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Post by cageking666 on Aug 25, 2016 19:19:19 GMT -5
Adding up scores now Start sending in Round 8... The Amazing Race is known for foreign traveling but more importantly it's about two people bonding on a giant Road Trip... This time, your job is to send in a song that defines a Road Trip. Make the judges believe that they are driving down a country road....your song comes on....and just makes their trip perfect What's the deadline? I feel like I'll need some thinking time on this one. (Also, will Brain be able to be a guest judge for Round 9, or do his IRL obligations inhibit that?) Deadline is Sunday Night I'm just gonna axe the fifth judge formula I'm working on results now, just had a bit of a health scare last night with Yaya, but nothing too major now Also as a clue to what Round 9 illudes to: Waffel and FW, I'm proud to say Hulu now added Cagayan through Second Chance |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 26, 2016 0:42:33 GMT -5
 And here are the results for Round 7: Big Brother is Watching (1984), my personal favorite round so far this season: {Spoiler}
1st. 2 Minutes to Midnight- Iron Maiden - Gus- 13+13+9+11= 46
2nd. When Doves Cry- Prince - Suave- 11+10+4+13= 38
3rd. What Difference Does It Make?- The Smiths - J- 6+6+12+9= 33
4th. His Eyes- Pseudo Echo - Rad- 8+3+7+12= 30
5th. Let's Hear It For The Boy- Deniece Williams - Chaos- 9+8+2+10= 29
T-6th. Thieves Like Us- New Order - Knailsic- 5+5+11+7= 28
T-6th. Help!- Tina Turner - Yaya- 10+9+1+8= 28
T-6th. Pink Houses- John Mellencamp - Z-A- 7+12+5+4= 28
9th. Perfect Strangers- Deep Purple - Pegasus- 12+11+3+1= 27
10th. Will the Wolf Survive?- Los Lobos - Waffel- 4+7+8+3= 22
11th. The First Circle- Pat Methany Group - Jazzman- 1+1+13+6= 21
12th. It's My Life- Talk Talk - Drillbit- 2+4+10+2= 18
13th. Smalltown Boy- Bronski Beat - Magnum- 3+2+6+5= 16
These results will be added to the scores for Round 8 and Round 9 to determine the next Sing-Off contestants. Round 8: Road Trip: This time, your job is to send in a song that defines a Road Trip. Make the judges believe that they are driving down a country road....your song comes on....and just makes their trip perfect. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 26, 2016 0:45:24 GMT -5
My rankings:
1. Pat Methany Group - The First Circle
I would have never expected to see the Pat Methany Group used in this game and it would not have been anywhere in my radar for this round. When he was a teenage, my brother was part of a drum and bugle corps called the Crossmen. Imagine a marching band at an elite level, taken to the nth degree. I would go to his shows and follow the Crossmen through the years, as a fairly casual fan, but still a fan nonetheless. Well, the Crossmen would play music inspired by Pat Methany and I have memories associated with it. To me, the song is stunning in its beauty. It's so gentle at times and, at others, it is tumultuous. Images of nature come to mind. The build is unforgettable, the vocals are sensational, and the percussion and strings are on a whole other level. Part of my appreciation comes from the memories the song evokes for me, but disregarding them, I appreciate the hell out of selecting a less obvious pick. This kind of music was around at the time and should be remembered, it should be used as a pick. As much as I love what Idol's picked in the past for music, I would love to see more songs like this, more songs that live in different genres, in more than one genre at a time, that try for something less obvious. In terms of music, seeing this was my first mark-out moment. I've loved other songs, but this was the first time I was surprised. Just so beautiful and dramatic and, ultimately, transcending.
2. The Smiths - What Difference Does it Make?
The Smiths have a sound here that is at least five years early. Just unbelievable how far ahead of the curve they were. The song celebrates the band's extraordinary power: Johnny Marr's imcomparable guitar, the pulsing rhythm section, and one of the most talented and enigmatic frontmen in rock history. It's uncanny how much of Morrissey's presence comes out in this track and its music video. He's magnetic. "The Devil will find work for idle hands to do." That line fits the whole band's image to a tee. It's sultry and riddled with guilt, simple and profound. His vocal runs at the end are effortless and pitch perfect and that's matched with by peerless work from the rest of the band for the last minute or minute and a half of the song. I considered making this my number one, but it was expected (and much welcomed) to see the Smiths used in this round. This just is the sound I imagine when I think of this time period, done by the best of that time. One of the best tracks we've had so far this game, imo.
3. New Order - Thieves Like Us
One of the more complex songs this Round, I feel like this sums up the sound of the time very well. I'm a huge New Order fan and I should have used them in Idol when I had the chance. I can get lost in the opening: it takes its time almost luxuriously to go through several beat schemes before moving into New Order's trademark, Joy Division referencing main beat. IMO, New Order's intelligence in forming a beat cannot be matched. There's also a palpable emotion here, which is not always a given when it comes to this genre. It's melancholy but moves ever forward. The vocals are an acquired taste, but they are on point here, decadent and resigned at the same time. The song has spectacular heavy moments that are made more complex with the spot-on production. I debated on making this my second ranked song, but I think the song drags a bit towards the end but I think that fits what they were aiming for. There's a sense of yearning for and rejecting love simultaneously and that is so compelling to me in pop music. You're hearing one of THE great bands here on the top of their game, taking risks, and building an epic song. Impressed to see New Order here and especially this song.
4. Talk Talk - It's My Life
I was familiar with the No Doubt cover but not the original, so this was a treat. I think that this was a brilliant round idea and finding new music that add more to your musical knowledge is one of the best aspects of this game. There's so much emotion in this song and the vocals feel tortured. It must have been draining to perform this song. The vocals are my favorite element of the song, but I think the synthesizer work is inspired, as is the bass. A pattern that I'm seeing this round is how well artists of this time period used a few musical instruments in fairly straightforward ways to create quality music. The vocals go well with the music and the sound is both gloomy and upbeat in a strange way. You couldn't call the vocals particularly clear or text book, but they have a great deal of character and they go perfectly with the lyrics. Everything combines to make the song very dramatic and I like to see that in any given round. I appreciate when players go for a risky sound, a big sound that might be a bit melodramatic but still emotional.
5. Iron Maiden - 2 Minutes to Midnight
Tremendous pick for this Round and, if you are going to go with metal, this is the quintessential metal band for this time period. Everything absolutely comes together in this song. The vocals are epic, the playing is not only pounding but filled with skill, the lyrics are exactly what you want to hear for this type of song. The solos are majestic and graceful, while the song keeps turning to different musical directions. It's an infectious sound that sets a blueprint for how to construct songs for this genre. The melody's fit for more pop-oriented songs and the remaining elements are heavy without being unpleasant. It lives up to its title, as it is as exciting a song as you can listen to before midnight, right before an epic event. I'm glad to see metal songs continuing to appear in this season and the player chose one that appeals to me with just how well everything is performed and the emotion it creates.
6. Los Lobos - Will The Wolf Survive?
What a neat song to see for this round. I never really thought about Los Lobos being around during this time. I most strongly associate them with the movie "Desperado", but they're a bit more straightforward here, a little more conventional. I don't think that's necessarily a bad thing because the musicianship is at the same high level. The vocals are very strong and the lyrics are deeper than your conventional pop rock of the time. Like Maiden, it's wonderful to see a bit of adventure here in terms of genre. There's nary a drum machine in sight. It's very solid rock music with a tinge of their more familiar music; the bass work and the vocals stand out for me. Just a very solid choice that could work in different rounds and stands out in this one. I can see this being a great addition to college rock radio stations at the time because it fits in with that subset of music while being its own sound.
7. Pseudo Echo - His Eyes
I had a big dumb smile when I started listening to this pick. Big fan of all these synthesizer driven horror movie themes; they bring about some nostalgic feelings for me. It's a cheesy, fun song that has a vaguely European feel and it's loaded with melodrama. I enjoy the strange, waivering vocals, vocals that you can imagine coming from a mad scientist. The song has a build with the intensifying percussion and synth use and the solo is perfectly creepy and catchy. I enjoy this pick quite a bit, but there were other songs this round that did more or took bigger risks. It was a lot of fun though! It's great to see this song being used here and it did something a little different with the musical conventions at the time.
8. Bronski Beat - Smalltown Boy
I get an Eurythmics feel to the song, which is a big compliment in my eyes. I don't think the vocalist is on that level, however, but few are. The song is very evocative, giving me that sense of isolation, of loneliness. I think there is a degree of murkiness to her vocals on the runs, especially, that take a little bit of shine from the song. There are moments where the song plays a little too predictably for me, with the drums and beats. I think one of the pitfalls of this round is that the sound of his time period is very familiar and that its easy to pick a song that doesn't do enough to distinguish itself. I feel that this song falls into that trap a bit, though the sort of string sound helps to add dimension to it. The song also trails off during the ending, which is a bit unfortunate. If there was a culmination of sound here, I feel it would have made a greater impact on me. That said, it gets its emotion across well and has moments of beauty that I appreciate.
9. John Mellencamp - Pink Houses
The songs go for an older, Americana-flavored sound and, on some levels, it is success in that. The song works best when it's heaviest: there is a guitar section half way through the song that is very catchy and enjoyable. Mellencamp goes for a popular, pseudo-Springsteen sound for his vocals and he's not always success for me. The song's of a different genre than the majority of picks this round and gains points from me for that. It's a throwback sound, but I question how authentic it is. It's a bit too pop-inflected to be a worthy continuation of that older sound. I also feel that the chorus is not used to its best effect. The instrument work is well done and Mellencamp has charisma and a certain likability to him, but he doesn't reach the same level of people like Tom Petty or Springsteen or Bread. It's a fine pick for this round, however, because it reflects another portion of music being made at this time, but it doesn't compare favorably, for me anyway, to some of the more intricate picks this round.
10. Prince - When Doves Cry
I would have preferred another Prince song used for the round. One of the downsides of using an artist's big hit is that it highlights both what is wonderful about their music and what is problematic. Prince was a musical juggernaut, but he's idiosyncratic in ways that throw me off. The beat is unparalleled, the guitar work majestic, but his vocals have odd yelps to it that I find grating. There's a demonstration of unbelievable musical skill, but it doesn't come together for me. It doesn't build to a satisfying conclusion that takes what he's doing in the song and add an exclamation point to it. It just trails off. It seems a little cold to me, as if the song's overtaken by its own technical prowess. I think I would have preferred another song because it would show Prince, perhaps, experimenting more and challenging his sound. Don't get me wrong, he perfected his sound and he would later change it up quite a bit, but I think it would have been interesting to see what else he could come up with during this time period. Deeper cuts, as it were.
11. Deep Purple - Perfect Strangers
Cut the f***ing music! I thought the Franchise was brilliant in ECW. He just knew what he was there for and played it to the hilt. I've done karaoke (horrifically) to this song. It's one of those epic songs that really speaks to you. It attempts great things and, mostly, succeeds in them. The song structure is phenomenal throughout, but I think the energy fades a bit at times. The guitar, bass, and drums are frantic and add up to a great sound, but I think the middle section drags a bit too much. There's a great build, but I think the song is too long for what it does. That's likely a personal preference and I've long admired Deep Purple's adventuring into proto-progressive rock. I would've liked to have seen another song in their catalogue used because there is that factor of the song being overplayed. That might not be fair, but like other picks, it does make me think about what else could be used by the artist. The vocals are great at times, but a bit weak at others. Again, I like the risk involved here because its not the first thing you would think about for this time period and it has a throwback quality to it. This is such an interesting year in music and this song helped to make the round a challenge to judge. So, much like the Prince song, I like the song but I kind of wanted another song from the artist to surprise me.
12. Deniece Williams - Let's Hear It For The Boy
This is a very cheerful song and perfect for a movie soundtrack or a wacky '80s montage. It illustrates one of the problems of judging because it does exactly what it's supposed to do, but it doesn't compare favorably to other songs in the round. It's very catchy and would be fun to sing along to, but it's too predictable in terms of its structure. The singer doesn't have the ability of some of the other singers in the round but she has a decent amount of charisma and she matches well with the instruments. The beat's pretty solid but not as interesting as a few other songs in the round. There is a solid finish but her high notes are a bit overdone and there is not enough to the song to distinguish it. It's perfect for radio play but I don't think it works very well in this round in the face of such competition. Its of its time, it doesn't transcend it, but that wasn't the purpose imo. It's fun and there's nothing wrong with that.
13. Tina Turner - Help!
This is an emotional cover of a legendary song by an artist that is certainly at the level to do it justice. Covers can be problematic to me sometimes and, while this does an admirable job of changing the emotional register of the song, I can't help but think that an original song would have been better here. Turner's performance here demands one to stand up and pay attention, but honestly all of her work does. Converting the song to the band here takes away a lot of the energy from the original and so the instrumental work gets buried here. There's one solo that is forgettable. While Turner's the focus here, I think an a cappella performance would have been even better. She adds a tremendous amount to the song, but it's not a surprise. I wanted an even bigger performance and so it felt flat to me.
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Post by SsnakeBite, the No1 Frenchman on Aug 26, 2016 3:22:23 GMT -5
List and comments, you know the drill:
1. Iron Maiden - 2 Minutes to Midnight
2. Deep Purple - Perfect Strangers
3. Prince - When Doves Cry
4. Tina Turner - Help!
5. Deniece Williams - Let's Hear It for the Boy
6. Pseudo Echo - His Eyes
7. John Mellencamp - Pink Houses
8. The Smiths - What Difference Does It Make?
9. New Order - Thieves Like Us
10. Los Lobos - Will the Wolf Survive?
11. Bronski Beat - Smalltown Boy
12. Talk Talk - It's My Life
13. Pat Metheny Group - The First Circle
Bronski Beat - Smalltown Boy
A repetitive and rather dull beat with equally monotone vocals that actually get grating with how high-pitched they are after a while, this song just didn't grab me in any way. It feels like it was going for a Klaus Nomi style thing but didn't pull it off at all.
Deep Purple - Perfect Strangers
Ah, Deep Purple, pretty much the official composers of the 80's and you can tell why from this very powerful song dripping with manliness, no wonder it was used as a wrestling theme. That said, as enjoyable as it is, I think it is so in the same way as a tasty burger: it's very satisfying but you just know it's not the most refined stuff out there.
On an unrelated note, am I the only one who thinks the ending theme of the original Mortal Kombat was inspired by the beginning of this song?
Deniece Williams - Let's Hear It for the Boy
This is definitely more on the cheesy side of the 80's but it's also definitely the fun kind of cheesy. Not the best thing around but it has an undeniable charm.
Iron Maiden - 2 Minutes to Midnight
Not only heavy metal, not only Iron Maiden, but one of their biggest hits too?! This is basically catnip for me and while I like stuff like "Number of the Beast", "Fear of the Dark" or "Bring Your Daughter to the Slaughter" better... I mean, it's Iron Maiden! Have they ever madee a song that isn't awesome?!
John Mellencamp - Pink Houses
It's an alright song but I've got to admit that after the country round, I'm a bit burned out on Americana. And while it is good, it's nothing special. Pleasant and harmless but not particularly memorable.
Los Lobos - Will the Wolf Survive?
It's a bit of the same thing as Pink Houses. Nothing wrong with it, it just doesn't get me very excited. It's one of those "I wouldn't mind if it came up but I wouldn't sekk it out" kind of songs.
New Order - Thieves Like Us
I was strongly with this song as it started, showing some nice 80's synth that may have aged, but gracefully so, but then the lyrics started and I found them to lack the energy that they need to work, especially since they are frankly dopey.
Pat Metheny Group - The First Circle
Jeesh... that was just tedious. Nobody needs 9 minutes of soft jazz and "aaaaaeeeeeyyyyaaaaaaahhhhaaaaayyyyeeeeeoooooh...". I'm already not a fan of long songs unless they actually make it worth it somehow, but something this repetitive really didn't need to last more than two minutes, I just got annoyed.
Prince - When Doves Cry
Would you believe I know almost no Prince song? Anyway, I liked this one a lot. It's got a very unique sound and I think it stands the test of time better than most other choices.
Pseudo Echo - His Eyes
The very strange and ethereal sound (even by 80's synth standards) caught my attention early on but unfortunately, the song doesn't maintain that level of quality throughout and becomes a somewhat generic pop tune. Not bad, mind you, but I don't think it fulfills the promises made by its opening.
The Smiths - What Difference Does It Make?
That's another one that strongly feels eighties and I have mixed feelings about this one. On the one hand it's pretty catchy an doesn't just follow the leader but on the other hand... I don't know, it's lacking something to make it more than just good. I guess I'm just not into thise kind of monotone singing; a little bit of variation to break it would have been nice.
Talk Talk - It's My Life
If I may be blunt, this is pretty much 80's music at its worst. It's bland, it's boring, it's repetitive, there is no personality to it whatsoever. The only reason I'm not placing it last is because at least it didn't last 9 bloody minutes. Bah, humbug.
Tina Turner - Help!
Not a cover I would have expected and it's good... but I think she could have done better. I will give Turner credit in that she really gave the song a new style that makes covering it give a different point of view on it, and she puts a hell of a lot energy into it but the rest of her work has shown us that she was even better with her own material
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pegasuswarrior
El Dandy
Three Time FAN Idol Champion
@PulpPictionary
Posts: 8,748 
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Post by pegasuswarrior on Aug 26, 2016 11:35:21 GMT -5
My rankings: 1. Pat Methany Group - The First Circle I would have never expected to see the Pat Methany Group used in this game and it would not have been anywhere in my radar for this round. When he was a teenage, my brother was part of a drum and bugle corps called the Crossmen. Imagine a marching band at an elite level, taken to the nth degree. I would go to his shows and follow the Crossmen through the years, as a fairly casual fan, but still a fan nonetheless. Well, the Crossmen would play music inspired by Pat Methany and I have memories associated with it. To me, the song is stunning in its beauty. It's so gentle at times and, at others, it is tumultuous. Images of nature come to mind. The build is unforgettable, the vocals are sensational, and the percussion and strings are on a whole other level. Part of my appreciation comes from the memories the song evokes for me, but disregarding them, I appreciate the hell out of selecting a less obvious pick. This kind of music was around at the time and should be remembered, it should be used as a pick. As much as I love what Idol's picked in the past for music, I would love to see more songs like this, more songs that live in different genres, in more than one genre at a time, that try for something less obvious. In terms of music, seeing this was my first mark-out moment. I've loved other songs, but this was the first time I was surprised. Just so beautiful and dramatic This is all the correct answer. You're exactly right. That piece absolutely freaking rules, and I bow to the choice and the song-chooser. This is the gutsy, relevant gusto it takes to show well-roundedness. I don't mind a bit losing to this, but as comments we've seen that show a lack of class would suggest, it unfortunately is a play style that is not likely to win. But, if nothing else, maybe your comments and comments like this will perk the player up, because this is awesome! Such a great piece to arrange for drum corps or competitive band show as well. |
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Jazzman
King Koopa
Trombone Shorty > Your Favorite Musician
Posts: 11,231
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Post by Jazzman on Aug 26, 2016 12:29:10 GMT -5
My rankings: 1. Pat Methany Group - The First Circle I would have never expected to see the Pat Methany Group used in this game and it would not have been anywhere in my radar for this round. When he was a teenage, my brother was part of a drum and bugle corps called the Crossmen. Imagine a marching band at an elite level, taken to the nth degree. I would go to his shows and follow the Crossmen through the years, as a fairly casual fan, but still a fan nonetheless. Well, the Crossmen would play music inspired by Pat Methany and I have memories associated with it. To me, the song is stunning in its beauty. It's so gentle at times and, at others, it is tumultuous. Images of nature come to mind. The build is unforgettable, the vocals are sensational, and the percussion and strings are on a whole other level. Part of my appreciation comes from the memories the song evokes for me, but disregarding them, I appreciate the hell out of selecting a less obvious pick. This kind of music was around at the time and should be remembered, it should be used as a pick. As much as I love what Idol's picked in the past for music, I would love to see more songs like this, more songs that live in different genres, in more than one genre at a time, that try for something less obvious. In terms of music, seeing this was my first mark-out moment. I've loved other songs, but this was the first time I was surprised. Just so beautiful and dramatic This is all the correct answer. You're exactly right. That piece absolutely freaking rules, and I bow to the choice and the song-chooser. This is the gutsy, relevant gusto it takes to show well-roundedness. I don't mind a bit losing to this, but as comments we've seen that show a lack of class would suggest, it unfortunately is a play style that is not likely to win. But, if nothing else, maybe your comments and comments like this will perk the player up, because this is awesome! Such a great piece to arrange for drum corps or competitive band show as well. Ha, ironically I played this piece in Jazz Ensemble in college, 12/8 to 10/8 time shifts are boss. I recommend you listen to the Bob Curnow arrangement for a big band setting, and his entire Methany tribute album as I think I played 4 or 5 cuts off it during college. |
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Jeff Mangum PI
Hank Scorpio
11 herbs and spices for the rest of eternity; Is Number Two. Number Two!
The 2nd Coming
Posts: 6,957
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Post by Jeff Mangum PI on Aug 26, 2016 15:17:04 GMT -5
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Aug 26, 2016 15:21:46 GMT -5
Rita looks a little like a woman at my work. There's always next round and I take you for a roadtrippin' kind of guy. You probably wear a cowboy hat when you drive around in the desert. Got some snake pants too. |
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Post by RadcapRadsley on Aug 26, 2016 16:14:45 GMT -5
Smalltown Boy falls into the category of song on my shortlist of sending,that someone eventually beats me too and then ends up getting a bad score instead.
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Post by Drillbit Taylor on Aug 26, 2016 17:38:36 GMT -5
Yea I almost went with Smalltown Boy. Its a good song.
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pegasuswarrior
El Dandy
Three Time FAN Idol Champion
@PulpPictionary
Posts: 8,748
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Post by pegasuswarrior on Aug 26, 2016 17:40:12 GMT -5
Smalltown Boy falls into the category of song on my shortlist of sending,that someone eventually beats me too and then ends up getting a bad score instead. Same. Same could be said for so many songs this game. |
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Gus Richlen: Ruffian
Patti Mayonnaise
Metal Maestro: Co-winner of the FAN Idol Throwdown!
BAU BAU
Posts: 39,286
Member is Online
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Post by Gus Richlen: Ruffian on Aug 26, 2016 22:45:55 GMT -5
Crazy thing is that "2 Minutes To Midnight" isn't even my favorite song from the Powerslave album.
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Knailsic From Now On
Dennis Stamp
Loneliest Number Since #1
Waiting with my red eyes and my stone heart
Posts: 4,365
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Post by Knailsic From Now On on Aug 27, 2016 17:35:33 GMT -5
So do we still send the next round to Cage? Or to Tyger now?
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Aug 27, 2016 17:40:22 GMT -5
So do we still send the next round to Cage? Or to Tyger now? Cage. If he needs help posting results or round info, I can do it for him, but he's the host. |
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Aug 28, 2016 10:49:27 GMT -5
 Picks are all in and our host will post them later tonight. |
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Post by cageking666 on Aug 29, 2016 1:35:06 GMT -5
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fw91
Crow T. Robot
FAN Idol All-Star: FAN Idol Season X and *Gavel* 2x Judges' Throwdown winner
Tribe has spoken for 2024 Mets
Posts: 40,063
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Post by fw91 on Aug 29, 2016 20:07:53 GMT -5
Just submitted my rankings. Now THAT was a round.
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Post by SsnakeBite, the No1 Frenchman on Aug 30, 2016 3:02:46 GMT -5
Only just started listening to the songs but I'm already enjoying how trippy they are a lot! Hope this carries through the whole list (although that would make ranking a nightmare  ). |
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Post by SsnakeBite, the No1 Frenchman on Aug 30, 2016 16:33:06 GMT -5
Sent in my rankings. I would have done so sooner but my Internet was out for several hours. I think I was spoiled by the first few entries because I had a hard time getting excited about the following ones. Lots of good picks, don't get me wrong, it's just that I kept waiting for something as trippy and weird as the early ones and it didn't happen.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Aug 30, 2016 16:34:43 GMT -5
With a few judges in, maybe we can get the next round announced?
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