The second round of ATRL's multi-awarded game Choose The Album, Then a Song is here!
With "Roar" and "Applause" debuting this week, our contestants have been a little off the game but the hard work is back and they're ready!
The 25 contestants had some days to send in their entries for the second round and now that they're in, it's time to know their choices and time to vote!
Here we go!
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. A song gets blocked for THREE ROUNDS after being used;
3. The judges have to be FAIR;
4. Anyonce can vote except the judges (they will vote in their own way);
5. It is NOT allowed to call in people to save you;
6. 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;
7. A vote per person;
8. 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
Kavish
Chill Bill
THE CONTESTANTS
Did you miss them? Here they are, the 25 contestants of Choose The Album, Then a Song 4!
ROUND TWO
1. CrazyCat - Selena Gomez - Stars Dance: Slow Down
Quote:
Originally posted by CrazyCat
Selena Gomez/Slow Down
My favorite song from "Stars Dance" is the dance pop track "Slow Down." You might wanna ask why? Well this song has an amazing lyrics, and Selena sounds very good on it, but there's one thing that makes this song perfect. It's the production. The song was produced by Cataracs, and I gotta say, they did a wonderful job. I loved the beat they used for the song, it fits so well with lyrics, and makes you dance. The varying tempos throughout the song, were a nice touch. Overall it evoked the side of me that just wants to dance, and have fun.
I'm choosing the song Nightingale as my 2nd entry & favourite song from Demi. This is because like Skyscraper it shows off Demi's vulnerable side whilst also showcasing her vocal talents. When I first heard the album as a whole this song was probably in my top 5, but as soon as I figured out who/what the song was actually about it brought a whole new lease of life to the heartbreaking lyrics. Demi wrote the song about her late friend Trenton who she refers to as her guardian angel & nightingale who sadly killed himself after being bullied. The fact that the song is so personal means that it brings along an extra emotional punch to the listener making it even more special than it already is.
There are 3 major aspects of this album that I love.. Ryan's voice, the intricate production, and the genuine lyrics! As hard as the Lyrics or the productions hit me.. Ryan's voice sounds better than ever and it just rings out in this song!
Ryan said in an interview, "Its the most Intricate singing I've done on a record. I sang the way i sing live or on demos that I pitch to artists like Adele or Beyonce. On OneRepublic albums, I've always tried to make my vocals sound neutered, more Rock 'n Roll or whatever. But this time I was like Screw It.. I'm going to sing my ass off!"
... and it shows!! I, myself, love to sing.. and his voice sounds so raw & authentic and it inspires me so much! The way his voice just blends in with his music and he lingers on every note like his life depends on it.. its just so overwhelming, i cant help but sing along.. and sing along my ass off!
4. MusicLoverDude - Rihanna - Good Girl Gone Bad: Rehab
Quote:
Originally posted by MusicLoverDude
For this round, I am going with Rehab. The one thing I really love about this song is that it’s the darkest song on the album. The instrumental and Rihanna’s vocals work well together to create a dark song that describes a dark relationship. Because of that, it’s one of those songs that I can listen to late at night up in my bedroom and feel at peace, and I turned to this song when I had a crush on someone that didn't end very well (he was the first guy I liked after I was cyberbullied and he was in the closet too, so I was an emotional wreck for awhile). That's why this is my favorite song on the album.
The One Thing I love the most about 'The Road' and the thing that hooked me up to the song is the production. In my opinion, it's amazing, very fresh and well thought. The song begins as a vocal-driven track and when the chorus comes, everything changes as the industrial sound takes the lead. The second verse has the same production as the first verse, powerful vocals with quiet music in the background. The second chorus is also the build up to the eruption of the song. That is the dubstep breakdown or as I like to call it, the 'eargasm'. That part, as it's not overdone and it's pleasure to listen, adds a nice touch to the song and finish it powerfully.
6. Inner Insanity - My Chemical Romance - The Black Parade: Famous Last Words
Quote:
Originally posted by Inner Insanity
Famous Last Words is definitely my favorite song on this album. It starts with some intro lyrics and basic guitar. It then transitions into this hard rocking riff that is catchier than you might think. Besides its excellent instrumentation, the lyrics are also pretty inspiring. They are basically don't be afraid to be stand out and be you. This has been done a billion times but this song makes it seem so grandiose and refreshing. All in all, it has some of the best guitar work on the album, its lyrics do a great job of not being cliche while also getting a good message across, it's really catchy and it gives me chills in a way the other songs on this album don't.
There is actually not one that I don't like about the song, but what makes me really love it, are the lyrics and the way Kesha wrote it.
I like the fact that the song is not something over the top and hard to understand, but rather simple.
The comparison between love and drugs/ addiction throughout the song is also a factor why I love this song. Everyone should know this feeling of attachment or addiction towards something, while not everyone has been in love or experienced itand therefore she shows those people how that feeling might look like.
A V R I L L A V I G N E / L E T G O / R O U N D 2 Too Much to Ask
Too Much to Ask is the 12th of 13 songs on the standard edition of Let Go, stuck in a position where most filler tracks are placed and, clearly, forgotten. Many consider this song fitting for that track number, dubbing it filler and dismissing it as a weaker track from the album. When I was thinking "one thing" I liked about Let Go as an album, I knew this song would be the one I needed to feature. When you listen to this song, you feel the pain and you're exposed to the raw emotion Avril sings about. "'Til you chose weed over me, you're so lame" is a lyric that rings through my mind often, and explanatory as to why Let Go has become my favorite album of all time. As an 8-year-old, this song meant little to nothing to me, but I grew up and this song became everything to me. Avril feels that being loved by someone is "too much to ask" and I couldn't be more in-sync with her.
The one thing I love about this song is that I can feel myself living it.
I'm picking "rock influences" as the one thing I like most about this song. It was quite shocking at first to hear Kelly Clarkson singing something so rock influenced - this was the girl who sang a bunch of Aretha Franklin songs on American Idol - and she sounded so good on it. Her voice really is a chameleon, being able to take on almost any genre. The guitars really increase the intensity of the song and drive the song forward, and it totally makes me do a little groove in front of my computer whenever I listen to it. This song was basically the pinnacle of pop-rock in the 00's, and it was the rock influences that made it so successful, and such an awesome song!
"Overdose" is pop perfection. Even tho Ciara is an R&B singer, this song has so much potential to take her to the next level, and bring back her crossover artist status. The rhythm, the lyrics, everything is just amazing. "Somebody call the doctor before I overdose".
I absolutely love this track! My favourite thing about it is it's experimental production by the great Danja that makes it stand out in the album. The way Britney's moans along the track, even with the sometimes dubious male vocal contributions, makes the song sound so different from most of her back catalogue. The track still sounds fresh after all these years and, although it's not single material, it shows Britney at her sexiest and most seductive, as she demands you to "take it off!" and you just can help but to do what she says! The irresistible beats and sexy lyrics get me going everytime i listen to it in a way i just can explain. That's why i love it so much!
As soon as I saw the challenge for this round, I immediately knew which song I'd be using - Please Don't Go. This was my immediate favorite off the album and I listen to it whenever I get the chance. What I love most about this song is the high energy it delivers. The electropop beat accompanied with a fun chorus come together and to me, it's music perfection. It cheers me up no matter what mood I'm in, and it makes me want to get up and dance.
The coolest thing about "The Archandroid" is it's ability to still sound like a cohesive album despite the fact that almost every track encompasses a different genre of music...in this case, rock music with elements of screamo thrown in...no, that's not a guitar at 2:19, that's her VOICE!). "Come Alive (War of the Roses)" is my hands down favourite track on this album simply because of it's raw energy. Proving her versatility as an artist, Janelle goes hard on this track, pouring all her energy into not just singing the words, but feeling each and every one - the energy of this track just begs for maximum volume. The song examines issues of mental health and what it means to be "sane", in a way that's far from cliche. I'm a huge fan of how the song's raw energy translates to a live performance. Live, this song can only be described as ELECTRIC - she gets the crowd moshing, laying down on the floor (really), and dancing - all in the same song...and always ends it with a crowd surf. I hope you all open up your minds and enjoy it even though it's a little "out of the box" - Janelle doesn't simply make music you see, she creates art.
14. potentbreakupsong - Ed Sheeran - +: Lego House
Quote:
Originally posted by potentbreakupsong
If I had to choose one favorite element in Lego House, it would be the lyrics. Ed once again tackles a fairly complex subject (the desperate desire to save a failing relationship), and makes a clever use of metaphors and hidden meanings to get his point across. He often uses these techniques when comparing childish activities to the rebuilding of a relationship (pick up the pieces and build a lego house, paint you by numbers and color you in), which to me makes the song very charming and relatable. I also love how in terms of the relationship itself, the lyrics are very open to interpretation; it’s never clear if it’s a sexual relationship, a friendship, or a relationship with oneself as the video suggests. Overall, I think Lego House has the most creative and thoughtful lyrics on the album, which is the main reason for it being my favorite track.
15. Mr.Link - Alexz Johnson - Songs From Instant Star: Time To Be Your 21
Quote:
Originally posted by Mr.Link
For this round I choose "Time To Be Your 21". It's the song that I like the most from this album. Simply because it perfectly describes a personal situation that I went through. The song talks about a young girl who has feelings for an older guy (hence its title). However, her heart has been broken so many times in the past that she thinks she's not capable of believing in love anymore, but somehow she feels like she's inevitably falling for him and she wants it to stop before it goes too far. I wish she had been my 21, and this song reminds me of her.
Though it barely reaches 3 minutes, this flirtatious song had massive potential to become a top 40 hit. The steamy lyrics fit right with Haley's sexy vocals, which are my fave part of the song. I'm ambivalent to the inclusion of Bob where he adds a nonchalant verse that lyrically does not give the justice the song requires. It, however, gives a 3-dimensional touch to the overall feel of the song even with the unnecessary addition of Bob's rap. Nevertheless, it's one of those songs you'll definitely enjoy listening to.
What I love the most about this song is the raw emotion it manifests. It's almost like improvisation; no script, no preparation, just two bodies exploring how far one "scene" can go. You never get the full experience, but the set-up to it. As boring as that sounds, the way Ne-Yo croons and swoons in this song make it sexier than the description; he paints the steamy, heated, passionate moment very well. If a song can give me a vivid, yet non-photographed picture, it is one of my favorite songs.
18. sumthintoxic82 - Girls Aloud - Tangled Up: Black Jacks
Quote:
Originally posted by sumthintoxic82
My favorite thing about Black Jacks is the retro 60's production of the song. It reminds my of the boy bands/girl groups of the 60's, but with a modern sound. And because of that 60's style, it shows an array of emotion in the girls voices, from a more soulful approach, to a playful tone, to more of a sensual side. That 60's vibe also brings the chorus to LIFE! After taking this sorta psychedelic ride in the first minute of the song, the songs energy picks up and really brings that old Girl Group vibe that fits Girls Aloud so well.
The main favorite thing about the track is its tone. Its a very calm toned song, yet when you listen to the lyrics and music, you gain a sense of settle passion with a semi-driven tempo. At the time of this songs prime personally (the time I liked it the most) I was going through some relationship stuff that was messing with my head, and with its stresses, a song like this come on and I could calm down a bit and stick with singing the lyrics. On a side note, when it came to listening to song (and making a top 40) I end up having lots of up-tempo songs I listen to on repeat, and this is primarily one of the more calm songs on the album. Its the the things from its sound, his singing ever so settle, to draw passion to the song (that or the song title "Hearts On Fire" giving the value of passion to that song). This is why I enjoy the song so much, and for me it gets to the most personal point of the album, which is why I love this track the most.
I chose "Who You Gonna Call?" because it perfectly fit the type of songs that I like. It has a nice instrumentals, the message of the song is somewhat for brokenhearted / sad break up song / missing someone. it's kinda catchy (well for me) and I really like the lyrics of the song.
and that's the reason why I chose that song
My choice for this round is Final Warning. Final Warning is the best song on the album for several reasons, but the most obvious reason that it's amazing is the intricate storyline. Final Warning tells the story of a scorned girl who is obviously seeking revenge on her boyfriend/husband for cheating. The story progresses and the girl talks about murder: ("How does the rope feel around your neck?", "Going to the kitchen, coming back with a knife" etc.). The climactic bridge shows two sides: the calm girl after she has murdered her husband ("You are the one thing..") and the ongoing fight in the background (Both people can be heard screaming and a gunshot is heard). This leaves the listener both shocked and excited because the story has been laid out so well. Because of the interesting and unique storyline, Final Warning is the best song on Don't Look Down.
I chose Mamma Knows Best as favourite song from Who You Are because it's a very unique and amazing song. I can say that this jazz influenced song gives me Christina Aguilera teas, and that's what makes me like it more. Only a few artists can pull this song off, and Jessica is one of them.
Without being a single, the song is a signature song for her, in fact it was sung several times in talent shows as The Voice and X-Factor. I suggest you to watch one of her performances, you will be slayed and love the song even more (that's what happened to me). I find the lyrics very unique too. The perfect mix of sass and vocal gives me so much energy, a very good feeling.
23. Strangergab - Hilary Duff - Metamorphosis: Come Clean
Quote:
Originally posted by Strangergab
Well, I think that this song is the best song on the album, besides being my favorite song of all time, the tone, the production and the lyrics of Come Clean are unique throughout the album a song different therefore defines a song as an artist and as a singer. On the other hand I love the video and the story that carries the song is a perfect song for Teen Pop and unique music by Hilary Duff, besides being the most representative song in her career.
My favorite track on the album is Bad Girl. Bad Girl is a song revolving purely around seduction, and the experience of sex itself. It serves as my favorite track on the album because the song is super catchy, and fun in fact. I can literally bop to the song all day because something about it is just addictive. One of my favorite parts includes Missy Elliott’s rap, which brings more flavor and more edge to the song. Bad Girl stands out from the other songs on the album because of that edge and catchiness that the song has. I love how the girls use their vocals in their song, I love the lyrics and I think that the music video only made the song better. So Bad Girl is perfection in my eyes.
25. Pedro - Jennifer Love Hewitt - BareNaked: Just Try
Quote:
Originally posted by Pedro
JENNIFER LOVE HEWITT JUST TRY
"Just Try" is my favorite Jennifer Love Hewitt track actually! I have a thing for midtempos since ever. The slow vibe attached to the inspirational lyrics and the happy feeling of her voice makes me feel so happy & special! The song itself talks about being espontaneous in life, try things, don't worry: "Whatever happens, depends". It is special to me since I overthink my actions and sometimes I shouldn't. That ONE thing that makes me love this track is the final chorus when Jennifer's vocals get more raw and she starts: "Don't you talk about it...". I can't describe the amount of happiness that invades my mind, I always put a silly smile listening to it. Life is supposed to be risky and lived.
VOTE OFF 5 / SAVE 3
LISTEN TO THE SONGS AND READ THE ESSAYS
(BE FAIR!)
DEADLINE: August, 15th
Selena Gomez/Slow Down
My favorite song from "Stars Dance" is the dance pop track "Slow Down." You might wanna ask why? Well this song has an amazing lyrics, and Selena sounds very good on it, but there's one thing that makes this song perfect. It's the production. The song was produced by Cataracs, and I gotta say, they did a wonderful job. I loved the beat they used for the song, it fits so well with lyrics, and makes you dance. The varying tempos throughout the song, were a nice touch. Overall it evoked the side of me that just wants to dance, and have fun.
Selena Gomez/Slow Down
My favorite song from "Stars Dance" is the dance pop track "Slow Down." You might wanna ask why? Well this song has an amazing lyrics, and Selena sounds very good on it, but there's one thing that makes this song perfect. It's the production. The song was produced by Cataracs, and I gotta say, they did a wonderful job. I loved the beat they used for the song, it fits so well with lyrics, and makes you dance. The varying tempos throughout the song, were a nice touch. Overall it evoked the side of me that just wants to dance, and have fun.
OFF:
1. CrazyCat - Selena Gomez - Stars Dance: Slow Down
2. BlazingLovatic - Demi Lovato - Demi: Nightingale
3. theREALslimSHADY - OneRepublic - Native: Can't Stop
4. MusicLoverDude - Rihanna - Good Girl Gone Bad: Rehab
5. Marooner5 - Hurts - Exile: The Road
6. Inner Insanity - My Chemical Romance - The Black Parade: Famous Last Words
7. !Blue! - Ke$ha - Animal: Your Love Is My Drug
8. collin - Avril Lavigne - Let Go: Too Much To Ask
9. Mickey - Kelly Clarkson - Breakaway: Since U Been Gone
10. Fraser - Ciara - Ciara: Overdose
11. spbb123 - Britney Spears - Blackout: Get Naked (I Got a Plan)
12. TheSeenScene - 2NE1 - To Anyone: Please Don't Go
13. boyonce - Janelle Monae - The Archandroid: Come Alive (The War Of The Roses)
14. potentbreakupsong - Ed Sheeran - +: Lego House
15. Mr.Link - Alexz Johnson - Songs From Instant Star: Time To Be Your 21.
16. Hunter_13 - Haley Reinhart - Listen Up!: Oh My!
17. Nait Phoenix - Ne-Yo - Because of You: Say It
18. sumthintoxic82 - Girls Aloud - Tangled Up: Black Jacks
19. HeLikesMusic - Will Young - Echoes: Hearts On Fire
20. fiercE - Lawson - Chapman Square: Who You Gonna Call?
21. Tylerbv - Skylar Grey - Don't Look Down: Final Warning
22. I'mRihannaFan - Jessie J - Who You Are: Mamma Knows Best
23. Strangergab - Hilary Duff - Metamorphosis: Come Clean
24. Lucky#17 - Danity Kane - Welcome To The Dollhouse: Bad Girl (feat. Missy Elliott)
25. Pedro - Jennifer Love Hewitt - BareNaked: Just Try
I don't think I'll ban anything, people do what they want to do with their entries... I won't just let the streaming link over there. collin's entry is from spotify, he had a link on it and I removed it!
As for the seven line limit, I'll let the judges decide to take off some points from those who crossed the limit!
and a question:
Like BlazingLovatic gave a quote from Demi, which if included with the text exceeds the line limit by a huge margin!
but if its not included in the text limit, does that mean we can use Quotes and tweets and stuff as an extra receipt without worrying about the line limit(as long as we give the source as well) ??
cuz i gave quotes in both rounds and i will probably in future rounds as well.. and it would be helpful if that could be allowed outside the word limit!
and a question:
Like BlazingLovatic gave a quote from Demi, which if included with the text exceeds the line limit by a huge margin!
but if its not included in the text limit, does that mean we can use Quotes and tweets and stuff as an extra receipt without worrying about the line limit(as long as we give the source as well) ??
cuz i gave quotes in both rounds and i will probably in future rounds as well.. and it would be helpful if that could be allowed outside the word limit!
Personally, I wish people would stop including so much extra stuff like formatting and quotes in their entries. It distracts from what really matters, which is the essay that is supposed to show off your writing skills and ability to convince people why the choice you made is the best in that particular round.
I suggest you ban the use of anything but text format on our entries. It did influence the public voting last time and it probably will again.
Quote:
Originally posted by nineteen
Personally, I wish people would stop including so much extra stuff like formatting and quotes in their entries. It distracts from what really matters, which is the essay that is supposed to show off your writing skills and ability to convince people why the choice you made is the best in that particular round.
I agree, but also, if you don't like their entry for whatever reason, you can just vote them off...
I mean, if you don't like their entry for whatever reason, you can just vote them off...
That's not exactly my point.
The task is to write an essay, and that's what people used to do in previous seasons. But it slowly has become normal to use formatting and include way too much info, when the focus should be on the contestants' own writing skills. Everyone can include a quote and write a few sentences around it, but it's much more difficult to come up with something on your own. Also, in rounds where you're supposed to give your opinion like this one, there shouldn't be anything but your own words.
the extra stuff doesnt bother me.. cuz at the end the text sways opinions way more than graphics will ever do!
plus my questino was only about quotes.. cuz i think quotes are helpful in showing the artist's perspective while making that album which can help people understand the contestants views in a better way.. to see where he's coming from!
the extra stuff doesnt bother me.. cuz at the end the text sways opinions way more than graphics will ever do! plus my questino was only about quotes.. cuz i think quotes are helpful in showing the artist's perspective while making that album which can help people understand the contestants views in a better way.. to see where he's coming from!
And my point was that by incorporating quotes you're basically showcasing the opinion of the artist as opposed to your own opinion, which is what was originally asked for. Don't rely on the artist helping you to explain your point of view, you need to find a way to be convincing by yourself.
its just so overwhelming, i cant help but sing along.. and sing along my ass off!
Again. 
