I like the whole feel of the song, I'm actually amazed at how much I like it. Solid song.
6. Nirvana: All Apologies I don't know how come the song ended so low in my rank, the song is stunning and I live for that guitar.
5. Fiona Apple: Never Is A promise I'm sure that's the kind of songs the angels play in heaven with different lyrics though. Let's not!
4. Whitney Houston: It's Not Right But It's Okay Why? Why? I mean there is "I wanna Dance with Somebody" feeling underestimated somewhere. Also I hate that awful remix but the original version of the song deserves a 5/6 no doubt. But that remix, awful just awful.
3. NIN: Closer OK song.
I don't really know how to rank the rest. 2. Paula Abdul: Rush Rush first song of paula I ever listen to and well I don't like it. It's not a bad song, actually the fondation is really great: the violine's part is attention grabbing but the song just feels so incomplete, like there is a part missing. 1. Ace Of Base: The Sign Really now, Nope!
10 Closer
9 Scar Tissue
8 Show Me Love
7 Unpretty
6 All Apologies
5 The Sign
4 Never Is A promise
3 Thunder Rolls
2 It's Not Right but It's OK
1 Rush 2x
So much wrong is being done to Whitney right now... Yes, the remix of "It's Not Right, It's Not Okay" is not as good (the song loses some of the menacing cool of Whitney's threats when it's overpowered by throbbing dance beats), so listen to the awesome original instead! Let me help enlighten you:
EDIT: Apparently, the "Thunderpuss Remix" was the main version of the single serviced to radio. Is that true? I distinctly remember Whitney performing the original at the Grammys when I was in fourth grade or something. Definitely a little unsure now how the song became such a big hit...