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Post by Devil Marlena Nylund on May 10, 2022 22:09:51 GMT -5
One of these songs will be Pulse's favourite Brandi song:
Broken Horses Party Of One Right On Time The Joke The Story
Which one will it be? Let's find out!
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Post by Devil Marlena Nylund on May 10, 2022 22:17:42 GMT -5
#5 ~ BROKEN HORSES from the album: In These Silent Days (2021) Points: 104 ~ Average Rank: 8.0 ~ Standard Deviation: 3.7
I do wonder how much recency bias played a part in "Broken Horses" finishing up as high as #5. It hasn't had as much time as most of the other songs to build itself up as a classic in Brandi's catalogue, and as her latest single, it also hasn't had the time to reach its full potential on the chart (which I believe it's still on, but peaked fairly recently). But, then again, charts don't particularly matter for an artist like Brandi, plus it helps that this is a pretty kickass song anyway.
When I was listening to In These Silent Days for the first time, "Broken Horses" was the immediate standout from the album. It's the epic song I'd been waiting for that she usually delivers at least one of per album. It has the extra added bonus of also being the title of her autobiography that came out last spring.
As far as its performance in this rankdown is concerned, it's the first song to reach 6/8 top tens. It's also the only song to have that exact number of top 10 placements. Three others still to come have 7 (or more), so even though its highest individual rank is only one higher than this final placement, it's clearly a beloved track.
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recordyear
Diamond Member
album listener
Joined: January 2017
Posts: 14,612
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Post by recordyear on May 10, 2022 22:23:39 GMT -5
Right On Time should have been below Broke Horses...
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Post by Devil Marlena Nylund on May 10, 2022 22:36:48 GMT -5
#4 ~ RIGHT ON TIME from the album: In These Silent Days (2021) Points: 106 ~ Average Rank: 7.8 ~ Standard Deviation: 5.1
After By The Way, I Forgive You, Brandi had a lot to live up to when the time came to record/release her next album. That album gave her a whole new platform through the Grammys and various other television appearances that helped introduce her to a whole new audience and elevate her status immensely. She might not have the chart hits, but she has the recognition and connections to still make an impact -- and impact she does.
Yet, when "Right On Time" was released as the lead from In These Silent Days, I was a little disappointed. To me, it felt too much like a replication of "The Joke," without being an improvement on it. Like that one, this is an epic piano ballad with a vocal climax meant to showcase Brandi's vocals as being one of the (many) things about her that makes her one of the best artists performing today, and it doesn't just do it once, it does it with each chorus. ...which was another thing I didn't care about the song, particularly when she performs it live. She hangs on that note and draws it out each time, to emphasize the power of her vocal but to me, it feels too on the nose. I might sound like a bad fan when I describe all this... but despite my feelings, it still got a great response after its release and her performance of it at the Grammys was once again a highlight.
And of course, on here, it's #4. Having it back to back with "Broken Horses" shows that Brandi isn't an artist who peaked early. She's still adding classics to her repertoire and trust, not just anyone can say that 10 years in, let alone nearly 20 years into their career.
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Post by Devil Marlena Nylund on May 10, 2022 22:47:23 GMT -5
#3 ~ PARTY OF ONE from the album: By The Way, I Forgive You (2018) Points: 117 ~ Average Rank: 6.4 ~ Standard Deviation: 5.7
When I think about an example of the perfect well-written song, this might be one that would come to mind. It's an absolute ROLLERCOASTER. The way it starts with a climbing piano, tense tone, there's an absolute chill in the lyrics and the delivery. Her reference to the importance of their relationship, not just to themselves, but for the fact that as gay women, they had to fight to get it. It's such a powerful sentiment. At one point, Brandi's voice cracks as she sings "I don't want to fight anymore." She follows that by singing how tired she is, and she sounds tired. It's incredibly draining emotionally. And then something incredible happens. The ice melts, the cold piano breaks away to warmer instruments: strings, drums, guitar. What suddenly felt like being on the verge of breaking is now a sign of something solid and pure. This was my #1 (and samoπ¦ - sorry to us) but I'm not even mad that it didn't go all the way. I wasn't sure how this song would do in the grand scheme of things, so #3 is a great showing for a song that isn't exactly a known selection in Brandi's songbook, but is absolutely a career highlight. This song was the third single from By The Way, I Forgive You, and was initially released as a new version with Sam Smith. That version has about a fraction of the magic as this original. TBH, I forgot it existed until I went to look for the video to embed in here. The video itself was released using the album version's audio and stars Elisabeth Moss and Nicole Disson as the couple on the rollercoaster.
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Post by Devil Marlena Nylund on May 10, 2022 22:49:03 GMT -5
We always knew it was down to The Joke vs. The Story, but it really could have been either one of them!
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Post by Devil Marlena Nylund on May 10, 2022 23:10:33 GMT -5
#2 ~ THE STORY from the album: The Story (2007) Points: 138 ~ Average Rank: 3.8 ~ Standard Deviation: 2.3 (LOWEST!)
This was the song that started it all for me when it came to Brandi. I first heard this song from a CD sampler that came with an issue of Paste Magazine, back when they were still in print format. It immediately caught my ear and I soon found Brandi's CD and the song, and album, became an obsession for me for the rest of the year. I'd say "The Story" is quite possibly among my most listened to songs ever and it's still not one I'm tired of. Sometimes when I listen to it, I can still feel that thrill I felt when it was still a new discovery. I'm also a huge fan of the lyrics too. This is the type of love song I can get behind.
Technically speaking, "The Story" was and probably still remains Brandi's biggest 'hit'. It reached #3 on AAA, but was also her only time charting on the Hot 100, where it reached #75, possibly aided by the help of a placement in a GM ad. It also randomly made it to #3 in Norway and #1 in Portugal.
"The Story" was famously recorded live off the floor (along with, I believe, the rest of the album) and has a bit of a vocal 'mishap' before the final chorus that Brandi opted to keep because of its authenticity.
This song was covered by Leann Rimes, where it was the lead single to her album Remnants. It was also covered by the Queen Legend herself, Ms. Dolly Parton, as part of an album of covers to mark the 10 year anniversary of The Story, which also features cover versions of other songs from the album by artists like Pearl Jam, Indigo Girls, and the 21-bonus track, "Hiding My Heart" from Adele.
"The Story" has the highest standard deviation, with just a 2.3, which also makes it the song with the highest lowest rank, of #7. It's also only one of two songs to have every participant place it in their Top 10. The other is the #1! #1 ~ THE JOKE from the album: By The Way, I Forgive You (2018) Points: 141 ~ Average Rank: 3.4 ~ Standard Deviation: 3.0
For longtime Brandi fans, "The Story" was likely their starting point, and for newer fans, it was quite likely "The Joke." Between the two of them, they have Brandi well covered. "The Joke" was her first big break on the Grammy stage, her first Grammy win(s), the song that blew everyone away. You might say "The Story" kicked off the first major stage of her career, and "The Joke" is the song that kicked off the second stage.
This song wasn't as immediate to me when it first came out. It took a little bit for me to warm up to it, but I really couldn't deny that final chorus and the buildup within each of the verses. Then, when the album came out, I definitely saw it as a step above The Firewatcher's Daughter, it took a couple years for me to finally admit that yes, I do like it more than Bear Creek, aka my #1 album of the 2010s (I named By The Way, I Forgive You #7).
If I had to sit down and make a list of the 10 best Grammy performances I've ever seen, this one would definitely be in there. After that show, "The Joke" ALMOST became her second Hot 100 hit -- instead reaching #4 on the Bubbling Under chart. But it did reach #4 on AAA (and #4 on Billboard's Hot Rock Songs chart, lol).
I think "The Joke" will definitely be one of those songs that becomes a classic in years to come. Like "The Story" before it, it'll be covered by artists, and used in movies, and just take on a permanent role in the musical landscape.
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recordyear
Diamond Member
album listener
Joined: January 2017
Posts: 14,612
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Post by recordyear on May 14, 2022 0:54:31 GMT -5
Could have commented a bit more but I struggle to find points. After re-listening, Hold Out Your Hand is definitely a divisive one. I think it works better in album context. The chorus is certainly memorable for better or worse. Falls Apart Again has a nice distinctive 2000s melody. Considering most of us probably only listened to these songs few times, The Things I Regret did a great job in first impression. My top 2 is interchangeable. The Joke has an excellent build to climax but The Story managed to grow on me throughtout the years. Her more expressive vocals are what makes her special. Thanks Devil Marlena Nylund for hosting.
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Post by Devil Marlena Nylund on May 30, 2022 19:24:50 GMT -5
So I'm thinking I set up the next rankdown soon: for Patty Griffin! I'm thinking 20-25 songs selected from across her discography, from Living With Ghosts until her last record in 2019. (I know her 'new' album Tapes is coming next week, but that will be rarities and demos so nothing new from her per se). If this is next, who'd be interested in participating?!?
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Post by tim on May 31, 2022 0:04:29 GMT -5
If this is next, who'd be interested in participating?!? Count me in! She's such an underrated singer-songwriter here on Pulse and yet is someone whose songs are so easily recognizable.
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ccarter1023
Gold Member
Joined: September 2012
Posts: 843
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Post by ccarter1023 on Jun 1, 2022 19:35:46 GMT -5
Hi Devil Marlena NylundI'm not very familiar with Patty Griffin's discography but I would like to dive in and listen and learn more about her, so count me in!
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