Post by pegasuswarrior on Feb 14, 2010 13:46:58 GMT -5
Here are some thoughts on this opening round.
I thought there were some great song choices, each in their own respects. Judges do not have to list their actual line-by-line rankings so as to preserve the mystery component of where certain songs actually fell on the rankings. I do want to provide my reactions to the songs submitted though, in no particular order.
Samael – “Reign of Light”
What this track suffers from is the fact that when I think of the Round One theme, I think that you have a free range of every song ever made to pick from and this is the choice? So, in terms of appropriateness for the "topic" of Round One, it may have suffered from a big question mark as to "why" this one was chosen. Thusly, even though I like the track, it just makes it difficult to measure up to some of the other choices.
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club – “Weapon of Choice”
This is one of two songs submitted that I thought was a clever take on the theme from Round One given to you. Plus, I'll be the first to admit that I'm a huge sucker for Black Rebel Motorcycle Club. I thought "no way!" (in a good way) when I first saw this submitted and that combined with the play off the subject title made me give this one a thumbs up. Not really able to be measured up against "greatest songs ever," but I did think it was clever in an original way.
Michael Buble – “Cry Me a River”
Very original song choice, and I thought this successfully took a chance. However, I felt like this would have been a good one to uncork in more of a specialized theme week rather than pulling it from the list of every song ever written.
Andrew W.K. – “Ready To Die”
Balls to the wall song choice and full of pep. I dug that. For some reason, I get the feeling that this entrant is a chance-taker, and that could either pay off in later rounds or be your undoing. Be careful, because I think your judges might be quite the eclectic mix.
Operator Please – “Get What You Want”
I love this song, and I kinda took it as a play on the theme for Round One as well. Does it measure up to some of the unmistakeably memorable "performances" for Round One? Perhaps not, but it was a very likeable song for me.
Elvis Presley – “If I Can Dream”
Can you say iconic? A very memorable performance in a very stacked first round. Why is it that performances like this seem so much more of a case where the artist actually loves the music and the song rather than some so-called "emotional" songs from artists that come across very clearly as all an act?
Flobots – “Handlebars”
Perhaps more than any other, I felt this suffered from the "you have any song on earth to choose from, and this is what you gave for judges to consider?" Now, I can hum along and get the lyrics down pat with this one as much as any song, but whereas some songs reek of awesomeness, I think this is a song that has lost its luster since it first came out.
Chicago – “25 or 6 to 4”
Love it. Good example of how to uncork something classic and enduring, yet not so obvious as a choice. I thought this was a great balance of original song choice and classically awesome at the same time. Good strategy!
The Beatles – “Let It Be”
Wow. Someone said, "I'm not messing around" when they chose this song. I think that yielded nothing but positive results.
Billy Idol – “Dancing With Myself”
Yes! Fun and peppy. I thought this would communicate well with the judges, because you're having fun with the competition, yet you're not forgetting to give us something we can't deny as awesome: Billy freaking Idol.
Fear of Pop (Ben Folds featuring William Shatner) – “In Love”
What a great song. I mean, a great song. This really sits on the fence with me, however, as to originality versus leaving a slightly bad taste in my mouth. It seems like the William Shatner gimmick has worn a little thin, but it was luckily a Ben Folds project that salvaged this song for me. Honestly, I think had William Shatner's contributions to music with his complete inability to actually carry a tune NOT been so much of a pop culture inside joke already, this might have carried a little more weight to it in terms of originality. But I have seen it before, I'll see it again, and it'll be the same as it was the first time he "rocket manned" his way into the music genre.
The Who – “Pinball Wizard”
Somebody plays a mean WC Idol! Good song choice. Not necessarily the Who song I would have chosen, but definitely memorable among the great list of songs submitted this round. Great job!
INXS – “Elegantly Wasted”
Blast whoever submitted this song! I can't remember the last time I actually heard this song, but as soon as I clicked on the link, I could NOT get it out of my head. I forgot how catchy this song actually was until it was submitted and I listened to it again. I think this entry could have earned some major points if it fit into a more specialized theme.
Bob Seger – “Turn the Page”
I will have to admit that Bob Seger strikes a chord with me: unfortunately, it's the wrong chord. When I think of overplayed artists that seem to be on the radio every time I turn on the dial, he's definitely one of them. While I know that this song is considered memorable in the minds of many, it always comes across as a song that has overstayed its welcome for me. As unpopular as that view might be, sorry.
Lady Gaga feat. Christopher Walken and Eric Cartman – “Poker Faces”
Definitely a huge risk. A HUGE risk. If you had just given me Lady Gaga's actual version to consider here, I would have been all smiles. But Cartman singing is always a thumbs down for me. In terms of the theme for Round One, it's almost a jab at the whole idea of music in general. A virtual "open bar" of song choices and out of it comes a YouTube mesh makes this choice a little questionable to me.
1st Round Results coming up next! ....
(EDIT: Simply fixing punctuation and a word or two I left out.)
I thought there were some great song choices, each in their own respects. Judges do not have to list their actual line-by-line rankings so as to preserve the mystery component of where certain songs actually fell on the rankings. I do want to provide my reactions to the songs submitted though, in no particular order.
Samael – “Reign of Light”
What this track suffers from is the fact that when I think of the Round One theme, I think that you have a free range of every song ever made to pick from and this is the choice? So, in terms of appropriateness for the "topic" of Round One, it may have suffered from a big question mark as to "why" this one was chosen. Thusly, even though I like the track, it just makes it difficult to measure up to some of the other choices.
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club – “Weapon of Choice”
This is one of two songs submitted that I thought was a clever take on the theme from Round One given to you. Plus, I'll be the first to admit that I'm a huge sucker for Black Rebel Motorcycle Club. I thought "no way!" (in a good way) when I first saw this submitted and that combined with the play off the subject title made me give this one a thumbs up. Not really able to be measured up against "greatest songs ever," but I did think it was clever in an original way.
Michael Buble – “Cry Me a River”
Very original song choice, and I thought this successfully took a chance. However, I felt like this would have been a good one to uncork in more of a specialized theme week rather than pulling it from the list of every song ever written.
Andrew W.K. – “Ready To Die”
Balls to the wall song choice and full of pep. I dug that. For some reason, I get the feeling that this entrant is a chance-taker, and that could either pay off in later rounds or be your undoing. Be careful, because I think your judges might be quite the eclectic mix.
Operator Please – “Get What You Want”
I love this song, and I kinda took it as a play on the theme for Round One as well. Does it measure up to some of the unmistakeably memorable "performances" for Round One? Perhaps not, but it was a very likeable song for me.
Elvis Presley – “If I Can Dream”
Can you say iconic? A very memorable performance in a very stacked first round. Why is it that performances like this seem so much more of a case where the artist actually loves the music and the song rather than some so-called "emotional" songs from artists that come across very clearly as all an act?
Flobots – “Handlebars”
Perhaps more than any other, I felt this suffered from the "you have any song on earth to choose from, and this is what you gave for judges to consider?" Now, I can hum along and get the lyrics down pat with this one as much as any song, but whereas some songs reek of awesomeness, I think this is a song that has lost its luster since it first came out.
Chicago – “25 or 6 to 4”
Love it. Good example of how to uncork something classic and enduring, yet not so obvious as a choice. I thought this was a great balance of original song choice and classically awesome at the same time. Good strategy!
The Beatles – “Let It Be”
Wow. Someone said, "I'm not messing around" when they chose this song. I think that yielded nothing but positive results.
Billy Idol – “Dancing With Myself”
Yes! Fun and peppy. I thought this would communicate well with the judges, because you're having fun with the competition, yet you're not forgetting to give us something we can't deny as awesome: Billy freaking Idol.
Fear of Pop (Ben Folds featuring William Shatner) – “In Love”
What a great song. I mean, a great song. This really sits on the fence with me, however, as to originality versus leaving a slightly bad taste in my mouth. It seems like the William Shatner gimmick has worn a little thin, but it was luckily a Ben Folds project that salvaged this song for me. Honestly, I think had William Shatner's contributions to music with his complete inability to actually carry a tune NOT been so much of a pop culture inside joke already, this might have carried a little more weight to it in terms of originality. But I have seen it before, I'll see it again, and it'll be the same as it was the first time he "rocket manned" his way into the music genre.
The Who – “Pinball Wizard”
Somebody plays a mean WC Idol! Good song choice. Not necessarily the Who song I would have chosen, but definitely memorable among the great list of songs submitted this round. Great job!
INXS – “Elegantly Wasted”
Blast whoever submitted this song! I can't remember the last time I actually heard this song, but as soon as I clicked on the link, I could NOT get it out of my head. I forgot how catchy this song actually was until it was submitted and I listened to it again. I think this entry could have earned some major points if it fit into a more specialized theme.
Bob Seger – “Turn the Page”
I will have to admit that Bob Seger strikes a chord with me: unfortunately, it's the wrong chord. When I think of overplayed artists that seem to be on the radio every time I turn on the dial, he's definitely one of them. While I know that this song is considered memorable in the minds of many, it always comes across as a song that has overstayed its welcome for me. As unpopular as that view might be, sorry.
Lady Gaga feat. Christopher Walken and Eric Cartman – “Poker Faces”
Definitely a huge risk. A HUGE risk. If you had just given me Lady Gaga's actual version to consider here, I would have been all smiles. But Cartman singing is always a thumbs down for me. In terms of the theme for Round One, it's almost a jab at the whole idea of music in general. A virtual "open bar" of song choices and out of it comes a YouTube mesh makes this choice a little questionable to me.
1st Round Results coming up next! ....
(EDIT: Simply fixing punctuation and a word or two I left out.)