The Funky Rankdown of Soul: En Vogue (Complete!)

[bat1990]

#30: A Thousand Times


Stats
Points: 67
Average: 6.091
Std Dev: 5.558

Lead Vocals
Rhona

Charts
N/A

History & Tidbits
A Thousand Times" comes from En Vogue's Lifetime holiday movie An En Vogue Christmas. Writer(s) and Producers(s) are unknown. The song was released to streaming and download outlets around the film's premier in Fall 2014. 8 of 11 participants ranked the song in the bottom third (and quarter) while the rest did not take it much higher.

Host Opinion
The flatulent horns and cheap production detract from Rhona's heavenly vocal. The tempo is also odd, I think it would improve the song if it were a little faster or slower. It's a bit of a snoozefest compared to the soulful and bombastic offerings in their earlier work.

Participant Rankings
castleoblivion26 - 14
@antigonerising - 17
@quirkyfarang - 20
aerodynamite - 24
Hashtag Pow - 26
Zinc. - 27
Ky - 28
SHOOTER - 28
bat1990 - 30
Ginger Spice - 30
divasummer - 30

Viewers
@pma2015
Hurricane Lee

[bat1990]

I'm about to leave work, so I'll take a short break. I hope to post 5 more plus another album cut this evening (EDT).

[Deleted]

I ranked A Thousand Times based on its potential more than its execution. It is so pretty, but I agree that the production is cheap and the tempo is...I think the problem is that it's written in 6/8. The triplet beats feel too fast for the gentle ballad this song is, but then the main 1-2 beats that contain the triplets are too slow. The instrumentation likewise sounds more fit for a waltz (which 6/8 time is often used for) than what this song aims to be. This should either be backed by a string quartet, or a full orchestral arrangement. The production seems like it wanted to go toward the latter but it's not filled out enough at all.

[Leo ✔]

The way you are presenting the results is flawless. I like it a lot. :)

I didn't send a list but good luck with this!!

[Hurricane Lee]

Good job, Batty!! I don't know this song at all (after the album with Whatever, I stopped listening to them). I also have their Greatest Hits. One of my favorite girl groups in the 90s. I remember when Hold On premiered.

[Deleted]

Love the chart, visuals, write up, topic! This is classy. See I may not approve of that whole Neckie Minaje cartoon thingy you paraded around but this I can Stan for!!!

[Ginger Spice]

I didn't like a single one of the "new" En Vogue songs except for "Deja Vu", which was alright. Most everything after Soul Flower was a miss for me.

[bat1990]

Jun 22, 2017 18:23:41 GMT -5 Leo ✔ said:

The way you are presenting the results is flawless. I like it a lot. :)

I didn't send a list but good luck with this!!

Thanks!!!! Would you like to be tagged as a viewer?

Jun 23, 2017 1:16:17 GMT -5 Ginger Spice said:

I didn't like a single one of the "new" En Vogue songs except for "Deja Vu", which was alright. Most everything after Soul Flower was a miss for me.

It's my eternal frustration that Soul Flower isn't on streaming services (much like Aaliyah's discography). I think it's a stronger body of work than EV3 and especially Masterpiece Theater.

[Leo ✔]

Why not ? Haha :)

[bat1990]

#29: I'm Good


Stats
Points: 88
Average: 8.000
Std Dev: 5.604

Lead Vocals
Rhona, Cindy, Terry [under pitch in the verses like she is 1/3 of the time]

Charts
N/A

History & Tidbits
"I'm Good" is the 'first single' (I'll believe it when I see an album release date) from En Vogue's forthcoming sixth studio album Electric Café. It is a meandering, minimalist midtempo produced by the legendary Raphael Saadiq (Dawn shade?) about being an independent woman who doesn't need a man to be complete. The song did not chart anywhere even Urban AC and obviously didn't go to far with Pulse either. Only 1 person ranked this in their top half.

Host Opinion
This song is definitely a grower. I hated it on first listen but have come to appreciate it with repeated viewings. I'm actually surprised at how little traction it got on Urban AC with the love Mary, Janet, SWV and TLC have been getting there, but they probably need to come with something more instant.

Participant Rankings
SHOOTER - 12
castleoblivion26 - 18
bat1990 - 18
Zinc. - 19
@quirkyfarang - 23
@antigonerising - 24
Ky - 25
Ginger Spice - 28
Hashtag Pow - 28
aerodynamite - 29
divasummer - 29

Viewers
@pma2015
Hurricane Lee
Leo ✔

[bat1990]

Next up, someone loses their first top 10!

[bat1990]

#28: So What The Fuss
Stevie Wonder f/ En Vogue and Prince


Stats
Points: 95
Average: 8.636
Std Dev: 8.582

Lead Vocals
Stevie Wonder
Maxine's voice is most prominent on the backing vocals

Charts
US #96
US R&B #34
Canada #6
Europe #53
UK #19
Netherlands #82
Denmark #16
Norway #17
Sweden #46
Italy #27

History & Tidbits
A funk song released as the lead single from Stevie Wonder's 2005 album A Time to Love. A legend like Mr. Wonder can do things like get Prince to play guitar and have the ORIGINAL* members of En Vogue appear on background vocals AND in the video together. The song itself is a fun little romp with a classic Stevie Wonder sound and was the latest Billboard Hot 100 entry for both Stevie and En Vogue.

*Admittedly, this was the short period of time where Dawn came back in the mid-2000s. She played some shows with the group and appeared in Alicia Keys' 90s girl-group heavy performance at the BET Awards in 2008.

Host Opinion
My low ranking comes for two reasons: 1. The lyrics are a bit all over the place and not quite as clever as Stevie Wonder's prime 2. En Vogue are only on background vocals singing "Shame shame." That said, I enjoy it and wouldn't skip it if it came on.

Participant Rankings
aerodynamite - 3
@quirkyfarang - 14
castleoblivion26 - 16
Ginger Spice - 18
Zinc. - 25
bat1990 - 26
divasummer - 27
Hashtag Pow - 29
SHOOTER - 29
@antigonerising - 29
Ky - 30


Viewers
@pma2015
Hurricane Lee
Leo ✔

[bat1990]

I have a meeting, so more to come later. But #27 only got one more point than #28! Any guesses?

[Ky]

Maybe Glamorous or Deja Vu?

Also glad that at least screwing up and getting over-excited about the album track ranking helped get Hip Hop Lover a mention in the rankdown! I always thought it shoulda been a single after Free Your Mind.

[Deleted]

Really not a fan of collabs but Stevie Wonder is a legend!
I enjoyed this song more than I was expecting, to be honest

[bat1990]

#27: Glamorous
Natalia meets En Vogue


Stats
Points: 96
Average: 8.727
Std Dev: 8.557

Lead Vocals
Natalia (obvs.)
Rhona - verse
Maxine - ending ad-libs

Charts
Belgium (Flanders) #2

History & Tidbits
This song is a re-worked version to add the Funky Divas to Natalia's second single from her album Everything and More (and prb to gain sales and exposure in Belgium for a better chart position). It is a pop-soul anthem about the glamour of fame as well as to empower women to be glamorous and give zero f**ks what others think. Most interestingly, it's the only confirmed En Vogue song with Rhona and Maxine's lead vocals on record. It comes from a hazy period where the membership of the group was in flux. Dawn and Max kept rotating in and out and sometimes Rhona filled in (probably why it took so long for a Soul Flower follow up).

Host Opinion
This. song. is. FIYAH! Some of y'all ranked this too low. It has all the attitude and empowerment from En Vogue's hayday and is a welcome return to form. Natalia also has a nice voice that reminds me a little of P!nk and Rhona kills her parts. I can imagine a Free Your Mind-esque video even though none was shot.

Participant Rankings
@quirkyfarang - 7
aerodynamite - 9
bat1990 - 13
SHOOTER - 22
Ginger Spice - 24
divasummer - 26
@antigonerising - 27
castleoblivion26 - 28
Ky - 29
Hashtag Pow - 30
Zinc. - 30

Viewers
@pma2015
Hurricane Lee
Leo ✔

[bat1990]

Our first to break 100 points!

#26: déjà-vu


Stats
Points: 106
Average: 9.636
Std Dev: 6.637

Lead Vocals
Cindy
Terry - bridge

Charts
N/A

History & Tidbits
A teaser single for the group's budding deal with eOne. En Vogue released "déjà-vu" on Soundcloud and at digital outlets in Spring 2016. Much like most of En Vogue's work this century, the song did not chart anywhere and largely went unnoticed.

Host Opinion
It sounds like elevator music or something on a game show, but it's not a bad listen. En Vogue standards are pretty high and the bridge elevates the rest of this mediocre song - it almost sounds like it's pasted in from a superior cut.

Participant Rankings
aerodynamite - 7
@antigonerising - 16
bat1990 - 17
SHOOTER - 18
Ginger Spice - 19
castleoblivion26 - 24
@quirkyfarang - 24
Ky - 26
Hashtag Pow - 27
divasummer - 28
Zinc. - 29

Viewers
@pma2015
Hurricane Lee
Leo ✔

[Deleted]

Natalia is great too, this song deserved better!

[bat1990]

Album Cut #5: No No No (Can't Come Back)


Stats
Points: 5

Lead Vocals
Maxine - verses
Cindy - chorus

History & Tidbits
Our second album cut is Track 2 on Masterpiece Theater. It's a laid back groove with the girls trading back and forth about gossip and broken relationships - like a (faster, funkier, more interesting) precursor to Destiny's Child's "Girl."

Host Opinion
This song is so good, it lulls the listener into the a falsehood that the rest of Masterpiece Theater is a good album. Why "Love U Crazay" was in contention for (cancelled) single #2 I'll never understand when this jam is sitting pretty right after "Riddle." It's catchy, groovy, and all around a solid track. Thoughts from those who didn't participate in the Album Cuts?

Participant Rankings
bat1990 - 3
SHOOTER - 4

Zinc.
@quirkyfarang
Ky
aerodynamite
@antigonerising
Ginger Spice
castleoblivion26
Hashtag Pow
divasummer

Viewers
@pma2015
Hurricane Lee
Leo ✔

[SHOOTER]

I have nothing but love for Hip Hop Lover. Classic just like the whole damn FD album!

I'm Good grew on me tremendously and I love it the most out of all the new EV3 material we've gotten post-SF, which may be mostly due to Raphael giving them what sounds like a professionally produced track compared to what they working with before. It's lack of traction at Urban AC is due to eOne only releasing it digitally so far and not sending it to radio (yet).

So What the Fuss is a jam but EV was just not featured prominently enough on it for me.

[bat1990]

For the final reveal for the day, this song has the highest standard deviation AND is the first loss of a #1 ranking...

Also, though not in the same order, Hashtag Pow has gotten all six correct from 30-25.
Ky, Zinc., and divasummer each got 5/6 correct. divasummer has been closest to the correct order of these four.

[Ky]

Jun 23, 2017 10:22:02 GMT -5 bat1990 said:

Album Cut #5: No No No (Can't Come Back)


Stats
Points: 5

Lead Vocals
Maxine - verses
Cindy - chorus

History & Tidbits
Our second album cut is Track 2 on Masterpiece Theater. It's a laid back groove with the girls trading back and forth about gossip and broken relationships - like a (faster, funkier, more interesting) precursor to Destiny's Child's "Girl."

Host Opinion
This song is so good, it lulls the listener into the a falsehood that the rest of Masterpiece Theater is a good album. Why "Love U Crazay" was in contention for (cancelled) single #2 I'll never understand when this jam is sitting pretty right after "Riddle." It's catchy, groovy, and all around a solid track. Thoughts from those who didn't participate in the Album Cuts?

Participant Rankings
bat1990 - 3
SHOOTER - 4

Zinc.
@quirkyfarang
Ky
aerodynamite
@antigonerising
Ginger Spice
castleoblivion26
Hashtag Pow
divasummer

Viewers
@pma2015
Hurricane Lee
Leo ✔

I do love this one too. Would be between this and a few others that would fight for the last spot in my top 10 album tracks.

[bat1990]

#25: Emotions


Stats
Points: 115
Average: 10.455
Std Dev: 9.353

Lead Vocals
Terry, Cindy, Rhona

Charts
N/A

History & Tidbits
En Vogue does dance music! Another track from the film An En Vogue Christmas. It's a fun anthem with stadium keys and vocal effects, reminiscent of Kylie Minogue's later PWL years, but with a cheaper sounding production. The song was not promoted beyond trailers for the film and did not chart anywhere.

Host Opinion
It's fun but too cheap to rank higher for me. The beat is solid and the group sounds great, but I'm not feeling the rest of the elements of the song. Also, it ends with a fade out which is a pet peeve of mine - please just end songs.

Participant Rankings
aerodynamite - 1
@quirkyfarang - 12
Ky - 13
castleoblivion26 - 15
bat1990 - 20
divasummer - 23
Hashtag Pow - 25
Zinc. - 28
Ginger Spice - 29
SHOOTER - 30
@antigonerising - 30

Viewers
@pma2015
Hurricane Lee
Leo ✔

[bat1990]

That's all for today folks!

Coming attractions:

Tomorrow mostly older songs will leave the ranking. Some more top 10s say goodbye and only 2 people lose Top 3s (but zero #1's!)

[aerodynamite]

Aww :(

Emotions is a bonafide banger!

[Ky]

Jun 23, 2017 11:43:24 GMT -5 aerodynamite said:

Aww :(

Emotions is a bonafide banger!

So catchy! I thought it would've lasted a bit longer.

[bat1990]

#24: No Fool, No More


Stats
Points: 116
Average: 10.545
Std Dev: 6.905

Lead Vocals
Cindy - verses
Terry - bridge

Charts
US - 57
US R&B - 37
New Zealand - 34

History & Tidbits
"No Fool, No More" was one of six singles released from the film soundtrack for Why Do Fools Fall In Love. It is also included on En Vogue's first hits collection: The Best of En Vogue, released in 1998. (It is NOT on 2001's The Very Best of En Vogue.) Written by Diane Warren and produced by Big Baby, Sugar Mike, it follows the formula of many Diane Warren songs of the time. No video was filmed.

Host Opinion
A bland Diane Warren ballad that doesn't hold up as well as her other work at the time. It's not bad - Cindy and Terry provide solid vocal performances - but it's very generic and doesn't even have the dramatic key change moment to really drive it home (e.g Too Gone, Too Long, The One I Gave My Heart To, I Learned From The Best). Obvs, many of you agreed with me because of the low rankings from the majority of submissions.

Participant Rankings
divasummer - 9
Ginger Spice - 11
Hashtag Pow - 15
@quirkyfarang - 16
castleoblivion26 - 19
Zinc. - 22
SHOOTER - 24
@antigonerising - 26
Ky - 27
aerodynamite - 27
bat1990 - 29

Viewers
@pma2015
Hurricane Lee
Leo ✔

[bat1990]

#23: Love U Crazay


Stats
Points: 121
Average: 11.000
Std Dev: 6.245

Lead Vocals
Cindy, Maxine, Terry

Charts
N/A

History & Tidbits
"Love U Crazay" was the planned second single from Masterpiece Theater, but it was cancelled after the poor reception of first single "Riddle" and the sluggish album sales. It samples "Dance of the Sugarplum Fairy" from Tschaikovsky's The Nutcracker and features a rap from (Left-Eye wannabe) Kamil Marzette. "Love U Crazay" was Part One of the En Vogue Love Suite and there were plans to film a short film music video for the whole suite that were also shelved.

Interestingly, the song was not supposed to exist. The original Love Suite Part One was "I Love You More." ILYM sampled The Godfather theme, but the sample was not cleared and a substitute was needed quickly, hence "Love U Crazay."

Host Opinion
Not one of my favorites. I find the whole En Vogue Love Suite contrived and it has little replay value for me. This song in particular starts off alright, but the sample gets annoying after a while. Also, Cindy's ad-libs "So in love with, so in love with, so in love with you. And you know it's, and you know it's , and you know it's true" makes me cringe every time. "I Love You More" is far superior (especially Max's vocal performance) - shame on Elektra for not clearing the sample.

Participant Rankings
Ky - 7
Ginger Spice - 12
@quirkyfarang - 19
SHOOTER - 19
divasummer - 19
Hashtag Pow - 21
bat1990 - 22
@antigonerising - 22
aerodynamite - 23
Zinc. - 26
castleoblivion26 - 30

Viewers
@pma2015
Hurricane Lee
Leo ✔

[bat1990]

#22: Yesterday

No single cover exists, so I used their little-known Japan-only release instead, "Mover"!


Stats
Points: 121*
Average: 11.000*
Std Dev: 5.865

Lead Vocals
Cindy

Charts
US Airplay - 73
US R&B Airplay - 29

History & Tidbits
"Yesterday" is a Beatles' cover included on Funky Divas. It was a promotional radio single released between the massive hits "Free Your Mind" and "Giving Him Something He Can Feel."

Host Opinion
I used to like this cover but now it annoys me. Cindy's vocal is fine, but in the context of the album it seems strange and unnecessary. I wish it were either faster or slower, a problem with many of my lower-ranked songs. The harmonies are tight though.

Participant Rankings
castleoblivion26 - 8
divasummer - 14
Hashtag Pow - 16
aerodynamite - 17
Zinc. - 20
bat1990 - 21
@quirkyfarang - 22
Ky - 23
SHOOTER - 25
Ginger Spice - 26
@antigonerising - 28

Viewers
@pma2015
Hurricane Lee
Leo ✔

*If you notice, "Yesterday" and "Love U Crazay" have the same number of points and average. After analyzing everyone's individual ranking, I decided that "Yesterday" should rank higher because of it's lower standard deviation coupled with higher Top 20 placement than LUC.

[Deleted]

Three back to back to back gems. Yesterday is my favorite of the three but love em all!!!! Keep the urban gems coming!