The Greatest Rankdown of All: Whitney (Winner Revealed!)

[Kanenrá:ke]

May 18, 2018 13:51:13 GMT -5 bat1990 said:

Kanenrá:ke

If you get it in to me by 6pm EST, I can add it to the spreadsheet because I can't present the first result until I get home from work.
[My template and song commentary are on my home PC.]

Thanks!

[Bojangles]

SENT!

[fearlessarrow]

I was totally planning on doing this when it was announced but life got in the way. I'd like to follow along with the reveals though!

[bat1990]

OMG YESSSS!!!! Bojangles has submitted a list!!!

This rankdown is now certified official.

[Deleted]

May 18, 2018 15:33:53 GMT -5 bat1990 said:

OMG YESSSS!!!! Bojangles has submitted a list!!!

This rankdown is now certified official.

I am convinced that you not having enough submissions to start earlier was divine intervention so that Bojangles could be present!

[bat1990]

Let's kick things off!

I will provide my official Host Opinion as the hint for each reveal. With the hint, there will also be a Whitney track featured; subtracting the Gospel and X-Mas songs I posted earlier, Whitney has 60 non-singles and there are just too many gems to not shine a light on them all.



Hint:

Host Opinion
Catchy, a little cheesy. Not up to her best.


Whitney Feature: "If You Say My Eyes Are Beautiful"
This track was one of a staggering four duets between Whitney and Jermaine Jackson, none of which became singles. This one, however, was unique in that it appeared on Jermaine's 1986 album Precious Moments but not on a Whitney release, like the other 3, until The Greatest Hits in 2000. I find it, like most of their work, to not be anything to write home about. I'm glad Clive and Whitney had the sense to not try any of these as singles.



Participants:

SPOILER: Click to show

{Spoiler}
@phillippe
andrewantonio
Unhinged
someguy
God
bat1990
★Disco★
weaver
jenglisbe
#LisaRinna
Albie
mamooshka
Mirago 
Ky
castleoblivion26
.indulgecountry
SHOOTER
Jay D83
Juanca
Glove Slap
Az Paynter
@antigonerising
Troublemaker
Tim
Ginger Spice
Who The Hell Is Leo?✔
wavey.
T.B.F.
Bojangles
Kanenrá:ke

Peanut Gallery:
@mirza
fearlessarrow

[someguy]

I always thought that this was a single because it was on her greatest hits.

[Deleted]

I'll admit that If You Say My Eyes Are Beautiful is pasteurized cheese, but I always had a soft spot for that song. I also thought it was a single because I used to hear it on the radio a lot when I was younger. The airplay probably came largely on the strength of Whitney's newfound starpower at the time and I'm sure they could have gotten an easy top 10 on r&b if they'd officially released it. But ultimately it's only a missed opportunity for Jermaine; for Whitney a would-be local hit is hardly a big loss in the grand scheme of things.

Since the chosen feature was something from the 80s I'll guess that the hint for #50 is for an '80s song as well. Hopefully Someone For Me or Hold Me. I don't have high hopes for Love Will Save the Day escaping the bottom 10, but I'm hoping it's not its time just yet.

[Juanca]

Let it be Someone for Me. That’s my only 1980s song in my bottom 5.
Love will save the day shouldn’t be this low at all!!

[T.B.F.]

I know I'm going to be sooo off with Hold Me but it has always been/will always be one of my faves. So beautiful and their voices blend so well. I also adore If You Say...

[bat1990]

Please note, the featured songs have *nothing* to do with the reveals. They are completely randomized.
My Host Opinion is the only hint.

Also some stats,
- everybody's #50 leaves in the bottom half
- only 2 people lose #1s before the top half
- six songs battled over number one
- only 2 points separate #1 and #2, however #2 was NOT one of the six to be #1 at any point
- the hightest standard deviation is coming soon

#50: Celebrate
Whitney Houston & Jordan Sparks





Stats
Points: 1309
Average: 43.63
Std Dev: 8.302

Charts
US R&B 39

History & Tidbits
This was the last song Whitney recorded before her death in February 2012. It was written and produced by R. Kelly for the film Sparkle which Whitney produced and had a supporting role. The cast of the film appeared in the music video to play tribute to Whitney. Half of our 30 participants ranked this in the bottom two - this one was clearly our #50 for pretty much the entire rankdown, not even @antigonerising 's last minute ranking in the top half could lift it a little.

Participant Rankings
@antigonerising 22
Tim 27
mamooshka 29
castleoblivion26 31
someguy 32
SHOOTER 34
wavey. 35
Kanenrá:ke 40
Who The Hell Is Leo?✔ 42
.indulgecountry 43
Az Paynter 45
bat1990 45
weaver 46
Ginger Spice 48
jenglisbe 48
andrewantonio 49
God 49
★Disco★ 49
Mirago   49
Ky 49
Jay D83 49
Glove Slap 49
Troublemaker 49
@phillippe 50
Unhinged 50
#LisaRinna 50
Albie 50
Juanca 50
T.B.F. 50
Bojangles 50


Viewers:
@mirza
fearlessarrow

[#LisaRinna]

Bye!

[Juanca]

Yeah!
That was my clear, unrivaled #50. I wanted to like it when it was released, as it also had Jordan Sparks, but it was super underwhelming!

[Deleted]

Aw, boo!


I like Celebrate, it's a cute little bop. That said my one gripe with it is the very reason I understand it getting tanked - Jordin pretty much dominates the song, especially toward the end. I get that Whitney's voice wasn't close to its full power by then but this duet could and should have been balanced out a lot more.

[someguy]

"Celebrate" is fun...it sucks that it's the last thing we have of Whitney's, but it's a decent song otherwise.

[Kanenrá:ke]

Not unexpected at all for this to be the first to go but I do like it. I would've loved to hear a duet between Whitney and Jordin when Whitney's voice was at it's peak, that would've been so great!

[T.B.F.]

@ Celebrate even being a part of the conversation. BYEEEEEEEE!

[Jay D83]

May 19, 2018 9:54:24 GMT -5 T.B.F. said:

@ Celebrate even being a part of the conversation. BYEEEEEEEE!

Chile yes LOL. While I don't hate the song, Whitney's vocals were just not there at all, this is one song I wish never came out.

[Who The Hell Is Leo?✔]

This was super weak

[bat1990]

Hint for #49:

A lot more 49s and 50s make their exit with this one.

Host Opinion
This one has grown on me over the years, but it's still a long dirge that isn't as good as most of her material.


Whitney Highlight: "His Eye is on the Sparrow"
Jumping to the other end of her career, this was Whitney's one solo contribution to the Sparkle soundtrack and yet another of the many, many covers released during her career.
I can only imagine how this would've sounded at her vocal peak.

[Ky]

Hold Me is a long ass song and I could imagine it with a lot of 49/50 rankings. I like it and feel like it's so important in her discography, but I won't be sad to see it go.

[Bojangles]

Not surprised at all with Celebrate’s ranking. It’s cute, but also underwhelming. The song seems like a rushed recording, and Whitney’s vocals sounded a bit rough.

[bat1990]

Ky is correct!

#49: Hold Me
Teddy Pendergrass & Whitney Houston





Stats
Points: 1227
Average: 40.90
Std Dev: 9.911

Charts
US 46
US R&B 5
Europe 77
UK 44

History & Tidbits
The other bookend to Whitney's career is out next. We lose 10 more 49s & 50s.
This duet is the second taste of Whitney the world received; the first being her debut singing "Home" on The Merv Griffin Show. Released as the lead single from Teddy Pendergrass' Love Language album, it originally appeared as "In Your Arms" on Diana Ross' Silk Electric in 1982 - thus marking the first of many, many covers in Whitney's career. "Hold Me" was not released in international territories until 1986 and received no video.

Participant Rankings
T.B.F. 15
mamooshka 18
Juanca 21

Tim 26
weaver 33
castleoblivion26 35
jenglisbe 37
Mirago  37
Glove Slap 37
wavey. 39
Kanenrá:ke 39
God 40
Ky 40
Bojangles 42
#LisaRinna 43
Jay D83 44
@antigonerising 46
Troublemaker 46
andrewantonio 47
Ginger Spice 47
@phillippe 49
Unhinged 49
Albie 49
.indulgecountry 49
bat1990 49
someguy 50
★Disco★ 50
SHOOTER 50
Az Paynter 50
Who The Hell Is Leo?✔ 50


Viewers:
@mirza
fearlessarrow

[Albie]

Yass 2 perfect rankings in a row!

In a perfect discography such as this, yeah, this song really is that weak.

[Jay D83]

I am loving the placements thus far. I haattteeee HOLD ME with the ferocity of a million suns. It's so boring and goes nowhere.

[bat1990]

Hint for #48

Host Opinion
Funky and breezy - an overlooked gem.
Also the HIGHEST standard deviation of the game, which I found super surprising.

Whitney Spotlight
This Steve Winwood cover was a Japanese bonus track on I'm Your Baby Tonight.
What are you all of your thoughts about it?

[Jay D83]

My guess for #48 is "One Of Those Days" which would upset me. As for "Higher Love" I like it. It's definitely better than some other songs that made the album (I'm looking at YOU "We Didn't Know," and "Miracle").

[Deleted]

! I didn't know Whitney covered Higher Love. I like it. The production kind of fumbles in a few spots but Whitney slays, as usual.

[Ky]

I hope I’m wrong, but funky, breezy, and overlooked gem all describe Fine really well to me.

[Juanca]

Boooo
I imagined HM could be low, but bottom 5? Really?
I love how she sounds there. Maybe a bit more AC/Barbra-like, but I actually appreciate that different type of vocals from her. And I really like the melody in the chorus / pre-chorus —although I admit the lyrics sound a bit creepy at parts.
In any case it’s a type of 80s cheese that I don’t mind at all