Ugh, that last one pained me. If there was any song that voters severely underrated it's "Damaged." The song is just so beautiful; I definitely would have placed it in my ideal top ten. I was hoping everyone would discover how amazing it is and give it an unexpectedly impressive showing—and instead they unceremoniously dumped it halfway through the countdown...
"No No No Part 2" ft. Wyclef Jean (1997) Destiny's Child
Hot 100 Peak: #3
Overall score: 7.77 High score: 10 (2x)/Low score: 5 (1x)
This hip-hop remix of a smooth R&B ballad served as Destiny's Child's debut single and proved to be such a success that the original version was later given its own release to promote the group to pop audiences. Unexpectedly, "No No No Part 2" was also a huge hit in this rate: Through the first nine voters, it was a contender for a spot in the top ten of the countdown, though a series of 5's and 6's in the final wave of scores sent its average tumbling almost a point.
"Jai Ho! (You Are My Destiny)" with A.R. Rahman (2009) Doll Domination 2.0
Hot 100 Peak: #15
Overall score: 7.85 High score: 10 (4x)/Low score: 4.5 (1x)
Though Nicole Scherzinger tries her best with some seriously inane lyrics ("I can feel you rushing through my veins/There's an ocean in my heart/I will never be the same") that turn a song of joyful celebration into a horny dance floor anthem, even the Pussycat Dolls can't ruin a track as gloriously infectious as the Oscar-winning "Jai Ho!"
"No No No Part 2" ft. Wyclef Jean (1997) Destiny's Child
Hot 100 Peak: #3
Overall score: 7.77 High score: 10 (2x)/Low score: 5 (1x)
This hip-hop remix of a smooth R&B ballad served as Destiny's Child's debut single and proved to be such a success that the original version was later given its own release to promote the group to pop audiences. Unexpectedly, "No No No Part 2" was also a huge hit in this rate: Through the first nine voters, it was a contender for a spot in the top ten of the countdown, though a series of 5's and 6's in the final wave of scores sent its average tumbling almost a point.
"None of Your Business" (1994) Very Necessary
Hot 100 Peak: #32
Overall score: 7.88 High score: 10 (3x)/Low score: 3 (1x)
Many of Salt-n-Pepa's songs deal with the basic feminist conceit of sexual liberation, but none of them state that message as plainly as this one: "If I wanna take a guy home with me tonight/It's none of your business," goes the chorus. "Now you shouldn't even get into who I'm givin' skins to." It's not the group's best work musically, but it deserves plaudits for delivering such an important statement in such a shameless and appealing fashion.
There are so many good songs yet to come that I'm not too disappointed about losing it here, but I wouldn't have minded seeing it in the top twenty either.
Overall score: 7.92 High score: 10 (3x)/Low score: 5 (2x)
This stripped-down cover of a disco song written by the Bee Gees was the final single from Survivor, and the album's third consecutive top ten hit. Though Destiny's Child was celebrated for its vocal prowess and skilled harmonies, "Emotion" is surprisingly the only ballad for which they are really known. It is also the final track to score less than an 8 in this rate.
"Baby-Baby-Baby" (1992) Ooooooohhh... On the TLC Tip
Hot 100 Peak: #2
Overall score: 8.00 High score: 10 (3x)/Low score: 5 (3x)
Sentimental love song "Baby-Baby-Baby" showed a softer side of TLC and became the biggest hit off their debut album—as well as its highest-ranking entry on this countdown. But voters were very split on track, with more than half rating it above an 8, and the rest scoring it a 7 or below.
Overall score: 8.12 High score: 10 (3x)/Low score: 4 (1x)
"Hold On" kicks off with a full minute of soaring notes and lush harmonies—all completely a cappella. It's a striking and brave choice for a debut single, but the risk clearly paid off for En Vogue, as this first release took them almost all the way to the top of the charts. The rest of the song—a midtempo new jack swing dance track about lost love—isn't as impactful, but it's still plenty effective: Just over half of voters gave it either a 9 or a 10.
"Jumpin', Jumpin'" (2000) The Writing's on the Wall
Hot 100 Peak: #3
Overall score: 8.19 High score: 10 (3x)/Low score: 6 (1x)
This simple, synth-driven club anthem for the ladies was the third massive single from The Writing's on the Wall, spending an impressive seven weeks atop the radio airplay chart. "Jumpin', Jumpin'" was less successful in this rate, though, struggling to make the top thirty until a couple of high scores from the last few voters raised its average by half a point.
"Buttons'" ft. Snoop Dogg (2006) PCD
Hot 100 Peak: #3
Overall score: 8.21 High score: 10 (2x)/Low score: 6 (1x)
We have finally arrived at the inevitable extinction of the Pussycat Dolls, who become the first group completely eliminated from this rate. Though the sultry, Middle Eastern-inspired "Buttons" earned an impressive array of scores (all but three voters rated it an 8 or higher), it was not enough to earn them a spot in the top twenty of the countdown.
23 and 24 REALLY hurt me. But especially 24. I think it's pretty much perfection.
Jumpin' Jumpin' is probably the most overrated but still passable single Destiny's Child has ever released. I have never fully understood the appeal of it.
Thank goodness they are out of here. Victory is sweet.
What's left?
Bills, Bills, Bills
Say My Name
Independent Women Part 1
Survivor
Bootylicious
Lose My Breath
Soldier
My Lovin (You're Never Gonna Get It)
Free Your Mind
Giving Him Something He Can Feel
Don't Let Go (Love)
Creep
Waterfalls
Red Light Special
Diggin' on You
No Scrubs
Unpretty
Push It
Shoop
Whatta Man
I'll be the first to say that Survivor and Red Light Special are too damn high. And supa, you know my feelings on another of the top 20's singles - I can't wait until my score of 2 is revealed.
Yep, you get them all, Ace. Now I want to see some predictions on how the top twenty is going to play out!
The elimination of "Baby-Baby-Baby" hurt me too (actually, the complete underrating of TLC Tip kind of sucked), but considering the audience of this rate, I think it actually did pretty well.
As for "Survivor," I like the song, but I could have lived without it in the top twenty. "Red Light Special," on the other hand, is perfection is my eyes. I'm so happy with how it did!
And speaking of your score of 2, I'm still waiting for your full rant about why "Cater 2 U" sucks. After all that hype for its elimination, your single sentence didn't satisfy me. Let loose on it!
Yep, you get them all, Ace. Now I want to see some predictions on how the top twenty is going to play out!
The elimination of "Baby-Baby-Baby" hurt me too (actually, the complete underrating of TLC Tip kind of sucked), but considering the audience of this rate, I think it actually did pretty well.
As for "Survivor," I like the song, but I could have lived without it in the top twenty. "Red Light Special," on the other hand, is perfection is my eyes. I'm so happy with how it did!
And speaking of your score of 2, I'm still waiting for your full rant about why "Cater 2 U" sucks. After all that hype for its elimination, your single sentence didn't satisfy me. Let loose on it!
It's the most regressive thing I've ever heard from women who preached themselves on being strong and independent.
(I say this without having heard the Birthday Cake remix.)
