Post by pegasuswarrior on Jan 2, 2012 22:14:17 GMT -5
I struggled MIGHTILY with my rankings for the Upbeat Song category for slots 2 - 4. I was really relieved to see no one got in the bottom 2 by a single point. I was going to totally feel responsible. Just a really tough 2 - 4. There's no way Curtis Mayfield is 4 in that category. I promise I switched my rankings around there three different times. I just for some reason decided to give the edge to "Hello Hello" at the last second.
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Here are my comments for the round:
The Carpenters- Sing
www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-hGn6CU2wQ
A definite classic. This song was invented for the sole purpose of matching this category. I commend your song selection and thought process here. We will see how it matches up against some other tracks this round, but this is undeniably on the correct side of the warm nostalgia/cheesy throwback boundary.
Andy Grammer- Keep Your Head Up
www.youtube.com/watch?v=CmrOB_q3tjo
This unfortunately falls on the wrong side of the warm nostalgia/cheese factory boundary I referenced in the last song. It’s a song that just continues and will continue a downhill slide as it ages, I’m afraid. I know as a fresh track, sometimes these songs can catch us by surprise and might be easier to get behind, but this is factory assembly line type of music production that runs its course over a short period of time and then fades away into far distant memory. I like upbeat and uplifting songs, but there are far better choices in 2011 and 2010 era that will outlast this one, and with good reason.
Curtis Mayfield- Move On Up
www.youtube.com/watch?v=b62St24lCqc
Heck to the yeah. It’s good timing for a Curtis Mayfield debut on the game. Good instrumental and nice vocal connection that hits the mark as well. There’s a reason this one has stood the test up time as well.
Culture Club- Karma Chameleon
www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmcA9LIIXWw
Definitely some Boy George out there that I really like, but this one isn’t at the top of the list unfortunately. But hold on. It’s a fun, upbeat song, sure thing. I did find myself involuntarily belting out a line or two of the first verse and second verse as I played through it. The lyrical bridges from the first two verses to the chorus really are so full of win. Love that stuff!
Bic Runga- Hello Hello
www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJ7VtIG3tCc
Peppy: check. Simple enough hook: check. Feels different than the others: check. Success for the round for you: check. Good pick. I think it just got edged out by a couple of songs I preferred in this particular round. Man, it was a tough decision. I have a bad feeling that I’ll be the one to cost this contestant in the round. I’m glad we have several judges weighing in this round. Can I get a mulligan on this song’s ranking? Ugh, last minute song ranking decision. Moving it just ahead of Curtis Mayfield, and I feel like an idiot for doing that as well. There just isn’t a way for me to win as a judge for songs 2-4 in this round.
1. The Carpenters- Sing
2. Culture Club- Karma Chameleon
3. Bic Runga- Hello Hello
4. Curtis Mayfield- Move On Up
5. Andy Grammer- Keep Your Head Up
Album Title Tracks
The Trammps- Disco Inferno
www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKi3QXWX6oM
Sooo interesting that you went with a disco pick for this round. Lots of choices out there, but I really found this a risk-tasking pick. I commend you for it, because it works. It’s a familiar tune, but it hasn’t really lost its savor due to extreme overplay like other songs of the era. Or, at least that’s the case with me. A nice toe-tapper that gets the category started right. In the end though, it’s up against some other nice songs (exactly what we knew would happen in the Top 5) so it just ends up where it does because of how some other songs stack up.
Usher- Confessions, Part II
www.youtube.com/watch?v=9c1McGGYRiA
Love the flow. Love the command Usher has of this song in his delivery. The music is simply a support structure for him to do his thing. What I don’t love is the lyrical content. I don’t really feel it. The song lyrics fall into a literary realism/naturalism kinda niche, but everything else in the song could not fall further from the content of that theme for me. I don’t think you *always* have to have form meeting function, but what you don’t want is a song that’s form is so far away from function that it becomes distracting, and that’s kinda what happens with me in this song. I don’t think you’re supposed to make this particular song content appealing in the way that Usher attempts: it’s a song I want to sing along with in the car, and when doing so, it’s FUN, and this is not supposed to be a fun song (at least not to me). It’s a situation where you can’t have it both ways: groovy, catchy song with bummer lyrics.
Paul Simon- Graceland
www.youtube.com/watch?v=H6R6HMDMCM8
Ah yeah, the human trampoline song! Definitely an album that blew up in its day, and still counts as a “pick less likely.” For that, I’m impressed.
Joan Jett & The Blackhearts- I Love Rock 'n Roll
www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3T_xeoGES8
Winner! You’re doggone right this hits the category requirement of the round with a bang. Love me some Joan Jett and loving this song right now.
Chromeo- Fancy Footwork
www.youtube.com/watch?v=I25YWZWLLEU
I’ve tried to get into Chromeo this year, but I just can’t do it. I know they’re catching on, but there’s something holding them back with me, and I think some of it is just the comparison I involuntarily make to the throwback “new wave” artists back in the day, and I find the group to be a little more failed imitation than I want. Yeah, there are some beats in there that are new and fresh, but at face value, I’ve just been rather unimpressed, as it seems they’re trying to make something that’s been done before a little “hip” for the high school/college generation of today who probably have never heard of a lot of 80s underground “new wave” bands. Or, maybe I’m just full of crap, and I should just say Chromeo doesn’t get over with me for some unknown reason and just leave it at that.
1. Joan Jett & The Blackhearts- I Love Rock 'n Roll
2. Paul Simon- Graceland
3. Usher- Confessions, Part II
4. The Trammps- Disco Inferno
5. Chromeo- Fancy Footwork
City Slickers
Jim Croce- Bad, Bad Leroy Brown
www.youtube.com/watch?v=QvwDohEEQ1E
I understand the song’s appeal for others, but it just never appealed to me, simple as that. It feels lazy to me, although that’s not exactly true, I know that. I feel like the swagger in the voice is more loose than charismatic, and as such, it makes me tired to lumber through the song, as if the “casualness” is a sign Croce is fighting his own song as well. I know it’s considered a good song, but it’s just bad luck that it falls into my “meh” range. Just tried to at least explain why it affects me the way it does; don't be too upset.
Elton John- Pinball Wizard
www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWzSsN_vPz0
I love how the theme ties into the song here. Love how it slips in there rather than throws it right in our face.
Bruce Springsteen- Streets of Philadelphia
www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYLr9FtYtME
Never would have guessed this pick for this round, but it’s a good surprise. I haven’t heard this song in a while. I don’t know that it carries the punch a few of the others do, but nothing at all wrong with this song.
Friendly Fires- Paris
www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnHJhy68Q98
Another song I can get behind. I can also get behind the video in a major way.
The Smiths- Panic
www.youtube.com/watch?v=JlYXp_3A64k
Love it, absolutely love it. This one sits right near the top of an impressive list of 15 songs this week.
1. The Smiths- Panic
2. Friendly Fires- Paris
3. Elton John- Pinball Wizard
4. Bruce Springsteen- Streets of Philadelphia
5. Jim Croce- Bad, Bad Leroy Brown
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Here are my comments for the round:
The Carpenters- Sing
www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-hGn6CU2wQ
A definite classic. This song was invented for the sole purpose of matching this category. I commend your song selection and thought process here. We will see how it matches up against some other tracks this round, but this is undeniably on the correct side of the warm nostalgia/cheesy throwback boundary.
Andy Grammer- Keep Your Head Up
www.youtube.com/watch?v=CmrOB_q3tjo
This unfortunately falls on the wrong side of the warm nostalgia/cheese factory boundary I referenced in the last song. It’s a song that just continues and will continue a downhill slide as it ages, I’m afraid. I know as a fresh track, sometimes these songs can catch us by surprise and might be easier to get behind, but this is factory assembly line type of music production that runs its course over a short period of time and then fades away into far distant memory. I like upbeat and uplifting songs, but there are far better choices in 2011 and 2010 era that will outlast this one, and with good reason.
Curtis Mayfield- Move On Up
www.youtube.com/watch?v=b62St24lCqc
Heck to the yeah. It’s good timing for a Curtis Mayfield debut on the game. Good instrumental and nice vocal connection that hits the mark as well. There’s a reason this one has stood the test up time as well.
Culture Club- Karma Chameleon
www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmcA9LIIXWw
Definitely some Boy George out there that I really like, but this one isn’t at the top of the list unfortunately. But hold on. It’s a fun, upbeat song, sure thing. I did find myself involuntarily belting out a line or two of the first verse and second verse as I played through it. The lyrical bridges from the first two verses to the chorus really are so full of win. Love that stuff!
Bic Runga- Hello Hello
www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJ7VtIG3tCc
Peppy: check. Simple enough hook: check. Feels different than the others: check. Success for the round for you: check. Good pick. I think it just got edged out by a couple of songs I preferred in this particular round. Man, it was a tough decision. I have a bad feeling that I’ll be the one to cost this contestant in the round. I’m glad we have several judges weighing in this round. Can I get a mulligan on this song’s ranking? Ugh, last minute song ranking decision. Moving it just ahead of Curtis Mayfield, and I feel like an idiot for doing that as well. There just isn’t a way for me to win as a judge for songs 2-4 in this round.
1. The Carpenters- Sing
2. Culture Club- Karma Chameleon
3. Bic Runga- Hello Hello
4. Curtis Mayfield- Move On Up
5. Andy Grammer- Keep Your Head Up
Album Title Tracks
The Trammps- Disco Inferno
www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKi3QXWX6oM
Sooo interesting that you went with a disco pick for this round. Lots of choices out there, but I really found this a risk-tasking pick. I commend you for it, because it works. It’s a familiar tune, but it hasn’t really lost its savor due to extreme overplay like other songs of the era. Or, at least that’s the case with me. A nice toe-tapper that gets the category started right. In the end though, it’s up against some other nice songs (exactly what we knew would happen in the Top 5) so it just ends up where it does because of how some other songs stack up.
Usher- Confessions, Part II
www.youtube.com/watch?v=9c1McGGYRiA
Love the flow. Love the command Usher has of this song in his delivery. The music is simply a support structure for him to do his thing. What I don’t love is the lyrical content. I don’t really feel it. The song lyrics fall into a literary realism/naturalism kinda niche, but everything else in the song could not fall further from the content of that theme for me. I don’t think you *always* have to have form meeting function, but what you don’t want is a song that’s form is so far away from function that it becomes distracting, and that’s kinda what happens with me in this song. I don’t think you’re supposed to make this particular song content appealing in the way that Usher attempts: it’s a song I want to sing along with in the car, and when doing so, it’s FUN, and this is not supposed to be a fun song (at least not to me). It’s a situation where you can’t have it both ways: groovy, catchy song with bummer lyrics.
Paul Simon- Graceland
www.youtube.com/watch?v=H6R6HMDMCM8
Ah yeah, the human trampoline song! Definitely an album that blew up in its day, and still counts as a “pick less likely.” For that, I’m impressed.
Joan Jett & The Blackhearts- I Love Rock 'n Roll
www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3T_xeoGES8
Winner! You’re doggone right this hits the category requirement of the round with a bang. Love me some Joan Jett and loving this song right now.
Chromeo- Fancy Footwork
www.youtube.com/watch?v=I25YWZWLLEU
I’ve tried to get into Chromeo this year, but I just can’t do it. I know they’re catching on, but there’s something holding them back with me, and I think some of it is just the comparison I involuntarily make to the throwback “new wave” artists back in the day, and I find the group to be a little more failed imitation than I want. Yeah, there are some beats in there that are new and fresh, but at face value, I’ve just been rather unimpressed, as it seems they’re trying to make something that’s been done before a little “hip” for the high school/college generation of today who probably have never heard of a lot of 80s underground “new wave” bands. Or, maybe I’m just full of crap, and I should just say Chromeo doesn’t get over with me for some unknown reason and just leave it at that.
1. Joan Jett & The Blackhearts- I Love Rock 'n Roll
2. Paul Simon- Graceland
3. Usher- Confessions, Part II
4. The Trammps- Disco Inferno
5. Chromeo- Fancy Footwork
City Slickers
Jim Croce- Bad, Bad Leroy Brown
www.youtube.com/watch?v=QvwDohEEQ1E
I understand the song’s appeal for others, but it just never appealed to me, simple as that. It feels lazy to me, although that’s not exactly true, I know that. I feel like the swagger in the voice is more loose than charismatic, and as such, it makes me tired to lumber through the song, as if the “casualness” is a sign Croce is fighting his own song as well. I know it’s considered a good song, but it’s just bad luck that it falls into my “meh” range. Just tried to at least explain why it affects me the way it does; don't be too upset.
Elton John- Pinball Wizard
www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWzSsN_vPz0
I love how the theme ties into the song here. Love how it slips in there rather than throws it right in our face.
Bruce Springsteen- Streets of Philadelphia
www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYLr9FtYtME
Never would have guessed this pick for this round, but it’s a good surprise. I haven’t heard this song in a while. I don’t know that it carries the punch a few of the others do, but nothing at all wrong with this song.
Friendly Fires- Paris
www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnHJhy68Q98
Another song I can get behind. I can also get behind the video in a major way.
The Smiths- Panic
www.youtube.com/watch?v=JlYXp_3A64k
Love it, absolutely love it. This one sits right near the top of an impressive list of 15 songs this week.
1. The Smiths- Panic
2. Friendly Fires- Paris
3. Elton John- Pinball Wizard
4. Bruce Springsteen- Streets of Philadelphia
5. Jim Croce- Bad, Bad Leroy Brown