WELCOME TO A VERY SPECIAL EDITION OF CHOOSE THE ALBUM, THEN A SONG
Hello!
As agreed, the entries update is now fixed to Wednesdays and that's why we're reunited here today, to meet the entries for the fourth round.
Even though the big majority did deliver on time, one missed the deadline and therefore gets really close of elimination - prézli. This happens because everyone (who took their time to answer) agreed with the fixed schedule and therefore is fully aware of it, if they don't respect it is simply because they could care less.
Anyway! As I was saying, we are now reduced to eight and one more is leaving the competition after this round ends... Are you ready? Let's meet the entries!
For eight seasons this game had its ups and downs and to make sure the 'downs' part won't happen again, I had to create a set of rules. So if you're signing up, this means you agree to:
1. DURING THE VOTING PERIOD, YOU'LL HAVE TO CAST YOUR VOTE (OTHERWISE YOU'RE PENALIZED);
2. YOU CAN NOT ASK FANS/FRIENDS TO SAVE YOUR ALBUM;
3. YOU MUST DELIVER YOUR ENTRY IN TIME, OTHERWISE YOU'RE ELIMINATED;
4. YOU CAN NOT USE THE SAME SONG MORE THAN TWICE;
5. IF YOU USE A SONG IN A ROUND, YOU'LL ONLY BE ABLE TO USE IT AGAIN THREE ROUNDS AFTER.
1. Kavish: My Chemical Romance - "May Death Never Stop You": 'Na Na Na'
Quote:
Originally posted by Kavish
"Na Na Na" Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys (2010)
In a cocoon formed with insecure thoughts and obscure fibers, My Chemical Romance is positioned as the supporter of the people who confine themselves to the shadows. However, the band's occasional desire to expand their melodies outside of that shell and onto a bigger crowd - while still easing the strains of their core listeners - is made apparent in Na Na Na, a chant that instantly lifts the veil off of the black parade and lets the light shine over. With its resonant beat and repetitive chorus, the song presents itself as an assured sing-along and ear-catcher - an enthusiasm that the mainstream would be more comfortable with than with their gloomy tunes. Their old-book statement of embracing who we are, doing what we please, and standing up against oppression is one that everybody can associate with, and the humorous and rebellious lines are enough to raise some eyebrows and spark discussion. The playful attitude also paints a colorful image, from the members' appearance to the single's media, and this transformation is such a 180 turn from the dark eras that it prompts the public to buy into their world of madness and perceive the group and the track as more fun and welcoming. By achieving this connection, we get the notion that every repeated 'Na' is a 'Yes' to freedom, and that the whole anthem is a well orchestrated plan to showcase that anyone who ever felt trapped can grow wings, and that for acceptance to happen, we must reach out.
“My Cherie Amour” is probably Stevie’s most accessible single. Sonically, it’s soft, gentle, and leisurely paced without being too slow, which gels well with the GP’s taste. Between the easy listening of the 70’s and 80’s and the adult alternative of the 90’s and 00’s, there’s always been a place for songs you can just leave on in the background while you’re relaxing by the pool- and the summery, treacly “Cherie” definitely fits the bill.
Lyrically, the song is about a pretty universal topic: unrequited love ("You're the only girl my heart beats for/how I wish that you were mine”). But it’s the wistful kind of unrequited love that comes accompanied with a dreamy sigh, rather than the bitter, melancholy, teary-eyed kind. The former, needless to say, is far more attractive- after all, joy is more appealing than sadness- but it’s still relatable, so even if you are crying into your pillow every night because Steve won’t give you the time of day, the song can still work for you.
And that’s important, because broad appeal is really what you need in order to make a “GP-friendly” song. After all, the GP isn’t some monolithic entity; it’s a massive, diverse group of people, each with their own tastes and interests. To appeal to that crowd, you’ll need an arrangement that’s catchy, light and agreeable (check) without being too slow or flat (check), and lyrics that cover a simple, relatable subject (check!).
When The Beatles entered the music industry in the 1960s, they immediately redefined the limits of how positively received and likeable a music act could be. Their albums are littered with songs that highlight this quality, but the song that forever cemented their status as an almost unanimously beloved group was I Want To Hold Your Hand. Their first massive hit in the US, The Beatles combine ingeniously relatable lyrics with an addictively catchy tune to create a song that nobody can deny enjoying. The Beatles utilize their strength of making simple lyrics feel personal, cleverly using the imagery of handholding to capture their audience. Instead of portraying love as an abstract concept, the song assigns a physical action to it, providing listeners with a warm, euphoric feeling when imagining holding a lover’s hand. The song goes as far as to flat-out describe the happiness that comes from this with an innocent line that everyone feels about a romantic partner: “When I touch you, I feel happy inside.” The lyrics plant many seeds of happiness and enjoyment, and these seeds grow thanks to the song’s melody and production. The tune is undeniably upbeat assisted by its catchy guitars and handclapping, but elements such as Lennon and McCartney’s harmonies prevent the song from coming across as bland or basic. This results in a song that can put a smile on anybody’s face, leaving no question as to why it helped shape The Beatles’ career and legacy as a universally appealing group.
4. sumthintoxic82: Madonna - "The Immaculate Collection": 'Vogue'
Quote:
Originally posted by sumthintoxic82
Madonna The Immaculate Collection
"Vogue"
Madonna has many songs that are considered appealing to the masses. Among those on this album however, Vogue stands in a league of its own. Aside from her controversy, Madonna is also know for her big production dance songs and Vogue is among her biggest. I think one of the reasons why it is loved by so many is its subject matter. It's a dance song about letting go of all your troubles and to just dance and feel the music. Through music, people can let go of their inhibitions. When you connect to a song, it can drastically change your mood. You can go from having a bad day, to having a great one. This song isn't your typical "dance" song. The message of this song is what sets it apart from her other dance songs. There is also an attitude that comes with this song. It's sleek and stylish production just creeps up in you and makes you want to move. The production is like nothing else on this album, and has a distinctive sound. Upon seeing the music video and seeing her perform this live, I'm sure most people were trying to recreate those iconic vogue dance moves. There is a liberation in the lyrics of this song that anyone can and does relate too. As Madonna says, "Let your body move to the music"
"I think most of us here, for once, have fallen deep in love and then being hurt because of it. And for that, “The Heart Wants What It Wants”, a breakup song, can easily appeal to the public for two reasons.
First, Selena chose a perfect time to release this in between her relationship with Justin Bieber. She was constantly silent during their relationship even if the media kept talking. And for her to sing about it in a vulnerable perspective really caused attention to this.
However, if she caused attention and the song wasn’t good, it would completely backfire on her. So for second reason, I’d say that the song appeals to the public also because of its quality and how people can relate to it. Selena has always known to sing dance-pop and use heavy production to cover her weak vocals. But in this song, she chose a darker production and sang it vulnerably beautiful and unapologetically honest. And like I said, we all have been in love and thought of a fairytale ending. Then, things happened, we argued, we broke up. We somehow created a dark side and Selena expresses it with palpable honesty and conviction.
To sum up, there are many reasons for the general public to gain interest in the song. But I think for Selena to change her image in a positive way and make the song sound as honest as she could is the most clearly way to make it appealing to everybody."
Over the years there have been various completely different songs topping the charts. Once a club banger, once a power ballad, an acoustic track or urban-influenced uptempo. However, in spite of the GP's taste changing constantly, the biggest hits always have some common factors, usually a strong hook, instantly recogniseable line and catchy chorus. Can't Get You Out of My Head, unarguably Kylie's most popular single to date, has them all. It's based on possibly the simplest idea ever – throughout the song an earworm of the 'la la la' humming is repeated countless times. The producers (who by the way did a fantastic job, as the track still sounds fresh 15 years later) managed to find the line between it being instantly memorable and too repetitive, and thankfully, did not cross it. With its characteristic hook, the track could really appeal to anyone – you don't have to be able to speak English to sing along. That's not to discredit its other parts of course, the track would've never become such a smash, had it only had the repeated hook. The verses where Minogue uses her higher vocal register over a midtempo, futuristic production make the entire thing feel complete and fully fleshed out. Maybe they're not as instantly remarkable as the chorus, but they still help the song become truly hard to get out of one's memory.
"Is It Any Wonder" best represents this round on both instrumental and lyrical content. Lyrically, this song is meant to be about the Iraq War that confuses the British people about their stand on the stated issue. It's also applicable to many.
The general message of the song is that being confused about certain things and start questioning like what are you supposed to believe? What is actually right? How can you work out what is the truth? what is the right thing to do? And due to numbers of different opinions, you end up in the state of confusion and makes you powerless to do some action. It gives you the feeling of distress for not being able to do anything about it. With that being said, it is the most relate able and most appealing song out of Keane's Discography. Every people are experiencing confusion almost every time and here's the song to accompany us at those times.
To solidify the remarkable meaning of the song, the instrumentals offers a powerful and dreamy feeling to the listeners. Keane showcases their style through this song with it's upbeat tone plus the elements of sadness and thoughtfulness. You'll end up staring into a certain area of your location as your mind starts processing your imaginations after hearing this song.
Humans are typical dreamers so I'm sure this is very appealing to us. If animals and plants can understand our language, I'm sure they can also relate to it.
8. Capital B: Mariah Carey - "#1 To Infinity": 'Fantasy'
Quote:
Originally posted by Capital B
“Yo, New York in the house!
Is Brooklyn in the house?
Uptown in the house!
Charlotte are you in the house?”
…and so begins the absolutely iconic intro to Mariah’s “Fantasy” remix (featuring O.D.B.). If you’ve ever had the pleasure of being in a club, concert, or any place where music is played when this intro comes on, you know exactly what happens – 1) people LOSE their minds, and 2) people sing along. By the time you get to the ”What you gonna do when you get out of jail?” call and answer, literally EVERYONE has joined in – you simply can’t help yourself. This song has connected so strongly with the general public, that even decades after it’s release one can’t help but dance and sing along – the sign of a truly infectious classic. It still sounds relatively fresh for such an old track, which I think speaks volumes to the fact that it’s still a loved and celebrated song today by music listeners of all tastes and ages. What’s really interesting is not only did this track majorly appeal to the general public, but also the music industry too – in fact, it completely changed the way pop songs sound. The Fantasy remix was the first major pop song to feature a guest rap verse – and this resonated so strongly with listeners that pairing a singer and a rapper became commonplace in the pop scene that followed. This specific singer+rapper trend continues today, and for that we have to thank the absolutely ground-breaking, influential, and universally loved remix of Fantasy by the incomparable Mariah Carey.
Save:
My Chemical Romance - This was the first song that really got my attention from MCR and I adore this write up
The Beatles
HM: Stevie Wonder
The Off's were HARD, as I really did love ALL the songs this round and I feel like they (for the most part) fit this challenge
Off:
Selena Gomez - While I dont love the song, I get the appeal. And your write up was great, but amongst the other songs, this just felt the weakest for me
Kylie Minogue - I TOTALLY agree with your song choice hands down, what this comes down to is the write up. Liked it a lot, but felt others were...stronger
*
*
*
Capital B - TBH, I was SO CLOSE to voting off Fantasy, because, unlike most, I LOVE the origianl verison, but really dont care for the remix version. That said, your write up was spot on
Pedro, I might be in a few hours late tomorrow Not more than two I think, but I am on holiday with my parents and I really didn't have time to finish everything today. I hope you understand
Selena Gomez: Choosing a slow, melancholic song is a hard sell for a round where you're asked to present the most enjoyable and appealing song on your album, so I was looking for a really convincing argument here. Unfortunately, I don't think your essay was strong enough to redeem the mediocre song choice. You spoke too much about Selena herself, and telling us why the song is emotional for her or a good song in her career isn't explaining why the public would like it so much.
Keane: I feel like you confused being able to relate to something with finding it appealing or enjoyable. Your descriptions of confusion and melancholy that the listener experiences are nice descriptions, but they're not ones that I would have used when trying to convince us that this is the most enjoyable song on the album.
SAVE:
My Chemical Romance: I really enjoyed the approach you took with this round. You managed to use the fact that MCR isn't a band that typically reaches the general public to your advantage by contrasting that against this song. Unlike some other entries that I thought were too vague, you gave us concrete, specific reasons why the average person would like this song. And the song choice itself lived up to those descriptions (side note - I got a big surprise when I clicked the link to your song because I've heard this song before but had NO idea it was by MCR )
Stevie Wonder: What struck me more than anything about your entry was its wording and the adjectives and descriptions you used for the song. "Gentle", "summery" and "wistful" are all pretty diverse ways to describe a song, but they share the commonality of being associated with happiness and enjoyability, so I thought you did a great job subtly reminding us of its appeal as you went into the details of your more specific reasons. I also thought your conclusion was very strong - acknowledging the diversity of the general public and showing us why this song still manages to reach out to everybody was a powerful way to finish the essay.
Almost done, and I am slightly disappointed by the choices. I personally don't think that you necessarily need a "Don't Worry, Be Happy" type of song in order to make it appeal to the general public as there have been countless of sad songs that are still in our hearts and we sing along to or cry to or whatever. You were not given a lower grade based on that, but many of you have said this in your essays, and I just don't agree as there are many other feelings out there than just love and happiness.
Chill Bill: Stevie Wonder - "The Definitive Collection": 'My Cherie Amour'
shelven: The Beatles - "1": 'I Want To Hold Your Hand'
You both really understood the two key aspects of the challenge, which was public appeal and a song that people would enjoy. You tackled every aspect of the track - from its lyrics, the production, and the way it emanates this sense of well being. Your essay was well structured, and it mirrors your song choice perfectly.
OFF
lhdang2000: Selena Gomez - "For You": 'The Heart Wants What It Wants'
Xedretinz Lododnz: Keane - "The Best Of Keane": 'Is It Any Wonder?'
I liked your essay, but you both missed a vital part of the challenge which was to send a song that was enjoyable. I agree that those songs can touch many hearts, but I would describe that appeal as being 'personable' to those who feel dejected as opposed to a feel-good song that can pacify the majority.
Choose The Album, Then a Song SE: The Results + R5!
WELCOME TO A VERY SPECIAL EDITION OF CHOOSE THE ALBUM, THEN A SONG
Hello!
Guys! I am happy to know the deadlines are being respected and no one is leaving the game behind... This time I didn't even need any warning! You're the best! ...But even with that we'll have to say goodbye to one of you and it was damn close!
This round was all about being general and open to everyone... About diversity and versality! Some of you got those choices really right, some others... Well! You'll see!
Let's meet the judges!
1. Pedro
2. MusicLoverDude
3. Legend E
4. Vulnicura
Slay us with those epic looks!
The results of Choose The Album, Then a Song SE follow a simple pattern. Here are the rules when it comes to the voting of the game.
1. The voting is divided into three categories: (i) The Public Vote; (ii) The Judges Votes/Rates; (iii) The Final Chart;
2. In case there is a tie in the public vote, whoever did better in the judges votes gets ahead;
3. In case there is a tie in the judges votes, whoever did better in the public vote gets ahead;
4. In case there is a tie in the final chart, whoever did better in the judges votes gets ahead.
1. Kavish: My Chemical Romance - "May Death Never Stop You": 0 + 4 = +4 Points. 2nd Place.
2. Chill Bill: Stevie Wonder - "The Definitive Collection": 0 + 4 = +4 Points. 3rd Place.
3. shelven: The Beatles - "1": 0 + 5 = +5 Points. 1st Place.
4. sumthintoxic82: Madonna - "The Immaculate Collection": 0 + 1 = +1 Point. 5th Place.
5. lhdang2000: Selena Gomez - "For You": -6 + 0 = -6 Points. 8th Place.
6. Vilppu: Kylie Minogue - "Ultimate Kylie": -1 + 2 = -1 Point. 4th Place.
7. Xedretinz Lododnz: Keane - "The Best Of Keane": -5 + 0 = -5 Points. 7th Place.
8. Capital B: Mariah Carey - "#1 To Infinity": -4 + 0 = -4 Points. 6th Place.
1. Kavish: My Chemical Romance - "May Death Never Stop You": 8,98 Points. 2nd Place.
2. Chill Bill: Stevie Wonder - "The Definitive Collection": 8,06 Points. 4th Place.
3. shelven: The Beatles - "1": 9,88 Points. 1st Place.
4. sumthintoxic82: Madonna - "The Immaculate Collection": 7,88 Points. 6th Place.
5. lhdang2000: Selena Gomez - "For You": 7,31 Points. 7th Place.
6. Vilppu: Kylie Minogue - "Ultimate Kylie": 8,75 Points. 3rd Place.
7. Xedretinz Lododnz: Keane - "The Best Of Keane": 4,94 Points. 8th Place.
8. Capital B: Mariah Carey - "#1 To Infinity": 8 Points. 5th Place.
1. Kavish: My Chemical Romance - "May Death Never Stop You": 110 Points. 2nd Place.
2. Chill Bill: Stevie Wonder - "The Definitive Collection": 85 Points. 4th Place.
3. shelven: The Beatles - "1": 120 Points. 1st Place.
4. sumthintoxic82: Madonna - "The Immaculate Collection": 68 Points. 6th Place.
5. lhdang2000: Selena Gomez - "For You": 60 Points. 7th Place.
6. Vilppu: Kylie Minogue - "Ultimate Kylie": 85 Points. 3rd Place.
7. Xedretinz Lododnz: Keane - "The Best Of Keane": 60 Points. 8th Place.
8. Capital B: Mariah Carey - "#1 To Infinity": 68 Points. 5th Place.
1. Kavish: My Chemical Romance - "May Death Never Stop You": 414 Points. (=)
2. shelven: The Beatles - "1": 391 Points. (+1)
3. Capital B: Mariah Carey - "#1 To Infinity": 348 Points. (-1)
4. Vilppu: Kylie Minogue - "Ultimate Kylie": 328 Points. (=)
5. Chill Bill: Stevie Wonder - "The Definitive Collection": 294 Points. (+1)
6. sumthintoxic82: Madonna - "The Immaculate Collection": 277 Points. (-1)
7. Xedretinz Lododnz: Keane - "The Best Of Keane": 238 Points. (+1) 8th Place: lhdang2000: Selena Gomez - "For You": 237 Points. [Round 4]
9th Place: prézli: Hilary Duff - "Best of Hilary Duff":195 Points. [Round 4 - QUIT]
10th Place: Witch_Privilege: Kelly Clarkson - "Greatest Hits – Chapter One": 155 Points. [Round 3]
11th Place: Nait Phoenix: Crystal Kay - "The Best of Crystal Kay": 120 Points. [Round 3 - QUIT]
12th Place: Kxvk: Girls Aloud - "Ten": 98 Points. [Round 3 - QUIT]
13th Place: igor: Jennifer Lopez - "Dance Again... The Hits": 94 Points. [Round 2]
14th Place: URBAN: Destiny's Child - "#1's": 49 Points. [Round 2 - QUIT]
15th Place: Dom: P!nk - "Greatest Hits...So Far!!!": 39 Points. [Round 1]
16th Place: vergeofobscene: Britney Spears - "The Essential Britney Spears": 37 Points. [Round 1]
It is time to say goodbye to lhdang2000 and Selena Gomez. I am really sorry to see you leaving but I want to thank you for being so dedicated to this game and to this album! You were great and it was THIS close. I hope to see you around and in the future!
Thanks for joining the competition and I hope to see you around and in the future! Here's your participation card!
e i g h t
lhdang2000
Selena Gomez
"For You"
237 Points
And now... It's time for a brand new round!
*Send a PM (Private Message) to PEDRO with your essay and the streaming link of the song.
1. Kavish: My Chemical Romance - "May Death Never Stop You": 9,9/10
Song: 10 | Essay: 9,8
I'd dare to say this was your best essay so far. It was very well articulated and it reached every necessary points. You did prove - with very valid points - why this song would be more appealing to the general public and I completely agree with you. I won't say this is my fave tune of MCR but it surely is a step ahead of appealing to a wider audience. If I had to critique anything, it'd be the lack of practical examples - quoting the lines.
2. Chill Bill: Stevie Wonder - "The Definitive Collection": 8,75/10
Song: 8,5 | Essay: 9
I did enjoy your entry! Just like the song, it was very smooth and nice to read. I enjoyed how you went to explain both sides of the song - the happy and wishful side of the song and the sad part as well. I also really enjoyed the bit when you said this could work as a background song which is true and it wouldn't get annoying! Not sure if this would be his most appealing song but it's a nice tune! Chill, I am still waiting to be blown away by you.
3. shelven: The Beatles - "1": 10/10
Song: 10 | Essay: 10
That was a very nice reading. I am all for happiness and I do agree that "I Want To Hold Your Hand" is a very happy song. On top of that, I also agree that the GP is easily blown away by happy tunes - take as an example Pharrell's atrocious "Happy"! Thank God this one is a great tune, unlike the other.
4. sumthintoxic82: Madonna - "The Immaculate Collection": 6,5/10
Song: 6 | Essay: 7
I'd say it is not fair that I happen to know Madonna's career more than another act in this competition (besides Mariah Carey or Selena Gomez). It kinda makes me want more and more from you but I always try to keep it very professional and fair for you. "Vogue" is a classic but I would never send it for this round - personal opinion. Therefore, I am basing myself on what you said to defend your choice. "Vogue" is indeed a great song to shake all of your problems and just dance your problems away but don't you think its stylish and bold production makes it more closed to a restrict group of people? I wish you'd have been more specific on your essay to defend your choice.
5. lhdang2000: Selena Gomez - "For You": 8,25/10
Song: 10 | Essay: 6,5
You had great moments during your essay and not so great ones. Your conclusion kinda summed it up in a great way but I felt like you focused way too much on Selena Gomez and left the GP aside. I do agree with you though and I'd have sent this one as well for a round like this but I don't feel like you explored the breakup part (in a general way) that well. You had a very solid entry nonetheless.
I am reading your essay countless times to find something to critique but I really can't eventhough I wasn't blown away with it. I am in a weird position right now. You hit great points but I am not sure if they were well explored but I couldn't do better. The "la la la" part kind of owned me.
7. Xedretinz Lododnz: Keane - "The Best Of Keane": 7,75/10
Song: 9 | Essay: 6,5
Eventhough I did enjoy your essay, I found it a bit too abstract at parts - especially at the end. Taking in consideration what I know from Keane, I am not sure this would be the best choice for this round but I think it works as it is a bit more uptempo when compared to their tunes. I think the message is good, I just wish you'd have articulated your essay a bit better.
8. Capital B: Mariah Carey - "#1 To Infinity": 8,5/10
Song: 9 | Essay: 8
I l o v e this song! She kinda did a cheap version of it in her Sweet Sweet Fantasy European Tour - which I attended - and it wasn't that great but I remember people going nuts over the quoted part! You made a phenomenal point by saying Mariah was the pioneer of the rapper feats as it surely makes a song way more appealing. I did expect more from the essay though. You barely talked about the song itself and I wanted more of that.
MusicLoverDude
Quote:
Originally posted by MusicLoverDude
MCR - 8/10
Good essay, decent song choice as well. I just feel like the song may not be the most accesible, because by 2010 it seemed like punk rock died with the GP. I think you did the best with what you had.
Stevie Wonder - 7/10
Good essay, but I feel like you may have had a stronger song choice available, like Superstition. This song is kinda a bit too slow at times. Like Adore You/Stone Cold type of slow...and those songs didn't do that well.
The Beatles - 10/10
Good choice and good essay.
Madonna - 10/10
Great choice, great essay, and you remain consistent
Selena - 10/10
Probably the best choice you could've gone with. A mature, relatable Selena in this song, and your essay was your best one yet.
Kylie - 10/10
Perfect song choice and your confidence in your choice excelled into respectable and successful highs. Good job.
Keane - 1/10
You're not improving at all. All your essays are the same and you always miss the point. There's nothing that explains why this connects to the public...or at least there is very little.
Mariah - 8/10
Good essay. I feel like you're reaching with everyone being able to sing this song at this day and age. We Belong Together kind of eclipsed Fantasy here. But good essay nevertheless and good job noting the significance in a guest rapper on the track.
Legend E
Quote:
Originally posted by Legend E
My Chemical Romance – Na Na Na
I really like your choice for this round and the differences in sound are definitely visible, as it is definitely more “playful” lyrically and has a more attractive melody. Sure, the desire of freedom, is not something new in their music, but the way that they have put it here is different than before, in a more appealing way, I would say. Good job!
Stevie Wonder – My Cherie Amour
Although I don’t 100% imagine this played by a pool, I think that it is a good entry. I wouldn’t say that joy is necessarily more appealing than sadness, given that there were/are so many hit ballads that include this feeling in their lyrics. I guess that the way Stevie is positive about unrequited love is a plus, though. Good job, after all, solid essay and song!
The Beatles – I Want To Hold Your Hand
Similarly to Stevie, you spoke about love as the most desired feeling by any human being, which is sure true, but I wouldn’t say that would guarantee you the general public to be attracted to your song. I think it is a good entry, but I don’t know if truly “everyone will like it” and stuff like that. I think you have described your choice well, though, and its appeal, but I just don’t think that simplicity equals hit necessarily.
Madonna – Vogue
I quite like your entry, overall. It is definitely a song about “dancing it off”, let’s say, and forgetting about every problem. Although I don’t know if it would necessarily appeal to everyone, I think that is relatable to most pop fans in a way. I might’ve liked some additions about the celebrities mentioned in the bridge too, but that was not necessary. Good job, overall.
Selena Gomez – The Heart Wants What It Wants
Nah, I am not here for “perfect timing” and things like these. I think that you kind of stepped away, in a big part of your essay, to describe the song, basically. Instead you kind of gave me the counterexample that she does dance pop and everything when that was not what was asked this round. In addition to that, dance pop is still a very common genre, you could have used that to your advantage and send an entry of that specific genre. Not a bad entry overall, but there are things you could have done better.
Kylie Minogue – Can’t Get You Out of My Head
While I do agree that a catchy hook is essential for a hit, that’s kind of everything that you described in your essay. The task was not to determine how timeless that song would be, as we’ve kind of already had that. Those quick mentions at the end about some things don’t do it for me. I’m on the fence about this entry, as it’s not bad, but not very good either.
Keane – Is It Any Wonder?
Once again, all those simple conclusions just come too soon. Your choices are very good, trust me, but you really shouldn’t say things like “I’m sure it would appeal to anyone” or whatever. In addition to that, you fell in the trap of describing the song once again and not relating it to the theme of the round. Why is it appealing? Because everyone can relate to it? That’s not enough.
Mariah Carey – Fantasy
Your explanation doesn’t do it for me, I think. You basically only said that it is a bop and that’s why the GP appeals to it. Everything else was more like a history lesson, which is not relevant to this round. The song is good, but I feel that your essay is lacking into showing why it is truly celebrated by everyone.
My Chemical Romance – 10/10
Stevie Wonder – 9.5/10
The Beatles – 9.5/10
Madonna – 10/10
Selena Gomez – 5/10
Kylie Minogue – 6.5/10
Keane – 3/10
Mariah Carey – 5.5/10
Vulnicura
Quote:
Originally posted by Vulnicura
Kavish - My Chemical Romance // Na Na Na
Hmm. This is your first entry that didn't totally snatch me, except the first line - "a cocoon formed with insecure thoughts and obscure fibers" - I mean... whew! Anyway, I kinda hated the song, and listening to the song and its lyrics doesn't fill me entirely with confidence that this would be a widely loved song to the general public, putting aside that MCR don't enjoy much mainstream relevancy anyway. However, as usual, you completely sold the idea and did so extremely well. I think a little concepts were a bit of a stretch, like every repeated Na being a "yes" to freedom. A bit cheesy, but I don't hate it! Still better than 90% of other entries we've had this season!
Score: 8/10
Chill Bill - Stevie Wonder // My Cherie Amour I am really pleased that you addressed what it means to appeal to the GP, and how diverse its tastes can be! I think your essay was well presented, and you discussed what sort of the things the GP would want to hear in a song and how your choice of song worked in its favor. Still, I can't say things like "this isn't Stevie's most appealing song" since I'm not familiar with his discography at all, but I personally didn't find the song that appealing, or catchy. #indieheaux probz.
Score: 7/10
shelven - The Beatles // I Want To Hold Your Hand Another amazing entry. You consistently talked about the appealing aspects of the song in differing senses, whilst managed to paint a picture of the legacy The Beatles have created across many decades. Excellent entry!
Score: 10/10
sumthintoxic82 - Madonna // Vogue This was definitely the correct choice to send this round, but this entry... It felt like it was just ticking checkboxes, rather than taking it as an opportunity to really educate everyone on the song, and your own personal thoughts on it. Something that really stood out was that your sentences were extremely short and underdeveloped. "Through music, people can let go of their inhibitions. When you connect to a song, it can drastically change your mood. You can go from having a bad day, to having a great one. This song isn't your typical "dance" song." -- this section in particular could have been extracted from any generic entry and really would have benefited from some more colourful language to convey your message. You also didn't really talk about what made this song appealing, or why it was the most appealing song to choose. I'm kinda underwhelmed, really!
Score: 5/10
lhdang2000 - Selena Gomez // THWIW This was also another somewhat underwhelming entry. First, never say anything negative about your fave, or at least don't be as explicit as "Selena has weak vocals". I also found discussing how the song could backfire if it wasn't good a little unnecessary... like, that's kinda the cast for 90% of songs. The more I read your entry, the more I can't find a specific thing that makes me dislike it. Your song choice was good, so I'll give you that.
Score: 6/10
Vilppu - Kylie Minogue // Can't Get You Outta My Head Ooo. This entry was kinda fresh. I really enjoyed that you discussed the production side of the song and how fresh it sounds, because it really does, doesn't it? Also liked that you discussed what sort of things the GP enjoys and how your song embodies them, just like Chill Bill did! It was also really clever to talk about the simple hook of the song being so accessible to all languages - I would have never thought to discuss that! Great job.
Score 9/10
XL - Keane // Is It Any Wonder? O wow. I actually TOTALLY related to this. You chose a really interesting perspective to discuss and I think the sociopolitical climate of 2016 further highlights the songs message that you discuss in your entry. The closing sentence was kinda cute, if not a bit ridiculous, but mostly cute. Good job!
I'm really sorry if I failed some of y'all but I just have no much time to make my entries a bit better and more connected to the theme because of school works
But I hope I can manage to match my score way back in round 2
I've been looking forward to this next round for a while because how different the first half of The Beatles' career was from the second. I have a lot I want to talk about, I just hope I can manage to fit it into the word limit