The final round of ATRL's multi-awarded game Choose The Album, Then a Song is here!
We are finally in the last round, it was a long, exciting, crazy and dramatic season but we did reach the end. This is it, all the entries are in, now you, public, and the judges will decide who deserves to be the winner.
THE RULES
Before we actually start playing, I need to remind you of the rules.
1. A song can ONLY be used THREE TIMES throughout the entire challenge;
2. The judges have to be FAIR;
3. Anyonce can vote except the judges (they will vote in their own way);
4. It is NOT allowed to call in people to save you;
5. You MUST listen to the songs (and read the essays, when asked) before voting. Be fair if you want others to be fair with you;
6. A vote per person;
7. HAVE FUN.
You already know me and the judges for this season but it's never enough to give us a round of applauses!
THE HOST Pedro
THE JUDGING PANEL Regina George
RatedG²
Chill Bill
Starships
THE CONTESTANTS
We are down to the final 3! These are the remaining contestants of Choose The Album, Then a Song 4!
FINAL ROUND
1. Inner Insanity - My Chemical Romance - The Black Parade
Quote:
Originally posted by Inner Insanity
THE DEAD BEAT EP
1. Honesty -
I think Dead! is the absolute perfect opener for this EP and also the best song to fit with honesty. It describes a patient who has cancer and its dying but doesn't really know it. The narrator of the song is telling them how it is and that they only have two weeks to live.
2. Laughter -
Teenagers is the song that stands out the most because of it's upbeat sound and silly lyrics. The lyric "teenagers scare the living **** out of me" is very true but also tongue in cheek. It always makes me laugh no matter how many times I hear it. It's a great song that finds a worthy place on The Dead Beat EP.
3. Kindness -
This song will always define this era so an EP would not be complete without it. It represents kindness here because after the patient dies, he goes onto a better place. His "walk" to the afterlife is represented by his fondest memory of the parade he saw as a child. His surroundings after he moves on are empathetic with his passing and allow his new afterlife to be as pleasant as possible.
4. Generosity -
This song may not immediately strike
anyone else but out of all of the songs I think this works best. I explained the story of a mother having several sons that all end up going to war to get away from her because they didn't like her. In the end though, the narrator, one of the sons, writes a letter to her during this war. He apologizes and plans to give her all of the love and care that he realized she really deserves. Although he dies before sending it, I think the fact that he had a change of heart pushes the song into this category because he finally accepted his mother's generous giving of love and care and wanted to return it.
5. Loyalty -
Cancer is another centerpiece of this EP. It is the lone ballad and for good reason. It tells of the patient's final hours before he succumbs to the cancer. He gives his final wishes to his family and hopes for them to never forget him. He also will forever love and cherish his family that must move on without him. His loyalty to them is what helps drive the emotion of this piano piece and it certainly deserves to be heard.
6. Magic -
Finally, this song is the perfect closer. It has such a forceful sound that just perfecting sums up the EP. He describes not being afraid to just live on even in tragic times. I think they unexplainable desire to just continue on is what helps give it such a magical feeling. The intense guitar riff and driving beat give the listener a magical feeling of raw emotion and feeling. It is perfect as the end and also as a beginning for a new way of living life.
2. collin - Avril Lavigne - Let Go
Quote:
Originally posted by collin
Avril Lavigne Anything But Ordinary (EP)
Preceding the wildly successful Let Go, Arista records decided to
instead release an EP to introduce Avril to the industry. Two embody
her upcoming full-length, these 6 tracks were chosen.
Era Timeline January 2002 - Anything But Ordinary released as a promo single,
serviced to radio and a sorta cheap () music video is released April 2002 - The EP is released, serviced to special retailers May 2002 - Complicated is released as the first single worldwide
I chose the name Anything But Ordinary for more reasons than one.
Not only does it perfectly fit Avril's legacy and image pretty well, it was also
the original name for Let Go before Avril asked to change it. I'm glad
she did change it, because Anything But Ordinary is kinda basic...
but I also kind of like it, and wonder what it would have been like had it
stayed the name. Additionally, Anything But Ordinary seems appropriate
because with the songs on Let Go in conjunction with this specific
challenge, it made me realize that Avril does not have an "ordinary" take on
normal feelings like generosity or kindness. It's there, but you have to dig for it.
It's things like that that make Avril the unique artist she's known to be.
Track Listing 01 Anything But Ordinary
This song embodies laughter. Throwing your head back, taking a breath and just laughing until you can't anymore. In fact, Avril admits to laughing herself to sleep. After all, she is anything but ordinary. And she wants you to be, too. Anything but ordinary, please!
02 Complicated
This song embodies kindness. Because, you see, Avril's version of kindness is rather "complicated". It's not the typical form of kindness, but rather the ruffle-your-hair and be-yourself-or-I'll-have-to-slug-you-in-the-shoulder kind of kind.
03 Nobody's Fool
This song embodies honesty. Front to back, Avril tells you how it is. How she rolls, how she's gonna deal with it and how you're gonna deal with her. The song's hook itself tells you what she sees as truth: she's nobody's fool. Punk!
04 Too Much to Ask
This song embodies generosity. Or, perhaps, why Avril likes to steer clear of generosity. She tries to give her man what she knows to give, good times and laughter, and is shot down. Was it too much that she asked him for?
05 I'm With You
This song embodies loyalty. As seen in other tracks, Avril tends to show important qualities of friendship in quite angst-driven and semi-aggressive ways. Here, she lets it all go and allows a total stranger to guide her.
06 Naked
This song embodies magic. From the opening, watery guitar chords, there's another feeling on this track that you can't feel elsewhere on the album EP. As the song progresses, everything Avril seems to be vulnerable about in her other songs - lack of reciprocated feelings, especially - are turned upside down and she achieves the magical happiness us in the audience have wanted all along.
3. boyonce - Janelle Monae - The Archandroid
Quote:
Originally posted by boyonce
Android Deconstructed - Janelle Monαe
One of the only criticisms given to Janelle Monαe's critically acclaimed album "The Archandroid" is that it's a lot to take in. Rarely do we come across an album with such a plethora of deep themes, orchestral music, poetic lyrics, and imaginative narrative. My time digesting this album has allowed me to understand it's brilliance, but I do understand it can be a bit daunting at first to a casual listener. With this in mind, an EP "Android Deconstructed" has been prepared as sort of a sampler to bring the general public into the wonderfully weird world of Ms. Monαe. Think of it as an entrance point for those who are curious about her music but aren't ready to sift through an 18 track album. As per challenge requirements, each track was carefully selected as to represent the six elements of harmony from My Little Pony, but I'm also quite proud how these 6 tracks also flow together as an overall EP. This challenge really excited me too because it allowed by to include a lot of tracks I adore but haven't used yet in this competition. Songs like Locked Inside, Oh, Maker, and Say You'll Go are among my favourites on the album but haven't been able to be used up until now with the themes we were given. I could have gone with tracks I used already that I know the judges like, but it was more important to me to showcase the many amazing songs on this album that some of you have possibly never heard before. The tracklisting is as follows:
1. Cold War (Honesty)
2. Make The Bus feat. Of Montreal (Laughter)
3. Neon Valley Street (Generosity)
4. Locked Inside (Kindness)
5. Say You'll Go (Loyalty)
6. Oh, Maker (Magic)
Give each track a listen below.
___
1. Cold War (Honesty)
I'm trying to find my peace
I was made to believe there's something wrong with me
and it hurts my heart
Lord have mercy, ain't it plain to see?
On this track, Janelle's honesty with (and about) herself shine through any android narrative. She's simply singing about the struggle and hurt she's faced thus far in her life, and reaffirming why she does what she does. Often a larger than life, ultra-strong character, Janelle here shows vulnerability, sincerity, and full on honesty about her inner pain and motivation to continue the fight.
___
2. Make the Bus feat. Of Montreal (Laughter)
OMG! WTT!
Aww girl we been through hell about it!
Then I see our friends and...
Everybody's so excited!
I'm standing over you eating juicy fruits till it gets in your eye!
Here, Janelle proves that despite a larger album concept, she really doesn't take herself too seriously. On this track she and Kevin Barnes trade wacky vocals back and forth about who knows what. There's references to Peter Pan, sheep, and yes, juicy fruits. The entire track has a carefree, silly feel to it and reminds me of just cutting loose with good friends.
___
3. Neon Valley Street (Generosity)
May this song reach your heart
May your ears love the sweet melody
Every note, every chord
I've arranged them for you and for me
On "Neon Valley Street" Janelle demonstrates generosity in the sense that the track itself acts as a gift to her lover. The track has been carefully crafted as a token of her appreciation to whomever the listener may be. She shows selflessness with her art and is generous with every element of this beautiful, haunting track.
___
4. Locked Inside (Kindness)
I can make a change
I can start a fire
Lord, make me love again
Fill me with desire
As one of the catchiest tracks on the original album, Locked Inside was a no brainer for this EP. It fits perfectly with the theme of patience, mercy, and kindness - Janelle is singing about remaining kind and loving even in the face of hate and adversity. The lyrics describe a painful world of judgement, but the chorus relates to her choosing to continue following her heart and treating those around her with kindness and love.
___
5. Say You'll Go (Loyalty)
Our love will sail in this ark
The world could end outside our window
Let's find forever
And write our names in fire on each other's hearts
One of my favourite love songs of all time, this song captures the concept of loyalty in a truly breath-taking way. The lyrics speak of love resulting in the greatest kind of loyalty - not letting go of the one you love even as the world around you is ending. Janelle professes her loyalty to the one she loves as they move forward into the great unknown, the one thing that will never change is her devotion and commitment.
___
6. Oh, Maker (Magic)
Oh, Maker have you ever loved?
Or known just what it was?
I can't imagine the bitter end
Of all the beauty that we're living in
Not only is this track magical to the ears, but it tells of the divine force all around us, which according to Janelle can never be seen, but only felt. She sings to her "Maker" about the beauty they've created in the world around her, and she questions them how such pain and hurt can exist in such a magical place. One of her deepest cuts, the track "Oh, Maker" perfectly exemplifies the element of magic.
RANK THE TOP 3
LISTEN TO THE SONGS AND READ THE ESSAYS
REMEMBER: Ranking an album #1 means it is who you think should win; #3 who you think did worse.
DEADLINE: January, 11th
No. I did it on my phone so the links must not have updated when I was searching. So sorry. I don't know what to do. The second should be Teenagers, then Welcome To The Black Parade. The two after Mama are Cancer and Famous Last Words.
No. I did it on my phone so the links must not have updated when I was searching. So sorry. I don't know what to do. The second should be Teenagers, then Welcome To The Black Parade. The two after Mama are Cancer and Famous Last Words.
) music video is released
So sorry. I don't know what to do. The second should be Teenagers, then Welcome To The Black Parade. The two after Mama are Cancer and Famous Last Words. 
