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ATRL: BoTB 90s Style Week 9: Cry High Under the Waterfalls
ATRL Moderator
Member Since: 2/19/2003
Posts: 34,484
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BoTB 90s Style Week 9: Cry High Under the Waterfalls
Let's get into. This week presents with the Queen of Hip-Hop Soul, the most progessively AND commercially successful band of the last twenty years, and the two women who have given this country the most successful albums by females ever. What's more - we also have two groups/bands with "Chili" in the name! Pick your pleasure below.
Alanis Morrissette, performing Uninvited Youtube link
Radiohead, performing High and Dry Youtube link
TLC, performing Waterfalls Youtube link
Christina Aguilera, performing What a Girl Wants Youtube link
Missy Elliot, performing She's a Bitch Youtube link
Shania Twain, performing If You're Not In It For Love (I'm Outta Here) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGA3Tdaj5VA
Mary J. Blige, performing Not Gon' Cry Youtube link
Red Hot Chili Peppers, performing Under the Bridge Youtube link
For this round, try to listen and rank them in the order that I post them. I'm doing it for a reason.
To everyone new - listen to all eight songs, comment on them and rank them from one to eight.
Eight is your favorite, one is your least favorite.
Have fun!
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Member Since: 8/23/2010
Posts: 16,089
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Tough week. I really don't know how to rank those.:-/
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ATRL Moderator
Member Since: 2/19/2003
Posts: 34,484
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Quote:
Originally posted by BnPac
Tough week. I really don't know how to rank those.:-/
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Me either! But while I'm here, let me show you all what could have been - the top fours of all the artists that didn't advance.
Sarah McLachlan
1. I Will Remember You
2. Building a Mystery
3. Adia
4. Sweet Surrender
Robbie Williams
1. Angels
2. Strong
3. She's the One
4. Millennium
Soundgarden
1. Black Hole Sun
2. Fell on Black Days
3. Rusty Cage
4. Spoonman
The Prodigy
1. Smack My Bitch Up
2. Firestarter
3. Breathe
4. Voodoo People
Fatboy Slim
1. Right Here, Right Now
2. The Rockafeller Skank
3. Happiness
4. Praise You
NSYNC
1. I Want You Back
2. Tearin' Up My Heart
3. Thinking of You (I Drive Myself Crazy)
4. God Must Have Spent a Little More Time on You
The Goo Goo Dolls
1. Black Balloon
2. Name
3. Slide
4. iris
P.J. Harvey
1. Down by the Water
2. Rid of Me
3. Sheela-Na-Gig
4. The Dancer
SWV
1. Weak
2. Right Here (Human Nature Remix)
3. Use Your Heart
4. I'm So Into You
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Member Since: 10/28/2008
Posts: 22,771
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8 - High and Dry
7 - What a Girl Wants
6 - Under The Bridge
5 - Waterfalls
4 - If You're Not In It For Love (I'm Outta Here)
3 - Not Gon Cry
2 - Uninvited
1 - She's A Bitch
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ATRL Moderator
Member Since: 3/18/2009
Posts: 35,164
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This was another really tough week. I think these are all great songs in different ways, so it was hard to stack them up against each other and weigh their respective merits and faults. After lots of listening and comparing and reshuffling of my list, here's what I came up with:
Alanis Morrissette, performing Uninvited: 1
I've always thought this was a very interesting track musically, but it's almost too heavy for it's own good. It's also such a huge divergence from Alanis' usual folk-rock singer-songwriter vibe that it can almost be a little jarring.
Radiohead, performing High and Dry: 5
I adore Thom Yorke's voice. Remove any pretense at haunting quirkiness and it's just incredibly lovely to listen to. The melodic tone of this song is a lot more optimistic than its lyrical content, which makes it seem more pleasant than painful—and perhaps more "enjoyable" than it should be.
TLC, performing Waterfalls: 7
An inspiration anthem that ignores treacly balladeering for groovy horns? Yes, please! (I'm a sucker for horns.) Plus, Left-Eye kills it on her verse.
Christina Aguilera, performing What a Girl Wants: 4
I loved this song back in the day (there's probably at least a little bit of nostalgia affecting my judgment on this one), so it was a surprise to realize how completely disposable it is—there is almost nothing substantial about it except Christina's voice—especially as a follow-up to "Genie in a Bottle." But it's undeniably catchy and appealing, even if it leaves your mind the instant it's over.
Missy Elliot, performing She's a Bitch: 8
No, she's a ****ing brilliant rapper. Look past for a moment what is simply one of the sickest hip-hop beats ever to my mind. That relentless cadence has the exact opposite vibe of "Supa Dupa Fly," yet Missy again perfectly melds her flow and attitude to match the song, recognizing every little hit and syncopated hiccup in her delivery. Amazing stuff.
Shania Twain, performing If You're Not In It For Love (I'm Outta Here): 6
More than any other song this week, this one seems to get stronger with each listen (as you can take in more and more of the complex composition). I love the wailing guitar, the hand claps, and especially that fantastic chorus.
Mary J. Blige, performing Not Gon' Cry : 3
Kind of a strange song: confessional, yet not overly emotional, and difficult to discern if it was composed in a major or minor key. The simplicity is intoxicating, though. Mary's voice comes to the forefront and hypnotizes the listener, and whenever she momentarily lets loose, the track really comes alive.
Red Hot Chili Peppers, performing Under the Bridge: 2
Its guitar riff is timeless. However, the song—so small and intimate—doesn't honestly build to that bombastically operatic finale. The more I listen to it, the more out-of-place and emotionally distancing the ending feels to me. (Too bad; the rest is superbly gorgeous.)
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Member Since: 2/26/2006
Posts: 62,897
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8. TLC, performing Waterfalls
7. Radiohead, performing High and Dry
6. Alanis Morrissette, performing Uninvited
5. Red Hot Chili Peppers, performing Under the Bridge
4. Christina Aguilera, performing What a Girl Wants
3. Shania Twain, performing If You're Not In It For Love (I'm Outta Here)
2. Missy Elliot, performing She's a Bitch
1. Mary J. Blige, performing Not Gon' Cry
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Member Since: 8/23/2010
Posts: 16,089
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I've been so lazy lately and the lazyness also came for the fact that this week is too hard. I will satrt by saying there is not one single song that I don't like. The rules make it unfortuante that one these will be rated 1 or 2. But that's Ace's fault.
Alanis Morrissette, performing Uninvited
Beautiful lyrics, the song has that haunting feeling very evanescence that compliments the lyrics perfectly. That depressing ambiance conveys the incomprehension and the loneliness of the lover in front of the stoicism of the loved one precisely. However I don't like some of her vocals on the song, but that's minor. 2
Radiohead, performing High and Dry
My favorite this week. The song is just too good. The way the drums kick in the beginning followed by the guitar is just too good. Yes too good, nothing less. 8
TLC, performing Waterfalls
One of the many reasons why T-Boz was my favorite in the group, her voice is not really strong but it is the truth and that rawness...yes. TLC was that black group that were not basing all their career on platonic and bland love songs, they went a little deeper and later DC jumped on the bandwagon. Left Eyes rap is nice, what's left to say...Amazing track. 6
Christina Aguilera, performing What a Girl Wants
During the dominance of bublegum pop music, Christina's music was the one I liked the most, even if visually I was more attracted to Britney. Cool track. 3
Missy Elliot, performing She's a Bitch Let's take a moment of silence to mourn Timbaland's genius. Missy says it best: "What do you know about Timothy? Let me know". So yes did you know that before he became the Keri/Nichole S/ Nelly Furtado's Timbo, the man was a ****ing genious and this is one of his finest works. But that is what you obtain when two geniuses reunite. What is not to like there? Nothing. Perfection. 7
Shania Twain, performing If You're Not In It For Love (I'm Outta Here)
I adore Shania and this song is no exception. See Taylor that's how a real country Queen with crossover appeals does it. Take note. 5
Mary J. Blige, performing Not Gon' Cry I have the same problem with Mary that I have with Janet, I like their work but minus some ten or so tracks that I absolutely love, I don't care for them that much. But the respect is there. This joint is a classic RnB tune and Mary serves some of her best vocals. You just can feel her emotion and you're convinced that she indeed can do better that the man she's talking about. 4
Red Hot Chili Peppers, performing Under the Bridge
Great and smooth song. 1
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Member Since: 8/23/2010
Posts: 16,089
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By the way Ace did you choose the songs this week or did you consider the 2nd most voted option for each artist?
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ATRL Moderator
Member Since: 2/19/2003
Posts: 34,484
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Quote:
Originally posted by BnPac
By the way Ace did you choose the songs this week or did you consider the 2nd most voted option for each artist?
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Moving onto the second option for each - which is why the top four process is so important.
Speaking of ...
R.E.M.
1. Losing My Religion
2. Everybody Hurts
3. Man on the Moon
4. Strange Currencies
Michael Jackson
1. Scream
2. Black or White
3. Give In to Me
4. Earth Song
Beastie Boys
1. Sabotage
2. Intergalactic
3. So What'cha Want
4. Remote Control
En Vogue
1. (Don't Let Go) Love
2. My Lovin' (Never Gonna Get It)
3. Free Your Mind
4. Hold On
Beck
1. Loser
2. Where It's At
3. Devil's Haircut
4. Sexx Laws
Moby
1. Porcelain
2. Southside
3. Natural Blues
4. Bodyrock
Third Eye Blind
1. Jumper
2. Semi-Charmed Life
3. How's It Gonna Be
4. Never Let You Go
Reba McEntire
1. The Greatest Man I Never Knew
2. Fancy
3. You Lie
4. Does He Love You?
Celine Dion
1. It's All Coming Back to Me Now
2. The Power of Love
3. That's The Way It Is
4. My Heart Will Go On
Pearl Jam
1. Even Flow
2. Better Man
3. Black
4. Jeremy
Cathy Dennis
1. Touch Me (All Night Long)
2. Too Many Walls
3. Just Another Dream
4. C'mon and Get My Love
Selena
1. Amor Prohibito
2. Como La Flor
3. I Could Fall in Love
4. Bidi Bidi Bom Bom
Cher
1. Believe
2. Strong Enough
3. Just Like Jesse James
4. Walking in Memphis
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Member Since: 6/1/2010
Posts: 65,177
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Alanis Morrissette, performing Uninvited 3
Radiohead, performing High and Dry 5
TLC, performing Waterfalls 8
Christina Aguilera, performing What a Girl Wants 4
Missy Elliot, performing She's a Bitch 6
Shania Twain, performing If You're Not In It For Love (I'm Outta Here) 2
Mary J. Blige, performing Not Gon' Cry 7
Red Hot Chili Peppers, performing Under the Bridge 1
I'll be back with commentary.
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Member Since: 8/23/2010
Posts: 16,089
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Quote:
Originally posted by Ace Reject
R.E.M.
1. Losing My Religion
2. Everybody Hurts
3. Man on the Moon
4. Strange Currencies
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ATRL Moderator
Member Since: 2/19/2003
Posts: 34,484
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Let's do this.
Uninvited - Now that I've grown up (and someone somewhere said it already), I can hear how much of a ripoff it is of certain Led Zeppelin songs. But then I think about how much of a departure this was for Alanis, how it perfectly connected JLP and SIFJ, how dynamic it sounded when I first heard it - I had never heard anything like it before. I can still get lost in it, and it makes me miss when artists used to compose songs - singles, BIG singles at that - for movies.
(P.S. - "I just need a moment ... to deliberate" might be the high point of Alanis' career.
High and Dry - For all of Uninvited's faux bombast, it can't compare to how instantly homey this feels. Radiohead have gone a lot of places in their music; some of them unimaginable, but sometimes, their most conventional work hits the spot.
Waterfalls - It's really hard to separate 90s nostalgia from any of TLC's BIG singles, so I won't try to. Everything here is so perfectly them. T-Boz's tone, Chili's adlibs, the frankly unusual (for top 40) subject matter, Left Eye's 16 bars. Only they could release this and make a summer smash.
What a Girl Wants - It's funny, and sad, that this is still one of the best uptempos of Christina's career. It does it job, and does it well - but is never spectacular. It offers pockets of thrills, but doesn't do much else. Christina's in fine voice, but is it me or does it sound like she mentions Beyonce in her ending adlibs?
She's a Bitch - Yep, she did that ****. What a great way to tell off haters.
(If You're Not In It For Love) I'm Outta Here - The Mutt Lange mix misses something in translation; Shania's songs always sounded better "countrified." But man, could she/they pen a great song! Not one part fails, and she sounds so great singing it.
Not' Gon Cry - Waiting To Exhale was the best soundtrack ever.
Under the Bridge - supa, I can see what you're saying about this one.
Is it bad that I prefer All Saints' take on it?
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ATRL Senior Member
Member Since: 9/26/2001
Posts: 22,475
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8) RHCP - Under the Bridge (the lack of support for this song is disturbing. )
7) Radiohead - High and Dry
6) Alanis Morrissette - Uninvited
5) Mary J. Blige - Not Gon' Cry
4) TLC - Waterfalls
3) Christina Aguilera - What A Girl Wants
2) Missy E - She's A Bitch
1) Shania Twain - (If You're Not In It For Love) I'm Outta Here
Quote:
Pearl Jam
1. Even Flow
2. Better Man
3. Black
4. Jeremy
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"Jeremy" as the closer? They would have killed in the finals if they got that far. >_<
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