Pulse Amazing Race S2 - Winners Revealed!

[Deleted]

all i want for christmas is you more like all i want for christmas is coal ha

[Nick P]

attempting to get their first top 3 finish we have...

Dylo (Mylo13 💜 & Daryl the Beryl )
Overall Score: 81.1 | Detour Rank: #4 | Roadblock Rank: #6 | Bonus From Last Leg: +1.8

Detour Results:




(Population Boom)

Judge's Thoughts:

Nick: one of Kendrick’s most accessible songs but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. this one’s still a well written jam to this day, with Kendrick delivering a great performance! (9.4)

Samo: It’s no DNA., but it’s still one of Kendrick’s songs I listen to the most, thanks to its many memorable lines and a very catchy chorus that can seem repetitive, but it’s so much fun that I don’t see it as a problem. (8.9)


Zeebz: (9.0)

BB: Not one of my favorites from Kendrick but I still like it. His flow is great and there is a lot of personality in this but the chorus gets too repetitive after a while (8.0)

Born: “HUMBLE.” is easily the most accessible song Kendrick has ever put out. An addictive piano riff & a Mike Will Made It beat is all you need to create the perfect single. “HUMBLE.” was meant to be a hit. (9.5)

Overall Score: 44.8

Roadblock Results:




(Sent by Daryl)

Judge's Thoughts:

Nick: I like this one! the guitar work is very strong, and the vocals complement it very well. the lyrics are also pretty well written, which is always appreciated haha. but yeah, overall this is a very strong track! (8.6)

Samo: This has some of the more interesting lyrics in this set, and I appreciate that, but I’m not huge on the vocals here. The main guitar riff is great, but nothing else about the production really sticks out here. (7.6)


Red: It's very, very difficult for me to not be objective when it comes to "PDA". More than any song in this challenge, "PDA" is the one I have the most nostalgia for, being a song on my favorite video game soundtrack ever, Rock Band 2. I have always liked Interpol, but it wasn't until RB2 and "PDA" that I really got into them, and I remember just being wowed every time the extended ending sequence began. Eventually, I started getting chills every time I listened to the song at around the 3:10 mark, because I knew what was coming. "PDA" would be a really good song without the ending minute, but it becomes one of my favorite songs of the 2000's with it. (9.5)

eidde: This song has such a cool rhythm, I love the guitar riff that goes on for the whole song. I really like this song and I’m glad it was sent, TOTBL is a cool album. (8.8)

Overall Score: 34.5

Head to Head Results:
The Steel Porcupines:




Judge's Thoughts:

jamesflame: Overall, a great song, but has kinda grown off me over the years. (7.5)

Nick: one of Rihanna’s better hits for my money. the beat is pretty sweet, and Jay-Z adds a lot to the song. pretty good song! (8.0)

fearlessarrow: One of Rihanna’s signatures - not my favorite from the whole Good Girl Gone Bad album (that would be “Disturbia”) but I still love this song. I love the drums with the emphasized hi-hats that come in at the beginning of each measure and the bassline in this song. The added synths in the second and last chorus is an aspect I dig too. I got into the song because of the catchiness at first but I think these days I appreciate the production over Rihanna’s singing for this song. (8.8)

Overall Score: 24.3

Dylo:




Judge's Thoughts:

jamesflame: Boy, this song is something. It's something that doesn't seem like it would be very well like, yet the critical acclaim says otherwise. Personally, I find Paper Planes to be a solid song. (7.1)

Nick: this song is incredible lol. the beat is so freaking good, and MIA owns it to hell and back! the lyrics are also pretty solid, and I like the creative choices that are made with the song’s production! amazing song! (10)

fearlessarrow: One of the most unique hits of 2008 - from the lyrics (which is definitely unique in mainstream music that become big pop hits; less so in terms of music as a whole) to production choices (the gunshots and the cash register sound being the biggest examples). Love M.I.A.’s delivery here too - she sounds nonchalant here which provides a big gap between the delivery and the lyrics (to me it sounds like it’s reflective of how the US is apathetic to this situation). (8.9)

Overall Score: 26

Result: Dylo beat The Steel Porcupines, 26-24.3. congrats Mylo & Darylo, you two will get a +1.8 bonus next leg. shazam and Brian, sorry to say but you must face yet another team

[Deleted]

pda is amazing.

[fearlessarrow]

shazam and Brian be sliding down them ranks like

[Deleted]

Jun 22, 2020 11:52:40 GMT -5 fearlessarrow said:

shazam and Brian be sliding down them ranks like

isnt this james' last.fm avatar

[fearlessarrow]

Jun 22, 2020 11:53:00 GMT -5 trilogy said:

Jun 22, 2020 11:52:40 GMT -5 fearlessarrow said:

shazam and Brian be sliding down them ranks like

isnt this james' last.fm avatar

Yes - maybe I'm jinxing James at this point lol

[rom]

cant believe im going to say this but i really miss gabes very shitty opinions and horrible takes, at least it gave me something to make fun of

[samo🦕]

next up is...

;-; (shruggie & DistrictTwelve)
Overall Score: 79.7 | Detour Rank: #9 | Roadblock Rank: #5 | Bonus From Last Leg: +1.4

Detour Results:


(Holiday Tune)

Judge's Thoughts:

Nick: I like this song a lot haha. I think it strikes the perfect balance between being a great pop track and working as a holiday song. it’s got some fun energy and some cute lyrics! (9.0)

Samo: I’m not big on most Christmas music, even during December, but this is an exception, with some fairly standard lyrics that are elevated by Kelly’s fantastic vocals and the catchy melodies to make a great song. (9.2)


Zeebz: (9.0)

BB: This is good for Christmas but on it’s own, it’s nothing I’d return to. (7.1)

Born: I mean, yeah, this song is awesome and all but you can’t really go wrong with any Kelly Clarkson song when I’m judging. Yes, even “A Moment Like This” But let’s not talk about that now. For the next 3 minutes, we’re living the ultimate Christmas experience. Kelly delivers an incredible vocal performance in an uplifting yet super nostalgic holiday track, instantly creating a Christmas classic, one we will never get over. (9.3)

Overall Score: 43.6

Roadblock Results:


(Sent by D12)

Judge's Thoughts:

Nick: this song’s pretty cool! I really like the little synth riff, and the lyrics also have a unique charm to them. I wouldn’t say the vocals are my favorite thing, but aside from that it’s very solid. (8.2)

Samo: This is my favourite song I’ve heard from MGMT. The synth melodies are really catchy, and the vocals sound great over them. (9.1)


Red: I have a controversial opinion, when it comes to MGMT: "Kids" is my least favorite of the big three Oracular Spectacular singles. It's not a bad song at all, but its competition is "Electric Feel" and "Time to Pretend". "Electric Feel" is my personal favorite, but "Time to Pretend" is aging very well as time passes, perhaps even better than "Electric Feel". "We'll choke on our own vomit, and that'll be the end" is one of the heaviest lines I've heard in any song of this type, and it hits like a freight train every single time. (8.0)

eidde: My favourite part about this track has to be the production. It feels so groovy and it’s a great synthpop song, I like it a lot. I would’ve likely rated ‘Kids’ higher but this is still such a solid song. (9.4)

Overall Score: 34.7

Head to Head Results:
The Steel Porcupines:



Judge's Thoughts:

Geometrical: Here’s the thing: this was originally going to be much lower than this, as I used to severely despise this song. It doesn’t bother me as much anymore: the song is well-produced, and the instrumentation has some subtly interesting aspects to it. But the “ella ella ay ay” part still grates me, and the bridge is flat-out bad and feels forced. Jay-Z is absolutely unnecessary as well. I personally never got what made this such a classic. (5.1)

Hamed: Under my umbrella-ella-ella eh eh eh, still a hook that gets stuck in your head for sure even after all these years. GGGB era Rihanna is the most memorable nostalgic stuff to this day and I love Umbrella. (9.2)

Samo: This is another song in this set I wish I liked more than I do; it’s a good song, but I don’t think the production has aged that well, and Jay-Z’s had much better verses. (8.5)


Overall Score: 22.8

;-;:



Judge's Thoughts:

Geometrical: A timeless, catchy, classic. I love the drums throughout this, and I can’t help but hum along everytime I hear this.(8.6)

Hamed: An old school classic, this is such a cute endearing track that just feels chock full of happy puppy love energy. (8.5)

Samo: A gorgeous song with some great vocals that compliment the beautiful production - the drums are some of my favourites I’ve ever heard. The lyrics aren’t anything particularly unique, but fit the instrumentation very well. (9.6)


Overall Score: 26.7

Result: ;-; beat The Steel Porcupines, 26.7-22.8. congrats to shruggie and D12 on a new highest placement, you two will get a +1.6 bonus next round. shazam and Brian, you two will yet again face another team soon

[Fire]

poor shazam and brian

[Deleted]

Jun 19, 2020 11:29:41 GMT -5 shruggie said:

OMG someone sent MGMT!

The judges better not fail us here.

[Deleted]

Jun 22, 2020 11:56:07 GMT -5 Fire said:

poor shazam and brian

weeuhr

[lyhom]

Jun 22, 2020 11:56:56 GMT -5 @chroniclea said:

Jun 19, 2020 11:29:41 GMT -5 shruggie said:

OMG someone sent MGMT!

The judges better not fail us here.

master of disguise

[Deleted]

Jun 22, 2020 11:57:39 GMT -5 lyhom said:

Jun 22, 2020 11:56:56 GMT -5 @chroniclea said:

master of disguise

[Nick P]

potentially rounding out the top 5 we have...

Latino Gang 😎 (MoD & Leo ✔ )
Overall Score: 79.2 | Detour Rank: #7 | Roadblock Rank: #9 | Bonus From Last Leg: +2.7







(Population Boom)

Judge's Thoughts:

Nick: I’ve never quite loved this as much as so many people seem to, but it’s good enough I suppose. Ariana’s definitely a good singer, and the production is solid. but still, it’s never quite clicked with me like it seemed to click with everyone else haha. (7)

Samo: I wasn’t that enamoured by this when it was first released, but it’s grown on me a ton over the last two years, to the point that it’s one of my favourites from Ari. The lyrics are fantastic by themselves, and only become better when you consider Ari’s personal life at the time. (9.7)

Zeebz: (8)

BB: This is one of my favorites from Ariana. I like how it starts out nice and dreamy, but when the beat comes in, it’s a completely different song. Her vocals here are on point and it’s really fun but put in context, it’s sad (9.3)

Born: Oh wow. Seeing “no tears left to cry” in this list made me happy cause the last time I was here I got to rate the best single of the previous decade (in my opinion), that being “Green Light” by Lorde and now I get to rate what could be the second best single of the 2010s . “no tears left to cry” is an example of a perfect song. Top notch production, a powerful message and a chorus the world’s biggest stars would kill for. A career-topping masterpiece. (10)

Overall Score: 44


Roadblock Results:






(Sent by MoD)

Judge's Thoughts:

Nick: this a very pretty track. I enjoy the smooth instrumental and I think Chris Martin sounds really good here. the guitar work is certainly a highlight, as I think it stands out as being a bit more complex here compared to their other early tracks (8.8)

Samo: This is a nice song, but I've never understood all the praise it gets. Chris' vocals here are far from his best, and the length of the song holds it back from being more interesting. (7.1)

Red: First album Coldplay is the best Coldplay. "Trouble" and "Shiver" are among my favorite songs of the 2000's (and "Trouble" is one of my favorite songs, period), and "Don't Panic" is right there as one of the best songs on their debut. This is probably the closest Coldplay ever came to sounding like U2, and they do an admirable job of pulling off the U2 aesthetic. I feel like I've slept on this song, and I'm not really sure why, it's just fantastic. (8.5)

eidde: This song has a really nice atmosphere, it feels very mysterious and kinda “winter-y”? Anyway it’s a good, nice listen and its short length kind of adds to the mysterious vibe as well. (8.1)

Overall Score: 32.5

Head to Head Results:
The Steel Porcupines:






Judge's Thoughts:

Juan Carlos: Ella, ella, eh, eh, eh. This is so catchy and it still doesn't get old to be honest. The bridge and the outro are really good. (8.5)

fearlessarrow: One of Rihanna’s signatures - not my favorite from the whole Good Girl Gone Bad album (that would be “Disturbia”) but I still love this song. I love the drums with the emphasized hi-hats that come in at the beginning of each measure and the bassline in this song. The added synths in the second and last chorus is an aspect I dig too. I got into the song because of the catchiness at first but I think these days I appreciate the production over Rihanna’s singing for this song. (8.8

jamesflame: Overall, a great song, but has kinda grown off me over the years. (7.5)

Overall Score: 24.8


Latino Gang 😎:






Judge's Thoughts:

Juan: This is really good and it's one of my favourite songs by Beyoncé. Glad to see that it was submitted. (8.5)

fearlessarrow: The horns in this song! That whole sequence is my favorite part of the song, haha. Beyoncé kills it in this song - I think the thing that’s keeping it from being one of my favorites of all-time is the chorus; I don’t particularly love it and when it shows up three times in a song... (8.5)

jamesflame: I get a strange sense of nostalgia everytime I hear this song. I remember this song from my childhood and it has always stuck with me. (8.5)

Overall Score: 25.5

Result: Latino Gang 😎 takes home the win over The Steel Porcupines, 25.5-24.8. you two had a weaker performance in the detour & roadblock compared to last leg, but you two will get a +1.4 bonus next leg! shazam and Brian, you two will face the next team in another head to head

[Deleted]

what was 2 years ago me on thinking that crazy in love sucks

[rom]

umbrella wouldnt be the proper term because shazam and brian are getting CANED here jesus christ

[shruggie]

master of disguise lol

[samo🦕]

the sixth team challenging The Steel Porcupines is...

The Lights (walt91 & Lukas)
Overall Score: 77.4 | Detour Rank: #8 | Roadblock Rank: #7 | Bonus From Last Leg: +1

Detour Results:


(Population Boom)

Judge's Thoughts:

Nick: this is basically a perfect pop song, and easily my favorite from Mariah. the beat is really cool, and Mariah of course delivers a great vocal performance. the lyrics are pretty cute as well! overall I can’t quite express why I love this so much, but it’s just a fantastic song with fantastic energy (9.7)

Samo: For the longest time, I thought this was just okay, and while I’ve come around on it in the last few months, it’s still one of the weakest songs in this group. Mariah’s vocals are still great, but parts of the production still annoy me. (7.4)


Zeebz: (10)

BB: One of Mariah’s best. Her vocals and that production are just undeniable. Amazing song (9.6)

Born: “Fantasy” is essential Mariah. That being said, I’m pretty uninterested in essential Mariah. Sonically, the song is upbeat & fun, like most of the ‘90s R&B hits I’ve heard. There are multiple hooks in the song, most of them taken from Tom Tom Club’s “Genius of Love”, but enhanced by Mariah’s ethereal vocals. I totally get why this was picked.  (7.0)

Overall Score: 43.7

Roadblock Results:


(Sent by Walt)

Judge's Thoughts:

Nick: god Whitney Houston is such a great singer. the vocal performance she puts on here is amongst her best. the production is also pretty snazzy, which makes this just an overall really great song! (9.1)

Samo: While not quite my favourite of Whitney’s, this is still one of my favourite songs of the 80s. The key change and sax solo are some of the best I’ve ever heard, and for a straight-forward love song the lyrics have a good amount of detail. (9.7)


Red: At least in the 80's, Whitney was at her best when she sped things up, which is funny, because her booming voice was best suited for ballads. I don't think that her material was as her strong for her ballads, though, certainly not in the 80's, and her more upbeat songs were just better songs overall during the 80's. The only thing that I would say that's not in favor of "How Will I Know" is something that it can't control: I think that she pretty much perfected the type of song she was going for a year later, and this is almost a trial run for what would follow. (7.5)

eidde: This is a good dance-pop song and a classic. It has a very nice groove to it and it’s quite enjoyable. It is certainly one of my favorite songs from Whitney. (7.4)

Overall Score: 33.7

Head to Head Results:
The Steel Porcupines:



Judge's Thoughts:

Samo: This is another song in this set I wish I liked more than I do; it’s a good song, but I don’t think the production has aged that well, and Jay-Z’s had much better verses. (8.5)


Geometrical: Here’s the thing: this was originally going to be much lower than this, as I used to severely despise this song. It doesn’t bother me as much anymore: the song is well-produced, and the instrumentation has some subtly interesting aspects to it. But the “ella ella ay ay” part still grates me, and the bridge is flat-out bad and feels forced. Jay-Z is absolutely unnecessary as well. I personally never got what made this such a classic. (5.1)

Nick: one of Rihanna’s better hits for my money. the beat is pretty sweet, and Jay-Z adds a lot to the song. pretty good song! (8.0)

Overall Score: 21.6

The Lights:



Judge's Thoughts:

Samo: It’s rare that a song this good is the biggest hit of an entire year, but every part of this song is fantastic. Prince’s vocal performance is erratic towards the end of the song, but fits the tone of the song perfectly, and the combination of guitar and synth in the final minute is basically perfect. (9.8)


Geometrical: To me, simply one of the greatest songs of all-time, incorporating so many styles, influences and vocal elements, which somehow all come together as a cohesive masterpiece. Artistic yet catchy, and especially groovy as all hell, too. (10)

Nick: I mean it’s thought of as an all time great track for a reason lol. Prince truly crafted a masterpiece here - from the creative take on a common lyrical concept, to the great melody, it’s an all around fantastic track! (9.9)

Overall Score: 29.7

Result: The Lights beat The Steel Porcupines, 29.7-21.6. congrats to walt & Lukas on a strong placement, you two will get a +1 bonus next leg. shazam and Brian, you two have lost yet again and will have to face yet another team

[shruggie]

Jeez how many teams will The Steel Porcupines face lmao

[Deleted]

Jun 22, 2020 12:02:52 GMT -5 shruggie said:

Jeez how many teams will The Steel Porcupines face lmao

probably everyone involved in this season tbh

[samo🦕]

as The Steep Porcupines' next competitor we have...

Bowser (@nonameneeded & rom)
Overall Score: 77.2 | Detour Rank: #10 | Roadblock Rank: #4 | Bonus From Last Leg: +0.2



(Population Boom)

Judge's Thoughts:

Nick: a modern classic. Childish Gambino delivers a career high performance, and the production is very solid as well. and of course there’s the lyrics, which paint a very important picture. great track (9.5)

Samo: I wish I liked this more than I do, but that's not to say this is a bad song; the lyrics and production are some of the most interesting of any #1 hit I've heard, but the song is improved significantly by its music video, making the standalone song less impactful by comparison. (7.9)

Zeebz: (7)

BB: This is definitely a song I respect more than I like. I appreciate the message and the video is amazing. But as a song, it’s nothing I’d return to (7.8)

Born: Many would say that this song isn’t half as impactful without its world-shaking music video and I get it. But I don’t really agree with that. “This Is America” starts off with a cheerful, overly major choir sequence and a beat as laid-back as ever, setting the tone just like that, but the second the beat drops and the bass kicks in, you know that Gambino means business. The back and forth between the verses and the refrain find us roaming the two intentionally contrasting worlds Gambino & his brilliant sidekick Ludwig Göransson created for us, all in the concept of “being a black man in America”. For me though, it’s this moment at the 2:52 mark of the song when we hear a heavily distorted Gambino scream “one, two, three, get down”, kicking off one of the best last-minutes in recent music history. (10)

Overall Score: 42.1


Roadblock Results:


(Sent by APM)

Judge's Thoughts:

Nick: it’s pretty good I suppose. I’ve seen people really hate this and (more often) really love this, but I’ve always fallen somewhere in the middle. it’s a well written little track, but not something I ever really seek out. (7.2)

Samo: An absolutely beautiful song, and Billie's best ever track in my opinion. The song uses its quietness to its advantage, making the bursts of sound (like the "call me back" in the second verse) even more effective. (9.9)

Red: I don't care who wrote this song, this song becomes Billie's the moment she begins singing. Whatever pain Finneas may have been projecting with his lyrics becomes Billie's pain, and it, thus, becomes our pain. It's crazy to think that a 16 year old was able to capture the feeling of anger and sorrow that people twice her age are not capable of doing effectively, certainly not as effectively as Billie here. Billie has all of the potential in the world, which makes this song all the more remarkable, because if she's able to make a song like this when she's not at her peak, what is she going to be capable of when she does reach her creative peak? (8.5)

eidde: This is probably one of my favorite songs from last year. Billie’s chilling vocals combined with the minimalist background makes for a very haunting listen. It’s such an effective song. (9.3)

Overall Score: 34.9

Head to Head Results:
The Steel Porcupines:



Judge's Thoughts:

Hamed: Under my umbrella-ella-ella eh eh eh, still a hook that gets stuck in your head for sure even after all these years. GGGB era Rihanna is the most memorable nostalgic stuff to this day and I love Umbrella. (9.2)

fearlessarrow: One of Rihanna’s signatures - not my favorite from the whole Good Girl Gone Bad album (that would be “Disturbia”) but I still love this song. I love the drums with the emphasized hi-hats that come in at the beginning of each measure and the bassline in this song. The added synths in the second and last chorus is an aspect I dig too. I got into the song because of the catchiness at first but I think these days I appreciate the production over Rihanna’s singing for this song. (8.8)

Juan Carlos: Ella, ella, eh, eh, eh. This is so catchy and it still doesn't get old to be honest. The bridge and the outro are really good. (8.5)

Overall Score: 26.5


Bowser:



Judge's Thoughts:

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. (7.8)

fearlessarrow: I think this might be my favorite Marvin Gaye song - I just really love the music. It’s groovy but chill at the same time which makes it a really easy listen. Marvin Gaye’s delivery here is also really easy on the ears and just flows in (am I even making sense lol). Really great piece of soul music - I love it a lot. (9.5)

Juan Carlos: The vocals by Marvin Gaye are great in the song and the meaning behind the song is really powerful. (8)

Overall Score: 25.3

Result: The Steel Porcupines finally win the Head to Head, 26.5-25.3. you two performed excellently in the detour and roadblock, but some unlucky judge choices and a weaker Head to Head pic landed you in the middle of the pack. you two will get a +1.0 bonus next leg! APM and rom, you two will face the next team in another head to head

[Deleted]

homosexual bowser

[samo🦕]

Bowser's next opponent is...

Team Double Back When You Got it Made (@chroniclea & Beno)
Overall Score: 76.6 | Detour Rank: #5 | Roadblock Rank: #12 | Bonus From Last Leg: +1.2

Detour Results:


(Population Boom)

Judge's Thoughts:

Nick: jam! this song just was the spring of 2018 haha. the sample is used quite well, and Drake delivers a strong performance. great track! (9.3)

Samo: This is another one I liked to begin with, but didn’t love as much as I do until recently. These are Drake’s best set of lyrics, hands down, and the production is also fantastic. (9.8)

Zeebz: (9.0)

BB: Definitely one of Drake’s best. I like the sample of Lauryn hill and is rapping is great too. I’m kind of mixed on the breakdown in the end though (8.5)

Born: I love how this is up against a Lauryn Hill song cause to be honest, the sample makes the song. The consensus among music listeners all over the world is that this song is the best Drake we’ve heard in a while and I can’t not agree. The bounce production really compliments the female empowerment message and Drake himself is in his element here.  (8.0)

Overall Score: 44.6


Roadblock Results:


(Sent by violet)

Judge's Thoughts:

Nick: first off lots of respect for sending something so risky haha. I really have no idea how this will fare with all other judges, but I enjoy it a fair amount. not exactly something I’d seek out on a regular basis, but it’s catchy enough and overall a pretty solid song. (7.2)

Samo: This is a lot of fun, but a brave choice for a theme with so many amazing songs to choose from. The autotune is...a lot, but it sounds pretty good so I don’t have any complaints about it. (7.9)

Red:  I was going to say that it was an interesting choice to go with "stupid horse" when the "ringtone" remix is right there...but, actually, it wasn't right there, as it got picked for an earlier leg. Well, then. "ringtone (remix)" is genuinely great, and while I didn't really get into "Money Machine", I also totally got the appeal of that song. "stupid horse"...is another matter entirely. "stupid horse" is the only song that I actually went back to listen to multiple times to make sure if I missed something. It was on the second listen that it hit me: This is actually a song about wasting money on frivolous things, a pessimistic look at capitalism. When that hit me, it was like a light bulb turned on in my head. This went from being the one song I thought I was going to rate relatively low to, once I got it, one of my favorite listens of the entire group. (8.0)

eidde: Well...this is certainly a bold choice. However this song is quite a bit of fun and the abrasive production and autotuned vocals really build it. I’m so glad this was sent lmao. (7.7)

Overall Score: 30.8

Head to Head Results:
Bowser:


Judge's Thoughts:

Nick: an absolute classic. not my favorite from Marvin but you really can’t go wrong with him. he’s a great singer & songwriter, and this song in particular demonstrates those skills. great song (9.4)

Geometrical: There’s a perfect balance between Gaye’s soulful vocals and the instrumentation here, where none overshadow each other, resulting in one of the most perfect songs in the history of soul music. (9.6)

jamesflame: Marvin Gaye was taken away too soon. Incredible artist who truly inspired so many after him. (8.1)

Overall Score: 27.1

Team Double Back When You Got it Made:


Judge's Thoughts:

Nick: this song is goofy as hell, but I still like it quite a bit. it has some super infectious, fun energy, and both members of OutKast seem to be really enjoying themselves on it, which only adds to my enjoyment of the song haha. great track! (9.6)

Geometrical: A great earworm with solid production, but I prefer Outkast when they’re not as goofy as they are in this song. (7.4)

jamesflame: I said this on the Discord but Hey Ya! is far from the best of Outkast but there's no denying that it's a great song. (7.8)

Overall Score: 24.9

Result: Bowser beats TDBWYGIM, advancing them to the next leg with a +1.2 bonus. violet and Beno, you two still have to face another team to guarantee your safety in the game

[Deleted]

alright x30330

[samo🦕]

facing the team that comes from the east is...

The Golden Ducks (willapted33 & Web)
Overall Score: 76.5 | Detour Rank: #13 | Roadblock Rank: #2 | Bonus From Last Leg: +1.6

Detour Results:


(Population Boom)

Judge's Thoughts:

Nick: a banger! the highlight of the song is definitely the story that gets told with the lyrics haha. Kendrick’s verse is also pretty fantastic. (8.5)

Samo: I somehow hadn’t heard this before this leg, but it’s quickly become one of my favourites from Wayne, with some fantastic storytelling in the verses. I do think I’d like the song more if it were shorter, but that’s not a massive problem here. (8.4)


Zeebz: (5.0)

BB: Both performers are good here but the beat is a little boring and the song could be a little shorter. Good song though (7.9)

Born: Let’s move on to what could be my favorite Lil Wayne song I’ve heard. I love the heavy use of the piano here. I love the metaphors used here. I love the slow build up to Kendrick’s verse who delivers a killer verse as he switches his flow and his tone more times than I can count, all adding up to the contrast between his and Wayne’s bars. The chemistry here is important, but Lil Wayne shines the most in this song and honestly, that’s how it should be. (8.2)

Overall Score: 38

Roadblock Results:


(Sent by Will)

Judge's Thoughts:

Nick: not sure I’ve heard this one before, but it’s a pretty great track. I really like how the song builds up as it goes on, and the instrumental is pretty phenomenal. overall this is just a great track (9.4)

Samo: If I liked the rest of the song as much as the first 30 seconds, this would at least get a 9 from me, but it’s a very good song regardless. The vocals are definitely effective here, but there’s something about them I’m not a big fan of and I don’t know what it is. (8.5)


Red: Funeral is one of my ten favorite albums of all time, so we can probably just start there. Even still, not all songs on the album are created equal. I love songs like "Haiti" and "Crown of Love", but they are still not quite the best songs Arcade Fire have ever made. But geez, the best songs on Funeral...it's impossible for me to describe the joyous feeling I get every time I listen to them. "Wake Up" is one of my favorite songs ever, on a tier of its own, but the next tier still has absolutely phenomenal songs like "Rebellion (Lies)" and "Neighborhood #3 (Power Out)". The first "Neighborhood", however, is the best of the rest, perhaps the most gorgeous and wondrous song the band ever made. (9.5)

eidde: I really like the instrumentation used on this track but my favorite part of it is Win Butler’s singing honestly, it’s really touching and this is a very emotional and moving track to me. This is one of the best songs I’ve heard from Arcade Fire. (9.5)

Overall Score: 36.9

Head to Head Results:
Team Double Back When You Got It Made:


Judge's Thoughts:

Samo: I really want to love this song, because it’s one of the most iconic 2000s hits for a reason, but I’ve never been able to get behind some of the production choices, or the vocals in the chorus. This is still a good song, but I don’t see what everyone loves about it. (8.0)

Hamed: A 2000s bop, its such a fun upbeat number with juxtaposing lyrics but it works somehow to be this memorable bop that you can't help but groove along too. (9.3)

fearlessarrow: This is such a fun song to listen to! Great production choices to the bridge that includes the call-and-response section and brought us the “shake it…. shake it like a polaroid picture” (which btw is my favorite part of the song). The chorus can get a little boring just because it’s mostly just “hey ya”s but the production is interesting so it’s not really dull. (8.7)

Overall Score: 26

The Golden Ducks:


Note: Will & Web chose to use their "save" advantage they got from winning the first leg here. That means they get automatic 10/10s from all judges on this challenge

Judge's Thoughts:

Samo: This is a great song, with a very powerful message behind it, and Sam sounds excellent on it. The production is pretty good as well, but it stopped me from giving this an even better score. (8.6 10)


Hamed: Sam's vocal performance is so strong and evokes a strong sense of emotion which is pivotal for the song given that the theme and time period of the song being an era of massive racism. (8.9 10)

fearlessarrow: I think this is a prime example of a timeless classic - this song can still apply to what’s happening today and the hopeful tone of the song is something we need sometimes. Great vocal performance and I love the choices of instruments too. (9.0 10)

Overall Score: 30

Result: The Golden Ducks beat TDBWYGIM by cleverly using their advantage, and they will be getting a +0.6 bonus next leg. violet & Beno, you two will need to face yet another team now

[Deleted]

i should've let go at this point but screw girls like you for blocking mona lisa

[House Lannister]

OK, I'm confused. Who finished where?

[Deleted]

Thank you Billie you did not let me down!

[samo🦕]

up next we have...

The Mild Dislikers of Justin Bieber (@matthewlam & tanooki)
Overall Score: 75.6 | Detour Rank: #3 | Roadblock Rank: #13 | Bonus From Last Leg: +0

Detour Results:


(Holiday Tune)

Judge's Thoughts:

Nick: a personal Christmas favorite of mine. it’s got such nice energy without veering into the annoying territory where some Christmas tracks end up. the main melody is also just so infectious (9.3)

Samo: All three Christmas songs here deserve their reputation as classics, but this is my least favourite of them. I do really like it, but I don’t quite love it, and that mainly comes down to the repetition of the lyrics. (8.5)

Zeebz: (9.5)

BB: My absolute favorite Christmas songs. I love it’s sound of wall production and the Ronettes sound pretty good here too (9.2)

Born: Damn y’all really pulled through with these holiday picks. This song is played in pretty much every single store in the world every year and yet it still sounds as fresh & feel-good as ever. Let’s take a moment to appreciate the quality of the recording which elevates the song to new heights & makes sure that you’ll never feel alone at Christmas, as long as there’s good music around. (8.7)

Overall Score: 45.2

Roadblock Results:


(Sent by Tanooki)

Judge's Thoughts:

Nick: this is a perfectly serviceable pop song. it’s well produced, well sung, and well written. but at the end of the day, it still feels a bit too generic, and I just don’t like that drop haha. (7.1)

Samo: I love the lyrics here, but the drop does hold it back quite a bit. The production is otherwise excellent, but Dua has made far better. (9.0)

Red: More than any song, I struggled with my rating for "New Rules". Before the fall of 2019, I would not have struggled with my rating at all. It would have been a rock solid 8/10. The thing is that Dua Lipa raised the bar at the end of last year and into this year, and it's hard to go back and listen to her previous material without thinking of "Don't Start Now" and "Physical" and "Break My Heart". Dua Lipa has evolved as a musician, and even "New Rules" doesn't hold up favorably in comparison. It's still the best of her songs before 2019, though, and I can't bring myself to rate this too much lower. It's supremely catchy. (7.5)

eidde: I did not really care for this song when it was a big hit, but it has definitely grown on me since then. I like the tropical feel it has and the lyrics are also quite good as well. I don’t quite love it still, but this is pretty good. (6.8)

Overall Score: 30.4

Head to Head Results:
Team Double Back When You Got it Made:


Judge's Thoughts:

Geometrical: A great earworm with solid production, but I prefer Outkast when they’re not as goofy as they are in this song. (7.4)

Nick: this song is goofy as hell, but I still like it quite a bit. it has some super infectious, fun energy, and both members of OutKast seem to be really enjoying themselves on it, which only adds to my enjoyment of the song haha. great track! (9.6)

Juan Carlos: This is great. It brings me back to 2004 when I kept listening to the song in my local radio stations. (8.8)

Overall Score: 25.9

The Mild Dislikers of Justin Bieber:


Judge's Thoughts:

Geometrical: I’ll still take “Starman” over this, but this is prime Bowie. There’s something just magical behind the instrumentation of this song, where it constantly leaves you excited anticipating the next line, but where it still flows in beautiful harmony. And of course, Bowie takes you under his wing and makes you feel like you’re part of the story he’s telling you. (9.0)

Nick: I love this song. the instrumental has a really nice feel to it, and Bowie of course sounds great over it! the lyrics really stand out on the song though, I love the picture he’s able to paint with his words. fantastic song (9.9)

Juan Carlos: Classic. I like the track, although I'm not a huge fan of David Bowie. The production is cool and I liked how it complemented with his vocals. (7.9)

Overall Score: 26.8

Result: The Mild Dislikers of Justin Bieber squeak out a win over Team Double Back When You Got it Made, and they'll get a +0.4 bonus next leg. violet and Beno will once again have to face another team

[shruggie]

Jun 22, 2020 12:15:06 GMT -5 House Lannister said:

OK, I'm confused. Who finished where?

So basically Head To Head works as a place determiner. Even if you land in first for roadblock and detour, if you have a poor Head To Head performance you will overall land in a lower place. You will get a finished place once you win a Head To Head battle with another team.

If it's still confusing, the judges will post a leaderboard after this round is over.