@Matty, has everyone sent their entries? I'm here for an early release tbh
Do I look like Beyonce?
Quote:
Originally posted by Superpower
Welp, looks like it will be a triple elimination. Jake, Bomb, let's start looking for cheap tickets. We can pretend to be a family and get an extra discount on the plane tickets.
Shotgun on the window seat!!!
Ya'll are already at the international destination.
Ugh, I'm trying to figure out a way to tell someone I know that I don't think I'd be comfortable doing a birth shoot for someone I don't know when I guess they want me to if I'm willing
ATRL's Next Top Member Cycle 13 | EP9: Portfolio Entries 1
EPISODE 9: MOD POTENTIAL
WHAT TO DO WITH THE ENTRIES:
FOR THE GUEST JUDGES
DEADLINE
Friday September 18, 2015
@ 10 PM US Central Time
(47 hours and 31 minutes from the time this was posted)
(I will most likely still be at work so there is wiggle room)
THE ENTRIES
Quote:
Originally posted by A Bomb
edfda2
ee2
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Quote:
Originally posted by Subomie
ATRL's Next Top Member 13
Portfolio
So, on initial thought I'm probably the furthest from moderator material you could imagine and I definitely don't have a squeaky clean reputation that others do. However, to pass over me because of that would be foolish, because I do have many strengths as a member that could be beneficial to the Mod team.
1
ATRL's Next Top Member 13
Episode #2: Branding
The branding entry is to show how well you know yourself as a member and I think I'm pretty aware of my strengths and weaknesses. I know where I excel and I know what I need to work on (and I try to do so). I think my Carefree entry shows that I care little for stan arguments and am just generally unbothered by other people's thoughts on me.
2
ATRL's Next Top Member 13
Episode #6: New Artist Promo
Brandy Clark
(She's also a lesbian, so support your fellow homo!)
So, the new artist I chose to shine a spotlight on is country singer Brandy Clark. Part of the reason I chose her is because I think country is an unfairly maligned genre on ATRL, being considered a lesser genre and the typical thinking that it's all about "drinking and pickup trucks" (though I'm sure Citrus can relate to that) and Brandy is someone who can dispel that thinking pretty quick. Although she's a fairly new artist, she has been a songwriter for a long time. She's even responsible for some critically acclaimed country hits that you may or may not know, like Miranda Lambert's "Mama's Broken Heart" and Kacey Musgraves "Follow Your Arrow", making it easier to get into her imo.
Brandy released her debut album, 12 Stories, in 2013 to mild commercial success but great critical acclaim. I think it really represents the modern style of country music, musically with the instruments etc, but mainly lyrically. Country music nowadays is very much story telling, which is what this album is all about, as you can see in the title. I understand some of you don't listen to country, and probably have no interest in it, but I think this album is a good gateway to the genre and that you should at least give it a fair try.
The album is 12 totally different stories, from the dark (Take A Little Pill), to the relatable (Hold My Hand), to the humorous (Stripes). There's something for everyone on here.
In terms of promo around ATRL, I took a different approach. I did things a lot more low-key. I figured most of ATRL wouldn't take a second look at a Brandy Clark thread and it would be left with 2 replies, so I tried to attract the small fringe audience that might actually have some interest with these threads and advertised Brandy within.
So yeah, I'm not good at closing paragraphs so please listen to at least one of the songs above and see if you like them. I remember back when I didn't use country at all and it was songs like Mama's Broken Heart that won me over and I hope this entry might get something similar to happen for one of y'all. Plus, the good sis' album only charted at like #120 so consider streaming (or even buying) her album to give her some coins. It's hard out here for a lesbo in country.
Peace!
I wanted to include at least one music entry in my portfolio, since we are on ATRL. This one shows that I can write about music and also that I am interested in more music than a typical ATRL twink and that I can be involved in threads of a wider scope. The fact that it's for a new artist also shows that I can keep up with the times and releases.
3
ATRL's Next Top Member 13
Episode #8: Do's and Don't's
Welcome to ATRL! It's nice to see some fresh meat in here after such a long time, so we of course want you to feel at home. However, there are some guidelines we would like you to take note of before you do so. Nothing daunting, just some solid advice. Let's get to it then!
DO: Express Yourself. On ATRL we want more members who are willing to speak their mind, contribute to threads and make legitimate discussions and debates. We value free thinkers and those who would make worthwhile posts, not people who make the third Gaga vs Katy thread this hour and only ever post one word replies in base. Share your thought process with us!
DON'T: Try Too Hard. A lot of newbies come in and think that they have to change themselves or act a certain way to fit in. Don't. You dont need to put on a character or a mask of what you think ATRLers want, being yourself is all you need to be. You may think we like to see more Brandy and Leona jokes, but we really, really don't. Don't be a cliché.
DO: Ask For Help. Tired of your poorly resized avatar getting spammed in the Worst Avi thread? Ask someone for a new one! ATRL has many different threads and topics solely for helping people with things. Need someone to make you a gif? Want to know how to have a totally cool invisible title? Want to find a specific thread from ATRL history? Just ask! We don't bite.
DON'T: Take It Personal. We can get heated at times on here, especially about the popstars we love (and love to hate), but don't let it get to you and most importantly don't fuel a fire. Go to HQ, report it or send a help request. Try not to hold grudges either, you can judge someone on their posts about your favourite star, but they could end up being lovely underneath that. It has happened. It's not personal, it's ATRL.
DO: Get Involved. ATRL is such a great place to make friends, discover new music and just have fun, but only if you take the plunge and get into it. Join a rate, a tournament or a survivor just to try it, review a new release for ATRL Critic, share your data in Charts or join in some Lounge discussions! There's so much to do if you just look for it, we have threads for almost anything.
DON'T: Be Immature. This may be hard for some of you, seeing as Music of the Sun is apparently older than some new members, but at least try to be mature and respectful on ATRL. We all love a mess from time to time, but not always. Don't be petty and please try to educate yourself before causing a commotion in a thread, especially one about race or trans or any other sensitive issue.
Follow these simple tips and you'll find yourself enjoying a much more fruitful and fun ATRL existence. Even if you fall off this wagon, pick yourself up and get right back on. Sometimes we can't always be totally respectful and quality members, sometimes we just act a mess (just look at me!). That's fine, we don't have to be perfect robots all the time either. Just try to follow this list and you will see the benefits hunties.
This entry is good because it's a guideline to ATRL basically. I didn't bother re-iterating the rules because it should be a no-brainer to read them and instead took another direction. I think this shows my understanding of the forum and how to make the most of your member experience and that I know what it takes to be a great member.
4
ATRL's Next Top Member 13
Episode #9: ATRL Improvement
So a semi-recent trend on ATRL has been the pop up of threads (and blogs) askng for tinychat sessions and what-not. Of course these are immediately closed and deleted and forbidden on here, but what if instead of just banning them we beat them to the chase and start our own? LAdies and gentlemen I give you...
Now, I know the immediate issue is that "we already have random thoughts to chat" but an IRC chat is a lot better than a forum one for the instantaneous nature. You can carry natural conversations rather than the stinted ones on your wall here. If they keep making threads about this then there's clearly an interest on here.
It would be totally moderated of course, and we could probably demolish the Your Top Tens button and fit it in there. I think it would strengthen the sense of community in ATRL, foster friendships and most importantly keep people on the site. For me personally, a lot of my best ATRL friends I met through off-site chats. It would be so much easier to just cut the middle man and do it here. We could even have a range of rooms for different groups.
Imagine a room for us to discuss ANTM, an artist room or a room for your survivor tribe. It beats using a private blog and emptying your friends list.
I think hiring a few respected members as Chatroom moderators and installing a bot would be a quick fix to most troublemakers. I also think it could be a cool place to hangout where the rules aren't so strictly enforced, the more trivial ones like nicknames at least. Of course it wouldn't be tinychat. There would be no camming (you know you can't trust a bunch of gay teens with webcams) and you would need to submit a request form to be granted your own room. IT would be more laid-back than the regular forum but not anymore messy.
I know an IRC Chat on ATRL looks like a disaster initially, but I think if properly run it could be a great asset to the site and a feature to keep the members more interested and engaged.
And this is my recent entry, something I think would improve ATRL. I know an IRC chat seems like a horrifying idea initially, but I think the benefits of it would outway the downsides if it was properly managed. I know it's a big and daunting addition and something that many are hesitant about, but I don't think great things are achieved by playing it safe.
I try to put my personality into these entries wherever possible, through throwaway lines, jokes or images that I use, because I want to leave an impression on people, positive or negative. I try to do my own thing with each entry and try not to blend in so that people will remember me, but I don't let this affect the quality of the work.
ATRL's Next Top Member Cycle 13 | EP9: Portfolio Entries 2
EPISODE 9: MOD POTENTIAL
WHAT TO DO WITH THE ENTRIES:
FOR THE GUEST JUDGES
DEADLINE
Friday September 18, 2015
@ 10 PM US Central Time
(47 hours and 31 minutes from the time this was posted)
(I will most likely still be at work so there is wiggle room)
THE ENTRIES
Quote:
Originally posted by Superpower
Hello esteemed guest judges, I would like to present you my ATRL's Next Top Member Cycle 13 portfolio. This is more than half of my consistently strong work in this competition.
Let's start with my presentation so you can get to know me.
PRESENTATION
My username and my avatar showcase different sides of me and being a prominent part of two different stanbases, they allow me to equally show my love, and support my two favorite artists.
I decided to pick a song as a username because the music section of ATRL is what brought me here (I now know that ATRL is more than a music forum.) I wanted a song that would represent me as best as possible. I ended up choosing Superpower because it effortlessly ticks many boxes. With my username, everyone immediately knows that I'm a proud member of the Beyhive and this empowering song brilliantly highlights many of my aspirations such as: strength "Yes we can
Couldn't break us down
They couldn't break us down" fearlessness "And just like you I can't be scared" perseverance "nothing I know could slow us down
They couldn't slow us down" togetherness "I thought I could live without you
But together we've got plenty power"
These are excellent representations of what I am and what I want to be.
Finally, I love how this song has multiple layers and mixes Doo Wop, Traditional R&B and Alternative R&B. I believe it represents the many layers of my personality.
My avatar displays the sides of my personality my username isn't showing. It features Coldplay's frontman, the blue eyed, Chris Martin who I think is very handsome (free eye candy). My avatar also balances out the seriousness of my username because Chris is a goofball, he's funny and he's sometimes messy.
I also love how my avatar is being used throughout ATRL by other members and I hope that it continues to be one of ATRL's reaction pictures.
This is the music taste challenge, and it allowed me to show the judges a different layer of who I am, not only as a contestant but also as a person. It put a smile on everyone's face. I placed second in this round but I had the same exact score as the winner.
MUSIC TASTE
♬ ♬ ♬
5 times a week, I start my day with a run. It gives me energy, makes me happy and I can't do it without some fun and energetic tunes. My morning playlist is the inspiration of my EP.
Part of being open-minded is being able to enjoy a wide variety of music, being opened to new ideas like enjoying music from the past and discover the classic gems that inspire my current favorite artists. My EP is made of songs from the post-disco era of the late 70s to the hip hop era of the 90s. This collection remains cohesive thanks to the joyous nature of the songs, the boost of energy they give you and the fact that they are party favorites that help us enjoy music and life.
♬ ♬ ♬
This entry showed how well I know ATRL, its rules and the necessary tools to survive in this environment and to make the best of it. This was another top3 entry.
DOs & DONTs
ATRL is mainly a music forum and the epicenter of the stan culture. That's the reason most of us joined, and we love to promote our favorite artists.
This winning entry, the only entry this cycle to unanimously wow the judges, demonstrated my abilities to stan, to think outside of the box and to rally ATRLers behind me.
NEW ARTIST PROMO
Zara Larsson is the 17 years old Swedish prodigy who won Talang in 2008, their version of Got Talent. Zara's amazing voice, charisma and natural beauty charmed the Swedish crowd and now she's ready for her global break. After winning Sweden Got Talent, vocalist and songwriter Zara Larsson released her fantastic debut album titled 1. She signed with Epic in the U.S. and she's readying her first full length global release. In the meantime, we can enjoy her various EPs and limited released album. Zara's songs are amazing and masterfully crafted by the best writers and producers such as Tove Lo (Habits, Love Me Like You Do, Talking Body etc...), Claude Kelly (the man behind Britney's Circus, Miley's Party In The USA, Bruno Mars Grenade, has worked on the soundtrack of the Cher lead movie Burlesque and my favorite Kelly Clarkson song My Life Would Suck Without You.) Zara has also worked with Canadian producer Mathieu Jomphe whose resume includes collaborations with Britney Spears, Dr Luke, Max Martin and Madonna.
Yes, she has a great team of Pop masterminds behind her, but Zara remains the star of all her songs. This is what's expected from a winner of a talent show, especially someone whose vocal prowess has carried her to the top at a young age, and who has been perfecting her gift for more than half a decade.
Zara might be young of age but her songs speak to all the avid Pop music fans of all ages while she manages to keep her youthfulness and sweet innocence. She is charming, relatable and self aware like Tove Lo and she isn't afraid to show her vulnerability like Sia.
After winning Talang, Zara Larsson scored a record deal with TEN and she released her first full length album in 2014, the incredible 1, only released in few countries. We have to applaud Zara for waiting 6 years after her claim to fame to release her album. She took the time to mature her voice and find herself.
She recently signed a 3 years record deal with Epic in the USA and subsequently released her first global single Lush Life which has been described as "the Rihanna style summer jam we all deserve" by Time Magazine
Zara's growing discography also includes 3 extended plays (Introducing, Allow Me To Reintroduce Myself and Uncover which is the only EP available worldwide)
Apple Music, Spotify, Tidal and YouTube links are provided below so you can easily pick your favorite streaming service.
Winning Talang was just the beginning for this talented young woman. She went on to receive multiple Swedish Grammy nominations for her work while winning many other local awards.
With Sweden being the birthplace of Pop Perfection (all the biggest Pop stars are heavily influenced by Swedish Pop and work with Swedish producers) it's only a matter of time before Zara Larsson takes over the world.
Renowed For Sound calls her a "trend setter for all the right reasons" MuuMuse gushes "this is the very essence of Swede-pop at its finest: Strong songcraft, powerful melodies and captivatingly pure vocals, from the feel-good, ’80’s synth-soaked “Wanna Be Your Baby” to the thoroughly brilliant “Rooftop” to “She’s Not Me, Pt. 1 & 2,” which glides across ghostly wisps" Idolator puts her next Pop virtuosos Robyn and Tove Lo.
Zara Larsson has a very small ATRL following and this is what our fellow members have to say about her
Quote:
Originally posted by Ben Ili
She is amazing!!
I love her song Carry you Home !
Quote:
Originally posted by nickolsen
I used her album to death a few months ago.
Can't wait for her new material, lush life is amazing.
Quote:
Originally posted by honeymoonavenue
I've stanned her for a while, and Lush Life is a giant bop
Quote:
Originally posted by MusicTalker
This song is awesome. She needs to promote it in the US.
Quote:
Originally posted by Sam
"Lush Life" just scored its fifth week @ #1 in Sweden this week. So proud of her. ATRL needs to stop sleeping on the next big thing!
Zara has been able to handle herself flawlessly since becoming famous and she's very humble. Her Instagram account shows how down to earth she is and how she's been able to stay grounded and keep her youth.
Zara isn't afraid to speak her mind as shown by this viral post proving that men have no excuses not to wear a condom.
Zara has a plethora of Pop gems. I've hand picked four of my favorites for you judges to have a peak at her discography. These selected tracks showcase her great voice, the beauty of her youth, the catchiness of her songs, the amazing production, her maturity and overall, just how brilliant she is.
Live performances are probably the most important and also the most nerve-wracking part of being an artist. It's the moment when you have to prove yourself and set yourself apart from the other pop stars. This happens to be my favorite live showing of Zara. I love how she brought the song to life, love her presence, her voice control and how mesmerizing her raw talent is.
Instead of creating a thread like the other contestants, I decided to think outside of the box and do something more effective. I took inspiration from the "door to door" marketing plan and applied that old promotional approach to this challenge and talked directly to just over 30 well known and influential ATRL members. These members were selected because they all represent different bases or are well known in different sections of the forum or are known to have great musical taste or have ranked high on ATRL's Most Influential Members list. I told them how amazing Zara Larsson was, recommended two Zara songs, gave them streaming links and showed them her videos. I also asked them to wear Zara Larsson avatars if they wanted to and to feel free to share her music and to continue the conversation. After all, word to mouth is still the best and most effective way to promote anything.
And it worked! Zara took over ATRL. Most members loved her and were very appreciative to discover this talented artist. Here are just few quotes from them.
Quote:
Originally posted by Bloomers
Cool. I checked out the two songs. They were both very good. I don't think I've heard too much by her before so thanks. I might have to keep an eye out for her and keep her songs in regular rotation
Quote:
Originally posted by Mark Rih
Zara slays so hard
Quote:
Originally posted by J-esper
Rooftop is a cute bop (only listened that one so far)
Quote:
Originally posted by Element
My faves are Uncover, She's Not Me, and Under My Shades
Quote:
Originally posted by jax.
I'll be rooting for Lush Life's success!
jpow even took the liberty to create 2 new avatars that were praised a lot in the Best Avi Thread (the conversation goes on for more than 2 pages) and members started to wonder where were they from
Quote:
Originally posted by 1989
What video is that from?
Here are some of the members who are wearing Zara avis for the next few days starting by yours truly.
Meet Zara Lovers
I also decided to apply what we learned from the Trend challenge and wanted to expand Zara Larsson's visibility a little more, as if having many regular posters sport her avatar wasn't enough, by using these gifs because we all know this is one of the fastest ways to become an ATRL "it girl". I was hanging out in the Pop Queens Rate thread on Tuesday and ATRLers quickly latched on to them.
Here are few examples
Quote:
Originally posted by Superpower
If it's Green Light
Quote:
Originally posted by MANUELF
Wont miss it
Quote:
Originally posted by Bloomers
I always forget how Take A Bow sounds, but I remember liking it alright. I guess this is a cool place for it.
Should have been Telephone though
Quote:
Originally posted by MANUELF
Thats because your taste is horrendous and if you see the scores you will only see me once in the lover section of Britney, I was fair to everyone
Quote:
Originally posted by dwuw
Alejandro > Blackout
Quote:
Originally posted by Tanguy
My flawless taste remains unbothered.
Take A Bow is a 10.
This is my entry for this week's challenge: Moderator Potential.
THE SUPER IDEA
Part of being a moderator is to come up with great ideas that will improve ATRL and excite the members. The forum update will finally modernize ATRL, but how can we take ATRL to the next level? How can we set ATRL apart from other modern fora and bring the community even closer? The answer is clear, by adding a multi language system.
A quick web analytics search shows that ATRL visitors come from over 131 countries. To put it in ATRL lingo, this forum is more global than Kylie Minogue and Cher. With such a huge international pull, ATRL could dominate not only all the music fora but it could also compete against some major websites. In order to achieve this, we need to implement a multi language system. It's actually very easy to do and there is a plethora of softwares already available that allow for full support of any language, like bbpress, or phpbb or Vbulletin. But I suggest our admins and developpers to just incorporate the multi language coding in our system. The best part is, these "translators" are better than your everyday Google Translate widget.
All the users will be able to read and write in any language. Many current members will finally be able to express themselves freely without worrying about being misunderstood. Being able to reach more users will just be an added bonus. And how cool will it be to have a conversation with someone who's thinking and typing in a completely different language?
Right now, there are many members who limit themselves in the French thread, or in the Spanish Talk thread, or in the Balkan thread, or in the Hebrew thread, or in the Portuguese thread etc... There are countless threads like these, and it's starting to feel a little separatist. Having a multi lingual ATRL will allow many members to get out of their comfort zone, to explore the forum, to share their wonderful culture with us and to feel like they belong. This will help us have more perspectives in our discussions, make more friends, learn more, have more new artists recommendations, more travel tips etc...
ATRL's Next Top Member Cycle 13 | EP9: Portfolio Entries 3
EPISODE 9: MOD POTENTIAL
WHAT TO DO WITH THE ENTRIES:
FOR THE GUEST JUDGES
DEADLINE
Friday September 18, 2015
@ 10 PM US Central Time
(47 hours and 31 minutes from the time this was posted)
(I will most likely still be at work so there is wiggle room)
THE ENTRIES
Quote:
Originally posted by JakeKills
ANTM S13, E9, Pt. 1: Portfolio
1. Application Submission Preview
Quote:
Originally posted by JakeKills
JakeKills
Application for ATRL's Next Top Member, Cycle 13
Q3:
What are your personal top three highlights as an ATRL member?
Answer:
1. My first selection is my weekly top 10 countdown, which I'm submitting in lieu of my best of 2014 thread (all of my graphics are gone, I'm so pissed). Both YTT and YEC are standout features on ATRL that give members a chance to share their love for various songs and artists. More than that, though, my early endeavors in these areas encouraged me to learn more about how to create tables and use other formatting codes (examples evident in both the linked post and the thread OP), and they've also prompted me to experiment with creating my own graphics. I made the graphics that you see in my top artists chart, and I think that they're some of my best—and coolest—yet.
2. Another of my favorite features on ATRL are the various rates, Best of the Best, and year-end events that Ace Reject has popularized through the years. Participating in these threads can be great fun, but they also provide an excellent opportunity to discover new music and encourage people to pause and think about what makes a good song.
Hosting one of these events can be a really enjoyable—and sometimes challenging—endeavor. Through my years here, I've hosted a handful of rates (which I've just realized were all for female country artists; I'm so niche), but my Fantastic Fours Mega-Rate was definitely a standout.
3. At the start of the year, I had the privilege of hosting the 4th annual Taylor Nation Awards. It was a great gig for me not only because I got to utilize some of my organizational skills, but also because I love having the opportunity to shower praise and recognition on my fellow disciples.
Aside from that, the thread also highlights my creativity, humor, and, yes, even my subtle shadiness. Most notably, I came up with each of the award titles myself—all of them are taken from lyrics of Taylor's 1989 album. My personal favorites are the "Died of Thirst Award" (taken from the lyrics of "Clean," and presented to the biggest attention-seeker), and the shady awards for fans of other artists (Britney Spears? She's just "Some Other Girl." Gaga? "Who is She?").
I should probably also humble-brag about the fact that I took home four awards from my nine nominations, including ... most popular stan ... top male fan, and Disciple of the Year.
The Lord >
I love the Lord
Q4:
What makes you a TOP MEMBER?
Answer:
I've spent the past four years building a reputation as a reliable, likeable member who can be serious without necessarily always taking things too seriously. I've been told that I'm one of the more popular and easily distinguishable members of our pop overlord Taylor Swift's fan base, and I'm fairly well known for always capitalizing any pronoun that refers to Her. However, even though I'm known primarily as one of Taylor's disciples, I'm still recognizable as a fan of other artists (including Shania Twain, Cher, Madonna, Kylie, and perhaps just country music in general). I love that people know me as more than just a Taylor stan because although She is my main fave, my musical interests extend so much further.
I don't think that being a top member should just be about having a reputation for being shady, or having a certain "brand" image to make yourself stand out (although both of these things play their part), but that it should be about making the absolute most of your membership on this site. In my eyes, being a top member means that you use the site to listen to new things, learn about pop culture/music/history, and discuss the things you love, as well as to interact with other members and establish positive relationships with them.
If it weren't for ATRL, I doubt that I'd even listen to Madonna, nevermind the fact that she is now my fourth most played and second favorite artist ever. I had no idea what she'd done for pop music and pop culture before joining this site, and I've since developed a great appreciation for her (something not too many members seem to have, for some reason).
And ATRL has done more than broaden my musical horizons and increase my knowledge of pop culture. As a forum, it's provided me with good friends—a handful of whom I regularly interact with outside of the site, and three of whom I even met in person at a recent 1989 Tour stop (hi Vespie ).
I'm of the opinion that a top member should take advantage of every opportunity that the site provides, and I like to think that I do so. The previous examples indicate just a few of the ways that I've sought to make the most of what ATRL has to offer, and I believe that participating in ATRL's Next Top Member would allow me to further experience the best of what ATRL has to offer.
2. Trends Submission Preview
Quote:
Originally posted by JakeKills
ANTM Cycle 13, Episode 4: Trends
IN A WORLD where pop culture obsessed queers are endlessly putting their psychic abilities to the test, it seems rather unbelievable that there isn't a corresponding smilie. No longer. I present to you:
:mary:
Named for ATRL member MaRy, who reached icon status by accurately predicting that Katy Perry's lead single would sound like “Brave” by Sara Bareilles, this newest addition to ATRL's smilie family would be a multi-purpose instant hit.
We make predictions about all aspects of pop culture, society, and even life on ATRL itself.
Quote:
Originally posted by Goosey
Hillary has 2016 in the bag.
Quote:
Originally posted by IBeMe
Predict ATRL Thread Titles in 20 Years.
Rihanna teases R8.
Katy's third divorce official?
Gaga shares photo from kitchen; makes spaghetti.
Taylor Swift: highest grossing female tour ever
NOW 201! outsells Adele.
ATRL server update soon!
Selena Gomez wins Oscar.
Quote:
Originally posted by Cupid
Jake is gonna be ATRL's next top member.
I foresee this smilie becoming a popular addition to ATRL's smilie family in the near future.
I'll leave you with this bold prediction...
Originally posted by JakeKills, in Did anyone expect Carly Rae to come out with a great record
Carly wrote 200+ songs for Emotion. It kinda would have been a tragic embarrassment if she was unable to put together a decent, well-recieved album after all that.
Example 3: The Truth Will Out: Shakespeare's Impact.
Quote:
Originally posted by JakeKills, in Better Writer: Mariah Carey or Shakespeare?
Shakespeare is considered the greatest writer in the history of the English language while Rolling Stone would have me believe that Mariah Carey isn't even one the top one hundred best songwriters of all time. Tough call.
Example 5: Hanging on a Moment of Truth
Quote:
Originally posted by JakeKills, in Pop gal from the last 10 years with the least remembered hit
Quote:
Originally posted by Paola Bracho
Bad Romance was huge in 2009-2010 but now is far from remembered.
Quote:
Originally posted by liberalmusiclover
Probably Gaga with Bad Romance. It's just about completely forgotten.
Quote:
Originally posted by Anticipating
Bad Romance
Quote:
Originally posted by Swag
GaGa and "Bad Romance"
Quote:
Originally posted by Baby Boy
Bad Romance
Not when just in the past week there have been countless headlines from various music, film, fashion, feminist, and gay media outlets with headlines that are some variation of "Meryl Streep covers Bad Romance." Is Meryl singing anyone else's "completely forgotten" songs? Or even their remembered songs, for that matter?
4. Music Taste Submission
Quote:
Originally posted by JakeKills
ANTM Cycle 13, Episode 3: Music Taste EP
Quote:
I've been dealing with depression for years now, and the worst part of it has always been the crippling loneliness I've felt. Each song here addresses a feeling that I know well: the feeling of desperately wanting—needing—to connect to someone. That this EP consists of my favorite songs from five of my favorite artists is unintentional, and beside the point. The point is that music has always managed to fill the void that people have left in my life, and these songs not only describe this—they embody it. These are songs that plead for closeness, that capture the feeling of lacking any sort of meaningful connection to the people that surround you, that indicate a man's willingness to fully attach himself to someone when the opportunity arises, that desperately beg for reassurance that the bond you've formed will never be severed, that offer comfort that you will never be alone, even in your darkest hour. "Safe & Sound" is an especially important inclusion here. It's both my favorite and most played song of all time, which are distinctions that it's earned by being the one song that could always comfort me, calm me, reassure me. Taylor seems to say, "You'll always have me, no matter how alone you may be." It's a significant message when it comes from your favorite artist, and it harkens back to a quotation of Hers that has resonated with me since I was just 13: "People haven't always been there for me, but music always has." These are amongst the many songs that have been there for me.
Brandy Clark is presently the greatest artist working in the (semi-mainstream) country genre. A talented vocalist with outstanding lyrics, Clark is a diamond in the rough -- a glimmer of hope in a genre filled with 30 year old men chasing a frat boy demographic. One need not look any further than Clark's songwriting contributions on other artists' albums to see that she has a distinct style. Hits like Miranda Lambert's "Mama's Broken Heart" and The Band Perry's "Better Dig Two" burst with the dark humor that makes Clark's music stand out, while co-writes with Kacey Musgraves, including the popular gay rights anthem "Follow Your Arrow," reveal Clark's wittier side.
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Country music is generally viewed as a form of escapism, just as most popular music is. The past few years have seen a surge of mindless party songs, bringing listeners even further from their real lives. Brandy Clark is one of a few artists who breaks this trend. Rather than encouraging listeners to escape their lives, she writes openly about their lives. She works through average-Joe characters and acts as an observer, making her something like the polar opposite of Taylor Swift (whose writings are intensely focused upon Her own life). Even though Clark may not be writing about her personal experiences, her songs burst with personality because of the unique perspective with which she writes.
Brandy Clark has been widely praised for her work, but the public has not yet caught wind of what she has to offer. That "Stripes" went nowhere on country radio is unsurprising. It is notoriously difficult to break a female act in country music, and it likely didn't help that she is nearly 40 years old, traditional in sound, a lesbian in a conservative genre, and already popular for her work behind-the-scenes. That Clark managed to pull nominations at the 2015 Grammy Awards for Best New Artist and Best Country Album despite her total album sales failing to reach six digits should speak volumes about the quality of her material.
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For the past five years, people both outside of and within country music have watched in horror as the quality of material in the genre deteriorated faster than it has at any other point in history. The rise of bro-country has filled the genre with mediocre songs that bring hip-hop and EDM to country radio, where veterans and women equally struggle to be played. It's a tall order to want or expect anyone to "save" country music, but Brandy Clark has the potential to do just that. A first-rate lyricist with a unique perspective and a gift for blending classic and contemporary country, Brandy Clark is not just another up-n-comer; she's almost inarguably that greatest female country artist to debut this century. Country music has a poor reputation on ATRL, and even in the mainstream media in general, but if I could encourage someone to listen to just one country artist, it would absolutely be Brandy Clark.
6. Improvement Submission Preview
View About The Entries
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About Application:
I chose to include my application for ATRL's Next Top Member because I believe that it serves as an appropriate introduction to who I am as a member. Additionally, the application has quite a bit to say about why I value the time that I have spent on this website, and what qualities I think that a top member should possess. Ultimately, the application contains a lot of important information that would be relevant to the ATRL staff and community if I were being considered for a position as a moderator.
About Trends:
Smilies are an integral element of the ATRL experience. The psychic smilie that I submitted for the trends challenge proves that I'm able to find cute and useable smilies that fill holes in the options currently provided by ATRL.
About Receipts:
As members with a good deal of visibility on ATRL, I feel that moderators should lead by example. Part of that includes engaging in conversations—responding, clocking, using receipts—without being abrasive, aggressive, or posting flamebait. My entry for the receipts challenge illustrates that I’m capable of a good #clapback while staying well within the bounds of the rules.
About Music Taste:
I’ve included the music taste challenge because I think that it helps people get to know me better. This EP includes some of my favorite songs from some of my favorite artists, but it also touches upon why music—and, by extension, ATRL—means so much to me.
About Artist Promo:
The artist promo challenge showcases my ability to write seriously about music, no stan lingo allowed. Objectivity may be rarely found on ATRL, but there are times when its best to be unbiased. As the judges pointed out in their comments, this entry exemplifies the strength of my writing, on top of its persuasiveness and professionalism (umich compared it to an article by Billboard). These latter traits can be particularly useful qualities to possess.
About Improvement:
Finally, I’ve included a glimpse of my entry for the improvements challenge because I believe that I came up with an idea that, if made operational, would be a wholly unique feature on ATRL. As we look towards the future of the website, we must continue updating, innovating, and expanding… And an On This Day thread could provide an excellent opportunity to do just that.
ATRL's Next Top Member Cycle 13 | EP9: The Entries
EPISODE 9: MODERATOR POTENTIAL
WHAT TO DO WITH THE ENTRIES:
Answer the Question: WHO HAD THE BEST & WORST ENTRY?
Anyone can answer and you cannot say yourself!
DEADLINE
Friday September 18, 2015
@ 10 PM US Central Time
(47 hours and 15 minutes from the time this was posted)
(I will most likely still be at work so there is wiggle room)
THE ENTRIES
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Originally posted by A Bomb
The biggest complaint, I’ve seen between ATRL members and the mods, seem to come from a lack of communication. And just recently, in a thread, plenty of members were praising Cupid for actually posting his reasons for closing threads. Seeing this, it got my wheels turning, what the members want is more communication, so why not implement a monthly Q&A with the mods. This would allow the flustered members to vocalize their complaints directly. During the first Mod Talk, great name, I know, the majority of the mods would be present to demonstrate their wanting to help. HQ is riddled with posts asking about the status of their help requests; also, with the incoming update, which I’m still hopeful for, gives even more reason to open up the channels for open discussions with the mods. There have been cases of Mods abusing their power. ATRL has allowed the reporting of mod post, or through help requests, but many members are not convinced that report would do anything, except make them a target. During mod talk, those members could ask the other mods to address the issue. Nine times out of ten, people, who complain, just want someone to listen to their complaint, and give a sincere response. Mod Talk is the platform necessary to accomplish that.
How would this work?
During the first Mod Talk, the majority of mods would have to be present; mostly, to show support and to keep the messiness to a minimum. The actual Q&A portion would work best if the questions, comments or concerns, were sent, at least a week before hand. This would allow for the non-serious questions to be weeded out. The past Q&A’s with admins were kinda messy, where it was a free-for-all, and some question were left unanswered. With a more organized approach the Mod Talk would have a higher success rate. The actually discussion would go on for about an hour or less, then the thread would get closed. After this the mods would rotate, in teams of 3 or 4, to host the Mod Talk every month. The rotation would give differing perspectives and break down the “wall”, some members feel, sits between the mods and members.
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Originally posted by Subomie
ATRL's Next Top Member 13
Episode #9: ATRL Improvement
So a semi-recent trend on ATRL has been the pop up of threads (and blogs) asking for tinychat sessions and what-not. Of course these are immediately closed and deleted and forbidden on here, but what if instead of just banning them we beat them to the chase and start our own? Ladies and gentlemen I give you...
Now, I know the immediate issue is that "we already have random thoughts to chat" but an IRC chat is a lot better than a forum one for the instantaneous nature. You can carry natural conversations rather than the stinted ones on your wall here. If they keep making threads about this then there's clearly an interest on here.
It would be totally moderated of course, and we could probably demolish the Your Top Tens button and fit it in there. I think it would strengthen the sense of community in ATRL, foster friendships and most importantly keep people on the site. For me personally, a lot of my best ATRL friends I met through off-site chats. It would be so much easier to just cut the middle man and do it here. We could even have a range of rooms for different groups.
Imagine a room for us to discuss ANTM, an artist room or a room for your survivor tribe. It beats using a private blog and emptying your friends list.
I think hiring a few respected members as Chatroom moderators and installing a bot would be a quick fix to most troublemakers. I also think it could be a cool place to hangout where the rules aren't so strictly enforced, the more trivial ones like nicknames at least. Of course it wouldn't be tinychat. There would be no camming (you know you can't trust a bunch of gay teens with webcams) and you would need to submit a request form to be granted your own room. It would be more laid-back than the regular forum but not anymore messy.
I know an IRC Chat on ATRL looks like a disaster initially, but I think if properly run it could be a great asset to the site and a feature to keep the members more interested and engaged.
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Originally posted by Sam
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Originally posted by Superpower
Part of being a moderator is to come up with great ideas that will improve ATRL and excite the members. The forum update will finally modernize ATRL, but how can we take ATRL to the next level? How can we set ATRL apart from other modern fora and bring the community even closer? The answer is clear, by adding a multi language system.
A quick web analytics search shows that ATRL visitors come from over 131 countries. To put it in ATRL lingo, this forum is more global than Kylie Minogue and Cher. With such a huge international pull, ATRL could dominate not only all the music fora but it could also compete against some major websites. In order to achieve this, we need to implement a multi language system. It's actually very easy to do and there is a plethora of softwares already available that allow for full support of any language, like bbpress, or phpbb or Vbulletin. But I suggest our admins and developpers to just incorporate the multi language coding in our system. The best part is, these "translators" are better than your everyday Google Translate widget.
All the users will be able to read and write in any language. Many current members will finally be able to express themselves freely without worrying about being misunderstood. Being able to reach more users will just be an added bonus. And how cool will it be to have a conversation with someone who's thinking and typing in a completely different language?
Right now, there are many members who limit themselves in the French thread, or in the Spanish Talk thread, or in the Balkan thread, or in the Hebrew thread, or in the Portuguese thread etc... There are countless threads like these, and it's starting to feel a little separatist. Having a multi lingual ATRL will allow many members to get out of their comfort zone, to explore the forum, to share their wonderful culture with us and to feel like they belong. This will help us have more perspectives in our discussions, make more friends, learn more, have more new artists recommendations, more travel tips etc...
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Originally posted by Era
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Originally posted by JakeKills
ANTM S13, E9, Pt. 2: Improvement
View Sample
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Thread Title: On This Day: 9/14 - First VMAs (84)
1973
Hip hop legend Nas born.
1983
Acclaimed British songstress Amy Winehouse born.
Spotlight: 1984
At the first ever MTV Video Music Awards, pop legend Madonna
stole the show with a controversial performance of smash hit
"Like A Virgin." Wearing a wedding dress and a belt branded "BOY TOY,"
the icon gyrated and humped her way across the stage. Now considered
one of the greatest moments in MTV history, the performance was
initially met with claims that it had "ended Madonna's career."
2004
Arcade Fire release Funeral.
2013
Katy Perry scores eighth Hot 100 #1 hit with "Roar."
But Superpower and A Bomb have the only two Improvement ideas that I like (aside from my own, duh). I think I might like Super's a bit more, but it seems utterly impossible to expect that to ever be implemented. At least Bomb's stands a chance.
As for the other three...
ATRL is never ever ever implementing any sort of reputation system.
I absolutely hate websites that start automatically playing music when you open a page.
It's especially obnoxious on mobile, when you tend to already have music playing.
ATRL already has a strong anti-tinychat attitude, so I don't see how introducing an integrated chat feature is even a feasible idea.
EDIT: I should add that an ATRL Radio channel would be cool. I just wouldn't want it to be, like, built into ATRL in a way that it automatically played, or whatever. Host it somewhere else and just place a link to listen somewhere on the site.
But Superpower and A Bomb have the only two Improvement ideas that I like (aside from my own, duh). I think I might like Super's a bit more, but it seems utterly impossible to expect that to ever be implemented. At least Bomb's stands a chance.
As for the other three...
ATRL is never ever ever implementing any sort of reputation system.
I absolutely hate websites that start automatically playing music when you open a page.
It's especially obnoxious on mobile, when you tend to already have music playing.
ATRL already has a strong anti-tinychat attitude, so I don't see how introducing an integrated chat feature is even a feasible idea.
Yours is my favorite (after mine of course )
Era's entry, I like it too. It's like Umich's ATRLers improvement but bigger and better. No shade to umich.
1
So proud of her. ATRL needs to stop sleeping on the next big thing!
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