House Lannister
6x Platinum Member
Would be Twitcher/YouTuber
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 6,522
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Post by House Lannister on Jun 15, 2020 20:46:15 GMT -5
Hmm. This could prove to be an interesting round.
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Post by shruggie on Jun 15, 2020 21:37:38 GMT -5
Send this folks:
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born
Diamond Member
can't come to the phone right now
BLACK LIVES MATTER
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Post by born on Jun 16, 2020 4:57:58 GMT -5
Damn that was intense. My song did stick out from the rest and I was pretty sure I was gonna go out but hello non-elimination round! Anyways, I'm gonna try to survive the next elimination even though the competition is super strong!
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Sambalada
8x Platinum Member
Founder of Rankdown ca. 2016
Mmmmmmmm....
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Post by Sambalada on Jun 16, 2020 20:00:59 GMT -5
ROUND THIRTEEN - THE SONGS
Billie Holiday - "Strange Fruit" Elvis Presley - "Hound Dog" Ray Charles - "What'd I Say" Ritchie Valens - "La Bamba" Santo & Johnny - "Sleepwalk" The Flamingos - "I Only Have Eyes For You"
Judges, you have 3 days to do your job.
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Post by shruggie on Jun 16, 2020 20:44:22 GMT -5
Whoever listened to me, hope you win
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Sambalada
8x Platinum Member
Founder of Rankdown ca. 2016
Mmmmmmmm....
Joined: June 2016
Posts: 8,686
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Post by Sambalada on Jun 19, 2020 22:01:33 GMT -5
ROUND THIRTEEN - RESULTS
Welcome to the thirteenth elimination ceremony! Only five of you will remain in this competition after tonight, with only 3 rounds left before the grand finale. Sadly, Mayman can't join us in the judging panel this time. As for the guest judges, who is more fitting to judge pre-1960s songs other than someone who's experienced them themselves? Please welcome Arnold! Oh, we also have jamesflame too!
So without further ado, the winner of this round is...{Spoiler}{Spoiler} MATT!The Flamingos - "I Only Have Eyes For You"Congratulations! With your fifth win, you have now tied @trilogy from season 1 for most wins on one season!Sambalada: "Um does this song have "Sleepwalk" as the instrumental? Lol. I love the harmony between the lead vocalists and the backing vocals. The instrumental is creepy and kind of mystical but also gorgeous and magical at the same time. It's a lovely song." (8.7)Walt: "Aww, this song is so sweet! I want someone who can love me like the narrator of this song lol. The backing vocals are great and really complement the lyrics well, and the instrumental is simple but really pretty and definitely sets a really dreamy mood." (8.3)Gates: "It's hard to comprehend the stroke of genius it takes to pick out a pretty typical sounding 1930s showtune song in order to record a shimmering tentpole of doo-wop, making a track that so warps boundaries of the genre that it doesn't even feel like it came from this Earth's dimension. Nate Nelson's lead vocal on the verses complements the reserved sway of the band with a bemused delivery that almost downplays the lyrics' sentiments, so that the indelible "sha-bop sha-bop"s come like a shock. Then when the echo-y, enormous harmonies come in the chorus, it's almost like time expands and his emotions start to tower incorporeal over their object, and the inner conflict is spotlighted of if he's in love with a person or the idea of them, and if his level of devotion is healthy. The chord progressions evolve in a spiraling fashion with every new bit of the refrain we hear, but they always resolve in this slanted manner that leaves the listener in a daze with a lot to process even after the song is over." (9.2)Mayman: --Hamed: "That f**king harmonization AAAAAAAAAAAAH, so good. The melody of this reminds me of Sleepwalk very much but with vocals, damn good fitting vocals so naturally I like this just as much as I like Sleepwalk, dare I say maybe even I like it just a bit more." (9.2)Jamesflame: "This is romantic music done right. Some artists try to hard to make their songs sexy and raunchy to make it seem romantic, but this doesn't try too hard at all. The piano, the vocals, everything works so well to really encapsulate the feeling of love." (9.3)Arnold: (7.4)TOTAL: 52.1 | AVERAGE: 8.68The second best is...{Spoiler}{Spoiler} FEARLESS!Ray Charles - "What'd I Say"Only .1 points separating you from Matt! You might have started this competition in the middle of the pack but you've been proving yourself as a king of top-2 call-out!Sambalada: "The obvious star of this set. Not saying the other songs aren't great but this is on a whole other level. From the beginning, we're serviced with a groovy as hell intro. The rhythm of the piano is just so fun, complete with great beat from the percussion and guitar. Then Ray Charles came in with those vocals! He sounds like someone who'd get the whole crowd vibing. He brings a lot of personality onto the song. I don't know who wrote the song but they did a lot awesome job of it. The melody is so catchy and the "ehhhh... ohhh..." structure was perfectly placed on the song." (9.5)Walt: "Now this is another classic. It’s just a really nice jam that makes me want to get up and dance haha, the band is so tight with the grooviness of the piano especially, and Ray Charles’ vocals are great as ever." (9.0)Gates: "Don't queue up this song expecting a traditional pop song structure or any deep lore in the lyrics. What'd I Say is essentially a live jam session with a few written sections to provide a framework, and words whose only importance is to shape the voice of Ray and his chorus line as they sing their hearts out. The whole band's technique is flawless on this track, but none more refined than the phenom Charles himself who squeezes every pleasing variation he can out of that main piano figure. Few records so clearly changed the course of popular music as this one did, but that's what happens when you find the trick to synthesizing gospel, big band, and Latin ballroom music into mass appeal entertainment." (8.8)Mayman: --Hamed: "f**k this is another easily recognizable classic, I still love the melody on this one it is just sooooo infectiously good. Ray's voice is a fantastic fit that just rounds out yet another timeless classic on this list." (9.5)/font] Jamesflame: "Ray Charles was a true artist. He fought through many obstacles and became one of the greatest of all time at what he did. There were some parts of this song I wasn't a huge fan of but overall, it was another excellent song by Ray." (8.4) Arnold: (6.8) TOTAL: 52.0 | AVERAGE: 8.67
Next...
{Spoiler}{Spoiler} BORN!Billie Holiday - "Strange Fruit"You're the only person to get a perfect 10 score from any judges, and not only one, you also got TWO perfect scores! Without your penalty you would have won the round. Congratulations you're now a member of the final 5!Sambalada: "I wish I was more familiar with Billie's stuffs because many people have mentioned her as an influential figure. And with this song, I can totally see why. "Strange Fruit" is gorgeous. The lyrics used a creative metaphor to represent the voice of black people who got lynched, and honestly, the fact the this song is written in the '30s and we're still fighting for the similar things now is sad. Billie sounds absolutely divine singing the melody." (8.7) (8.4)Walt: "This song is haunting with the imagery comparing lynchings to natural elements. Billie Holiday’s vocals are beautiful too, she sings with so much pain and emotional depth. It’s a difficult listen but an incredible song nonetheless which is, sadly, relevant today." (9.6) (9.3)Gates: "I'm not sure if it's really my place to dissect Strange Fruit's lyrics in a micro-level; suffice it to say, what makes them so obviously brilliant--the metaphor, juxtaposition, grotesquely vivid imagery and detail, the effective grammatical patterns--is also what makes it utterly devastating. Holiday, as one of the greatest voices ever put to record, obviously puts forth nothing but her best effort here, guiding us through beautiful, loping melodies, and precisely delivering each word to imbue them with the most meaning (one example being the bite she gives the word "pluck"). The contrast between the gentle piano and the brazen trumpet is perfect--and let's not forget the guitar and drums that peek in at the very end to play the final notes of the song." (10) (9.7)Mayman: --Hamed: "We are nearing a whole century since this song came out in 1939 yet the words hold up so f**king true to this day. If that doesn't define the word timeless then I sure don't know what does. Billie's voice is gorgeous, the novelty charm of the song and how it is recorded holds up even now, easily my favorite song of it's time and it is what I would have sent had I participated." (10) (9.7)Jamesflame: "Boy, is this song haunting. Even after all the years, this song remains relevant. Such a deep and dark song with a story that needed to be told." (9.2) (8.9)Arnold: "Strange fruit is decent, but is too weak sounding , too relaxed for me. I generally like strong, bright, happy sounding music. The sound of the music is more important for me than the lyrics, usually." (5.5) (5.2)TOTAL: 53.0 51.2 | AVERAGE: 8.83 8.53The last person to escape the bottom two is...{Spoiler}{Spoiler} VIOLET!Santo & Johnny - "Sleepwalk"Sambalada: "This is like the definitive instrumental that represent '50s music. The melody is gorgeous and the "sparkly" sounds in the background (what is that tho?) makes this song sounds magical. It captures the beauty of the music of that era even without lyrics." (8.4)Walt: "This is a really pretty song with the lush guitars and the general breezy vibe of the instrumentation, it reminds me of really good beach bar music lmao. It’s not something I see myself returning too much, but it’s a really nice song!" (7.9)Gates: "The sound of steel/slide guitars is maybe one of my favorite things in music, frankly. So no doubt I'm biased towards songs where the instrument is the star of the show, like here. The drums and rhythm guitar provide a soothing, warm backdrop for a very expressive and skilled performance by the Farinas. There's an intimacy, a romanticism to the playing; almost lullaby-ish, like you're lying in a boat on a stream, drifting off while you're staring up at the sky." (8.4)Mayman: --Hamed: "God this is such a gorgeous instrumental track, it feels very much 50s in all the right ways. It's charming and honestly weirdly soothing, I can just sway along to it and focus on typing this rating without a care in the world which is currently what I am doing lol." (9.0)Jamesflame: "I'll admit, I'm a sucker for steel guitar. This song really is both relaxing, yet oddly dark at the same time. Like when I hear this song, I think of like a nuclear fallout or a zombie apocalypse. However, the song itself is still an instrumental masterpiece and honestly one of my favorite instrumentals ever." (9.8)Arnold: (7.5)TOTAL: 51 | AVERAGE: 8.5You were right, sending this song is risky but luckily, it's a risk that's paid off that ultimately lead you into the final 5! Congratulations! Which means the bottom two are...{Spoiler}{Spoiler}
CHARMANDER & SLIPPERY
Both of you are no stranger to this position, so which one of you is the survivor?
One of you will be eliminated.
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Deleted
Joined: January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Jun 19, 2020 22:05:19 GMT -5
Poor Jim Also Strange Fruit,a 5.5, I'm rolling
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singingrulebritannia
Diamond Member
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Post by singingrulebritannia on Jun 19, 2020 22:18:50 GMT -5
It's going to be funny when you guys see the bottom 2 and compare my gushing reviews of the top 4 to them lol
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Sambalada
8x Platinum Member
Founder of Rankdown ca. 2016
Mmmmmmmm....
Joined: June 2016
Posts: 8,686
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Post by Sambalada on Jun 19, 2020 22:21:51 GMT -5
The last person to advance to the next round is...{Spoiler}{Spoiler} SLIPPERY!Ritchie Valens - "La Bamba"Sambalada: "The intro is super memorable and thankfully the rest of the song doesn't disappoint. The guitar is simply awesome. I personally prefer "We Belong Together" from him but this is not significantly worse or something, however this is kind of a too obvious choice for this round lol. The version I put on the playlist wasn't remastered very well but that's not something I'm gonna dock points off. I also watched a live performance of this song on YouTube and it sounds great. Also, um, I'd go back in time for Ritchie Valens tbh." (7.9)Walt: "This one is a classic. I love the instrumentation with the horns and the guitar riff, and the melody is super infectious. I’m more familiar with the Los Lobos cover so it was nice to relisten to the original." (8.4)Gates: "La Bamba is definitely an important and unique recording, being a fusion of rock'n'roll and son jarocho stylings. The melodies are simple and stick in your mind, though they don't make me jump for joy or anything. The performances are sort of in this middle ground where they're not particularly polished but not crazy intense either--I probably would come back to the song more often if it went all in on the latter extreme." (7.0)Mayman: --Hamed: "An easily recognizable classic, it's a fun fusion of styles for its time and it's a pleasant listen, it's still a charming listen decades later. I too am also more familiar with the Los Lobos cover of the song." (8.5)Jamesflame: "I remember as a kid thinking the Los Lobos version was the original. It took watching a Ritchie Valens documentary to learn otherwise. Ritchie was an incredible musician, way ahead of his time. Unfortunate that his career ended so soon but he's forever remembered as a legend and this song perfectly tells why." (9.6)Arnold: (5.9)TOTAL: 47.3 | AVERAGE: 7.88
Well you made it against all odds. Who would've thought when you first signed up that you'd be a member of the final five! Congratulations you're one step closer to become the last man standing!Which means...
{Spoiler}{Spoiler} CHARMANDER, I'm sorry but you've been eliminated.
Elvis Presley - "Hound Dog"
Sambalada: "The original song is better imo but this is also good. The banging steel and drums are so fun to hear and Elvis sounds pretty good. This is not one of his best songs, more like in the middle in terms of songs I've heard of him, but the instrumental is a strong point. It's a bit too obvious for this theme though." (7.4) Walt: "I see someone has been doing their research! As you may recall, I sent this song for PAR last season lol. In all honesty though, I kind of regret sending it in hindsight - it’s pleasant and pretty fun, sure, but ultimately it isn’t unique enough to really connect with me." (7.6) Gates: "There's an unmistakable jaunty vibe to this recording of Hound Dog very characteristic of the times, with the handclaps, the bouncing rhythms, the guitar that starts as an unassuming fizz in the background then cuts to the forefront all spiny-sounding as the backing singers harmonize wordlessly. The main problem I have, though, is Presley kind of takes away the weight of the lyrics by singing them straight-faced, sticking too close to the main melody and not emphasizing the confrontational tone the words point towards. I think this song loses something when transposed to C anyway; not sure why, just a feeling I get." (6.7) Mayman: -- Hamed: "The original version of this song is far superior, this song is pleasant good Elvis stuff but it is far from his best and it doesn't really stand out much at all in his discography. It's still a fun song very of its time but it's nothing I would really come back on my own to listen to." (7.2) Jamesflame: "I will be honest and say that Hound Dog is not my favorite Elvis song at all. It's good, sure, but he has better. I honestly even prefer Jailhouse Rock to this. That being said, it's still a good song by the king of rock." (7.4) Arnold: (6.8) TOTAL: 43.1 | AVERAGE: 7.18
You already made it muuuuuch further than you did on Season 1, and throughout your stay here you have also sent some absolute classics. You have a potential to win but maybe just not this season. Thank you for participating! :'(
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Post by shruggie on Jun 19, 2020 22:23:37 GMT -5
RIP Char
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Deleted
Joined: January 1970
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Post by Deleted on Jun 19, 2020 22:23:48 GMT -5
I’m glad I survived but I didn’t expect Hound Dog to be last.
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singingrulebritannia
Diamond Member
source: https://twitter.com/KyraKupetsky/status/1714407511749726582
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Post by singingrulebritannia on Jun 19, 2020 22:26:51 GMT -5
Arnold didn't give a single score of 8 or more, he must've been sorely disappointed
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walt91
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Post by walt91 on Jun 19, 2020 22:28:05 GMT -5
lol Mayman love the reviews
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House Lannister
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Would be Twitcher/YouTuber
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Post by House Lannister on Jun 19, 2020 22:40:45 GMT -5
Arnold was no Albie, but he certainly wasn't no Gabe either.
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Sambalada
8x Platinum Member
Founder of Rankdown ca. 2016
Mmmmmmmm....
Joined: June 2016
Posts: 8,686
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Post by Sambalada on Jun 19, 2020 22:48:00 GMT -5
Movement chart: Average score leaderboard: Hall of Fame: Alice Deejay - "Better Off Alone Amy Winehouse - "Back To Black" Ariana Grande & The Weeknd - "Love Me Harder" BROCKHAMPTON - "BOOGIE" Charli XCX & Christine & The Queens - "Gone" Coldplay - "Don't Panic" Dua Lipa - "Don't Start Now" Earth, Wind, & Fire - "September" Foo Fighters - "Everlong" Johnny Cash - "Hurt" Kanye West - "Through The Wire" Kanye West feat. Pusha T - "Runaway" Kendrick Lamar - "The Art Of Peer Pressure" Lana Del Rey - "Venice Bitch" Lauryn Hill - "Doo Wop (That Thing)" Lauryn Hill - "Ex-Factor" Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell - "Ain't No Mountain Enough" Michael Jackson - "Billie Jean" OutKast - "Rosa Parks" Patsy Cline - "Crazy" Public Enemy - "Fight The Power" Sigur Rós - "Hoppípolla" The Cure - "Lovesong" The Flamingos - "I Only Have Eyes For You" The Ronettes - "Sleigh Ride" The Supremes - "You Keep Me Hangin' On" Ultravox - "Vienna"
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Sambalada
8x Platinum Member
Founder of Rankdown ca. 2016
Mmmmmmmm....
Joined: June 2016
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Post by Sambalada on Jun 19, 2020 22:53:37 GMT -5
ROUND FOURTEEN - HISTORY NERDS
Featured Song: Sublime - "April 29, 1992 (Miami)"
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As your third to last task, send a song about a historical event/figure. It can refer to a specific time, event, or person.
Deadline: June 22nd 6PM EST
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Deleted
Joined: January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Jun 20, 2020 0:29:35 GMT -5
@matthewlam gang
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charmander78
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Posts: 1,076
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Post by charmander78 on Jun 20, 2020 0:41:26 GMT -5
yeah not surprised i got booted. Thought Walt would help me out a bit more heh. Was thinking about sending la bamba as well hm.
But got a lot farther than I expected, especially the last few rounds were tough.
Looking forward to judge the top 5 :) Thank you for having me play samb.
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Sambalada
8x Platinum Member
Founder of Rankdown ca. 2016
Mmmmmmmm....
Joined: June 2016
Posts: 8,686
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Post by Sambalada on Jun 20, 2020 17:32:49 GMT -5
ROUND FOURTEEN - THE SONGS
Bruce Hornsby & The Range - "The Way It Is" Marvin Gaye - "What's Going On" Neutral Milk Hotel - "Holland, 1945" Sufjan Stevens - "Tonya Harding (In D Major)" The Beach Boys - "Heroes And Villains"
Judges, you have 3 days to do your job.
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Deleted
Joined: January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Jun 20, 2020 21:57:21 GMT -5
but now we must pack up every piece
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Sambalada
8x Platinum Member
Founder of Rankdown ca. 2016
Mmmmmmmm....
Joined: June 2016
Posts: 8,686
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Post by Sambalada on Jun 23, 2020 20:11:35 GMT -5
ROUND FOURTEEN - RESULTS
Welcome to the fourteenth elimination ceremony! We're nearing the finish line and the stakes are higher. One minor slip could get you out of the competition. Tonight, only 4 of you will remain in the competition. Our guest judge for this round is our future history teacher, matteeeb!
So without further ado, the winner of this round is...{Spoiler}{Spoiler} FEARLESS!Marvin Gaye - "What's Going On"With how strong you've performed this season, you deserve to have your third win. Congratulations you're one step closer to winning this competition!Sambalada: "This is such a beautiful song that captured the beauty of early '70s music. And the lyrics are just, ugh, straightforward and heartbreaking to think about it. The song is written about a specific incident and yet, it's still relevant when played today. Marvin also serves one of his strongest delivery on his career with this song." (8.8)Walt: "A classic. The lyrics are pretty simple and straightforward regarding the anti-Vietnam War movement really, but that’s for the song’s benefit. The repetition of the titular phrase in particular really conveys the dismay and utter confusion Marvin was feeling regarding the world around him. The instrumental is so lush too." (9.3)Gates: "Masterpiece. Simple but effective lyrics, unfathomably smooth and lush arrangements. Staying unfazed and levelheaded in the face of terrible adversity. Even the field recording-esque chatter in the background adds something to the feeling of solidarity. Can you imagine that Barry Gordy said this song was "the worst thing he ever heard in his life"?" (9.5)Mayman: "This was another discovery and I thought it was great. I have never really dove much into Marvin Gaye's discography so this is pretty cool." (9.0)Hamed: "Marvin's voice is lovely and I do enjoy the simple instrumentation of the song but to be honest I'm not really crazy over this at all. It makes for a pleasant listen and is definitely lyrically well written, it delivers its message well considering all that was going on in the world at the time of it's release. If it comes on I'd listen to it but its not a song I would seek out, but that doesn't take away from the beauty of it's writing." (8.4)Charmander: "Really like Marvin Gaye's vocals on this, and solid production, was pretty groovy. Probably wouldn't go back to it, but could grow on me with multiple listens." (7.9)Zedd: "This song is a classic and super influential. The arrangement on this is amazing and it plays along perfectly with Marvins’s vocals. Again, this song fits the theme superbly, especially given everything that is going on across the world." (9.1)TOTAL: 62.0 | AVERAGE: 8.86The second best is...{Spoiler}{Spoiler} BORN!Sufjan Stevens - "Tonya Harding (In D Major)"You keep selling yourself short when in reality most of the judges are vibing with your choice. Congratulations you're a member of the final four!Sambalada: "It's hard to choose between the two versions but in the end, I'm going with the D major version because of how it showcased Sufjan's maximalist production. The contrast between the lyrics depicting Tonya as the protagonist in Sufjan's story with the grand hall instrumental makes it an emotionally wrenching and lavishly produced song. I would give both D major and Eb major versions the same score btw." (8.5)Walt: "The production on this song is so pretty. I love how the vocals blend into the twinkling piano, it’s a really dream-like song. Lyrically, I love how the lyrics offer an insight into the psyche of Tonya Harding beyond the Nancy Kerrigan controversy." (8.7)Gates: "And Stevens, I have a similar view of him as NMH. Sure, he generally write good words. This song takes a unique and well-considered perspective on a subject people tend to dismiss as a curiosity. It highlights how envy can make us lose sight of our own accomplishments; how when people of certain backgrounds are in the spotlight, they're judged more harshly/demonized for their mistakes than others; and how the media will cruelly fan old flames for the sake of money. But Sufjan as a musician/arranger, I'm rarely impressed by. He's gotten sort of better recently? I certainly feel this a better tune/production aesthetic than anything off, say, Michigan (though it's pretty repetitive). But his melodic sense and vocal delivery feel indebted to pre-90s singer/songwriters to a fault. I always get this sterile vibe from him, and that hasn't really changed throughout his career." (7.1)Mayman: "OK I'm almost home but anyway I really enjoyed this song I love the vocals and the soft instrumental. I think I would actually listen to this again, I thought it was an excellent song." (9.2)Hamed: "Wow this is really well written and does a good job at evoking a strong emotion with the song and it is very believable in how Stevens views Harding. It's a gorgeous song and Sufjan delivers it expertly in a very genuine heartfelt fashion." (8.5)Charmander: "Wow, I really like this. Production is stellar, I really like the atmospheric and airy vibe this gives. Vocals are really nice to listen to. Something that I am willing to check out again." (8.2)Zedd: "I’ve heard the story of Tonya Harding before from a Youtube video, so it was interesting to see that Sufjan Stevens out of all people made a song about her figure skating incident. The vocals on the track shine and are surprisingly emotional given the topic. The lyrics are great as well. This was a first listen, yet this track is super mesmerizing to me." (8.9)TOTAL: 59.1 | AVERAGE: 8.44The last person to escape the bottom two is...{Spoiler}{Spoiler} MATT!Neutral Milk Hotel - "Holland, 1945"After your numbers of wins, you totally deserve a spot in the final four. Congratulations!Sambalada: "This song is unbelievable. It's clear how the story of Anne Frank influenced how this song was written. It's a beautiful perfectly-written song that always put a smile on my face. There's some sense of hopefulness that I feel. The instruments also helped in building the moment. Also, this song has one of my favorite opening lines in music ever. "The only girl I ever loved was born with roses in her eyes" is clever and sad." (9.1)Walt: "I’ve heard great things about In The Aeroplane Over The Sea but I’ve never listened to the album, so this is a great introduction. I love the almost lo-fi indie sound of the instrumental. The way the story of Anne Frank is incorporated into the song’s message about reincarnation and wanting to see the best of the world is really poignant too." (8.6)Gates: "It's an interesting coincidence that Neutral Milk Hotel and Sufjan Stevens were both chosen, because there are definitely similarities in how I feel about their music. In Mangum's case, he's a great lyricist in a classic-y flower-y way, and though one can be taken off-guard by his in-your-face earnestness and purple prose, he makes a good point here about how stories like Anne Frank's, though people usually take the right lessons from them, we should be careful to tell them not through exploitation of misery, but through a celebration of life. Lyrics usually aren't enough to get me weepy-eyed on their own, though. I love the idea of combining lo-fi indie, folk rock, and European brass band, and the energy is present (even though at times it negatively affects the quality of the performances), but the chords and melodies are blindingly obvious--they just don't keep me interested." (7.3)Mayman: "OK I'm driving right now but I'm using the voice type thing so hopefully this works, I enjoyed this song but I wasn't a big fan of how the vocals were mixed in with the production but everything else was pretty good and I enjoyed it." (8.3)Hamed: "Wow I really like this production, as soon as the song started I was captivated just by that. It's a really well written track to accompany that instrumental and it offers a celebration of Anne Frank in contrast to how many people view is as tragedy entirely. I really had to sit down and dissect the lyrics to really appreciate this song so it took me 3 listens to fully get it all. The song just warms my heart and if a song is managing that much then it has to be a great song, this also is my first NMH track and it definitely makes me want to hear more." (8.7)Charmander: "I've seen this song in multiple rankdowns or something. I suppose I see why people really like this, the lyrics are certainly really interesting, but not really a fan of the production, just too much going on and kind of drowns out the lyrics that I think are supposed to stand out more?" (6.4)Zedd: "Fun fact, Canada liberated Holland in 1945 (go us!) I first heard this song in a rankdown hosted by Sam and it has quickly become one of my favorite tracks of all time. The horns that accompany this are absolutely perfect, and the lyrics are top-notch. As far as indie rock goes, it doesn’t get much better than this." (10)TOTAL: 58.4 | AVERAGE: 8. 34Which means the bottom two are...{Spoiler}{Spoiler}
SLIPPERY & VIOLET
Slippery, you have fought more than anyone else to get into this spot but are you running out of fight? Violet, you also have had your ups and downs but are your unconventional picks gonna cost you the game?
One of you will be eliminated.
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Sambalada
8x Platinum Member
Founder of Rankdown ca. 2016
Mmmmmmmm....
Joined: June 2016
Posts: 8,686
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Post by Sambalada on Jun 23, 2020 20:33:27 GMT -5
The last person to advance to the next round is...{Spoiler}{Spoiler} VIOLET!The Beach Boys - "Heroes And Villains"Sambalada: "Funnily enough, the songwriter had denied that this song was written about the Vietnam War but since it's such a popular interpretation and how uncanny some of the lyrics are to the time period (specifically the Spanish/Indian home line), I let this one slide. The harmonization is beautiful, and cemented by the almost horror-esque background music, the song become artistically ironic in a way. It's a strong pick." (8.0)Walt: "There’s a lot going on in this song with the various unique sections, fortunately I think they all come together for a dynamic listening experience. The harmonies are beautiful too. Even if this isn’t something I’m going to come back to much, it’s a great song." (8.2)Gates: "Brian Wilson at the peak of his powers was a wonder to behold. This song feels like a pop concerto of sorts, it's dazzling, dramatic, surprising and beautiful at every turn. The song is also really good at maintaining this tone of levity so the darker subtext doesn't get oppressive." (9.5)Mayman: "All right so I thought it was just not that good of a song, it's all over the place. I'm sure the other judges have some reasons that it's an amazing song or something but, like, I just don't see it. It was an all right song but nothing I really enjoy in general." (6.4)Hamed: "The duality of the song and the switch ups sonically already make for an interesting listen. Lyrically the song opens multiple interpretations and is apparently not really about the Vietnam War according to Van Dyke Parks but lyrically it can fit it due to the references being made in the lyrics. I really love the psychadelic tinge to the song and the roughness of the song in how it feels incomplete for some reason I feel like works in its favor funnily enough. Though I do also wish the song panned out to be released the way it was originally intended, but I still thoroughly enjoy the song nonetheless." (9.3)Charmander: "I should really check out The Beach Boys more, I only know a handful of songs, (their most popular ones). Anyways, this is not my favorite Beach Boys song, the vocal arrangement is pretty cool and the production is fine, but idk it's okay and doesn't really stand out for me besides the vocals." (6.6)Zedd: "Admittedly I’m not very familiar with The Beach Boys, but if this track is any indication of their critical acclaim, well, I clearly see why they are held with such high regards. The harmonization here really elevates things and I really like his singing voice. Lyrically, this song is definitely the weakest given the theme, but still an excellent track." (9.0)TOTAL: 57.0 | AVERAGE: 8.14
Congratulations now you have one out of four chance to win this game!Which means...
{Spoiler}{Spoiler} SLIPPERY, I'm sorry but you've been eliminated.
Bruce Hornsby & The Range - "The Way It Is"
Sambalada: "A quick research tells me this song references the Civil Rights movement heavily. It has a promising instrumental with how the piano melody flow on top of the drums and guitars. However the songwriting needs a lot of work, in that it doesn't have a memorable part structurally and the melody is weak. The vocalist also doesn't do a lot to make this song special." (6.2) Walt: "This is nice. Personally, I think the strongest part of this song is the piano melody - I recognize it from the sample on Tupac’s Changes, and while I personally prefer the Tupac song, this is still solid. I like how the lyrics tackle subjects like civil rights and welfare through brief anecdotes, though I do think the lyrics could be a tad more fleshed out." (7.7) Gates: "Hornsby's style was basically ascended elevator music/smooth jazz. That isn't a bad thing but it does mean there's a ceiling to how good his music could sound, and he just about ran up against that ceiling here. I do quite enjoy the 'series of vignettes with editorial interjections' style the lyrics take. There's an optimistic nod about the chorus line; Bruce invokes outside context to where we know the people saying "some things will never change" can be proven wrong (which I think 2Pac's "Changes" misses the point of by flipping it to "some things will never be the same")" (7.1) Mayman: "Really like this instrumental. Really enjoyed this song, great choice!" (8.9) Hamed: "This is honestly just a solid song, I like the piano and the overall instrumental but it doesn't really evoke much in me, it's lyrically solid but nothing that made me really think twice about what is being sung. It's a pleasant listen but it also feels on the uninteresting thing to be quite honest." (7.3) Charmander: "The piano in this is pretty amazing, I could just listen to this instrumental alone. The lyrics were fine but didn't do much for me, but was a fine listen overall." (7.5) Zedd: "This was a very pleasant first listen. The piano and the drums go along very well and lyrically this fits the theme perfectly." (8.4) TOTAL: 53.1 | AVERAGE: 7.59
Like I said before, you have fought twice as hard as everyone else to survive but in the end, you're still a member of the final five so you must be doing something right. Thank you for participating! :'(
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Deleted
Joined: January 1970
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Post by Deleted on Jun 23, 2020 20:37:41 GMT -5
{Spoiler}Hamed: "The duality of the song and the switch ups sonically already make for an interesting listen. Lyrically the song opens multiple interpretations and is apparently not really about the Vietnam War according to Van Dyke Parks but lyrically it can fit it due to the references being made in the lyrics. I really love the psychadelic tinge to the song and the roughness of the song in how it feels incomplete for some reason I feel like works in its favor funnily enough. Though I do also wish the song panned out to be released the way it was originally intended, but I still thoroughly enjoy the song nonetheless." (9.3)
i mean there are the smile sessions
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 23, 2020 20:38:01 GMT -5
I was lowkey scared for Heroes and Villains, was hoping it would make it thru and it did so hooray Anyways I'm gonna go eat my pizza now that that's done Congrats to everyone who made top 4 and to Gravey for actually showing that you have good taste in music :kii:
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Deleted
Joined: January 1970
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Post by Deleted on Jun 23, 2020 20:55:10 GMT -5
It was fun while it lasted. This was a tough round as I kind of had to google songs that fit the theme well. But I did better than I expected! Even though some of my picks were kind of obvious and basic. At the start I went and reviewed and did research of what songs the judges liked a lot and picked from there but later as the rounds continued, I took some risks on some songs as a few picks I had no idea if the judges liked it or not. Hopefully next season I do even better.
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Sambalada
8x Platinum Member
Founder of Rankdown ca. 2016
Mmmmmmmm....
Joined: June 2016
Posts: 8,686
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Post by Sambalada on Jun 23, 2020 21:01:25 GMT -5
Movement chart: Average score leaderboard: Hall of Fame: Alice Deejay - "Better Off Alone Amy Winehouse - "Back To Black" Ariana Grande & The Weeknd - "Love Me Harder" BROCKHAMPTON - "BOOGIE" Charli XCX & Christine & The Queens - "Gone" Coldplay - "Don't Panic" Dua Lipa - "Don't Start Now" Earth, Wind, & Fire - "September" Foo Fighters - "Everlong" Johnny Cash - "Hurt" Kanye West - "Through The Wire" Kanye West feat. Pusha T - "Runaway" Kendrick Lamar - "The Art Of Peer Pressure" Lana Del Rey - "Venice Bitch" Lauryn Hill - "Doo Wop (That Thing)" Lauryn Hill - "Ex-Factor" Marvin Gaye - "What's Going On" Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell - "Ain't No Mountain Enough" Michael Jackson - "Billie Jean" OutKast - "Rosa Parks" Patsy Cline - "Crazy" Public Enemy - "Fight The Power" Sigur Rós - "Hoppípolla" The Cure - "Lovesong" The Flamingos - "I Only Have Eyes For You" The Ronettes - "Sleigh Ride" The Supremes - "You Keep Me Hangin' On" Ultravox - "Vienna"
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Sambalada
8x Platinum Member
Founder of Rankdown ca. 2016
Mmmmmmmm....
Joined: June 2016
Posts: 8,686
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Post by Sambalada on Jun 23, 2020 21:14:42 GMT -5
ROUND FIFTEEN - WE WANT THE FOLK
Featured Song: Bob Dylan - "Like A Rolling Stone"
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For your last round before the final round, send a contemporary folk song. Only three will move on. Good luck!
Deadline: June 25th 6PM EST
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Deleted
Joined: January 1970
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Post by Deleted on Jun 23, 2020 21:16:00 GMT -5
OH SHIT
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Deleted
Joined: January 1970
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Post by Deleted on Jun 23, 2020 21:21:53 GMT -5
This will be a nice round to judge. Let’s see what gets picked.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 23, 2020 23:42:43 GMT -5
y'know ludilo brale qualifies
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