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Discussion: BOTB Take Five Week 20: Presenting the Final Four
ATRL Moderator
Member Since: 2/19/2003
Posts: 34,484
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BOTB Take Five Week 20: Presenting the Final Four
Usually, the last round consists of three artist, but two artists were tied for third place.
I couldn't be happier. 
Without further ado ...
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Member Since: 2/17/2012
Posts: 33,611
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4 - One Minute Man - One of her best sung songs. Missy handles sexuality humorously and doesn't miss a beat.
3 - Back to Black - I haven't been nice enough to Amy this game honestly. She really deserves this 2nd best though. Beautiful song.
2 - Emotions - Well, I almost think it's perfect, but something is just missing and I can't tell what it is. That said, it's still ****ing fantastic.
1 - Rude Boy - It's probably the best thing she'll ever do. Actually, I'm 100% positive it is. It's ranking really shows you how much I care about her (not much!).
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ATRL Moderator
Member Since: 3/18/2009
Posts: 35,164
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A great finale! I love all four songs playing this week.
Back to Black: 4
I dig the swinging sixties vibe and the raw honesty of the song's pain, completely devoid of sentimentality. It's so perfectly Amy. I will miss her dearly.
Rude Boy: 3
Major credit to Stargate and Ester Dean; that winding, grinding beat is ****ing fantastic, and the "Come here, rude boy" hook is simply undeniable. Rihanna sells the hell out of it, too.
Emotions: 2
Not my favorite of Mariah's frothy summertime #1's (that would be "Heartbreaker," at least for today), but it's up there. She sounds glorious doing her gospel-y thang, and the track is full of genuinely infectious joy.
One Minute Man: 1
I get that Missy and Timbo were going for sexy here—and it works. But I guess I just prefer them doing the kooky, playful, mind-blowing thing. Timbaland's slinky, thumping production is interesting, but not as striking as other songs that played in earlier rounds. And Missy isn't nearly as much of a presence without her signature vocal acrobatics; she totally gets showed-up by Ludacris' guest verse.
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Member Since: 11/15/2009
Posts: 16,903
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Mariah Carey - "Emotions" 3
Rihanna - "Rude Boy" 4
Missy Elliot - "One Minute Man" 1
Amy Winehouse - "Back to Black" 2
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Member Since: 10/3/2010
Posts: 50,276
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4 - Back to Black
3 - One Minute Man
2 - Emotions
1 - Rude Boy
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ATRL Senior Member
Member Since: 6/23/2008
Posts: 14,330
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Rihanna Rude Boy
With some degree of trepidation, I allow Rihanna to assume this top spot. As much as I'm baffled by Rihanna stans and their preference for Bajan Baby's worst material (Who else would babble about the unspeakably awful Loud in such hushed, reverent tones?), I will admit that, for the purpose of this competition, the stans have been sensible with their song selection. "Rude Boy" isn't the crowning achievement of Rihanna's career (not even the*pièce de résistance of her pièce de résistance, Rated R), but the song is undoubtedly special. It has a certain magic that cannot easily be replicated. (Oh, hey there, "Roc Me Out.") This is Rihanna in the role she was born to play, that of the domineering nympho. Each come-on hits with the force of a thousand pelvic thrusts. Warning: Virginal ears will feel violated. So, yes, I like this more than any other song in this week's competition, but my initial reluctance to give this top billing nags at me. Rihanna doesn't have the consistently good material that might otherwise carry her to a deserved win against veteran (and generally superior) competitors like Mariah or Missy. (Speaking of superior competiton, when's Britney gonna make it to the top 4 in one of these games?!) (4)
Mariah Carey Emotions
Just how I like my Mariah. Give her something uptempo, make it a bit danceable (thank you, C + C Music Factory dudes), and give her free reign to do all the vocal showboating she wants. I'll take this over any of the uninspired material Jermaine, Terrius and Tricky have crafted for her in recent years. (3)
Amy Winehouse Back to Black
Around the 2:50 mark the soulful shuffle fades away and we're left with little more than Amy's mournful wailing. Amy's pain is so palpable, and the repetition in that moment is really brilliant. (2)
Missy Elliot One Minute Man
While I enjoy Missy's turn as vocalist on this track, she isn't provided sufficient opportunity to showcase her impressive skill as a supreme wordsmith. As spaz noted, she takes a back seat to Ludacris, who shows up in fine form and assumes control of this ship. (1)
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ATRL Moderator
Member Since: 2/19/2003
Posts: 34,484
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It's funny that you mention that Patrick. I'm going to tell what would have been the final songs for all the artists that didn't make it.
For The xx ... Basic Space.
For Janet Jackson ... Together Again. (Sorry Mikey!)
For Outkast ... The Way You Move.
For Britney ... ... Baby One More Time.
For Beyoncé ... Schoolin' Life. (Damn you all. Back to Black and One Minute Man don't even COMPARE.)
For Daft Punk ... Around the World.
For Bjork ... All is Full of Love.
For Robyn ... a three way tie.
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Member Since: 9/4/2011
Posts: 29,960
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Emotions - 4
Back To Black - 3
One Minute Man - 2
Rude Boy - 1
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Member Since: 8/23/2010
Posts: 16,089
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Back To Black 4
One Minute Man 3
Emotions 2
Rude Boy 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
For Britney ... ... Baby One More Time.
For Beyoncé ... Schoolin' Life.
For Bjork ... All is Full of Love.
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Can you imagine? I would have died!
Quote:
Originally posted by Patrick
Each come-on hits with the force of a thousand pelvic thrusts.
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Simply genius.
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Member Since: 12/14/2011
Posts: 21,274
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How did I miss this? 
Could I do this REALLY quickly?
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Member Since: 12/14/2011
Posts: 21,274
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Back to Black - 4
Rude Boy - 3
One Minute Man - 2
Emotions - 1
All very good.
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Member Since: 4/7/2009
Posts: 34,961
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4 Emotions
3 One Minute Man
2 Back To Black
1 Rude Boy
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ATRL Moderator
Member Since: 3/18/2009
Posts: 35,164
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ATRL Moderator
Member Since: 2/19/2003
Posts: 34,484
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Before I reveal the winner, I should probably vote - right? 
Emotions - Forgive me for comparing Mariah to the two women she's always been compared to/lumped in with, but Emotions by itself shows and proves how separate she is from them. Ostensibly, this is a song about the first thrushes of love, but - make no mistake about it - this is a song about sex. Not just sex, but orgasms.
Think about it.
A young woman of all of 21/22 writing a song about orgasms. This is how you do it, folks. Maybe her most confident - and impressive - vocal. Just perfection. Every second. 4
Rude Boy - 3
One Minute Man - 2
Back to Black - 1 [Always my least favorite song on the album. ALWAYS.]
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Member Since: 4/24/2011
Posts: 17,221
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One minute man: 4
Rude boy: 3
Emotions: 2
Back to Black: 1
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Member Since: 1/2/2012
Posts: 22,450
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Back to Black - 4
One Minute Man - 3
Rude Boy - 2
Emotions - 1
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Member Since: 12/17/2010
Posts: 10,073
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oh wait.
Emotions - 4
Honestly, I would consider this the single most impressive vocal showcase in history. The whistles in the bridge are nigh impossible to do (even by Mariah these days), and the song is super catchy and super dancey as well. Pop perfection at its finest.
Back To Black - 3
A sad song. Honestly, this is the best song to see in the final four for Amy. I wouldn't be terrible upset seeing this one win, to be perfectly honest.
Rude Boy - 2
Haha, such a dirty filthy song that I can't help but grind to.
One Minute Man - 1
I like this song, but it's a bit of a let down after Missy's outstanding showing in this competition.
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ATRL Moderator
Member Since: 3/18/2009
Posts: 35,164
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Quote:
Originally posted by Ace Reject
Not just sex, but orgasms.
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Holy crap, you're right. I never noticed that before. That just makes it infinitely more amusing that this is such an adult contemporary favorite.
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Every track a winner.